EXPLANATION OF THE WEBSITE PURPOSE

This website started as a report in 1999. Its purpose was to list the 391st crews, which until then were listed piecemeal in special orders. Crew members had a special relationship and feeling for each other. They trained together, flew together, and depended on each other in life and/or death situations. When you attend a reunion, you will find that individuals’ first interest is be with their crew to the extent that they attend and or still living.

Orders affecting a crew were given to the pilot, and we presume, were also placed in a Group or Squadron file—which has never been found. The first orders received are very important to us now, as they list the crew by name, rank, serial number, and MOS (military occupational specialty), and they designate the squadron to which the crew is being assigned. Many pilots saved their special orders, either keeping them themselves, or by delegating a crew member to keep them. Apparently, many did not, however. You will see in the report that we have a minority of the special orders.

Quickly I found that the report would be in a constant state of change, as new information came to light. Rather than continually updating and reprinting the report, I decided to go with a website, which would have additional advantages, such as easily including pictures. I am aware that not all in our generation are "into computers," but I suspect that most of us have a son, daughter, grandson, or granddaughter who would be glad to help in this regard.

I have a site of 100 megs. I am not sure how much this amount of space will let me do, but after many additions, we have not hit the wall.

Although I give credit to some individuals in the website, I think that some specifics are appropriate here. The main source of crew list data has been military orders. Later you will see the names both of the people who have donated orders and those who donated taxi sheets. Colonel Hugh Walker (now deceased) has written two history books about the 391st and was in charge of the preparation of "Return of the Marauder Men," which gives the particulars on the burial in Europe of all the B-26 casualties whose remains were not returned home. Col. Walker was a pilot in the 572nd Squadron, and his crew is among those listed and pictured. His histories have been a major source for me. Dave Garnham, a young (compared to me) Englishman, is one of the dedicated friends; he has helped me in countless ways, preparing a majority of the taxi sheets, doing research in microfilm, and finding mistakes that I have made. I have drawn heavily on articles written by Bob Mynn, another of our dedicated, English friends.