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Matze Crew (AZON 05) - Assigned 753rd Squadron -26 May 1944 |
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1Lt Gerald W. Matze Crew (L-R) |
Standing: Gerry Matze - P, Arthur Smith - N, Charles Bullard - B, Mel Fields - CP, Clarence Ferris - E
Kneeling: Mike Agresta - RO, Sgt Ackerman - G, Sgt Peyran - TG, Sgt Paglia - WG, Sgt Leoguomiglio - 2E/WG
Four Gunners: Not assigned with the crew
(Photo: Tom Bullard)
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Matze Crew - Completed Tour |
| Name |
Pos |
Status |
Date |
Notes |
| 1Lt Gerald W. Matze |
P |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| 1Lt Melvin E. Fields |
CP |
CT |
Dec 1944 |
Awarded DFC |
| 1Lt Arthur L. Smith |
N |
CT |
Dec 1944 |
Awarded DFC |
| 1Lt Charles W. Bullard |
B |
CT |
Feb 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| T/Sgt Clarence W. Ferris |
E |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| T/Sgt Michael P. Agresta |
RO |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| S/Sgt James P. Keel |
NTG |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| S/Sgt Albert J. Pizzaca |
TTG |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| S/Sgt Adolph Janowski |
BTG |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
| S/Sgt Karl E. Van Kuran, Jr. |
TG |
CT |
Mar 1945 |
Awarded DFC |
The Matze 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 June and September 1944.
The Matze crew flew 44-40277 "Miss Used" from the States.
According to available records, the Matze crew flew two AZON missions in June and one in September, just prior to the project being abandoned. In between that time they flew a number of non-AZON missions with the 753rd. The crew must have excelled at their job, for on October 23rd, when the 755th Squadron became the group's lead crew squadron, Matze and crew were transferred to be a lead crew. After training the month of October, they flew the remainder of their missions between November 1944 - February 1945.
Mel Fields, co-pilot, is listed on formation plans as a first pilot on one of the final AZON missions on September 1, 1944. When pilot 2Lt Patrick McCormick (AZON 06) was wounded on August 6th, Fields took over as pilot for this crew. After the Matze crew was transferred to the 755th, Fields remained in the 753rd Squadron and flew the remainder of his missions there. The co-pilot position on Matze's crew in the 755th was filled by various command pilots.
Both Fields and Matze would be promoted to Captain before leaving the 458th in January and March 1945 respectively.
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Matze Crew missions |
|
DATE |
TARGET |
PILOT |
458th Msn # |
Pilot Msn# |
Cmd Pilot |
LD |
Serial |
RCL |
Sqdn |
A/C Msn # |
A/C Name |
MIA |
Notes |
|
14-Jun-1944 |
5 TARGETS |
MATZE |
AZ 6 |
1 |
|
|
44-40277 |
P |
J4 |
2 |
MISS USED |
|
|
|
15-Jun-1944 |
3 RAILWAY BRIDGES |
MATZE |
AZ 7 |
2 |
|
|
44-40277 |
P |
J4 |
3 |
MISS USED |
|
|
|
5-Jul-1944 |
LE COULET, BEL A/F |
MATZE |
84 |
3 |
|
|
42-95316 |
N |
J3 |
22 |
PRINCESS PAT |
|
|
|
13-Jul-1944 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
MATZE |
90 |
ABT |
|
|
41-29340 |
N |
7V |
-- |
YANKEE BUZZ BOMB |
|
ABORT |
|
18-Jul-1944 |
TROARN |
MATZE |
93 |
4 |
|
|
42-52457 |
Q |
7V |
42 |
FINAL APPROACH |
|
|
|
19-Jul-1944 |
KEMPTEN |
MATZE |
94 |
5 |
|
