The Clayton crew at Dalhart Army Air Base, Dalhart, Texas.
Photo shows the crew just about to board the train on a journey which took them
to Illinois, Massachusetts, and eventually to the port of embarkation (New York
City). On November 2, 1943, they left New York City on board the Queen Mary.
Traveling in a convoy they arrived in England on November 9th. On November 17th,
twenty-three B-17 replacement crews were transferred into the 384th Bomb Group.
The Clayton crew (along with six other crews) were assigned to the 544th Squadron.
The Clayton crew were designated as Crew #143. In just 5 and 1/2 months of combat,
this crew was to suffer 40% casualties - 2 killed, 2 wounded and one grounded
(due to injury on a mission).
BACK ROW, left to right: S/Sgt. Thomas N. Lewandowski (Waist Gunner), S/Sgt. Elmer D. "Kansas" Boydston (Tail Turret Gunner), T/Sgt. Jerome "Jerry" F. Watenpool, (Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner), T/Sgt. Miles F. "Lis" Lisenby (Radio Operator, grounded due to injury - 02/44), S/Sgt. Clyde A. "Kush" Koscheski (Waist Gunner), and S/Sgt. Francis "Frank" R. Cameron (Ball Turret Gunner).
FRONT ROW, left to right: 2nd Lt. Joseph K. "Murphy" Uniszkiewicz (Navigator, KIA 05/8/44), 2nd Lt. John E. Clayton (Pilot), 2nd Lt. Winthrop A. "Jack" Jackson Jr (Co-pilot WIA 5/8/44), 2nd Lt. Richard M. "Dick" Dolf (Bombardier WIA 01/30/44).
NOTES ON CASUALTIES
2ND LT. JOSEPH K. "Murphy" UNISZKIEWICZ: On the May 8th, 1944 mission to Sottevast, France, 2nd Lt. Joseph K. Uniszkiewicz served as navigator for 1st Lt. James E. Foster's crew. It was supposed to be Murphy's last mission before returning home to the USA. Sadly, he would not make it. Lt. Uniszkiewicz was listed as killed in action (KIA) when Foster's B-17G-20-BO, Ser. No. 42-31495, named "Wabbit Twacks" was hit by flak over the target and crashed. There were no survivors from this crash. (Post Mission Report)
2ND LT. RICHARD M. "Dick" DOLF: On the January 30th, 1944 mission to Brunswick, Germany, 2nd Lt. Richard M. Dolf was wounded in action (WIA) while serving as bombardier for the Clayton crew. He was hospitalized near Grafton Underwood. On February 9th, he was "transferred to the Detachment of Patients of the 303rd Station Hosp., Thrapton, for further treatment." (Source - 544th Squadron Records). Dolf never flew again. He was transferred stateside and given a medical discharge. Dolf was replaced by togglier (bombardier) T/Sgt. Robert C. Corpening.
2ND LT. WINTHROP A. "Jack" JACKSON, Jr: On the May 8th, 1944 mission to Sottevast, France, 2nd Lt. Winthrop A. Jackson Jr was flying as pilot of Crew 40 on B-17G-15-VE, Ser. No. 42-97510, (BK+A), named "Satan's Playmate". He was wounded in action (WIA), and number 4 engine was knocked out due to flak damage. Nevertheless, WAJ Jr managed to return to England, landing at RAF Ford, Winchester, England (Post Mission Report) on the South coast. This was his 23rd (and last) combat mission. (Brief Bio).
T/SGT MILES F. "Lis" LISENBY: On his 9th combat mission with the Clayton crew in February, 1944, T/Sgt. Miles F. Lisenby tore ligaments in his knee while working on the mission camera located in the floor of the radio compartment. After hospitalization and treatment, the Squadron Medical Officer permanently grounded Lisenby. T/Sgt. Alan B. Purdy took over as radio operator for the Clayton crew. T/Sgt. Purdy had been filling in with different crews since November 13, 1943 when his B-17 broke up in mid air. He was the sole survivor of his original crew.
T/SGT. ROBERT C. CORPENING: Sgt. Corpening replaced 2nd Lt.Dick Dolf when Dolf was wounded in action on January 30, 1944. On the May 8th, 1944 mission to Sottevast, France, Corpening served as bombardier for 1st Lt. James E. Foster's crew. He was killed in action (KIA) when Foster's B-17G-20-BO, Ser. No. 42-31495, named "Wabbit Twacks" was hit by flak over the target and crashed. There were no survivors from this crash. (Post Mission Report)
Yet another tragedy occurred on the May 8th, 1944 mission when Capt. Randolph Jacobs was killed in a B-17 shot down over target. (Post Mission Report) On December 30, 1943 (WAJ Jr's second mission), Jacobs was the pilot and WAJ Jr the co-pilot of a B-17G named "Sea Hag". This B-17 was ditched in the English Channel on that mission. For more information on the ditching, see Ditching Story.
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