Judge Crew  – Assigned 754th Squadron – May 11, 1944

2Lt James Judge and crew were one of the early replacement crews to arrive at the 458th in early May 1944.  Assigned to the 754th Bomb Squadron, they went through a short period of indoctrination prior to their first mission on May 28, 1944.

Judge was assigned to fly with another crew on the first D-Day mission on June 6, 1944.  This turned out to be an abortive attempt due to a problem with the aircraft’s fuel system.  Later that day, on the third mission on D-Day, Judge flew his own crew on yet another abortive flight, again due to mechanical difficulties.  The crew would complete a total of 15 missions in June with an additional aborted effort on June 17th when the ball turret gunner was sick and could not continue the mission.

During July and August the crew would complete 16 missions.  It was at this point that S/Sgt Edgar E. Bonner, flight engineer, was removed from flying status.  His place was possibly filled by T/Sgt Gary L. Tabowitz.  He had been assigned with 2Lt Martin D. Williams crew in April 1944.  For unknown reasons, this pilot was removed from flying status and eventually transferred to another group, just after arriving at Horsham.  The remaining crew members were assigned to different crews, where needed, as replacements.

Judge is shown flying his last mission on August 16, 1944 to Magdeburg.  The crew flew 22 missions on a Ford made B-24H named Dixie Belle.  The only known photos of this aircraft were taken on August 9, 1944, the day that 2Lt Glenn A. Hess and crew were assigned this aircraft for the mission to Saarbrucken, Germany.  This was the first mission for Hess and his crew, and they were forced to return to base when the No. 1 engine “ran away”.  Due to the lack of power on the left side, Hess was unable to correctly line up with the runway and crash landed in the middle of the field.  No one was injured, but the plane was a write-off.

Judge and all crew members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during August for completing their combat tour.  Records do not indicate what happened to the crew next, but it was most likely reassignment to the U.S. for a brief leave, and then onto wherever the army needed them.

Back Row: Wallis Tolles – CP, Wayne Gamble – N, Lewis Jacobus – B, James Judge – P, Charles Bryson – TTG
Middle Row: Lyle Rymer – NTG, William Moody – BTG, Merlin Sebald – TG, Powell Harlow – RO, Gary Tabowitz – E
Front Row: “Dave and gang” – ground crew (names unkown)
(Photo: Wayne Gamble)

B-24H-25-FO 42-95163  Z5 K  Dixie Belle

August 9, 1944 – Results of crash with the Hess Crew

Photos taken by 1Lt Wayne Gamble

458th Liberators dispersed around the airfield

458th formation viewed from the cockpit

Judge Crew landing after a mission