Retchin's Wretches - 91st Bomb Group (H)

Retchin's Wretches

323rd Squadron

Lt. Retchin's Crew

Serenade in Blue

Serial # 42-29657 OR X

Back Row - Left to Right

T/Sgt. Andrew Muzik, Radio (POW 21 May 43); 2nd Lt. Ed Reynolds, Bombardier; 1st Lt. Norm Retchin, Pilot (POW 21 May 43); 2nd Lt. Stan Dahlman, Co-pilot (KIA 17 Aug 43); 2nd Lt. Bob Paulson, Navigator

Front Row - Left to Right

S/Sgt. Joe Wing, Waist Gunner (KIA 21 May 43); S/Sgt. Charles Huber, Waist Gunner (POW 21 May 43); T/Sgt. Elmer Kalfsbech, Top Turret Gunner (POW 21 May 43); S/Sgt. Cloren Meade, Ball Turret Gunner (POW 21 May 43); S/Sgt. John Conrad, Tail Gunner (POW 21 May 43)

Photo contributed by

Retchin's Wretches Factoid - This crew joined the 323rd Squadron 4 April 1943 and posed for this photo on 9 April 1943. It was the third replacement crew to arrive in the 323rd. It was part of the Harris Provisional Group that arrived in England in mid-March. They had traveled the Southern route and left the states on 27 Feb 1943. This was the 59th crew trained at Bovingdon in March 1943. The crews were distributed among the original combat groups. The crew posed in front of 42-29559 (Stupntakit). They were flying in s/n 657 when seven of these crewmen were shot down over Wilhelmshaven on 21 May 1943. Lt. Dahlman was KIA on the Schweinfurt Raid 17 Aug 1943 flying on Stupntakit.