The Merrill Crew

THE MERRILL CREW

updated 9 Feb 2016

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Missions of the 497th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)

The below crew photos are courtesy of Paula Merrill,
daughter of Major Keith Nelson Merrill

Individual photos and identification of crew members are courtesy of Rolland Swank ,John M Hill, and Dan Jacobson, nephew of Lt Buford Johnson. Without their involvement, only three of these men would have been identified.

Additional assistance provided by Scott Muselin
December 2015

This photo was taken early February 1945 on Saipan.
Lt Guy and Lt Peterson were not on Miss Hap the night of 3-4 July 1945

1st Lt. Buford P. Johnson was with the Keith Whitaker Crew during February 1945
1st Lt. William D.Wilson joined the Merrill Crew in _______ 1945

Also missing in this picture are Lt Col John H Griffith and 1st Lt Joseph V La Moglia
They were flying as observer and Group RCM Officer, respectively, on the Kochi mission

Mission Completion Report
19 Feb 45
Mission # 26

Seven Mission Completion Reports can be viewed in PDF format at the Group Highlights page

Major Keith N. Merrill AM (OLC) DFC (OLC) Courtesy of Paula Merrill Born 1 February 1920 Graham County, Arizona Parents Philamon and Thurza Drew Merrill Funeral Service Part 1 Funeral Service Part 2 Courtesy of Paula Merrill	TSgt. Edward F. Gawron AM (OLC) DFC Born 1925 Enlisted 4 March 1943 Albany, New York Four years of high school
1st Lt. Walter H. Fike, Jr AM (OLC) DFC Born 17 October 1923 Wilmington California Parents Walter H. and Edna Fike Married Mildred V. Daigh 1943 Enlisted 1 April 1943 Los Angeles, California Two years of college	TSgt. Kurt J. Hermann II AM (OLC) DFC Born 1918 Enlisted 28 August 1942 New York City One Year of college Article from the Seattle Times 6 Aug 45
1st Lt. Buford P. Johnson Courtesy of Dan Jacobson Born 1918 Graduated 1939 from University of Minnesota Enlisted 25 September 1941 Fort Snelling, Minnesota Aviation Cadet	SSgt. Harry R. Hill AM ( OLC) DFC Born 10 April 1916 Parents Ezra Packer Hill and Elsie "Pansy" Hill 2nd of 4 children US Census 1920 living in Kewanee, Illinois US Census 1930 living in Neponset, Illinois Married to Mary Hill US 1940 Census shows son Robert, age 1 Memorial Marker Neponset Cemetery Neponset, Illinois
1st Lt. William D. Wilson Born 1921 Enlisted 9 January 1943 Atlanta, Georgia Air Corps Two years college	SSgt. James K. Keenan AM (OLC) DFC (OLC) Born 1922 Enlisted 29 February 1944 Boston, Massachusetts
1st Lt. Patrick B. Quinn AM (OLC) DFC Beeville Bee-Picayune 2 August 1945 Thanks to Cynthia Blatherwick Public Services Librarian Joe Barnhart Bee County Library	SSgt. John L. Powell AM (OLC) DFC Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama Parents C. Bennie and Lilla Powell Born 23 March 1917 4th of 9 children 1940 census: working as cafe waiter
Sgt. John T. Jenkins AM (OLC) DFC Clairton, Pennsylvania Parents : Joseph J and Anne (Anna) Jenkins Born 12 February 1923 Maryland Enlisted 30 June 1942 Domestic service until 28 Feb 45 Foreign service 28 Feb - 3 July 45

Lt. Col. John H Griffith AM (OLC) DFC (OLC)	1st Lt Joseph V La Moglia AM ( OLC)

Lt Col. John H. Griffith
Wellsboro (Pennsylvania) Gazette 26 May 1949

Emporia Gazette 1 March 1945

At the time this column was written, Lt. Col. Griffith was Squadron Commander, 875th Bomb Squad.
The nephew mentioned in the first sentence is 1st. Lt. Jack T. Bales, 875th Squadron RCM Officer.
On 26 Feb 1945, Lt. Col. Griffith was assigned to the 497th Bomb Group as Deputy Commander.

Lt. Colonel John H. Griffith biography
February 1945 Narrative History

Sources: 497th Bomb Group Narrative History
498th Bomb Group Narrative History
Owen V. Johnson, PhD
Indiana University

TSgt. Kurt Hermann II

Seattle Times
Monday, 6 Aug 1945