458th Bombardment Group (H) - Honoring those who served with the 458th BG during World War II.

	458th Bombardment Group (H)
	Honoring those who served with the 458th BG during World War II.

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- Hess Crew - Assigned July 29, 1944

- 2Lt Glenn A. Hess Crew (L-R)

Standing: Glenn Hess - P, William Work - CP, Carl Kwiatkowski - N, Clayton McGran - B
Kneeling: Kenneth Smith - E, Charles Dykstra - RO, Robert Robinson - G, Francis Johns - G, Max Stone - G, Thomas Santilla - G
(Photo: Michael Dykstra)

- Hess Crew - Completed Tour

Name	Pos	Status	Date	Notes
1Lt Glenn A. Hess	P	CT	28 Feb 1945	Completed missions
1Lt William G. Work	CP	CT	28 Feb 1945	Completed missions
1Lt Carl C. Kwiatkowski	N	CT	28 Feb 1945	Completed missions
2Lt Clayton E. McGran	B	CT	Mar/Apr 1945	Completed missions
S/Sgt Kenneth S. Smith	TT/E	CT	28 Feb 1945	Completed missions
T/Sgt Charles Dykstra	RO	CT	28 Feb 1945	Completed missions
S/Sgt Robert H. Robinson	G	CT	28 Feb 1945	Completed missions
S/Sgt Francis R. Johns	G	CT	27 Feb 1945	Completed missions
S/Sgt Max E. Stone	G	CT	22 Feb 1945	Completed missions
Sgt Thomas L. Santilla	G	RFS	Sept 1944	Removed from Flying Status

2Lt Glenn Hess and crew came to the 754th Bombardment Squadron at the end of July 1944. Their first mission, on August 9th, did not make for an auspicious start. The crew were forced to abort due to engine trouble and crash-landed back at Horsham St. Faith. They more than made up for that disastrous first mission, however, completing the remainder of their 35 without an abort. All but two of the crew's missions were flown against targets in Germany.

Sgt Thomas L. Santilla had trained with the crew as a gunner in the States. Shortly after their arrival in England he had to be relieved of flying duties due to stomach ulcers. It is believed that he was sent Stateside.

F/O Clayton E. McGran, bombardier, appears to have been removed from the crew at some point, possibly assigned as a lead navigator/bombardier. He is shown next to SPOTTED APE, the 458th's second assembly ship holding a map (see photo below). McGran was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant during the winter of 1944/45. Group records show that he went on Rest Home leave on March 4, 1945 - about a week after the crew completed their tour.

