Parsonson - #14-3
Standing L-R: Rosulek, Robert L. (B); Olson, Dwight B. (CP); Parsonson, Ernest C. (P); Levin, Daniel I. (N)
Kneeling L-R: Worrell, James E. (RO/WG); Brockman, Perry F. (Arm/BTG); Mills, Jerry M. (WG); Wieland, Roy J. (NG); Kiser, Willie F. Jr. (E/TTG); Bowlsby, Clyde W. (TG)
Courtesy of Chuck Parsonson
Capt. Ernest Parsonson
Courtesy of Chuck Parsonson
Capt. Ernest Parsonson and Johnson
Courtesy of Chuck Parsonson
Although this aircraft was not shot down, it was damaged on 19 January 1945 and lost three crewmen. As a result, MACR 11534 was created.
Courtesy of Chuck Parsonson
Here is the picture of #19, taken at Dakar on 3 June 1945 while on the way back to the USA. The people in the photo include Perry Brockman sitting against the wheel, Clyde Bowlsby standing in front, and Dan Levin (the navigator) sitting in the pilot's seat. If you take a close look at the 19, you will see a number of patches as a result of flak hits. This is also the same plane mentioned in Mission #163 to the Brod Railroad Bridge that caught fire. Dad put out the fire and Maj. Mixon told him that he has been watching him because, if he went out the bomb bay, Mixon was going to be right behind him. #19 had joined the squadron shortly after Dad (October 1944) and was originally designed as a night intruder and Mickey ship. The props had been coated with a black tar, which was supposed to aid in de‑icing. After a pilot complained that he couldn't stay in formation with all the tar on the props, they were immediately cleaned off. Dad had also been told he could expect to take the plane out on night missions because he had so much more flight time than other pilots when he joined the squadron, but they stopped flying night missions shortly thereafter.
The
following was submitted by Todd Wieland. It's a letter written by
his father, Roy Wieland to Daniel Levin.
Courtesy of Chuck Parsonson
V-Mail from Dwight Olson to Ernest Parsonson