398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association


The Original Harold F. Spangler Crew
603rd Squadron
1 Pilot 2nd Lt. Harold F. Spangler
2 Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Robert E. Weidig
3 Navigator 2nd Lt. James Van Buren Mayhall
4 Bombardier 2nd Lt. John Henry Schanzbach
5 Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Sgt. Frank E. Garry, Jr.
6 Radio Operator Sgt. Howard F. Ayers
7 Ball Turret Gunner Sgt. Carl J. Tope
8 Left Waist Gunner Gunner Sgt. Gerard R. Bacon
9 Tail Gunner Sgt. Joseph P. Tola

Notes:
  1. This crew list was provided through an extract of the October 17, 1944 mission by Lee Anne Bradley, 398th Group Historian. The names, ranks and positions are for the original Spangler crew as of this date.
  2. At times some crew members handled multiple position, sometimes on a single missions or on different missions.
  • Although the same crewmembers largely flew together, occasionally there might be a substitute if someone was sick or injured, or there might be a replacement part way through a tour for a variety of reasons. Generally the co-pilot was bumped on the first mission for an experienced crew member; however, this probably was not so for the first crews.