“…I was a member of the 492nd Bomb Group (17 missions) and the 467th Bomb Group (18 missions) so I have ambivalent feelings of veteran loyalty to each.

Nevertheless, the "Bits and Pieces" piqued my memory since I flew several (four or five) in "Broad and High" as a crew member (Bombardier Navigator) in D. D. McGowan's crew in late July 1944, while with the 492nd.

According to Allan Blue's history of the 492nd, 42-50439 was a replacement aircraft with that group; fiew its first mission on 13 July 1944, and then seven more before being transferred to the 467th, only to be salvaged on 18 August 1944 by the 467th.

Our crew (McGowan) was on rest leave until 13 August 1944 and not aware that "Broad and High" had been crashed or lost until several days later…….

We, our crew, were never really into naming our aircraft, since the one we flew to England, named the "Dreamer," was taken from us. When we joined the 492nd it didn't matter; naming an aircraft almost guaranteed it would soon be gone.

Nevertheless, I remember "Broad and High," not because it was a good airplane, but because it was named by the "Ground Crew Chief." He was from Columbus, Ohio, where the two main streets are Broad and High. Not only descriptive of a B-24, but a tribute to the dedication of the ground personnel which made it flyable….”