Gentry Crew – Assigned 755th Squadron – April 12, 1944
Standing: Thomas Dahlen – CP, Les Gentry – P, Bob Jones – B, Herb Keene – N
Kneeling: Roscoe Heins – BTG, John Glowski – TTG, Mike Grady – TG, Forrest Church – E, Leonard Krul – NTG, Elliott Belland – RO
(Photo: Travis Schroeder)
Transferred to Fifteenth Air Force
| Rank | Name | Serial # | Crew Position | Date | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lt | Leslie J Gentry | Pilot | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| 2Lt | Thomas R Dahlen | Co-pilot | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| 2Lt | Herbert J Keen | Navigator | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| 1Lt | Robert E Jones | Bombardier | Oct-44 | CT | Repl Depot for return to ZI | |
| T/Sgt | Elliott E Belland | Radio Operator | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| T/Sgt | Forrest G Church | Flight Engineer | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| S/Sgt | Roscoe V Heins | Ball Turret Gunner | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| S/Sgt | Michael G Grady | Tail Turret Gunner | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| S/Sgt | John R Glowski | Top Turret Gunner | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG | |
| S/Sgt | Leonard Krul | Nose Turret Gunner | Jun-44 | TRSF | Trsf to 15th AF 459BG |
The Gentry Crew was one of the first replacement crews to come to the 755th Squadron. The 755th had lost six crews in the 40-plus days that the group had been flying on operations. They arrived shortly after the April 9th mission to Tutow, where four crews (two from the 755th) were lost. After a few days to get indoctrinated, the crew flew their first mission on April 24th and three more before the end of April. The crew took off on 12 missions in May, aborting two of them, both due to mechanical difficulties. In the last week of May they had completed 14 missions, well on their way to the required 30.
In early June, however, all of the crew except for bombardier Robert E. Jones were transferred to the 15th Air Force, eventually ending up with the 759th Squadron 459th Bombardment Group based at Giulia Field, Cerignola, Italy. It is believed that the crew completed a combat tour with this unit, as 459th records show that Les Gentry and several of the crew received the Distinguished Flying Cross on September 23, 1944.
755th Squadron records show that Jones completed his tour with the 458th and was sent to the States in October 1944.
Click here for Gentry’s crew page on the 459th Bombardment Group website.
Missions with 458th
Photos of 459th Bomb Group
(Courtesy: Thomas Dahlen via Travis Schroeder)