Replacement Crew 52, 62nd Squadron - 39th Bomb Group (VH)

28 January 2004:
Howard Hawthorne, Navigator contacted us with updated information about his crew. This is very exciting as he is the only contact for this crew and another 39ther that has been found - or in this case found us (the 39th BG Assoc). Updates: Added Missions, corrected rank, and positions; it has been determined from Hawthorne's Record of Combat Duty that the "Buckley Crew" was Crew 52 - making them the replacement crew for Paquette's Crew.

13 September 2003:
Per General Order 29 dated 11 August 1945, all of the crew except for Haag and Minor were awarded the Air Medal from 7 July to 24 July 1945 - note: Haag and Minor may have awarded the Air Medal under another order not obtained yet. Thanks to the Athey Family for providing the above mentioned order.

31 July, 2003:
David Athey, son of Samuel G. Athey, Jr. RG, contacted our site regarding his father and this crew. He related that the Buckley Crew returned to California in preparation for lead crew training and during that time the ABomb was dropped - thus they never returned to Guam... more information to follow.

Anyone with information about this crew, please email: updates@39th.org

Special Order 161 dated 10 June 1945, issued by Headquarters Topeka Army Air Field, Topeka, Kansas shows the Buckley Crew and others having to report for movement by rail from TAAF to Hamilton Field, California as a TDY pending further movement to the Marianas Islands , by air on air priority number indicated under jurisdiction of Air Transport Command. Upon arrival to the Marianas Islands, Personnel will report to the Commanding General, XXI Bomber Command for assignment and further instructions.

These orders further state that it is a permanent change of station with TDY enroute. Effective date of change for Morning Report is 15 June 1945.

SO 138, issued by HQ 314th Bomb Wing dated 20 June 1945, paragraph 12 shows 1 st Lt Buckley and his crew being assigned to the 39th Bomb Group (VH).

It should be noted on the same orders (SO 138) then T/Sgt Fred N. Dunn along with Sgt Joseph P. Miller and Sgt George Tilghman all from the 60th squadron’s Replacement Crew 1 (Killpack Crew) are listed in Paragraph 13 assigned to the Rest & Recreation Center for 10 days. On 29 May 1945 the Kilpack Crew received damage to their B-29 during the Yokohoma Mission with the crew having to bailout. By the end of their ordeal only Dunn, Miller and Tilghman would survive. Tilghman and Miller spent 30 hours in the water before being rescued – that would have put it on 30 May. It was reported that they spent 5 days on patrol with the USS Dragonet and another 8 days to reach Guam so that would put their return on or about 12 June. SO 138 is dated 20 June with 10 days R & R that would put back on Guam on or about the end of June beginning of July. 2nd Lt Howard A. Hawthorne, Navigator of the crew stated that Fred N. Dunn joined their crew Mid-July which would fit in line with of Dunn’s timeline since his bailout.

Maj Harold G. McNeese‘s flight log book shows an entry on 30 June 1945 Inst Pilot for Lt. Buckley (New Crew). The Buckley crew flew 8 missions from 7 July 1945 to 2 Aug 1945 according to the Record of combat Duty for 2nd Lt. Howard A. Hawthorne.

62nd Sqduadron Index