Exactly! More specific: on 21 feb 1944 B-17GSH was deputy lead of 4A CW. 42-3511 was the lead with Lt. Col. G. McDonald, executive officer from 385BG on board. He was the mission commander. In 42-30280 Capt. Gerald Binks also from 385BG was the command pilot. Binks took - according to co-pilot 2nd Lt. John William Baber - the co-pilot position. Baber: 'So I was the extra-man, so to speak'.
I am wondering whether a command pilot would than automatically do all the co-pilot tasks/duties - while he is actually is a commander who would have other tasks to do, I would guess. Would a command pilot do the pre-flight check, starting of the engines, take-off stuff etc.? Or would the regular co-pilot do that and would the command pilot switch places after take off?
The Devil is in the detail. And right now I am checking these kind of detaisl for the book
Crazy Horse , whcih will come pout end next month. see
www.b17crazyhorse.nl - in Dutch though, but you'll get the drift.
--Cees