Hefling - #09
Standing L-R: Kincaid, Frank N. (TG); Hoffman, Joseph P. 'Joe' (E/RWG); Elzeer, Norman L. 'Norm' (E/TTG); Weber, Raymond J. 'Ray' (BTG); Martin, John P. [KLOD] (RO/LWG)
Kneeling L-R: Pfister, Karl A. 'Karl' (N); Stillman, H. Richard 'Dick' (CP); Robert Hefling (P); Wellborn Robert L. 'Bob' (B); Chappell, Frank J. (NG)
From Sue (Weber) Brown, I received the following:
"Also, my dad and his crew were flying the Chippiedall on it's 44th and final mission on June 11, 1944. Their plane was out of commission with mechanical problems so they were assigned to the Chippiedall for that particular mission. The Missions list for June 11, 1944, says Lt. Hefling's crew was "lost" on that mission, but they actually ALL made it back after bailing out over Yugoslavia and being hidden from the Germans for two months by the Chetniks. They were among the 500+ airmen who were rescued during the Halyard Mission and, with only one exception (John Martin), they all lived well into their 60's and beyond. They got together frequently for more than 30 years after the war was over, starting a few years before I was born, so I got to know all of them (and all the "war stories") quite well. Lt. Stillman was my favorite, so when I saw his name was not listed under the picture, I couldn't let it go."