Scalf Crew – Assigned 752nd Squadron – April 20, 1945

Standing (L-R): Jack Wilkins – TG, Boyd Lowry – TTG, Howard Hines – WG, Wallace Cassiano – RO, Alford Paine – E, John Ellis – NTG
Kneeling (L-R): Arthur Bagby – B, Robert Heideman – CP, Harvey Scalf – P, John Traeger – N

(Photo: Pete Traeger/ IDs 2AD Memorial Library)

1Lt Harvey E. Scalf and crew were assigned to the 458th on the day of the group’s 239th mission.  Five days later, the group flew number 240, the last Eighth Air Force combat mission of World War II in Europe.  Scalf’s crew (along with several others) were assigned from the 453rd Bomb Group, stationed at Old Buckingham.  Why the transfer was made at this late stage in the war is unknown.  According to the pilots sortie record from the 2ADA Memorial Library, Scalf flew 28 combat missions with the 733BS between November 26, 1944 and April 10, 1945.  They arrived too late to fly any combat missions with the 458th, but according to one crew member they flew on one or more Trolley Missions in May 1945.

The crew photo above was taken on December 2, 1944 at Old Buckingham.  At some point during their tour with the 453BG, radio operator S/Sgt Wallace Cassiano was seriously wounded and replaced by T/Sgt Jack D. Roehr.

The crew may have flown this Liberator on one or more missions while in the 453rd Bomb Group

(Courtesy: B-24 Bestweb)