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Julian W. Messerly As Sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Julian flew in the Red Growler, a B-24H/J Liberator. His position was gunner. In 1943, the unit flew out of Station 137 Lavenham Base in Suffolk, England, an area that has now reverted to farm land. [1]
As part of the preparations for the D-Day invasion, the Red Growler went on a mission to bomb Munster, Germany on May 30, 1944. Flak damaged the Red Growler crashed into the North Sea, all but one crew member was saved.
- Unit: 3rd Air Division, 487th Bomber Group Heavy, 838th Bomber Squadron, serving under 2nd Lt Walter W. McCarty in the Red Growler.
- Crewmates:F/O Raymond G. Spoerl (navigator), 2nd Lt Walter W. McCarty (pilot), 2nd Lt Willard J. George (bombardier), F/O Richard S. Atkins (co-pilot), Sgt Robert L. Williams (gunner), S/Sgt Keith E. Coles (gunner), Sgt Fred C. Sweeney (radio operator), Sgt Thomas W Craig (flight engineer)not pictured, Sgt Henry W. Blaha (gunner)
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart. [2]
- Memorial: His name appears on the Wall of the Missing atCambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England.
- Height 70 inches weight 164lbs in 1943 when he was enlisted at Camp Dodge Herold on 17 Feb 1943. His residence at the time of enlistment was Fort Dodge, Iowa. [3].
- Julian's training was in Herington, Kansas. [4]
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| Air Medal | Purple Heart |
Gallery
Julian (pictured 2nd from right, bottom row) with his mates in the Red Growler (click image for clickable image.
Julian's name on the Wall of the Missing
| Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
 | 1,943 | McCarty Crew of "Red Growler" - 838th Squadron (likely taken in Herington, Kansas) Standing left to right: F/O Raymond G. Spoerl (navigator), unknown, 2nd Lt Walter W. McCarty (pilot), 2nd Lt Willard J. George (bombardier), F/O Richard S. Atkins (co-pilot) |
Residences
Footnotes
- ^ (source)
- ^ Note at US Memorial site
- ^ U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 ancestry.com (fee)
- ^ http://www.487thbg.org/Photos/McCartyCrew.shtml
Footnotes (including sources)
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