461 Bomber Group a/c

[Frank Olynyk]

Alex,
Jackson's report notes him as "Crew 61". This is not the same as "Aircraft 61". Crews were assigned numbers as they came out from the states. I would note in the MACR 7038 for the loss of 41-28836 that the report of 1stLt Paul V Sullivan Jr says "I did not see ship #69, flown by Lt Fisher, again". Further on in the MACR Maj. Lott says "Aircraft No. 69 of the 461st Bombardment Group failed to return ...", and on the next line: "This plane was piloted by 2nd Lt R. H. Fisher of Crew No. 73."

I assume Crew Nos. were assigned in order. I do not know what happened to the list of members of a given Crew Number when someone moved in or out, whether permanently or temporarily. Perhaps someone on the Forum has information on this detail.

I would note that the USN also used Crew Numbers for the members of a PB4Y crew in the VPB and VB units, 1943-45.

Enjoy!

Frank.