The McCormick 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.

McCormick's crew started their combat tour with three AZON missions.  On their third mission on June 15th, Sgt Raymond F. Tomlinson was killed by flak in the nose turret and damage to the plane forced them to land at another base.  S/Sgt Frederick D. Slocum came to the crew to fill in for this loss.  Shortly after this, S/Sgt Stanley A. Kowal, radio operator, was removed from flying status and T/Sgt Afton L. Brannon took his place.  "Lloyd" Brannon had been a clerk-typist in the 753rd Squadron, but took the training to be a radio operator and was reclassified on June 22, 1944.  He joined McCormick's crew at that time.  In July, S/Sgt Leo W. Sparkman had enough of combat flying and was removed from flying status.  His position was filled by Sgt Frank Limbert, a gunner on the crew who was also qualified as engineer.

Two gunners from the Lansing crew (AZON 04) were assigned to fill the empty positions on McCormick's crew.  Most of Lansing's crew had been transferred to the 388th BG in July, but the navigator and two gunners remained with the 458th.  S/Sgt Harold L. Matthews and S/Sgt John W. Smith took over for Sgt Limbert and Sgt George B. Brison.  The status of Sgt Brison is currently unknown as there is nothing further about him in group or squadron records.

The engineer on the Piskin crew (AZON 08), Sgt Donald R. Shannon, kept an incredibly detailed diary.  Part of his entry for the August 6, 1944 mission to Hamburg, Germany reads,

"Lt McCormick was hit in the leg as they crossed the coast going in, but said nothing to his crew until they were over the Channel coming home.  No bones were broken and he will be out of the hospital in a month".  

Taking McCormick's place as pilot was 1Lt Melvin E. Fields, co-pilot from the Matze crew (AZON 05).  It is believed that Fields took this crew over until the completion of their tour in December 1944.  McCormick resumed flying in December and completed his tour in March 1945.  It is not known which crew or crews he flew with. 

For the sake of clarity, the following is a list of the additional crew members who flew on McCormick's crew:

S/Sgt Frederick D. Slocum - gunner
T/Sgt Afton L. Brannon - radio operator
S/Sgt Harold L. Matthews - gunner
S/Sgt John W. Smith - gunner
1Lt Melvin E. Fields - pilot