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Neal Crist, 1941
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| Recent Address: |
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4609 Charlotte Court, El Paso, TX 79924
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: Anna and Lester; Great Grandfather George F. Shoemaker, Civil War POW at Andersonville
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| Hometown: |
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Claysburg, PA
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| Date Entered Service: |
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September, 1941
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| Service Number: |
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13030911, 43566
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| Bomb Group: |
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444th
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| Squadron: |
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677th
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| Location of Unit: |
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Dudkundi (November, 1944)
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| Missions Flown: |
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18 (6 in India; 12 from Tinian)
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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1
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| Targets: |
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Bangkok, Singapore (3), Kuala Lumpur, Osaka (2), Okayama, Kagamigahara, Chiba, Sendai, Namazu, Fukui, Tsu, Hachiogi, Imabari, Hikari (last day of war)
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters,Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 ClustersAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 Clusters,American Defense Service Medal,American Campaign Medal,Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal,WWII Victory Medal,Army of Occupation Medal,National Defense MedalKorean Service Medal,UN Service Medal,Vietnam Service Medal,Korean War Service Medal
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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A & E Mechanic, Sep 1941; B-17 School, Dec 1943; Flight Engineer School, Mar 1944
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 737-Flight Engineer VHB, Flight Chief
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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M/Sgt
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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42-24472 Sky Chief,
42-63375 Her Majesty
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| Were you a POW? |
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No
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| Were you interned? |
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No
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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October, 1945
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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October 19, 1945
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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1948 to 1951: 98BW B-29 Korea 56 Missions, Flight Engineer1952 to 1956: 92BW B-36 Aircraft Performance Engineer1957 to 1958: NAV/ECM SCH1959 to 1966: 95BW B-52B EWO Vietnam 5 missions1966 to 1971: 380th Strat. WG. B-52G Staff Officer23 years in SAC -- retired in 1971
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
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Machinist
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
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Scary -- but all the guys did what they had to do. I would not wish to relive that portion of my life again, and I'm thankful that I was up to the job.
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| Neal Crist, 1996 |
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