447th Badge447th Bomb Group
USAAF Station 126 - Rattlesden 
42-31095, Ground Pounder
Ground Pounder
Another of the Harvard planes, ferried to Rattlesden in late November 1943.  On board were:
Major Frank M. NewmanSq Commander
2nd Lt Charles S. HoplaPilot
1st Lt Richard W. FieroNavigator
1st Lt Charles S. Logan Jr.Bombardier
2nd Lt Frederick A. MasonEngineering O.
2nd Lt Lester R. HofwoltBombsight O.
T/Sgt Edward V. ReedSq Inspector
T/Sgt Ignacio W. GarciaSq Comm Chief
Sgt Ralph N. AllenArmament Chief
Sgt Edward (NMI) SteinGp Opns Clerk
Source: Sp. Order No. 272

Photo date unknown
Ground Pounder flew with the 708th Squadron from the beginning of operations in December 1943. She was badly damaged on the April 29 1944 raid to Berlin, but returned to base and was repaired (Operational Charts in the Pictorial History show the aircraft lost on that date). She continued to fly until October 2, 1944 when Lt. Zalewski made a forced landing on the continent, behind Allied lines near Brussels.  The entire Zalewski crew returned to Rattlesden a few days later.

AFHRA Microfilm Ref: B0559-0022
3.  A/C #095, pilot Lt. Zalewski, suffered the loss of one
engine and damage to a second engine over the target due to flak.
He trailed the formation to the French Border where he lost another
engine.  The last message received was that operating on one engine 
and running out of fuel, he had successfully bailed out his crew
19 miles SE of Brussels and was preparing to bail out himself.
4. This one aircraft, #095 was lost due to enemy action
Ground Pounder was found during April 1945 where she landed, and salvaged on site for parts.