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

Standing: George Spencer – G, Beryl Christiansen – E, Frederick Fuhrman – RO, Edgar Kingsbourough – G, Charles Domek – G, John MacQuarrie – G
Kneeling: Emil Besten – P, Edgar Suiter – N, Arthur Krueger – B, Millens Taft – CP
(Photo: Fold3)

Completed Tour

RankNameSerial #Crew PositionDateStatusComments
1LtEmil B Besten0705001Pilot08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
1LtMillens W Taft, Jr0824992Co-pilot22-Feb-45WIAHit by flak in neck
1LtEdgar O Suiter0722389Navigator08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
1LtArthur C Krueger0716737Bombardier08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
T/SgtFrederick J Fuhrman16116444Radio Operator08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
T/SgtBeryl C Christiansen37663228Flight Engineer08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
S/SgtJohn R MacQuarrie39082555Armorer-Gunner08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
S/SgtCharles G Domek, Jr36697275Aerial Gunner08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
S/SgtEdgar L Kingsborough33241690Aerial Gunner08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour
S/SgtGeorge F Spencer14193821Aerial Gunner08-Mar-45CTCompleted Tour

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.

Missions

DateTarget458th MsnPilot MsnSerialRCLSqdnA/C MsnA/C NameComments
25-Aug-44LUBECK118142-95018JZ539OLD DOC'S YACHT
26-Aug-44DULMEN120242-95108MZ534ENVY OF 'EM ALL II
27-Aug-44FINOW121341-29340N7V51YANKEE BUZZ BOMBMSN CRED IN NOV
05-Sep-44KARLSRUHE122444-40126LZ522SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP
08-Sep-44KARLSRUHE123541-29596RZ552HELL'S ANGEL'S
09-Sep-44MAINZ124642-110059TZ538UNKNOWN 056
21-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR05--42-95001Z44BGT3TS TESSIETRUCKIN' MISSION
23-Sep-44HSF to ST DIZIERTR07--42-97972IT1NOT 458TH SHIP - HETHELTRUCKIN' MISSION
25-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR08-1--41-28682IZ5T5NO NAME or NAME UNKNOWN1ST FLIGHT - WW
26-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR09--44-40475M755T8JOLLY ROGERTRUCKIN' MISSION
27-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR10--41-29475M44BGT1SHIPDAM HI SCHOOLTRUCKIN' MISSION
28-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR11--41-29305N754T4I'LL BE BACK TRUCKIN' MISSION
29-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR12--41-29305N754T5I'LL BE BACK TRUCKIN' MISSION
30-Sep-44HSF to LILLETR13--41-28610X+453BGT1CURLYON LOAN FOR TRUCKIN'
07-Oct-44MAGDEBURG130ABT42-95018JZ5--OLD DOC'S YACHTABORT - ENGINE RPMS
09-Oct-44KOBLENZ131742-95120MJ346HOOKEM COW / BETTY
17-Oct-44COLOGNE135842-100366HZ554MIZPAH
19-Oct-44MAINZ136942-51199UZ57UNKNOWN 023
22-Oct-44HAMM1371044-40298EZ55THE SHACK
04-Nov-44MISBURG1411142-110059TZ543UNKNOWN 056
05-Nov-44KARLSRUHE1421244-40298EZ510THE SHACK
08-Nov-44RHEINE1441342-50640OZ510BUGS BUNNY
10-Nov-44HANAU A/F1461442-50640OZ512BUGS BUNNY
25-Nov-44BINGEN1491542-100366HZ561MIZPAH
04-Dec-44BEBRA1521642-50456DZ515DOROTHY KAY SPECIAL
11-Dec-44HANAU1551742-50640OZ518BUGS BUNNY
12-Dec-44HANAU1561844-40298EZ518THE SHACK
18-Dec-44KOBLENZREC--41-29596RZ5--HELL'S ANGEL'SRECALL DUTCH ISLE
24-Dec-44SCHONECKEN1571944-40298EZ519THE SHACK
27-Dec-44NEUNKIRCHEN1592042-95183UZ565BRINEY MARLIN
02-Jan-45REMAGEN1642142-50640OZ525BUGS BUNNY
03-Jan-45NEUNKIRCHEN1652242-110070KZ550ELMER
08-Jan-45STADTKYLL1672341-29596RZ580HELL'S ANGEL'SLAND OFF LOCATION
14-Jan-45HALLENDORF1702441-29305NZ542I'LL BE BACK/HYPOCHONDRIAC
16-Jan-45MAGDEBURG1712541-28980VJ419UNKNOWN 009
29-Jan-45MUNSTER1752642-95120MZ565HOOKEM COW / BETTY
03-Feb-45MAGDEBURG177MSHL--------MARSHALING CHIEF
06-Feb-45MAGDEBURG1782742-95108BZ558ENVY OF 'EM ALL II
09-Feb-45MAGDEBURG179ABT42-110059TZ5--UNKNOWN 056ABORT - #4 ENG
16-Feb-45OSNABRUCK1832842-95108BZ560ENVY OF 'EM ALL II
20-Feb-45NUREMBURG REC--42-95108BZ5--ENVY OF 'EM ALL IIRECALL
21-Feb-45NUREMBERG1852942-95108BZ562ENVY OF 'EM ALL II
23-Feb-45GERA-REICHENBACH1873044-40126LZ554SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP
25-Feb-45SCHWABISCH-HALL1893142-51199AZ528UNKNOWN 023
27-Feb-45HALLE1913242-51179PZ565DUSTY'S DOUBLE TROUBLE
01-Mar-45INGOLSTADT1933344-40126LZ560SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP
02-Mar-45MAGDEBURG194ASSY41-28697ZZ5A67SPOTTED APEASSEMBLY CREW
05-Mar-45HARBURG1973442-95120MZ580HOOKEM COW / BETTY
08-Mar-45DILLENBURG1993542-50456DZ542DOROTHY KAY SPECIAL

B-24H-25-FO 42-95219 7V W Patchie

The crew are not listed as having flown Patchie on a combat mission.  This could have been taken after a practice mission.
Standing: Arthur Krueger, Ed Kingsbourough, Fred Fuhrman, Emil Besten, George Spencer
Kneeling: Beryl Christiansen, Edgar Suiter, Millens Taft, Chuck Domek, John MacQuarrie
(Photo: Charles Domek)

S/Sgt Charles G. Domek – Gunner

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

Domek (L) with S/Sgt William M. Cuculich, gunner on the crew of Lt Lester J. Skidmore

Artwork in barracks

B-24J-5-FO 42-50912 J4 D  The Travlin Bag

Domek and Cuculich with Princess Pat

(Photos: Charles Domek)