Crew #39r1. 2/Lt Jack L. Burwell

Credits: Thanks to 1/Lt Robert H. Crowther (Radarman) and to John and Joan Potenza, children of John A. Potenza, (CFC) for information about this crew.

The Air Crew

Crew #FP-112-AE 43 included the following individuals:

2/Lt John L. “Jack” Burwell (A/C)
F/O James C. Boone (Pilot)
2/Lt Conrad J. Keebler (Navigator)
2/Lt Howard A. Sibley (Bombardier)
2/Lt Robert H. Crowther (Radarman)
T/Sgt Paul W. Sullivan (Engineer)
Sgt David W. Minar (Radio)
S/Sgt John A. Potenza (CFC)
Cpl Charles J. Finley (R Gunner)
Sgt John G. Carberry (L Gunner)
Cpl Joseph A. Orndorff (T Gunner)

In May, the crew ferried an airplane to Tinian. Like many crews, they thought that they would get to keep the airplane and had named it “Feather Merchant”. However, when they arrived, the aircraft was reassigned to a veteran crew and may have been renamed “Trigger Mortis II“.

The crew was then split up. 2/Lt John L. “Jack” Burwell became aircraft commander of Patricia Lynn. 2/Lt Robert H. Crowther (Radarman) was assigned to Crew #3914. The following members were assigned to Crew #3913:

F/O James C. Boone (Pilot)
2/Lt Conrad J. Keebler (Navigator)
2/Lt Howard A. Sibley (Bombardier)
S/Sgt, Sgt David W. Minar (Radio),
John A. Potenza (CFC)
Cpl Charles J. Finley (R Gunner)
Sgt John G. Carberry (L Gunner)
Cpl Joseph A. Orndorff (T Gunner)

The assignment of T/Sgt Paul W. Sullivan (Engineer) is not known.

Photo and names provided by Bob Crowther and John and Joan Potenza

The crew in front of the plane they ferried to Tinian.

Standing – Left to Right: 2/Lt Howard A. Sibley (Bombardier), 2/Lt Robert H. “Bob” Crowther (Radarman), 2/Lt John L. “Jack” Burwell (A/C), 2/Lt Conrad J. Keebler, Jr. (Navigator), F/O James C. “Jim” Boone (Pilot).

Kneeling – Left to Right: Sgt David W. Minar (Radio Operator), Cpl Joseph A. “Joe” Orndorff (Tail Gunner), S/Sgt John A. Potenza (CFC), T/Sgt Paul W. Sullivan (Engineer), Sgt John G. Carberry (Left Gunner), Cpl. Charles J. Finley, Jr. (Right Gunner).