S/Sgt Thomas C Bond "Tom", 344 bombardment squadron, Martin B-26 Marauder crew.

He and his crew flew on the first 344th Bomb Group mission in "Georgia's On My Mind". Capt James P Deford, Jr - Pilot; 1st Lt. Alfred L Freiberger - Copilot; 2nd Lt. Robert L Westholm - bombardier; S/Sgt Irving Sugarman; T/Sgt John H Samara; and S/Sgt Thomas C Bond, gunners.


D-Day	D-Day

Depot, Sta 594, arriving there at on 14 Sep 44, to await transportation zone of Interior under the provisions of Sec V, WD Cir 127, dated 29 Mar , Sta Commander will notify the RCD by teletype the expected time of arrival by MT, mil acft a/o rail. 60-136 P 431-02 A 212/50425 (all AC)
344th Bomb Gp (M), Sta 169
1ST LT STERLING J ROBERTSON, P	1ST LT JOHN D ASHFORD, P
1ST LT JOSEPH LANE, CP	2ND LT ROY SANDERS, CP
S/Sgt Robert C Clark, B	S/Sgt Albert J Hart,
S/Sgt Robert L Holder, EG	T/Sgt Davis B Reed,
T/Sgt Oliver R Lane, RG	S/Sgt Joseph E Knight,
S/Sgt Donald S Lane, G	S/Sgt Anson F Goodson,
S/Sgt George L Teague, RG

1ST LT JOHN J NEMETH, P	1ST LT JOHN H ROBINSON, P
1ST LT JOHN S HOLLINGER, CP	1ST LT JAMES E CARTWRIGHT, CP
1ST LT ALLEN J CHURCHILL, B	S/Sgt James L Phillips,
S/Sgt Nicholas J Guaragna, EG	S/Sgt Reginald W Bascom,
T/Sgt Walter J Tomalonis, RG	T/Sgt Webster M Lehmann,
S/Sgt Daniel P Herget, G	S/SgtFrancis H Clark,

1ST LT JAMES R ASHBERRY, P	CAPT JAMES P DEFORD, JR, P
1ST LT NORMAN T PETERS, CP	1ST LT ALFRED L FREIBURGER, CP
S/Sgt John W MacMillien, B	2ND LT ROBERT L WESTHOLM, B
S/Sgt Philip Cianciola, EG	S/Sgt Irving Sugerman,
T/Sgt Maurice F Thompson, RG	T/Sgt John H Samara,
S/Sgt Charles J Christian, G	S/Sgt Thomas C Bond,

1ST LT OGDEN D GINTHER, P	1ST LT GEORGE E JONES, P
1ST LT JOHN J McAULEY, CP	1ST LT HERBERT C ENGELBRECHT, CP
2ND LT CHARLES MIDDLETON, B	T/Sgt James M Gorrie,
S/Sgt Jack I Nabors, EG	S/Sgt Alexander F Buzerak,
T/Sgt Norris C Hyre Jr, RG	T/Sgt Jack F Stock,
S/Sgt Charles E Christopher, G	S/Sgt Robert E Wright,

1ST LT WALTER E HARRISON, P	1ST LT MILTON A COURTWRIGHT, P
1ST LT HOWARD L THOMPSON, CP	1ST LT AUSTIN A ROBERTS, CP
S/Sgt Robert N Wyatt, B	2ND LT ALVIN W PENFIELD, B
S/Sgt Edward L Hefling, EG	S/Sgt Donald P Ferrell,
S/Sgt Harry H Hodge, Jr, RG	S/Sgt Eugene J Thomas,
S/Sgt Robert G Chilcott, G	T/Sgt Charles A Vanoverberghe,
	S/Sgt John F Collins,

Lakeland AAF, MacDill Field Sub-Base,
MEMOIR-MUM) Lakeland, Florida. 9 October 1943.
TO ) All Pilots, 344th Bombardment Group (M) AAF.

1. There have been four incidents in the past week pointing towards disrespect of the B-26 airplane. This Group has had a superior record over the past several months, but complacency and over-confidence will start accidents again.

a. It has been reported that one pilot allows the airplane to pick up over 150 mph before pulling off. This is taking a considerable chance an your tires and wheels.

b. Higher headquarters reports one of our airplanes being pulled off at 100-110 mph and tire wheels being retracted simultaneously. Don't be too hot on this. With your wings parallel to the ground, you can better pick up that extra 10-15 mph and get off comfortably and decisively without taking a chance of settling down again.

c. Report has boon made of take-offs with 100 RPM drop on checking magneto switches. This, in a B-26, invites disaster, so unless you can clear it up on the spot, take her back to the stable.

d. An engine completely stopped the other day on run-up, with a complete drop in fuel pressure as symptom. The pilot started the engine, so I am told, and took off. Nothing more was done until it happened again, and fortunately no harm was done. An engine never stops without reason, and unless you know why, never fly it until you find out.

e. Metal was found in a hydraulic cuno, and the decision to find out immediately what bras wrong was a bit slow in coming. Don't take changes; if metal flakes appear in the cuno, it moans that something is wearing out. It follows that sooner or later it will fail, so why wait and invite an accident.

3. Your success in flying this airplane has boon due to the care you have all given to flying it with the proper respect. Keep up that respect.

	387th Bomb Gp (M), and DS with 1st Pathfinder Sq (Provisional)
	MAJ NORMAN L HARVEY, P
C O N F I D E N T I A L - 1 -


Top L-R: Colkins, Dewey, Bonds, Bowman, Thomas, Leonidas Bottom L-R: Coulow, Paulino, Pace. MacDill 1943


	Bottom Row L-R: Calkins (G); Christian (G); Stock (RG); Middle Row L-R: Wheeler (G); Wright (G); Strauss (G); Kasprzykowski (G); Top Row: Bond (G); Everett (G); Sugarman (EG) G= Gunner; RG= Radio/Gunner; EG= Engineer/Gunner


Yeager, engineer/gunner; Smith, engineer/gunner; Stock, radio/gunner; Murphy, radio/gunner 494th Drone Field, 1943


	Standing L-R: Griffiths, Carney, Colton Bottom Row L-R: Embrey, Everett, Murphy


"Georgia's On My Mind"


Who are the guys that kept this ship flying?


Standing: second from left Sugarman, then Bond


Left: 210-7677 Right: Unknown