polansky Crew

All photos from the collection of David Warren

Left to right, Standing:
Sgt Sam Larson, TG
Sgt Russ Kerr, WG
Sgt Nor Knueppel, ROG
Lt Herb Glasscock, CP
F/O Adam Janowski, B

Kneeling:
Lt. John Polansky, P
Sgt J.T. Williams, ENG
Lt. Louis Kovach, NAV
Sgt Art Wayrynen, BTG

Photo taken late June, 1944 
after 10th man was reassigned
and before first combat mission

 

Left to Right:
Russ Kerr, Art Wayrynen, Sam Larson and J.T. Williams on the flightline

Photo taken August, 1944 by Nor Knueppel

Left to right, standing:
Polansky, Glasscock, Janowski

Kneeling:
Wayrynen, Larson, Williams, Kerr

Not pictured:
Kovach and Knueppel (wounded)

Photo taken after last mission,
October 17, 1944
(Unidentified 708th aircraft)

 

No. Date Target Aircraft Comments
101 06/29/44 BOHLEN Unknown Orientation mission for Kerr, Larson, Polansky
102 07/06/44 BERCK A/F (p) Unknown Orientation mission for rest of crew
104 07/07/44 MERSEBURG 42-102632 (Due Back)  
105 07/08/44 ST. ANDRE DE L'EURE / NOGENT M/Y 42-102658 (Blanco Diablo)  
106 07/11/44 MUNICH 43-37774  EM promoted one grade on 12 July Special Order No. 165
110 07/16/44 STUTTGART 43-37531 (Quien Sabe)  
111 07/18/44 CUXHAVEN N/A Co-pilot Glasscock flew as replacement on airborne spare, returned to base
113 07/20/44 MERSEBURG 43-37531 (Quien Sabe)  
114 07/21/44 REGENSBURG 43-37774  
115 07/24/44 ST. LO AREA 43-37531 (Quien Sabe)  
116 07/25/44 ST. LO AREA 42-31185 (Satchel Lass)  
117 07/27/44 OSTEND 42-102632 (Due Back)  
119 08/02/44 ST. DENNIS 42-32080 (Too Tired) Previously named Virginia Helen, was initially renamed Virgins from Hell by the crew following this mission; they were instructed by Air Exec to remove the name, and subsequently named it Too Tired in honor of comic character Li'l Abner. 
122 08/07/44 ANIZY LE CHATEAU (p) 42-32080 *  
123 08/08/44 BRETTEVILLE (p) 42-32080 *  
    3-day pass     
127 08/14/44 MANNHEIM 42-102658 (Blanco Diablo) Too Tired had been damaged by flak on prior mission 
128 08/15/44 HANDORF A/F 42-31185 (Satchel Lass)  
129 08/16/44 ROSITZ 42-32080 * F/O Adam Janowski promoted to 2Lt.
130 08/18/44 ST. DIZIER A/F (p) 42-32080 *  
131 08/24/44 BRUX 42-32080 *  
134 08/28/44 BERLIN 42-32080 *  
136 09/01/44 MAINZ 42-32080 * A/C seriously damaged by flak, no injuries 
137 09/03/44 BREST (p) 43-37756 (Milk Wagon)  
138 09/05/44 BREST (p) 42-32854  
139 09/08/44 MAINZ 43-37797 (American Beauty)  
140 09/09/44 GRASSY 42-32080 *  
141 09/10/44 GILBERSTADT 42-32080 *   
    7-day pass   Special Order No. 219   
148 09/25/44 LUDWIGSHAFEN 42-32080 * Polansky, Glasscock and Kovach promoted to 1Lt.  
149 09/26/44 BREMEN 42-32080 *  
150 09/27/44 LUDWIGSHAFEN 42-32080 * Navigator Kovach seriously wounded (flak); 107 flak holes in A/C
151 09/28/44 MERSEBURG N/A Crew flew with unknown replacement pilot this day only; bombardier Janowski wounded (flak)
152 10/02/44 KASSEL (p) 42-97400 (Fuddy Duddy)  
153 10/03/44 GILBERSTADT 42-97400 (Fuddy Duddy)  
157 10/09/44 GUSTAVSBURG 42-31185 (Satchel Lass) (Some records indicate this A/C had been salvaged prior to this date)
158 10/12/44 BREMEN 43-37797 (American Beauty)  
159 10/14/44 COLOGNE 44-6511 Flak damage, runaway prop, engine fire; forced landing at Lille, France; R.O. Knueppel wounded; damage repaired and flew home following day.
161 10/17/44 COLOGNE 42-31225 (Scheherazade)
[709th A/C]		 Some questions on who flew, except for notations in co-pilot's log that this was 35th and last mission for "P, CP and EM." Diaries and notes of several others confirm this as last mission for the crew. Kovach and Knueppel did not fly this mission.
George Hoidra, flying his first Combat Orientation mission, was replacement navigator. 

Lucky Bastard certificate courtesy of Mr. J.T. Williams