Sklansky - #9-1
Standing L-R: Sklansky, S. Steven (P); Gress, Raymond A. (CP); Grew, Raymond E. (N); Goodfriend, Sherman (B)
Kneeling L-R: Barefield, William S. (E); Robinson, Donald D. (RO/WG) [KIA]; Erwin, Robert E. (BG); Kennedy, John L. (NG); Mikelson, Waldo L. (WG); Salas, Jose M. (TG)
Kennedy, Salas and Robinson were replaced by Douglas A. Clarkson (612 - 11138361), Wm. R. Bower, Jr. (612 - 33832921), and Richard A. Trope.
Back Row L-R: Barefield, William S. (E); Mikelson, Waldo L. (WG); Clarkson, Douglas A. (G); Bower, Jr., Wm. R. (G); Trope, Richard A.; Irwin
Front Row L-R: Sklansky, S. Steven (P); Goodfriend, Sherman (B); Messershmit (N); Gress, Raymond A. (CP)
Jose Salas was assigned to the Freeman crew on July 25, 1944. During that mission, the Freeman crew was shot down. Jose has documented this event. You can read about it by clicking on his name.
John L. Kennedy was the nose gunner on the Sklansky crew #9-1, but on 25 July 1944, he was picked to fly with the Mitchell crew #12. That crew was lost lost due to flak and enemy fighters. There are two different stories concerning the death of Kennedy. One story says Kennedy was killed on 25 July 1944. Another story says he was a POW until 25 October 1944 when he was executed along with some Russian prisoners.