AAR 44-5-19-525

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(AAR images from AAIR - Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research.)

Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-9696 (Douglas A-20G-30-DO Havoc)

9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 670th Bomb Sq

Mission # 49; Box: II; Flight: 2; Position: 4; A/C Fuselage Code: F6-G

Reason: Killed, Bail Out (KBO)

Damage: Completely destroyed (5)

Point Of Departure: AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England

Location: Near Biggen Hill, Kent [England]

*Personnel*
Duty	Name	Rank	S/N	Status
Pilot	Crispino, Joseph Charles	1Lt	O-799946	WIA, RTD
Airplane Armorer - Gunner	Conopask, Royden Edward	S/Sgt	31141640	Fatal
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Walsh, Thomas Ira Jr.	S/Sgt	36606965	Fatal

Notes:
On the return trip home, flying through a thick overcast, Lt Joseph Crispino's plane spun out of control. Nature of Accident: "Pilot bailed out after aircraft had gone into spin." Cause of Accident: "Pilot failed to use instruments early enough."

Description:
On the return trip home, flying through a thick overcast, Lt Joseph Crispino's plane spun out of control. He oerdered his two gunners, S/Sgt Thomas I. Walsh and S/Sgt Royden E. Conopask to bail out. Then he jumped himself. The two gunners never did get out and were killed when the plane crashed. Lt Crispino parachuted to earth with a leg fractured when his body was thrown against the plane's tail assembly. He was transferred to an Evacuation Hospital to convalesce. The remains of the two gunners have been interred at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Cambridge. ... [September, 1944] Lt Joseph C. Crispino and Lt Robert J. Rooney, who had been confined to hospitals as a result of injuries received on missions, returned to join their old squadrons after months of absence.
(416th BG History 1944)

General Orders No. 86, 25 May 1944, Purple Heart is awarded to: 670th Bombardment Squadron (L), Joseph C. Crispino, O-799946, First Lieutenant, Air Corps, United States Army. For wounds received while serving as Pilot of an A-20 airplane on a combat operational mission on 19 May 1944. Home Address: Painted Post, New York.
(416th BG Purple Heart Awards (PDF))

See Mission # 49 for additional details