Link's Crew (later Austin's Crew) - 602nd Squadron - 1 August 1944
Back Row (viewer's left to right):
  1. 1st Lt. Robert Tobman, Navigator
  2. 1st Lt. Alexander J. Link, Pilot
  3. 1st Lt. Richard M. Austin, Co-Pilot
  4. T/Sgt. John W. Walker, Flight Engineer

Front Row (viewer's left to right):

  1. Sgt. L. C. Wilkerson, Togglier
  2. S/Sgt. F. J. Peterson, Waist Gunner, Asst. Radio
  3. S/Sgt. Charles W. Shirk, Tail Gunner
  4. S/Sgt. James B. Sams, Ball Turret Gunner
  5. S/Sgt. Fred B. Rolfe, Radio Operator

Missing from Photo:

  1. Sgt. J. Walters, Waist Gunner
  2. Another Waist Gunner
  3. Original Bombardier; Dick Austin indicated the crew never flew combat missons with the bombardier that they had trained with. Toggliers flew instead for all their missions.

Note:

  1. Note this crew became the co-pilot's crew, 1st Lt. Richard M. Austin Crew after Link was seriously wounded on his 8th mission over Rouen, France on 12 August 44.  The rest of the crew completed 35 missions.

Comments:

  1. 398th Mission No. 58, Munich, Germany, 31 July 1944
  2. Crew Mission No. 1: 31 July 1944
  3. On this mission the Link crew flew in the Low Group
  4. Aircraft flown: 42-107183 K8-J
  5. Aircraft in photo: unknown
  6. Photo Date: 1 August 1944; Dick Austin believes the photo was taken after a local training mission on 1 August, the day after their first mission on 31 July 1944
  7. Photo Location: Nuthampstead
  8. Photo Reference No. A9210
  9. Information compiled by UK Friends of the 398th with thanks to Richard Austin.
  10. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Crew Pictures Coordinator. Please mention the title and photograph date.





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