|
George and Joseph Klaput,
thought to be the only identical twins flying on
the same crew in the same unit
|
|
Hodges Crew
Photos courtesy of Mr. Art
Durante, Jr. and Mr. Jack Keller
Additional information from Mr. Dante Pettit
| |
|
| - 8/43 |
Moses Lake, WA |
| 08/43 - 11/43 |
Harvard, NE |
| 11/43 |
In Transit (Hodges flew with command
staff, rest by sea) |
| 12/43 - 04/44 |
711th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK |
| Missions flown: |
varies by crew member |
Left to right
Hodges, Pettit, Durante, Smith, Nevills and Joerger
not pictured: Baker, Ruttledge and the Klaput brothers.
Undated photo, unidentified aircraft
 Due to losses, the Hodges crew
flew only a few missions together. Following the loss of four members on
February 28, the rest of the crew often filled in as replacements for
other crews. Six were captured or interned. Only two completed their
tour.
|
No. |
Date |
Target |
Aircraft
(Hodges as 1st Pilot) |
Comments |
| 3 |
12/30/43 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
|
Flying with
command pilot |
| 4 |
01/04/44 |
KIEL |
42-32108 |
|
| 7 |
01/11/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
42-32206 |
|
| 8 |
01/14/44 |
NOBALL NO. 107
GRAND PARC |
42-32206 |
|
| 11 |
01/29/44 |
FRANKFURT |
42-32204 |
|
| 12 |
01/30/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
42-32161 |
|
| 13 |
02/03/44 |
WILHELMSHAVEN |
42-32204 |
|
| 15 |
02/05/44 |
ROMILLY |
42-32144 |
|
| 16 |
02/06/44 |
EVREUX-FAUVILLE |
42-97497 "Tuxedo Tommy" |
|
| 19 |
02/13/44 |
NOBALL NO.S 110, 78 |
42-32155 |
|
| 20 |
02/20/44 |
TUTOW |
42-32204 |
|
| 24 |
02/28/44 |
NOBALL NO. 74
BOIS DE LA JUSTICE |
|
Hodges didn't fly
this day.
Pettit and Joerger killed, flying with Lt. Fouts.
Baker and Rutledge in another plane, bailed out and were captured. |
| 25 |
02/29/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
42-97501 "Gum Chum" |
|
| 26 |
03/03/44 |
BERLIN - RECALL |
42-39882 |
|
| 27 |
03/09/44 |
BERLIN |
|
|
| 28 |
03/15/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
|
|
| 29 |
03/16/44 |
AUGSBURG |
|
|
| 30 |
03/15/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
|
|
| 31 |
03/16/44 |
AUGSBURG |
|
Durante down with
Huckins, captured |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Although not listed as first
pilot on the mission summaries currently available, Lt. Hodges continued
to fly until April 13, when he and Smith were on board an aircraft that
made a forced landing in Switzerland. |
| The
Crew: |
| Pilot |
Lt. James M.
Hodges |
Interned 4/13/44
in Switzerland |
| Co-Pilot |
Lt. Harry R.
Pettit, Jr. |
KIA 02/28/44
flying with Lt. Fouts |
| Navigator |
Lt. Arthur A.
Durante |
POW 03/16/44
flying with Lt. Huckins |
| Bombardier |
Lt. Jesse T.
Smith, Jr. |
Interned 4/13/44
in Switzerland |
| Engineer |
Sgt. Donald M.
Nevills |
Reassigned to
Leigh crew |
| Radio
Operator |
Sgt. Karl F.
Joerger |
KIA 02/28/44
flying with Lt. Fouts |
| Waist Gunner |
Sgt. William T.
Baker |
POW 02/28/44 |
| Waist Gunner |
Sgt. Raymond H.
Rutledge, Jr. |
POW 02/28/44 |
| Ball Turret
Gunner |
Sgt. George E.
Klaput |
Completed tour |
| Tail Gunner |
Sgt. Joseph H.
Klaput |
POW 05/12/44
flying with Lt. Pettus |
|
George and Joe Klaput were the only twins ever to serve together on
the same crew, not to mention in the same unit. Somehow they convinced
the Air Force to set aside its policy forbidding brothers to serve
together. |
|
|
