Ground Crew

  
Robert E. Basiliere Airplane Flight Chief

Bob Basiliere
Elmer Smith Airplane Instrument Mechanic, Specialist  
Maurice Young Airplane and Engine Mechanic

Maurice Young, Archie Mettler (All American), R.E. Fox, Jr. and Elmer Smith waiting for mission return.
R. E. Fox, Jr. Airplane and Engine Mechanic  
Peter Cento Airplane Electrical Mechanic, Specialist  
Walter Brown Armorer  
Peter Tampas Airplane and Engine Mechanic (later changed to crew of Sleepy Time Gal)  

R. E. Fox, Jr.

I was part of the ground crew on #20, Rhode Island Red. I will tell you what I can remember about it.

Rhode Island Red

#20 flew very few missions and was one of the first planes flown from the United States by the group.

It flew very few missions due to mechanical problems.  Later ran short of fuel returning from a mission and crashed south of Torretta.  It was repaired and flown back to the field.

Later it crashed while flying to England for supplies for the Group.  I don’t know the details of this crash.  It was replaced by the Judy R.

Judy R. flew 38 missions and was flown on her last mission by Captain Robert T. Chalmers.  This mission story is in the February 1987 issue of the Liberaider.

Judy R. was replaced by Rhode Island Red II.

Rhode Island Red II

Rhode Island Red II undergoing an engine change.

 

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Last modified: 02/27/2008