Updates:
25 Sep 2009: We received an email from Ken Freeze who provided us with the DOD of Edgar Barry Grear being 7 July 1974 per the Florida Death Index through Ancestory.com - the birth date matches that of "Edgar B. Grear" that is listed below. Therefore - his name has been added to the crew honor roll and the Final Flight Honor Roll Section of this web site.
Additionally - an email was received from Yvette Hyatt Kovary, USCG (SPAR), WWII - with additional information about Edgar B. Grear - this information has included a lead to Ed Grear's widow now Muriel H. Lein. Perhaps contact can be established so more can be learned about Ed Grear.
With this additional information abt Ed Grear and his death - there are no other members of this crew living.
14 Nov 2008: Arland Christ-Janer has been added to Crew Honor Roll. With the passing of Christ-Janer this leaves all the members of combat Crew 46 accounted for except for 1st Lt Edgar B. Grear, Airplane Commander. (Currently there is no family contact with anyone from the Grear family).
Historian's Note - Regarding the status of 1st Lt Edgar B. Grear
The name of Edgar Grear (no M.I.) listed is found in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI):
DOB: 10 Aug 1917
DOD: Jul 1974
SS# Issued in New York
The name "Edgar B. Grear" was found in the WWII Enlistment Record (Reserve Corps Record) database on the National Archives web site. The Army Serial Number listed in the database is an Enlisted Men's Serial Number - any that is known from orders of the 39th BG list his ASN after he received his Officer's Commission; however other information contained in the file are:
Residence County: Queens
Residence State: New York
Year of Birth: 1917
Nativity: New York
In a letter (dated Jul 1945) from Mrs. Toeppe (mother of S/Sgt Lawrence J. Toeppe lost 29 May 1945) to Mrs. Philip Markowitz (mother of Charles Markowitz also lost 29 May 1945) she cites Lt. Grear's wife can be contacted in Jefferson Heights, New York.
With the common information between these 3 documents ... it is very possible that the Edgar Grear listed in the SSDI is indeed 1st Lt Edgar B. Grear; If so - then there are no more members of the combat crew living.