Crew 40 – Assigned 754th Squadron – October 1943

Lt Harry F. Pierce and crew were a part of the original group formed in the States in 1943.  There are a few unknown circumstances involving Crew #40.  The photo of the crew was taken at Tonopah in late fall of 1943 while the 458th Bomb Group was undergoing their final phase training prior to being sent overseas.  At some point during this training, co-pilot 2Lt Ernest T. Herndon was replaced by 2Lt Thomas H. McKiernan and 2Lt Charles C. Noblitt was replaced by 2Lt Eugene M. Hoag.  Herndon and Noblitt both appear on an early combat crew roster for the 754th Squadron as part of Crew 45, pilot 2Lt Kenneth C. Barton. 

Crew 40 was assigned as a lead crew early on, flying four of their six missions as lead or deputy lead. In mid-April the entire crew was transferred to the 93rd Bomb Group for lead crew training.  They lead the 458th twice as a lead crew with a 458th Command Pilot.  In August they were transferred to the 466th Bomb Group where they completed their combat tour.

Ray Juskiewicz’s flight records lend a little insight into the crew’s assignments, as related by his daughter Marilyn Boyd: “His records state from September thru November 1943 they where at Wendover Field, Utah. On this document it lists he’s assigned to the 2nd Air Force, 15th Wing, 458th Group, 754th Squadron. December 1943 they shipped out to Europe. January, February, March and up until April 10th, I’m assuming he’s with the same assignment as the documents do not have “assigned to” or “base” filled in. And I assume that he was at Horsham as my dad indicated to me. The documents change after this. It picks up mid-April with APO#104 (Hardwick) and lists his assignment as 93rd Bomb Grp (H) 329 Bomb squadron. May, June and July also list the 329th squadron. August [records] list APO#120 (Attlebrige) 466th group 784th squadron.”

Ernest “Tom” Herndon flew as co-pilot on Crew 48 with pilot 2Lt Thayer Hopkins on the March 6, 1944 raid on Berlin.  This crew was shot down over Holland. Herndon was wounded and made a POW.

On May 23, 1944, while assembling for a mission to the airfield near Bourges, France, the aircraft that 1Lt. Kenneth Barton was flying collided with a B-17 of the 351st Bomb Group (Pilot 1Lt Peter E. Crowe) whose formation passed through that of the 458th at a 90° angle.  Charles Noblitt was the navigator.  He and the rest of Crew 45 were killed.

2Lt Eugene M. Hoag, the navigator replacing Charles Noblitt on Crew 40, was shot down on April 25, 1944 while flying with Crew 44, piloted by 2Lt John H. Combs. Why Hoag had not been transferred with the rest of his crew earlier in the month is unknown. Hoag apparently filled in for Comb’s regular navigator, 2Lt Jacob E. Maze, who was possibly transferred to the 93BG to fly with Pierce after the loss of his crew.

Sgt Raphael E. Anthony is also listed on the early combat crew roster as being assigned to Crew 40 as a gunner.  He is not pictured above, but was transferred with the crew in April.

S/Sgt Ray Juskiewicz Mission List

Capt Harry F. Pierce

October 25, 1944 – Tour complete

(Photos and mission list: Marilyn Boyd)