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John R Hartman T/Sgt, Marauderman
587th Squadron 394 Bomb Group

John R Hartman T/Sgt, Marauderman, 587th Squadron 394 Bomb Group

John R. Hartman was transferred into the 587th BS in March 1945 along with the rest of his crew.

He was ranked a Cpl on his arrival and was quickly promoted to Sgt that same month.

The first mission I can find for him listed is on the 25th March 1945 on the mission to the Limberg Marshalling Yards, Germany.

The aircraft he was flying in was 42-96281, 5W-V, named “Redlight Rosie”, and was one of three aircraft assigned to drop “Window” ahead of the main bombing formation.

The crew was:

2Lt. Guy F. Laney (pilot)
F/O. Samuel G. Best (co-pilot)
2Lt. Bruce D. McCall (bombardier/navigator)
Cpl. Adrian A. Fisher (engineer/gunner)
Cpl. John R. Hartman (radio operator/gunner)
Cpl. Albert A. Onda (tail gunner)
Cpl. Noel G. Reukema (extra gunner)

The aircraft “Redlight Rosie” was already a seasoned combat aircraft by the time this crew flew her, having been assigned to the 394th BG in June 1944 as a replacement aircraft. It survived the war with 108 combat missions flown.

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