Qualified Quail

401st Squadron

Lt. Askins' Crew

Moonlight Serenade

Serial # 42-97851 LL-K

Back Row - Left to Right

Lt. John J. Askins, Pilot; 2nd Lt. Randall H. Archer, Co-pilot; Anthony Delaporta, Navigator; Paul W. Collier, Bombardier

Front Row - Left to Right

Paul Grimm, Tail Gunner; Sgt. Roy E. Loyless, Waist Gunner; Hilmen W. Beicker, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; Roger W. Armstrong, Radio Operator; Ralph W. Azevedo, Waist Gunner; Robert N. Webb, Ball Turret Gunner/

Photo contributed by Roy Loyless

Qualified Quail Factoid - Lt. Askins (Pilot) flew 9 missions on Qualified Quail.

Paul Grimm dropped from the crew and Roy Loyless moved to tail gunner after crews were changed to 9-man crews. Ralph W. Azevedo was wounded on the mission to Cologne and in the hospital. Harold Sackman flew waist gunner in his place. Ralph returned to flying status and finished his missions with other crews. The crew was shot down on the Merseburg Raid 2 November 1944 and they were flying in "USA The Hard Way" (446093 LL-J). All became POWs except Randall Archer who was KIA. Harlod was a POW and returned home and re-enlisted in the Air Force and retired a Major. Qualified Quail was repaired and on its 72nd mission, again to Cologne, on 14 January 1945 was damaged and crash landed in Denain Prouvy in liberated France A-83, an advanced American Air Field.

As of 27 July 2009, Roy Loyless was the only crew member left.

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