Looking for listing of Major Carswell's crew

I am trying to piece together my grandfather's service in the 308th BG.  I know that he flew as the tail-gunner under Maj Carswell as late as 16 Oct 1944...10 days earlier from when Maj Carswell would earn the medal of honor.  8 of the crew bailed out and survived that night.  I know from my dad and aunt that my grandfather would not talk about details of his time...maybe this is why.  I believe that the aircraft flown was part of the 374th...love to know the name.  I also know (from my dad) that my grandfather would become part of the crew of "the battlin bitch" which was assigned to the 375th...but I haven't found any evidence of either assignment...only the article in CBI roundup (publish date 26 Oct) and (article date 16 Oct).  It speaks of my grandfather Reginald Leonard and his fellow gunner's refraining from firing to retain concealment through the efforts of the night.
Here is the article http://cbi-theater-1.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-1/roundup/roundup102644.html
I would appreciate ANY info that can help piece this together! 
 
Thanks,
Michael

Thanks!  As I suspected a completely different crew than what is talked about in the article I posted.  Maybe he didn't have a dedicated crew because of his position in the squadron...not an uncommon thing even today.
 
Where can I find things like the "MACR"...literally first day of starting to do this kind of research.  I would suspect that there should be listings of crews out there as well...just haven't stumbled across his name as of yet.
 
Again, Thanks!
 
Michael 

michael.leonard

Thanks!  As I suspected a completely different crew than what is talked about in the article I posted.  Maybe he didn't have a dedicated crew because of his position in the squadron...not an uncommon thing even today.

  Michael,
 
  By late 1944, many "Replacement Crews" had arrived to join the squadrons of the 308th. Mission crew assignments started to be based on who was available and needed mission time. Your grandfather might have been one of the replacements and would fly with many different pilots and other crew members.
 
Carlswell was Operations Officer assigned to the 374th, as were all men on his ill-fated mission. I would presume your grandfather was also assigned to the 374th. Although combat crewmen would occasionally move between squadrons temporarily, this seldom happened and personnel tended to stay with squadron to which they were originally assigned.
 
I have never seen a "name" connected with aircraft 44-40825.
 
As you mentioned... the “Battlin’ Bitch”, 41-24237” was originally assigned to the 375^th. For reasons not known to me, it was converted to C-109 tanker in late 1943. It crashed at Tezpur, India and was condemned on 4 Jan 44, several months before Carswell’s incident. Therefore, your grandfather probably did not fly on her. However, it is possible another plane was given the same, or very similar name. Perhaps some else knows about that.
 
Best wishes for success in your search.
 
 
 
 

UPDATE: 
I received a scanned version of the scrapbook...it was very enlightening!  It doesn't answer all the questions...but is a good start.
I will post details (pictures,  etc.) when I get the originals...but in general (and what seems to be accurate):
 
My grandfather was part of Major Carswell's crew...I guess what we would call the integral crew today.  I have a photo (scan) of the crew members.  I read an article in CBI roundup that depicts the Major as the "11th member" of the flight on 26 Oct (In other words...I think he flew with another crew this night).  By virtue of rank he would be the pilot in command if this is the case. 
I have not seen a MACR...assume it is a standard kind of form...but, I have a 4 page narrative document that describes in detail the events of the flight on 26 Oct and its crew's fate.  It was prepared by the squadron intelligence officer...interestingly, originally marked SECRET.
In the scrapbook is many pictures of Nose Art from the 374th...I will absolutely get those out to the different interest sites...many I have not seen before.
I still do not know what aircraft they actually flew day-to-day...but there is a photo of the aircraft that crew brought over from the states...it was bombed and destroyed its first night in country.
Thanks again!  I will create seperate posts as I learn specific details and stories that need to be shared!
 
Michael

Michael!
 
Your grandfather apparently was the tail gunner on 44-40785, the “Armstrong Crew” – piloted by Capt. Donald N. Armstrong.
 
Capt. Donald N.  Armstrong       pilot
Lt. Carlos Ricketson                  copilot
Lt. Alfred T. Withiam                  navigator
Lt. Nolan W. Klepinger               bombardier
T/Sgt. Emory G. Lusk                engineer
S/Sgt. Ferney R. Kunkle                        radio op/top turret
S/Sgt. Vincent P. Zeyak                        radar op
S/Sgt. John P. Nolan                 nose gunner
S/Sgt. Reginald R. Leonard       tail gunner
 
These men were pictured with Major Carswell in the 1993-1994 14^th AF Association Annual Pictorial Magazine.
 
As already stated, the Battlin’ Bitch 41-24237 was with the 375^th BS, and converted from a B-24D to a C-109 tanker and crashed in Tezpur, India in January 1944.  It’s successor was a B-24J 42-73319 named “The Bitch’s Sister” (also 375^th BS).  Crews flew in whatever aircraft were available, and often, split up into different aircraft.
 
 
Jack Gross
Son of S/Sgt. Herbert Gross, 375BS, engineer/gunner on the Vitamin-P II and other B-24s in China, 1943-1944