There are overlaps within the Hahn Crew and Mission #22 Sections.
Capt Hahn flew 15 missions on A Square 28, Serial Number 42- 63423,
but it is impossible to know if the entire crew was on all of them.
Part of Reel B0662 from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
( AFHRA )
includes the 497th Bomb Group.
There is no roster of 497th Bomb Group officers within the many pages
of this reel.
Thus it is impossible with the documents in my possession
to state when the crew came together as a unit.
Within the Introduction section are a few details
concerning the early stages of the 497th.
The unit was established at Clovis AAF with four bomb squadrons :
869 870 871 and 872
Lt Edman and Capt Hahn were with the 872nd in early April 1944
and then transferred to Pratt AAF.
Shortly after their arrival, the 872nd was dissolved and
the men transferred to one of the other three Squadrons.
Capt Hahn and Lt Edman were transferred to the 870th Bomb Squadron
where they would remain until their B-29 was lost on 27 Jan 1945.
Flight Echelon
Each B-29 that departed Herington AAF had a Ground Crew Chief ( MOS
750 )
on board to take care of any mechanical issues that would arise
during the flights from Herington to Saipan.
One man of the regular crew ( Chester Cyran ) was assigned to the
Air Echelon.
The first concrete information showing all but one of the crew members
is in the below Special Orders 236 issued at Pratt on 28 August 1944.
The Hahn Crew is #24. There is no Right Gunner and there are two passengers.
Lt La Moglia was one of the Radar Counter Measure ( RCM ) Officers
in the 870th Squadron and not assigned to any one crew.
The Hahn Crew departed Pratt for Herington
where they picked up their B-29.
Below is the 870th Bomb Squadron Morning Report for 7 October 1944.
This lists the five officers and 5 of the regular crew along
with two passengers, one who is Ground Crew Chief.
This is followed by the Movement Order.
Air Echelon
Those crews without their own B-29 traveled to Saipan with the Air
Echelon.
The first part of their travels was by rail to Hamilton AAF, Novato,
California.
They then flew on C-54s to Hickam AAF, Honolulu, continuing on to
Saipan.
At the bottom is page from the Long Haul with list of first
Flight Echelon Crews that flew from Kansas to Saipan.
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