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 Front Row: Lt. Stewart (Fred) Swain (copilot), Lt. Richard B. Rumsey, Lt. James S. Nelson (pilot), Lt. John W. Reinhart. Back Row: Cpl. Donald T. Oates, Cpl. Arthur D.  Monteschio, Douglas McCammish, Cpl. Charles H. Thomas, Cpl. Henry (Hank) J.  Murawski, Sgt. Cecil W. (Wayne) Dagget. 

 

Training crew with John P. McHugh, Jr., who served in the 744th Bomb Squadron. The individuals as named are are as follows: Left to Right - Bottom Row - kneeling: Robert Duerr; Kenneth Parker; Walter Norkewicz; Dewey Hartbeck; John P. McHugh Jr; Robert Reichert. Left to Right - Top Row - Standing: Dave Gay (perhaps Day); Jack Gurthire; Bob Marquiland?; Bob Allan. None but John McHugh are listed as serving with the 456th. Date of photo unknown.

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John P. McHugh, Jr, 744th Bomb Squadron, above in nose of Liberator, and below, as a cadet.

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John P. McHugh, Jr, in front of the well-known "Short Snorter" of the 744th Bomb Squadron (kneeling, 2nd from right). Crew mates unknown at this time - can you help with identification of them?

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Received September 2004:

My name is Pat McHugh Evans, and my father is John P. McHugh, Jr. who served with the 456th - 744 SQ during WWII. I located his name on your list of individuals that you are looking for. I have recently found a box of memorabilia that has a picture of my father with the crew in front of a B-24J. The plane's number is 956. The picture has signatures of everyone on it. I also found all of his original combat mission data sheets including monthly spreadsheets that shows his flight time.

My father died on Sept 21, 1978 after retiring after 30 years in the USAF. He was a very humble man, who rarely spoke about his service during the War or any other time. He actually served in 3 wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. According to the files that I've been going through he received the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leave Clusters for service during WWII. He received many other awards as well.

A little of his history is that he enlisted on July 14, 1943 at Fort Devens, MA. He was from Fitchburg, MA, born June 2, 1925. He was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leave Clusters. His Discharge papers shows Air Combat Balkans, Rhineland, C Europe, Po Valley, N Apennines. Not sure where all these places are. He served all 30 years in the USAF, retiring Nov 30, 1974. He left the military in 1945 and then returned in 1948. He received many honors through out his career including AF Commendation Medal, AF Good Conduct Medal w/2 clusters, and AF Outstanding Unit Award. He worked on the SR-71 from the mid-60's through the 70's. 

Photos courtesy Pat McHugh Evans

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