Operations
Order No. 4, 39th Bombardment Group to re-deploy to the
United States and deactivate was dated 29 October 1945.
Crew 23 returned in the last aircraft that departed Guam.
The original crew had flown 30 combat missions and except
for the Airplane Commander returned to the ZI. The redeploying
crew 23 was composed of the 39th Bomb Group staff members
including Group Commander Lt Col James H. Thompson, staff
navigator Anthony Quesada and others including James Wyckoff
and Ed Wiley. After landing in California, all 39th BG
personnel heading east spent two weeks at Camp Stoneman
before boarding troop train for a five day trip to Fort
Dix, New Jersey for separation or reassignment. The officers
rode in the Pullman coach car which was the Waldorf Astoria
when compared with the tier-bunked "cattle cars" the airmen
occupied - but everyone was on their way home and at this
point if necessary would have walked to the East Coast
without complaining.
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L
to R:
Lt Col Jim Thompson, Capt Joe Semanek, Crew Chief
Beverly, and Capt Tony Quesada planning the Homecoming
Flight Schedule. |
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