The Elite Crew

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The Elite Crew

Upon loss of crew 41 on the 22 December 43 a replacement crew arrived on the 24 Dec.43.It is believed that crew was given the same number --Crew 41. Stanley painted on the back of each crew members Flight Jacket an AMERICAN EAGLE and the crew called themselves "The Elite Crew"

Crew Members were:

Lt. William Bonner-- Lt. John Richmond -- Lt Robert Johnston-- Lt.Thomas Kavala

Sgt.'s Jean Beaulieu---Carl Ehret--Stanley Zaborowski--Vito Bonovitch--Warren Mounsey--William Venslyke

Stanley took his final Flight on 28 Feb 2005

1943-----------------2003

General Orders Number 31, Headquarters Eighth Air Force, dated 29 April 1944. Stanley Zaborowski Jr., 16151199, Staff Sergeant, 714th Bombardment Squadron, 448 Bombardment Group (H), Army Air Force, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement, while serving as Tail Gunner on twenty bombardment missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe. Displaying great courage and skill, Sergeant Zaborowski, fighting from his gun position, had destroyed one enemy airplane, warded off many enemy attacks, and has materially aided in the success of each of twenty missions. The courage, coolness, and skill displayed by Sergeant Zaborowski on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

By command of Lieutenant General Doolittle.

Signed: John A. Samford

Brigadier General, USA

Chief of Staff

SAD SACK & SOME OF THE CREW

SMSG Stanley Zaborowski USAF (Ret--1974) & Family

A Note from My Pilot John Williams Crew 48:

I knew William Bonner---also Thomas Kavala-------Kavala spoke Russian and higher ups tried to get him to go to Russia to coordinate over top flights--he refused---- Bonner and I were in the same basic flight training when they pulled he and another student and sent them to multi engine training on an experiment---they were in our quonset hut after Hughey was lost---this seemed to pop into my head when I saw the elite crew list----so much forgotten-----------------------------John

Crew #41 (or was it #49 or whatever)

Funny how one forgets some things but remembers others. I completed Armament school in Denver, CO.. Some of us were sent to Pocatello (or was it Boise. Idaho) I can' t recall which came first but I was sent there to become part of a B-24 crew. When I arrived I was assigned to the crew that had this huge Texan as Pilot (Bill Bonner) and some kid who looked like he just got out of high school as co-pilot (John Richmond). I just turned 19 myself but after basic training, gunnery school and armament school, I aged, Most of our flight training was local flights around Idaho and Washington - swinging compasses and practice bombings. We did go cross-country once to Fairfield Susan Air Base out of San Francisco--- Read the rest of his story and the missions he flew on the members page---

http://www.dfcsociety-nw.org

Stanley's Diary is on the above site on stories by members:

http://www.dfcsociety-nw.org/

7 june 05

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