The Lansing crew was one of ten crews specially trained in the AZON project.  They came to the 753rd Squadron as a group in May 1944 and participated in several AZON missions in May and June 1944.

Lansing's crew flew B-24 44-40264 "Kiss Me Baby" to the ETO.

Their tenure in the 458th was short.  Two AZON crews, along with members of a third were transferred to the 388th Bombardment Group (H) at Knettishall in July 1944.  The combat records and status of these crews with this group is unknown.  Two gunners of Lansing's crew, Sgt Harold L. Matthews and Sgt John W. Smith remained with the 753rd Squadron, flew additonal missions as part of McCormick's crew (AZON 06) successfully completing their combat tours in January and March 1945 respectively and were rotated back to the States.

Lt Joseph Nelson, Lansing's navigator, also remained with the 458th and had this to say about his service, "We did combat crew training at March Field, Riverside, CA.  We were selected as an AZON crew and did practice missions at Pinecastle AB near Orlando, FL dropping live 1000 pound AZON bombs on marked ground targets.  Operations personnel were virtually non-existent and we flight crews loaded our own bombs by hand winch.  Our training followed with orders transferring us to CBI, but en route over the South Atlantic southern crossing, our orders were changed to report to the UK.  Our gunners were put on a troop ship and we never saw them again.  They apparently went to the CBI Theater.  After several missions at bridge busting it was decided that the B-24 was too unstable a platform at high altitude to continue.  Several crews were selected to transfer the AZON activity to B-17 bombers.  At this point I chose to fly regular combat as a substitute navigator in the 753rd Squadron, flying at times with some of the crews who had originally been with the AZON group, in addition to lead crew duty as a pilotage navigator in nose turret with maps while manning the twin .50's.  During my experience as a sub, I flew with some very green crews on their first or early missions in their tour.  Since I was combat experienced, I guess psychologically I was being used as a stabilizing presence.  Unfortunately, at least two of the crews I had flown with were lost due to combat or accident.  I was very fortunate."

Taking Lt Nelson's place as navigator in the transfer was 2Lt Alfred E. Peterson, the navigator from Captain Maurice E. Speer's crew (AZON Crew 09).

The status of S/Sgt Leonard E. Saltiel, gunner, and Sgt Ralph J. Beauchamp, gunner is unknown. It is possible that S/Sgt Saltiel went on to fly missions with the 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean.

Lansing's crew was credited with four combat sorties while with the 458th, all AZON missions.

                                                                                        Mission list compiled from 458th group records

Photo courtesy: Anne Zimmer

1Lt Joseph Nelson after his 35th and final mission as a substitute navigator with the McCormick crew

Photo courtesy: Joe Nelson