Eidelsberg Crew – Assigned 753rd Squadron – August 25, 1944

Lt Robert Eidelsberg and crew arrived at Horsham St. Faith in the late summer of 1944. Prior to flying their first combat mission, the crew flew two Truckin’ missions in September.  They flew their first combat mission on October 9, 1944 to Koblenz.  According to navigator, Michael Lavere, “As a crew we flew together for some 15 missions after which most members of the original crew, including myself were reassigned to other crews.  I went on to fly an additional 19 missions for a total of 34.  The aircraft shown [in the crew picture] was the one we ferried across the Atlantic from Topeka, Kansas and is not the plane that we flew during our missions at Horsham. Our assigned plane did not have any name.

Sgt Carl Stoddard and Sgt Joseph Romano may have been mixed up on the special orders dated August 25, 1944 assigning them to the 458th.  While Romano is shown on these orders under Eidelsberg, and Carl Stoddard is listed with the crew of Lt Scott Hathorn, Michael Lavere identifies Stoddard in the crew photo taken in Topeka, Kansas.  Stoddard is listed as flying with Eidelsberg on November 25, 1944 and Joseph Romano is listed as flying with Lt Howard Warrell and crew on February 25, 1945.

The reason for the break up of the crew is unknown, and was not normally how things were done at Horsham.  Several members of the crew are shown flying with different pilots on available load lists.  It is not known if any of the crew completed a full complement of combat missions. The mission list below was compiled from 458th records that shows Robert Eidelsberg as pilot.  Which crew members flew with him on these dates is unknown.

A “favorite” of Eidelsberg.  He flew this aircraft on 12 missions in 1945, after it had been transferred to the 753rd (J4) Squadron

(Photo: Harold Armstrong)