401st Bomb Group (H) Association
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Kevin Chapman
9/17/2004 12:41:54 AM
Harold J.Chapman (Jim) was the Pilot of the "Carolina Queen" 42-37809 in 615th Bomb Squadron. He was shot down over Oscherslaben on 11 Jan 1944 while on his 6th mission. He spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft 1. I have the information that is listed on this web site. I would really like to find out more about him. I have a photo of H.J Chapman and crew in front of a B17. The photo is labeled "Crew 65", with no other identifying markings. (I don't think this photo was taken in England.) I would like to find a photo of the Carolina Queen and its crew and learn more about my uncle.

Thanks

Kevin

Scott McElvain
9/19/2004 6:28:04 PM
According to my Project Bits and Pieces reference booklet, there is only one National Archive negative of Carolina Queen.  It is # 66028AC.  There's a good chance it is the crew shot you already know about, but it wouldn't hurt to check their website and ask for a copy of the one they have......
Win Bryson
9/25/2004 12:56:13 PM
Kevin:

If your photo turns out to be the same (crew members) as the National Archives' photo Scott cites, and you have the names of those in your photo, I think the 401BG would like to have that info.

The 401BG recently obtained 600-some 401BG related still pictures from the National Archives, and the 401BG has been trying to identify the crewmen in those crew photos (that the National Archives photo captions do not name).

At the 401BG Boston Reunion in August, L.A. Mitchell (I don't know his E-mail address) was collecting crew photo names. (An E-mail to this site's webmaster should get you 'connected').


Ken Badgley
4/6/2005 12:19:40 AM
"Crew 65 picture"  Today I saw an original copy of this picture with all IDs. The picture was taken sometime before Carolina Queens first mission as two of these men did not fly a mission on the Carolina Queen.

The names are as follows:
Standing left to right:
S/Sgt Charles L. Roundtree, Engineer
S/Sgt Francis Reed, Tail Gunner
S/Sgt Hugh Chaffin, Radio Operator
Sgt Denzel D. Johnson, Right Waist Gunner, asst radio
Sgt Charles S. Badura, Top Turret Gunner, asst eng.
Sgt Norman J. Fix, Ball Turret

Kneeling front row left to right:
Lt Harold J. Chapman, Pilot
Lt Carl G. Hornbuckle, Co-Pilot
Lt Harrison J. Hurlburt, Navigator
Lt Don G. Wallis, Bombardier

This information comes from Naida Hurlburt.
She can be reached c/o jhurlburt@aol.com.
She would enjoy exchanging information with you or anyone having knowledge of this crew and their plane.

Ken
Kenneth Badgley
4/6/2005 10:16:16 AM
Kevin,
If you'll look in "Flying Fortress" by Edward Jablonski on page 147 there is a photo of one of the 401st forts going down over Oscherslaben 11 Jan 44.
It would be one of the four planes lost that day.
I would think the MACR might tell you if it is your Uncle's plane in the picture.
good hunting,
Ken
Ken Badgley
4/7/2005 6:12:14 PM
Kevin,
If you go to www.donald-byers.com ,under "Gallery" you'll find another picture of Lt Chapman's crew with the men that were on the plane when it went down. This is a very good site.
Ken