Besten Crew – Assigned 754th Squadron – August 13, 1944

Emil Besten’s crew was assigned to the 458th Bomb Group on August 13, 1944 and placed in the 754BS.  They would remain in this squadron throughout their combat tour.

They flew their first mission on August 25, 1944 in one of the squadron’s original aircraft, Old Doc’s Yacht.  This was a two-mission day for the 458th, and Besten and crew flew the first to the Dornier Aircraft Factory at Lubeck, Germany.  They flew the next two consecutive days to round out their combat flights for August and were selected to fly three missions in the beginning of September.  After their sixth mission on September 9th, the group was pulled off of combat operations in order to ferry gasoline to the Continent.

Between September 21 and 30, Besten flew eight of these “Truckin’ Missions”, hauling gas to Patton’s army in France.  These flights consisted of the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator, flight engineer, and at least one gunner.  There may have also been some “passengers” along for the ride.  These flights did not count towards a crew’s mission total, even though many of the airmen felt that loading a B-24 Liberator with thousands of gallons of fuel in specially made tanks was more dangerous than combat flying ever was!  The 458th lost seven aircraft and two full crews on these flights.

The group resumed combat flying in early October and Besten’s first mission was on October 7th to Magdeburg, when the crew were forced to abort due to engine problems.  According to the “Aircraft Not Attacking Report” for this date, “Pilot reported RPM fluctuating on #2 and 4 engines during climb while transferring fuel.  A/C test hopped and found OK. Probable cause was air in gas lines due to transferring fuel while climbing with auxiliary tanks nearly empty.”

Before the end of the year, Besten and crew had completed 20 missions, including the Eight Air Force’s “Maximum Effort” on December 24th, Christmas Eve.  The group put up 56 aircraft, of which 53 made it to the target area.  One loss marred the day’s mission: that of Lt Charles A. Giesen and crew who took a direct flak hit over the target.

The crew flew six missions in January and seven in February, although they were forced to abort on February 9th run to Magdeburg, again with engine problems.  On February 22nd the group split the formation into an “A” Group to hit the marshaling yards at Peine, Germany and a “B” Group to hit the marshaling yards Hildesheim.  Besten’s Crew did not fly on this date, but co-pilot, Millens Taft flew with the crew of Lt John Rosen in the lead squadron of the “A” Group and was wounded in action, hit in the neck by flak.  The extent of his wounds are not detailed, and it is unknown if he flew any further combat missions.

Most of the crew finished their combat tour of 35 missions on March 8, 1945.

S/Sgt Charles G. Domek – Gunner

Posing with B-24JAZ-155-CO 44-40287 J4 J  Bachelor’s Bedlam from the 753BS

Domek and Cuculich with Princess Pat

(Photos: Charles Domek)