I am posting this thread as there are now several individuals on this forum that are related to this topic and seeking answers.  It is a pretty confusing time as the members of these crews have been moved around quite a bit.
  
May 24, 1944 Berlin Mission
The crew on 42-102494 were all KIA and included the following:
2Lt Ralph R. Simon (P)
2Lt Edward Tully (CP) **
2Lt Joseph M. Teixeira Jr (N)**
Lt Ralph Pittman (B)
T/Sgt John Urdia (TT)
T/Sgt Herman J. Grimm (RO)                             
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain (BT)
S/Sgt Kerwin G. Tozier (LW)
S/Sgt William C. Nicholas (RW)                          
S/Sgt Gene W. Minton (TG)                               {came from W.A. Reynolds Crew}
 
Sollars Crew Assignment: March 17, 1944 711th Bomb SQ (H)  SO 174.
Pilot:     1st LT  John A. Sollars, 0720729 AC
CP**:  2D LT  Joseph (IO) Teixeira, Jr.,  0608139, AC
N**:    2D LT Edward (NMI) Tully, 0216675, AC
B:         1st LT Ralph (NMI) Pittman, 0661024, AC      (# may be off, difficult to read)
S Sgt    (757) Herman J. Grimm, 20418365                  (# may be off, difficult to read)
S Sgt    (748) John (NMI) Urdia,  19064001
Sgt       (748) Clyde G. Chastain,  14184716                (# may be off, difficult to read)
Sgt       (611) Leo J. Francis,  16129823                      {Where did he go?)
Sgt       (748) William C. Nicholas,  39199260
Sgt       (612) Kerwin G. Tozier,  39690837
           
            ** Crew assignment for Tully shows him as Navigator, but other documents all
show him as Co-Pilot.  Also, Teixeira was assigned originally as Co-Pilot and all
other documents put him as Navigator.  ??
 
W.A. Reynolds Crew Assignment: 711th bs on March 1, 1944, SO#56
Capt. William A. Reynolds,, 0417102, AC (P)         (Also flew on 5-24-44 mission)
2d Lt. Vernon H. Dicke, 0803578, AC (CP)
1st Lt. Benjamin F. Green, Jr., 0660349, AC (B)
Pvt. Theodore F. Goobic, 6998040, (748)             (POW w/Peper on 4-29-44)
TSgt. C.W. (I.O.) Hayes, 18060958 (757)            (Flew w/Reynolds on 5-24-44)
SSgt. John A. Dorchinitz, 6999700 (612)              (Flew w/Reynolds on 5-24-44)
Sgt. Maurice K. Gunn, 14141379 (748)
Sgt. Gene W. Minton, 20803788 (612)    (his original Crew Assignment, but KIA w/Simon on 5-24-44)
SSgt. John C. Bodenhoffer, 19081160 (612)
 
Ralph R. Simon Crew Assignment: 708th BS on May 1, 1944, SO # 104
(P) 2D Ralph R Simon  0748487 
(CP) 2D LT John F Hoonan, Jr. 0813944
(N) 2D LT Collin G. Cerrells, Jr. 0757820
(B) 2D LT William C. Webb  0690875
S Sgt (757) Berton E. Swift, Jr.  35578307
S Sgt (748) Wilfred S. Corey  13115893
S Sgt (611) David R Mauldin  18136226
Sgt (748) Frankie J. Jindra  38396588
Sgt (612) Philip (NMI) Nassau  33119808
Sgt (748) Elmor E. Price  35348756
 
TIMELINE:
 
- April 22, 24, 27, 29 (ship# 441); May 1(ship794), 1944 Gibbons combat missions some known to be with several members of the Sollars Crew (starting when?). April 29th is an important date with the Times article and 447th group record press release, putting them together. (Chastain, Minton, Urdia, Nicholas, Teixeira and Pittman) others not known yet.

 
-Orignal 447th Crew Assignment: Morton C. Carmack Crew, Co-Pilot John B. Gibbons.
-March 1, 1944 Gene Minton assigned to 447BG / 711BS on William A. Reynolds Crew.

-March 17, 1944 Sollars Crew assigned to 447BG / 711BS

-March 23: Capt Reynolds flies on (8052) w/ CP Lt. JM Gibbons, Nav Lt. CB Kludt, Bomb S/S JA Segrest, TTG pvt. TF Goobic, RO T/S WJ Trobaugh, BTG S/S RT Pirtle,  TG S/S CW Foor,  WGL S/S CE Scroggs, WGR S/S RS Garrett.:
       E.L. Duke flies (719) w/ RO T/S GW Hayes, WGR S/S J.C. Bodenhoffer

-March 26:  Sollars crew's first mission on (# 184); Reynolds on (#148), Kinsinger (842) with GW Minton.
       Sollars Crew for this mission: Sollars, Tully, JO Burke (nav), Pittman, Urdia, Grimm, Chastain, Francis, Tozier, GB Klaput (WGR)
  SEE ATTACHMENT below: Crew Loading Manifest.

