I've been working with the 94th Bomb Group on Facebook. Chris Argent over there has been great. he was able to provide me the following information:
He was a member of 1st Lt. Robert MacCombs crew when they went on leave on the 26th September 1944. He was possibly the Engineer/Top Turret Gunner (E/TTG) or the Radio Operator (RO). The crew positions aren't listed when going on leave but he was listed as being one of the two T/Sgt's. The other enlisted men were all listed as S/Sgt's. 1st Lt. Robert MacCombs crew were from the 332nd Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group.
We was able to provide this today:
8 July 44
A/C 42-31788, "Janie"
MacCombs (P) WIA
Thompson (C) KIA, flak
Stecher (N)
Harper (B)
Merrill (R)
Lloyd (TT)
Bruney (BT)
Hotchkiss (TG)
Dyche (RW)
Brand (LW)
From
http://www.8thafhs.com I found this information:
# DATE NAME TARGETS A/C LOST
164 July 08, 1944 8AF 460 Transportation and V-weapons targets in France 1
AIRCRAFT (1)
#42-31788 - B-17G
Group Squadron Sq Code A/C Code
94BG 332BS
Name JANIE GAL
Notes 42-31788 Delivered: Cheyenne 14/12/43; Kearney 26/1/43; Assigned: 332BS/94BG Rougham 8/2/44; forced landing continent 10/11/44, Salvaged. 18/11/44. JANIE GAL.
Source: B-17 Master Log - Dave Osbourne