35 years after the War, the crew gathered for a reunion. Striking a pose similar to that shown above, all are present but Charles Wiley who was lost on a mission over Rangoon, Burma in March 1945.
Staff Sgt. Herndon G. "Shorty" Scearce, ASN 18084611
Ball Turret Gunner - Hatten Crew
10th Air Force / 7th Bombardment Group / 9th Bombardment Squadron
Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal w/OLC
SSgt. "Shorty" Scearce
(Info/Images Courtesy of Glenn Scearce)
Crew was formed in 1944 at Biggs Field, El Paso TX.
Front: Herndon Scearce (BT)
2nd Row, L-R: James Shaw (RO), Elmer Thiessen (TG), Don Gratton (TT)
Walter Sorrentino (E), Benjamin Estes (NG)
Back, L-R: Richard S. Hodges (B), Herbert J. Brewer (N), Phocien Hatten (P), Charles Wiley (CP)
The crew was sent to Theater as "Crew 18", per S.O. No. 134, 13-May-44.
Hatten Crew - Left to Right:
Standing: SSgt. Benjamin "Bud" Estes (AG), 2Lt. Phocian "Pops" Hatten (P),
1Lt. Richard "Dick" Hodges, 2Lt. Herbert Brewer
Front: SSgt. Elmer Thiessen (AG), SSgt. Herndon Scearce (G)
Sgt. James Shaw, Sgt. Walter Sorrentino (E)
Sgt. Scearce, Unknown, SSgt. Thiessen, Sgt. Don Gratton
Shaw, Hodges, (obscured), Hatten, Estes, Brewer, Sorrentino
(Click on images below to enlarge)
Mississippi, 1942
Keesler Army Airfield, Army Air Corps Station No. 8, Aviation Mechanics School
Florida, 1942
Orlando Army Air Base
Greenville, SC 1943 Greenville Army Air Base
Lucknow, India - Sgt. Scearce & mates
A Christmas postcard sent from brother Melvin Scearce, USN.
Sgt. Scearce's
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