• MADIGAN, Robert

719th Squadron

719logoDavid 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.

Pudgy II

Pudgy II

An original cadre ship acquired 9 November ’43 and assigned to Captain Councill, the 719th Squadron Commanding Officer. “Pudgy II”, with her entire crew of 14 souls, was lost on the overseas movement when it crashed on 8 December ’43 into a mountain top in the Atlas Mountain range of Northwest Africa while attempting a severe weather penetration. 14 DED.

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An original cadre ship acquired 9 November ‘43 and assigned to Captain Councill, the 719th Squadron Commanding Officer. “Pudgy II”, with her entire crew of 14 souls, was lost on the overseas movement when it crashed on 8 December ’43 into a mountain top in the Atlas Mountain range of Northwest Africa while attempting a severe weather penetration. 14 DED.

Pictures of Pudgy II

PudgyII

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