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Bob
December 7th 03, 03:55 AM
I am researching the record of A. R. Stitzelberger, a distant relative, who
was a gunner in the Battle of Midway. According to the official battle
report the plane that he flew on the Enterprises' first sortie of the battle
was subsequently flown by two other pilots and gunners. Was it common for
planes to have multiple crews?

Thanks,

Bob

Thomas Schoene
December 7th 03, 01:38 PM
Bob wrote:
> I am researching the record of A. R. Stitzelberger, a distant
> relative, who was a gunner in the Battle of Midway. According to the
> official battle report the plane that he flew on the Enterprises'
> first sortie of the battle was subsequently flown by two other pilots
> and gunners. Was it common for planes to have multiple crews?

Squadrons almost always had more crews than planes. It would be unusual for
a pilot to fly the same plane all the time.

--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"If brave men and women never died, there would be nothing
special about bravery." -- Andy Rooney (attributed)

Joel Shepherd
December 8th 03, 04:04 AM
Bob wrote:
> I am researching the record of A. R. Stitzelberger, a distant
> relative...

If it's of interest:
<http://www.cv6.org/noumea/default.asp?uri=detail/leam-img-z--8000004>

"Stitz", as Jack Leaming called him, is in the center of the front row.

--
Joel.

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