Back Row (L to R): Emil Baer (P); H. John Slater (B); Robert Elliott (CP); Robert Hughes (N). Front Row (L to R): Francis Doyle (NG); George Kersey (FE); Toni Y. Rouse (WG); William Beecher (WG); Norman Woolsey (BG); Perry Lasell (TG)
- BAER, Emil , Pilot
- ELLIOTT, Robert G., Co-Pilot
- HUGHES, Robert L., Navigator
- KERSEY, George F., Flight/Eng
- SLATER, Herbert J, Bombardier
- WOOLSEY, SR., Norman , Ball Gunner
- DOYLE, Francis J,
- BEECHER, William L.,
- RO– USE, Thomas Y,
- LASELL, Perry J,
Robert Hughes
Thank you so much for this site. My father, Robert Hughes, was the navigator in Emil Baer’s crew in the 719th Squadron. He rarely talks about his time in service, so it is nice to get some information here. I have a hard time believing what these young men did for all of us. I am attaching a picture of his short snorter, just for those interested in such things. By the way, he celebrated his 90th birthday last July and is still going strong.
Robert Hughes
Maplewood, MO USA
719th Squadron
David Councill was the original C.O. from July ‘43 to 8 December ’43 when he and his crew were lost during the movement overseas. Most of the 719th officer and NCO staff were among the 14 men lost aboard Councill’s aircraft. This placed the 719th in dire straits in January ’44. Arthur B. Swan took over as C.O. and began sorting things out in January ’44. He served as the C. O. until he received a serious combat wound on 23 April ‘44. Charles E. Harton from the 717th Squadron was selected to be the acting commander until Art Swan could reassume the position. When Swan was promoted to higher echelon, Harton continued as the acting C.O. until July ‘44. Harold R. Loughran, a lead crew pilot from the 717th became the 719th C.O. in July ‘44 and remained through September ’44. In September ‘44, William Allen became the C.O. and remained so until May ‘45.