- Hess Crew Missions

Date	Target	A/C Serial	RCL	SQDN	A/C Name	458th Sortie #	Pilot Msn #	Notes
9-Aug-1944	SAARBRUCKEN	42-95163	K	Z5	DIXIE BELLE	109	ABT	CRASH LANDED AAF 123
14-Aug-1944	DOLE/TAVAUX	42-95018	J	Z5	OLD DOC'S YACHT	113	1
24-Aug-1944	HANNOVER	42-110059	T	Z5	PAPPY YOKUM	117	2
1-Sep-1944	PFAFFENHOFFEN	42-110059	T	Z5	PAPPY YOKUM	--	--	ABANDONED
5-Sep-1944	KARLSRUHE	42-110059	T	Z5	PAPPY YOKUM	121	3
8-Sep-1944	KARLSRUHE	42-110059	T	Z5	PAPPY YOKUM	122	4
11-Sep-1944	MAGDEBURG	42-110059	T	Z5	PAPPY YOKUM	125	5
5-Oct-1944	PADERBORN	42-51199	U	Z5	UNKNOWN (if any)	127	6
6-Oct-1944	WENZENDORF	42-110070	K	Z5	ELMER / LADY LUCK	128	7
7-Oct-1944	MAGDEBURG	UNK	V	--		129	8	REC'S INCOMPLETE
9-Oct-1944	KOBLENZ	42-110070	K	Z5	ELMER / LADY LUCK	130	9
19-Oct-1944	MAINZ	44-40298	E	Z5	THE SHACK	135	10
26-Oct-1944	MINDEN	42-95108	B	Z5	ENVY OF 'EM ALL II	137	11
4-Nov-1944	MISBURG	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	140	12
6-Nov-1944	MINDEN	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	142	13
9-Nov-1944	METZ AREA	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	144	14
16-Nov-1944	ESCHWEILER	42-95018	J	Z5	OLD DOC'S YACHT	146	15
25-Nov-1944	BINGEN	41-29596	R	Z5	HELL'S ANGEL'S	148	16
30-Nov-1944	HOMBURG	--	--	--		151	17	NO FORM PLAN (SQ REC'S)
11-Dec-1944	HANAU	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	155	18
12-Dec-1944	HANAU	44-40126	L	Z5	SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP	156	19
24-Dec-1944	SCHONECKEN	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	157	20
28-Dec-1944	ST. WENDEL	42-95108	B	Z5	ENVY OF 'EM ALL II	160	21
30-Dec-1944	NEUWIED	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	161	22
31-Dec-1944	KOBLENZ	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	162	23
2-Jan-1945	REMAGEN	42-51179	P	Z5	GIPSY QUEEN	164	24
7-Jan-1945	RASTATT	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	166	25
8-Jan-1945	STADTKYLL	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	167	26
10-Jan-1945	SCHONBERG	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	168	27
14-Jan-1945	HALLENDORF	--	--	--		170	MSHL	MARSHALLING CREW
21-Jan-1945	HEILBRONN	44-40126	L	Z5	SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP	173	28
29-Jan-1945	MUNSTER	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	175	29
6-Feb-1945	MAGDEBURG	42-95120	M	Z5	HOOKEM COW / BETTY	178	30
9-Feb-1945	MAGDEBURG	42-95120	M	Z5	HOOKEM COW / BETTY	179	31
14-Feb-1945	MAGDEBURG	--	--	--		181	MSHL	MARSHALLING CREW
15-Feb-1945	MAGDEBURG	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	182	32
19-Feb-1945	MESCHADE	42-95108	B	Z5	ENVY OF 'EM ALL II	184	33
21-Feb-1945	NUREMBERG	41-28697	Z	Z5	SPOTTED APE	185	ASSY	ASSEMBLY CREW
22-Feb-1945	PEINE-HILDESHEIM	42-95108	B	Z5	ENVY OF 'EM ALL II	186	34
27-Feb-1945	HALLE	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	191	35
28-Feb-1945	BIELEFELD	42-51196	Q	J3	x x x x x QUEEN	192	36
2-Mar-1945	MAGDEBURG	--	--	--		194	MSHL	MARSHALLING CREW

Compiled from 458th Formation Plans

- Hess Crew - After 2nd mission

- Hess Crew (L-R)

Standing: Thomas Santilla, Glenn Hess, William Work, Carl Kwiatkowski, Clayton McGran
Kneeling: Kenneth Smith, Francis Johns, Robert Robinson, Charles Dykstra, Max Stone
(Photo: Michael Dykstra)

- August 9, 1944 - Landing Accident

- Accident Report Statements

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

About 0945, 9 August 1944, B 24 H, 42-95163, called in for landing instructions to AAF Station 123 after aborting from an operational mission. No 1 engine was feathered and A/C had salvoed it’s bombs in the North Sea, but was unable to close the bomb-bay doors.

The pilot Lieutenant HESS, was not able to get properly aligned with R/W 23, tried to go around, but he could not gain airspeed. The A/C crash landed in the middle of the airfield. No one was hurt but the A/C was completely destroyed.

RECOMMENDATION: That pilots be carefully briefed that first attempt must be made on all non 4 engine landings.

STATEMENT of 2d Lt. GLENN A. HESS, 0-702277, AC 754^th Bomb Sq (H), 458^th Bomb Gp (H). PILOT.

On 9 Aug 44 we started on an operational mission at 8000 feet. #1 Supercharger went out. At forming altitude (16,000 ft) #1 prop ran away. We feathered #1 and jettisoned the bombs in the channel, having trouble doing so. After getting the bombs away, the bomb doors wouldn’t close. The Engineer tried without success to close them.