-March 27:  Sollars flies (# 184);  Reynolds (873)
-March 28:  Sollars flies (#184); Reynolds (148)
-April 1: Sollars flies (# 032); Reynolds (#719)
-April 8:  Sollars flies (# 8052)
-April 10: Sollars flies (# 8052);  Gibbons on (# 148)
-April 11: Sollars flies (# 8052); Gibbons flies first mission (# 148); Reynolds flies (# 719)
-April 13: Sollars flies (# 8052)
-April 18: Sollars flies (# 871); Reynolds (# 1092)
-April 19: Sollars flies (# 164)
-April 20: Sollars flies (# 501)
-April 22: Sollars flies (# 501); Gibbons flies (# 148)
-April 24: Gibbons flies (# 148)
-April 26: Sollars flies (# 052),  Capt. Reynolds flies w/Bonham's Crew on (# 395) 
-April 27: Sollars flies (#8052),  Reynolds flies (#395)
-April 27: (2nd mission for 447th) Gibbons flies ( # 148)
-April 29: Gibbons flies (# 441), Reynolds flies (#395)

-May 1, Gibbons flies mission on (# 794), Reynolds on (#206)

- May 16,  Sollars granted a 7-day pass starting on May 17, 1944.

- May 23, Simon flies orientation flight with Socolofsky (#632)
- May 24, Simon and crew caught in propwash and all KIA on way back home.
- May 25, Sollars flies on Mission to Brussells (ship 8052)  and continues to fly several missions until participating in Project Aphrodite. 

 
More to come on this, looking for anyone who can add anything.  If anyone on this forum has any mission lists that their loved one kept, please post here so we can cross reference. 
Thanks,
Keith

THREADS Related to this topic
 
Info on 1st Lt Ralph M. Pittman
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_111388/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#111451
 
Searching For An Uncle I Never Knew
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_77704/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#77718
 
Need More Data On Squadron Assignment 
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_81156/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#81156
 
Gibbon's Crew in Time Magazine May 8, 1944
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_111414/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#111414
 
Info on B-17G 42-31394 ???  (touches on Sollars’ Project Aphrodite participation
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_91562/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#91562
 
Photos of 447th Markers In Ardennes Cemetery? - 2/27/2006
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_91924/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#91970
 
Jess Minton, 447th Bomb Gr... - 1/6/2001
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_5133/tm.htm
 
Looking for any information on... - 12/20/200
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_5135/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#45042

Attached Image(s)

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Keith,
 
Thank you for condensing all of that information. It is a huge help! I have electronic copies of some of the letters sent from the wives/relatives of the crew members of the crew that went down with my great uncle, Ralph Pittman. They helped give a much more personal perspective to the tragedy that played out for so many young men and their families.
 
Where do you host your pictures so they can be posted as attachments and/or displayed here?
 
Thanks again!
 
Van

The actual serial numbers are as follows (from the MACR):

Simon: 0748467
Tully: 0816675
Teixeira: 0688130
Pittman: 0661024
Grimm: 20610365
Urdia: 19064091
Chastain: 14184716
Minton: 20803788
Tozier: 39690837
Nicholas: 39199260

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

Teixeira was list in the MACR as navigator on their final mission on 24 May 1944.
 
 

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

I just added several pieces to the original post, mainly under the Timeline and provided a crew loading manifest as an attachment at bottom of that post. 
-Keith

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Here are the two pages from the 447th press release for April 29, 44 mission.
 
 

[image]local://upfiles/5921/308EA26B1B6E428FA877477EB1C9932F.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Page 2:

[image]local://upfiles/5921/42BD77A381D847F5A45271BB3313B74C.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Keith,
 
You mentioned that the Sollars' crew's first mission was March 26.  I guess that you base this on records that you have at the moment.  But the crew arrived at Rattlesden and we assigned to the 711th on 17 March 1944.  Would it be a stretch to assume that they wouldn't fly their first mission until 9 days later?  I suppose there could be a number of extenuating circumstances.  I was just curious.

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

George -
It was SOP that New Crews flew at least 2 Missions with other Veteran Crews
before Flying a Mission as a Unit.
Example - The Pilot would have flown as Co - Pilot with a Seasoned Crew.
They may have also flown local Training Missions.
Mike
 

George,
Typically what Mike has stated is the case. 
However, pertaining to the Sollars crew this appears to not have happened.

Usually new crews would be spread out amongst the formation individually with veteran crews for 1, 2 and sometimes three orientation missions. 

