The Peacock Crew

THE PEACOCK CREW
By John F. Peacock
An addendum to the original book.

This is a brief summary of the lives of our dear departed crew members. May their souls rest in peace.
At this time, July 6, 2004, there have been six members, out of nine, who have passed into the great beyond. They will be greatly missed by me, since they had played such an important part in my life. Although, we only spent about eight months together as a crew, we became like a family; close knit, and depending on each other for survival. This, I will never forget!
I will continue to keep in touch ,and report, to all of the remaining members as long as I can. At eighty-three years old I can't tell how long that will be. But, I will try. I hope someone will continue the continuity of the crew until the very last. Even if it is not one of our crew. GOD BLESS US ALL. John F. Peacock - Pilot
To clarify a point, there were ten members on our crew when we arrived at our air base, in England. One Waist/Gunner, John Archibald, was taken off and sent to the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy.

THE PEACOCK CREW
This is a tribute and Count-down for the members of my
Crew.
Since we were all part of "The Greatest Generation", I wish to pay tribute to "The Greatest Crew".
As of this date, July 6, 2004, there are only three members, out of nine, surviving. The following is a chronological list of members as they departed into the "Wild Blue Yonder" for evermore.

1--Robert Donald Sanders, our Co-pilot. Died, May 4, 1946. Sandy was a very likeable young man. Full of fun and enjoyed kidding with the rest of the crew. He was a good pilot and did his job with great enthusiasm. Although, he really wanted to be a Fighter Pilot, he never complained about flying bombers. After completing his thirty-five missions, he returned to the States and was discharged late in 1945. He enrolled in September at Mississippi State College, in his home State. Apparently he was doing well in school, studying Engineering. He had a motorcycle that he wanted to sell. While taking a demonstration ride, with a potential buyer, he was killed instantly when they ran head-on into an automobile. The buyer was not killed but was injured badly.
2--Francis J. Wheeler, Radioman, Died February 12, 1990. Frank was more of a serious minded person. He enjoyed a good time and got along very well with everyone. He was always willing to help out when asked. He was a good radioman and did his job well. After getting out of the service, he lived in New Jersey but worked in New York City at Willoughby's' Camera Store. I visited him once at his place of work. Later he moved to Florida with his wife. Their sons lived there and were in the real estate business in Inverness, Florida. He worked for his sons until his death.
3--John P. Dornick, Engineer/ Gunner (Top Turret), Died August 30, 1990, in Lima, Ohio his home town. John was the clown on our crew. He loved to kid about most anything for a laugh. He was very competent in his job as Engineer. Always very helpful during missions and alert to enemy planes at his guns. Before and after his service in the Air Force he worked for an Oil Company in Lima, as a Supervisor of oil refining. He was, also a Union Leader for members of the refinery. He was very active in Little League Baseball and coached for his sons team. He and his wife, Jane and children visited me, in Baltimore, Maryland one time. We went to Fort Me Henry and The Enchanted Forest while they were here. John always smoked cigars and may have contributed to his health problems later in life.
4--Clifford Wayne Gouldy, Waist/Gunner, Died November 28, 2002 in Wildorado, Texas.
His friends knew him as Wayne. Our crew members called him "Tex". He was born and raised in Wildorado and graduated from High School there. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps after graduation. He was discharged in 1945 and returned to Wildorado. He married Carolyn Waters in 1954 in Amarillo, Texas. Early in life he was a cowboy. Later he was a farmer and rancher until he retired. He was a member of Vega United Methodist Church and of the American Quarter Horse Association. He was well liked by all of the crew and was a hard worker in his job as Gunner.
5--Jack T. Brawley. Tail/Gunner. Died December 20,2003 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jack was well liked by all who knew him. He always had good things to say about our crew members and really enjoyed talking. He was born in Chester, South Carolina He was graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Textiles in 1949. He worked for the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company for 37 years as a products specialist. He retired in 1990. He married Jane Dorroh on May 28, 1955 in Dothan, Alabama. He was active in Starclaire Athletic Association during the 1960s. He served as a Little League baseball coach and as Commissioner of baseball for Starclaire. He was involved in the formation of Carmel Academy in 1971. He was a member of the Sharon Presbyterian Church and Civitan Club. He served as a Deacon at St. Giles Presbyterian Church. Jack donated several items to the Mighty Eight Air Force Historical Museum, in Savannah, Georgia,
6--Stephan George Grcevich, Bombardier, Died June 22,2004, in the Three Links Care Center in Northfield, Minnesota.
Steve was the oldest member of our crew and was well respected. He was very good at his job as Bombardier and had been considered for a Lead Bombardier, after he had finished his thirty-five missions. He decided to go home to his family instead. The crew had named their B-17 bomber after his little girl "Susan Kay". Steve loved to play poker and was very good at it. He participated in a game every pay-day at the Officers Club. He always sent his winnings home to his wife, Mary. After his service in the Army Air Corps he returned to his home town of Keewatin, Minnesota. He was employed by the Nashwauk-Kewatin School District until his retirement in 1981. He served as a Keewatin Municipal Judge for many years and as a volunteer fireman for the City of Keewatin. He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church, the V.F.W. and the American Legion, the Disabled American Legion and the Elk's Lodge. He is buried at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing, Minnesota.