|
41-28709 |
I |
7V |
25 |
LUCKY STRIKE |
|
|
|
20-Jul-1944 |
EISENACH |
MATZE |
95 |
6 |
|
|
44-40134 |
R |
J4 |
3 |
UNKNOWN 039 |
|
|
|
24-Jul-1944 |
ST. LO AREA |
MATZE |
97 |
7 |
|
|
44-40281 |
Q |
J4 |
5 |
A DOG'S LIFE |
|
|
|
25-Jul-1944 |
ST. LO AREA "B" |
MATZE |
98 |
8 |
|
|
44-40134 |
L |
J4 |
6 |
UNKNOWN 039 |
|
|
|
1-Aug-1944 |
T.O.s FRANCE |
MATZE |
100 |
9 |
|
|
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
5 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
3-Aug-1944 |
2 NO BALLS |
MATZE |
102 |
10 |
|
|
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
6 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
5-Aug-1944 |
BRUNSWICK/WAGGUM |
MATZE |
105 |
11 |
|
|
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
8 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
15-Aug-1944 |
VECHTA |
MATZE |
114 |
12 |
|
|
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
9 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
18-Aug-1944 |
WOIPPY |
MATZE |
116 |
13 |
|
|
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
10 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
1-Sep-1944 |
RAVENSTEIN, HOL |
MATZE |
AZ 14 |
14 |
HENSLER |
|
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
11 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
5-Sep-1944 |
KARLSRUHE |
MATZE |
121 |
15 |
GORRELL |
L2 |
44-40264 |
K |
J4 |
12 |
KISS ME BABY |
|
|
|
6-Oct-1944 |
WENZENDORF |
MATZE |
128 |
16 |
|
|
44-40275 |
L |
J4 |
12 |
SHACK TIME |
|
|
|
4-Nov-1944 |
MISBURG |
MATZE |
140 |
17 |
DARELIUS |
D1 |
44-49544 |
E+ |
J3 |
4 |
OH MONA! |
|
|
|
8-Nov-1944 |
RHEINE |
MATZE |
143 |
18 |
BETZOLD |
L |
42-51939 |
G+ |
J3 |
5 |
UNKNOWN 028 |
|
|
|
25-Nov-1944 |
BINGEN |
MATZE |
148 |
19 |
DARELIUS |
L1 |
42-50954 |
A+ |
J3 |
7 |
UNKNOWN 021 |
|
|
|
27-Dec-1944 |
NEUNKIRCHEN |
MATZE |
159 |
20 |
BETZOLD |
L2 |
42-95610 |
D |
J3 |
9 |
UNKNOWN 037 |
|
|
|
31-Dec-1944 |
KOBLENZ |
MATZE |
162 |
21 |
BETZOLD |
L2 |
44-49743 |
F |
J3 |
5 |
EASTERN BEAST |
|
|
|
14-Jan-1945 |
HALLENDORF |
MATZE |
170 |
22 |
BREEDING |
D1 |
44-49743 |
F |
J3 |
6 |
EASTERN BEAST |
|
|
|
17-Jan-1945 |
HARBURG |
MATZE |
172 |
MSHL |
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
755TH MARSHALL |
|
21-Jan-1945 |
HEILBRONN |
MATZE |
173 |
23 |
QUINN |
D1 |
44-49743 |
F |
J3 |
7 |
EASTERN BEAST |
|
|
|
28-Jan-1945 |
DORTMUND |
MATZE |
174 |
MSHL |
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
|
19-Feb-1945 |
MESCHADE |
MATZE |
184 |
24 |
BLACK |
L |
42-95557 |
H |
J3 |
22 |
LADY PEACE |
|
|
|
21-Feb-1945 |
NUREMBERG |
MATZE |
185 |
MSHL |
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
755TH MARSHALL |
|
26-Feb-1945 |
BERLIN |
MATZE |
190 |
25 |
|
|
42-95628 |
K |
J3 |
14 |
UNKNOWN 037 |
|
|
Missions compiled from 458th group records
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Matze Crew Spring 1944 |
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Matze Crew (L-R) |
Standing: Gerry Matze - P, Art Smith - N, Chuck Bullard - B, Mel Fields - CP
Middle: "Pop" Ferris - E, Karl Van Kuran - TG, Mike Agresta - RO, "Tex" Janowski - LWG
Front: Jim Keel - NTG, Al Pizzaca - RWG
(Photo: Tom Bullard)
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B-24J 44-40277 P J4 "Miss Used" |
"Miss Used"
Photo courtesy: Mike Bailey
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Mel Fields missions as first pilot | |
