Mission Belle

The crew

The original crew was first put together like the group photos shown below. It is not known if the plane in the background is the "Mission Belle".

Front from left to right: D.C. McCutchen, J.W. Padgett, C.A. Josephson, W.P. England
Back from left to right: J.A. Healy, O.D. Tully, G.D. Giovannini, R.G. Christensen, H.V. Sunde, C.J. Culver

Front from left to right: O.D. Tully, H.V. Sunde, G.D. Giovannini, R.G. Christensen
Back from left to right: J.A. Healy, C.A. Josephson, C.J. Culver, J.W. Padgett, W.P. England, D.C. McCutchen
(photo from collection Ivo de Jong)

But J.W. Padgett was injured and replaced by C.S. Carano and G.D. Giovannini had to fly with another plane and was replaced by J.W. Sweaney.

So the ten crew-members were:

	Flight Officer Harland Vernon Sunde September 14th, 1921 – December 1st, 1943 Minneapolis, Minnesota Pilot It was his seventh flight of his career and his first as pilot. He flew as co-pilot on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the B-17 “Chug-a-lug” (42-30765).
	2nd Lieutenant James William Sweaney January 2nd, 1923 – March 24th, 2011 San Pedro, California Co-Pilot It was his first flight in his career.
	2nd Lieutenant Roger George "Chris" Christensen March 5th, 1920 – October 2nd, 1990 Marne, Iowa Navigator / Gunner left and right side of the nose of the plane He flew in the same function on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the B-17 “The Rebel” (42-31075).
	2nd Lieutenant O.D. Tully August 12th, 1921 – March 20th, 2001 Guntersville, Alabama Bombardier / Gunner at the tip of the nose of the plane It was his seventh flight of his career. He flew in the same function on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the “Four Aces” (42-31111).
	Staff Sergeant William Powell "Hap" England November 15th, 1910 – February 21st, 1958 Greenville, Texas Engineer/Top Turret Gunner He flew in the same function on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the “Four Aces” (42-31111).
	Sergeant Claudio Stefano ”Steve” Carano March 11th, 1920 – August 18th, 1996 Kings County (Brooklyn), New York Radio Operator/Gunner at roof It was his third flight of his career. He flew in the same function on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the B-17 “Tinker Toy” (42-5846).
	Sergeant Carlton Arthur Josephson April 15th, 1918 – March 19th, 2001 New Britain, Connecticut Left Waist Gunner He flew as right waist gunner on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the B-17 “Four Aces” (42-31111).
	Sergeant Charles Jones Culver October 29th, 1923 – September 29th, 1983 Henderson, Kentucky Right Waist Gunner He flew as left waist gunner on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the B-17 “Four Aces” (42-31111).
	Sergeant Doyle Cash "Mac" McCutchen September 7th, 1921 – December 1st, 1943 Western Grove, Arkansas Ball Turret Gunner It was his second flight of his career. He flew in the same function on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the “Four Aces” (42-31111).
	Sergeant John Aloysius Healy April 11th, 1914 – December 1st, 1943 Kings County (Brooklyn), New York Tail Gunner He flew in the same function on the 26th of November, 1943 to Bremen in the “Four Aces” (42-31111).

Jobs of the B-17 crew:

1 / 2     Pilot Flight Officer, Harland V. Sunde (left) and Co-Pilot 2nd Lieutenant, James W. Sweaney (right)
3          Navigator, 2nd Lieutenant Roger G. Christensen is also gunner at the left and right side of the nose of the plane
4          Bombardier and gunner at the tip of the nose of the plane, 2nd Lieutenant O.D. Tully
5          Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, Staff Sergeant William P. England
6          Radio Operator and gunner at roof, Sergeant Claudio S. Carano
7 /8      Sergeant Carlton A. Josephson, Left Waist Gunner and Sergeant Charles, J. Culver, Right Waist Gunner
9          Tail Gunner, Sergeant John A. Healy
10        Ball Turret Gunner, Sergeant Doyle C. McCutchen

Drawing of Josephson.

All the pictures of the crew and the drawing of the “Mission Belle”, where no source is mentioned, are from the book ‘We Knew We Were In For A Long Day’ of Bill Yancy. He was the neighbor of the bombardier O.D. Tully.

Mission Belle

The crew

© & ® Mission Belle, December 9th, 2018.