THE PEACOCK CREW
Addendum No. 2 (July 6, 2004)

There are only three members of the crew still alive as of this date.
1--John F. Peacock, pilot
John and his wife, Joyce, now live in a retirement Community called Atrium Village, in Owings Mills, Maryland. They have lived here for two years, since they moved from Florida back to Maryland, their home State. They had lived in Florida for twenty-one years, after John had retired, from the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland as the Buildings Superintendent. They returned, due to health problems. Joyce is in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease and John has had a few mini-strokes. He, also has a pace-maker. They are in the Independent Living section of this community and doing rather well together.
After John was released from the Air Force in 1945 he joined the 815th Heavy Tank Battalion, an active Army Reserve Unit, in Baltimore, due to the lack of an active Air Force Unit in Baltimore. John stayed in this unit for twenty-four years. During this time he had attended the following Reserve Schools;
The Basic Armor School, at Fort Knox, Kentucky; The Basic Infantry School, at Fort Benning, Georgia, and The Command and General Staff School, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He retired as a Major in 1960. John received a B.S. Degree, in Business Management from the Baltimore College of Commerce and a Certificate from the Baltimore Institute of Photography. He was a part-time professional photographer for many years. He had a dark-room in his home.
John and Joyce have two children, John Foster and Joyce Ann. Joyce Ann has two children, Brandi and Demian Baldwin. Brandi is in the Coast Guard as a Lieutenant and Demian is a chef in a fine restaurant. John Foster now lives in Florida and works as a specialist in repairing equipment that handles mail. He has no children but has been married twice.
2--Walter S. Lewis, navigator
Walter now lives in Kauai, Hawaii. He is originally from California. He received a B.S. Degree from the University of California in 1948 and a Law Degree in 1951. He was a lawyer for the Rheems Corporation at one time. He had been married twice. He and his wife, Glenda, now live in a beautiful home in Kauai and are still in good health . Walter was a good Navigator and a good Officer. He enjoyed his job, as Navigator, although it was very difficult at times.
3--Robert Webster--Ball Turret/Gunner
Robert now lives in Paul, Idaho. He had a good Sense of humor and had very difficult job as a ball turret Gunner. His turret hung below the bottom of the airplane. He was all alone there. But he never complained. I did not realize, until much later, when he confessed to me that he had never been in a ball turret before he was assigned to our crew. He had allot of courage. At this time he is having some problems holding a pen while trying to write. He has worked hard, as a farmer, for many years and still helps his son on their farm.
The following person was a member of our crew but never flew a combat mission with us. He is John Archibald -Waist/Gunner. He was removed from our crew after we arrived at our air base in England and sent to Italy in a B-24 bomber group where he flew 27 missions with various crews. He regretted not being a part of a single crew. He now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, his home state. He has had some health problems, but still volunteers at a theater and speaks to groups about his time in the Air Force.