Sollars Crew was assigned on March 17, 44.  The bomb group flew combat missions on March 18, 20, 22, 23, and then the 26th which turns out to be their first combat mission and they were together - minus Nav. Teixeria replaced by Burke, minus Nicholas replaced by GB Klaput.
I checked the crew loading manifests for the missions before the 26th and not one of their names appear with any other crews.

So I'm sure that they did fly practice missions between the time they arrived and their first mission.  Probably a shortage of crews accelerated their indoctrination and they may just have been ready.   9 days is a pretty quick orientation period. 
 
Also, all Sollars' crew members were of rank sgt. or higher.  Usually on orientations you would see some corporals.

-Keith

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Square K,  My name is Stuart Nader. I am the Great Nephew of Herman J. Grimm. Herman was killed on mission #69 on 5/24/44. I am wondering if you could check your crew lists and tell me how many missions Herman flew and on what dates? It seems he was only with the 447th for a couple of months before being killed. I have records showing that he was awarded an air medal and three oak leaf clusters, apparently during his short time with the 447th. Any information that you could provide would help me greatly in trying to piece together an outline of Herman's service record.     Thank you.

Stuart Nader Great Nephew of Herman J. Grimm 447th B.G. 711th Sq. (K.I.A. May 24 1944)

Stuart -
With the AM and 3 OLCs - he had Flown 20 -25 Missions.
He was on # 42 - 102494 708th Sq. B - 17
Pilot- Lt Simon
Book says it was mostly a New Crew.
Caught in Prop Wash , Went into inverted Spin , Crashed in North Sea.
Do you know what Crew he was with prior to this Mission ?
Mike

We already know many details about the crew.
It was NOT the first mission for most of the crew.  It was Simon's first combat mission as Pilot.  But he was with the 708th and was flying with a crew mostly made of Sollars' original 711th, experienced crew.
 
Most of the crew trained together, arrived at Rattlesden together (with Sollars, as well), and were assigned to the 711th squadron together and apparently flew with Sollars on their first mission. 
 
The book is wrong on the fact that it was a new crew.  It was a new pilot with the 708th, but an experienced crew from the 711th. 
 
This will all be recorded and detailed in the story that I'm writing with all available information as I get it.
 
 
 

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

ORIGINAL: Square K

Also, all Sollars' crew members were of rank sgt. or higher.  Usually on orientations you would see some corporals.

-Keith

 
Yeah, I have the ranks and Military Occupational Specialties with which they arrived at Rattlesden recorded in their story that I am writing. I also found a record of when the Sergeants (including my Uncle) were promoted to S/Sgt.
 
 

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

ORIGINAL: shooshoobaby

Do you know what Crew he was with prior to this Mission ?
Mike

 
Most of the crew flew with Sollars and Gibbons.  We will know more about the missions and pilots that they flew with before too much longer.  (Keeping fingers crossed.)

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

ShooShooBaby and GChastain, Thank you both for responding to my inquiry. I have seen an attachment on this site posted by Square K which appears to show a crew loading list placing H.J.Grimm on the Sollars crew for at least one mission prior to the day he was killed. I look forward to learning all I can about my Great Uncle's service. Thank you all........George, I can't thank you enough for your efforts researching this subject.    S.Nader.

Stuart Nader Great Nephew of Herman J. Grimm 447th B.G. 711th Sq. (K.I.A. May 24 1944)

ORIGINAL: Square K
- May 24, Simon and crew caught in propwash and all KIA on way back home.

 
I've failed to notice the above statement from the summary that Keith posted.  Warfle's book stated that the Sollars crew was lost on the way back from the mission.  However, the MACR stated that it was lost on the way in.  Which do we believe?  I tend to place more weight on the account in the MACR as it was completed the day after the mission.
 
I discuss this in the story that I'm writing about this crew.  Which, God willing, I'll finish sometime before it is too late.

George Chastain
Huntsville, Alabama
Nephew of
S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain
B-17G Ball Turret Gunner
447th Bombardment Group (H), 711th Squadron, 8th AF
Died: 24 May 1944, 447th Mission 69, Age 19.

I agree that the official MACR report probably contains the most accurate account of the loss of ship #494. In addition to naming two officers as witnesses,the MACR also records the time of the incident as being 10:25 A.M. The mission roster on the 447th website shows the takeoff time for mission #69 as being 6:45 A.M.(probably takeoff time of first aircraft)and landing time as 3:00 P.M. Doyle Shields' book says "after assembly we departed the English coast at Comer(Cromer)at about 9:00 hours". In my opinion,the strongest evidence points to the "enroute to target" scenario.

Stuart Nader Great Nephew of Herman J. Grimm 447th B.G. 711th Sq. (K.I.A. May 24 1944)