Crew 23 trained in Tonopah, Nevada with the 458th Bombardment Group in the fall and winter of 1943.  They moved overseas with the group in January 1944.  Prior to this move, Sgt Joe Holowach was removed from the crew.  The reason for this move and his status is unknown.  Taking his place was Sgt (Pvt?) Edward D. Kobs.  Kobs came over from Crew 24, piloted by 2Lt George W. Schumann.  Kobs was listed as a Sergeant in October 1943, but when he came to Crew 23 his rank was Private. 

A second crew change occurred when flight engineer Sgt Walter L. Libby was removed from the crew, also prior to deployment overseas.  He remained with the group, and completed his combat tour in July 1944 receiving the DFC.  It is not known which crew or crews he flew his missions with, although he flew the March 6th Berlin raid with Crew 28, pilot 1Lt Samuel Robeson.  Sgt Wadsworth, also held an engineer's rating and he moved into that position on the crew.  Taking Wadsworth's place as gunner in December 1943 was Sgt Eugene J. Valeta who flew most if not all of his missions with Crew 23 as a gunner.  Valeta completed his tour in August 1944 and was also awarded the DFC.  He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Crew 23 started their tour off with three trips in a row to Berlin.  The first, on March 3, 1944 was recalled due to weather, but the crews were credited with a sortie.  Their second, on March 6th was the first time the Eighth Air Force was able to hit Berlin in force. 

At some point during April, after flying several missions and receiving the Air Medal, Sgt Edward Kobs, having regained his rank, was removed from flying status and assigned to the 753rd Squadron as a clerk.  He finished his time with the group as an Airman Basic (MOS 521).  Taking his place was Sgt Richard W. Lockhart who was originally a clerk in the 753rd Squadron.  He was a passenger with Crew 35, pilot 1Lt Lloyd Andrew on the group’s trip to the ETO.  Like many ground personnel in the group, Lockhart decided he wanted to fly and became a gunner.  S/Sgt Lockhart completed his combat tour and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1945.

The crew flew the B-24H they ferried overseas and had named “Lorelei” on twenty-two of their missions.  The last time they flew the aircraft was on May 21st to Siracourt, France.  “Lorelei” was lost on July 11, 1944 with 1Lt Samuel Gibson’s crew when they disappeared during assembly.  No one saw the aircraft after takeoff and it is assumed that the crew and plane went into the North Sea.

 Along with the crew’s “regular” missions, they flew five AZON missions, one of which was abandoned due to weather.  Most of the crew completed their combat tour in early August, several of them receiving the DFC at this time.

For some reason, Captain DeNeffe’s sortie record cannot be reconciled with group records. Several missions that are not on this record do show in various group reports that he did participate in as a first pilot.  The list presented below is a compilation of all records and group records.

Captain DeNeffe remained with the group after his tour was complete, and was appointed the assistant station and group S3 on August 18th.  He was transferred to the 70th Replacement Depot in December 1944 and returned to the States.

On September 19, 1944, after taking a well deserved leave of absence, 1Lt Eleo Decima was transferred to AAF 122 for an “indefinite” period.  This air station was Steeple Morden, home of the 355th Fighter Group and the 2nd Scouting Force.  At this time there were several 458th pilots who had completed their tours in bombers and had also volunteered for duty with the 2nd Scouts.  Along with other navigators, Decima planned the routes that the Scouts would take to report weather conditions back to the attacking bomber force.  He remained in this position until the war in Europe ended in May 1945.