Front Row includes: Frank Cooper (CP); Jake Kury (P); Jim Caldwell (N); George Butler (B). Crewmen include: Gordon Moore, Jim Peland, James Lindley, Robert Young; Leo Gibbo; Wes Butts
Standing (L to R): Jake Kury (P), Frank Cooper (CP), Jim Caldwell (N), George Butler (B). Middle row (L to R): Jim Piland (RG), Gordan Moore (AG), Jim Lindley (R/O), Wes Butts (AG), and Robert Young (AE). Down front is Leo Gibbo (A/E).
- KURY, Jacob F., Pilot – KIA 2 April 44 Kury
- COOPER, Frank A., Co-Pilot
- CALDWELL, James B., Navigator- KIA 2 April 44 Kury
- BUTLER, George W., Bombardier – KIA 2 April 44 Kury
- GIBBO, Leo J., Flight Eng – KIA 2 April 44 Kury
- LINDLEY, James G., R/Op
- BUTTS, Wesley J., Tail Gunner – POW 2 Mar 44 Kury
- MOORE, Gordon F., Gunner – KIA 2 April 44 Kury
- PILAND, James C., Gunner – KIA 2 April 44 Kury
- YOUNG, Robert L., Gunner – POW 2 Mar 44 Kury
- PHILLIPS, John F, Co-Pilot KIA 2 April 44 (Not OC) Kury
- WOODS, Ernest, TT – KIA 2 April 44 (Not OC) Kury
- ADAMS, Donald R, NT – KIA 2 April 44 (Not OC) Kury
717th Squadron
Edward J. Sass, Jr. was the original C.O. from June ‘43 to December ’44. Shelby McArthur became C.O. in December ‘44 and remained so until February ‘45. From February ‘45 to May ’45, Wilbur Parker was the C.O.
Peerless Clipper
A B-24H model purchased by the employees of the Peerless Woolen Mills, Chattanooga, TN. The “Clipper” was an original cadre ship acquired 21 October ’43 and assigned to Sies’ crew who flew her overseas in December ’43 arriving at Grottaglie on 2 January ’44. The “Clipper” was lost on 2 April ’44 with Kury’s crew aboard when three aircraft collided over Steyr, Austria. 11 KIA. MACR 4024.
Lurchin Urchin
An original cadre ship acquired 28 October ’43 and assigned to Kury’s crew who flew her overseas in December ’43. The “Urchin” went down on 31 January ’44 over the Aviano Airdrome, Northern Italy, as the Group Lead ship with Colonel Darr Alkire, 449th Group Commander, aboard. Colonel Alkire and 7 others were taken POW, 3 KIA. MACR 2403.
MACR 2403
MACR 3168
MACR 4024
41-29216
A B-24H model purchased by the employees of the Peerless Woolen Mills, Chattanooga, TN. The “Clipper” was an original cadre ship acquired 21 October ’43 and assigned to Sies’ crew who flew her overseas in December ’43 arriving at Grottaglie on 2 January ’44. The “Clipper” was lost on 2 April ’44 with Kury’s crew aboard when three aircraft collided over Steyr, Austria. 11 KIA. MACR 4024.
Pictures of Peerless Clipper
41-29223
An original cadre ship acquired 28 October ‘43 and assigned to Kury’s crew who flew her overseas in December ‘43. The “Urchin” went down on 31 January ‘44 over the Aviano Airdrome, Northern Italy, as the Group Lead ship with Colonel Darr Alkire, 449th Group Commander, aboard. Colonel Alkire and 7 others were taken POW, 3 KIA. MACR 2403.
