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The target was the coastal gun batteries at Royan, Fr. The 467th BG dropped napalm bombs for the first (and only) time this day. The ships of the 467th flew with smaller crews because of the possible danger of the new type of explosive. Most of the gunners (except on the Lead ships) were left behind as this mission was over friendly territory and there was no danger of enemy fighters.
Shown here are ships from the 2nd Squadron. Just at “Bombs Away”, the napalm bombs can be leaving ‘600’. The photo was taken from 42-94943 “The Cherub” (flown by Joseph Charles Wilson and crew #060-R3) flying in the #7 position of the 1st Section of the 2nd Squadron.
The tail of 44-10601 “Rosalyn” (flown by Edwin Vernon Bowman and crew #019-R3) flying in the #2 (Deputy Lead) position of the 1st Section can be seen leaving the frame to the left.
The aircraft in the foreground is 44-10600 “Piccadilly Commando” (flown by Carl Oscar Brasier and crew #021-R5) in the #5 position of the 1st (Lead) Section.
Finally, just above ‘600’, is 42-50816 (flown by Harold Edward Weeks and crew #012-R2) flying in the #1 (Lead) position of the 2nd Section
Crew on “The Cherub” was -
Joseph Charles Wilson - Pilot
Lawrence Donavan Swart - Co Pilot
John William Hillen - Navigator
Henry Lewis Fason - Toggler
Donald George Estes - Engineer
Robert Alfred Germain - Radio Operator
Earl Howard Fetzer - Waist Gunner
Crew on “Rosalyn” was -
Edwin Vernon Bowman - Pilot
Herbert Ezra Schram - Co Pilot
Kenneth Krakauer - Navigator
George Washington Stokes - Bombardier (he was probably the Pilotage Navigator)
Joseph Ernest Heiderman - Toggler
Richard John Butler - Engineer
Robert William Delozier - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘Piccadilly Commando” was -
Carl Oscar Brasier - Pilot
Harold Kahn - Co Pilot
Ralph Gluck - Navigator
Ray C Anderson - Toggler
James Crowe Skilton - Engineer.
*Alexander George Robertson - Radio Operator
* Not listed, however, assumed to be on board
Crew on ‘816’ was -
Harold Edward Weeks - Pilot
Dean Franklin Morrow - Co Pilot
Joseph Santo Imburgia - Navigator
Robert Lloyd Hammen - Toggler
Charles R Tucker - Engineer
Raymond Felix Gricus - Radio Operator
Source: 467th BGA Archives
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The target was the coastal gun batteries at Royan, Fr. The 467th BG dropped napalm bombs for the first (and only) time this day. The ships of the 467th flew with smaller crews because of the possible danger of the new type of explosive. Most of the gunners (except on the Lead ships) were left behind as this mission was over friendly territory and there was no danger of enemy fighters.
Shown in the photo is the Lead Squadron with 1st Section ships in the foreground and the two ships of the 2nd (High Right) Section above. The photo appears to have been taken from 44-10502 (flown by John Belingheri and crew #047-R2) in the #3 position of the Lead Section.
The ship with just a portion of the tail visible is 44-49340 (flown by Ralph Hubert Elliot and crew #095-R1) in the Lead position.
The ship immediately above ‘340’, and just leaving the frame, is 42-51832 (flown by Warren William Meyer and crew #077-R5) in the Deputy Lead position.
The Olive Drab (OD) ship in the foreground is 42-95004 ‘The Honey Wagon’ (flown by Evan Lamar Dastrup and crew #045-R2) in the #4 position of the 1st Section.
The ship farthest right is 44-50572 (flown by Charles Joseph Ercegovac and crew #043-R6) in the #5 position of the 1st section.
The two ships at the top are the ‘High Right’ section of this Lead Squadron. The left most ship is 42-50846 (flown by Frank Ross Kerr and crew #048-R2) in the 1st (Lead) position of the 2nd Section. The other ship is 42-95187 (flown by William Valentine Baxter and crew #028-R4) in the 2nd (Deputy Lead) position of the 2nd Section.
Crew on ‘502’ was -
John Belingheri - Pilot
Vernon Oran Mason - Co Pilot
John Lawrence Stewart - Navigator
Philmore Sol Zilbert - Toggler
Theron Winfield - Engineer
Albert Kenneth Buchman - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘340’ was -
Robert Stuart Seiler - Command Pilot
Ralph Hubert Elliot - Pilot
Arnold Rolin Thompson - Navigator
Natale Frederick Parodi - Pilotage Navigator
Jay Hall McGrew - Bombardier
Frank Langford Waters - Mickey Operator
Paul Joseph Kuchiniski - Engineer
Marvin Lee Fritsch - Radio Operator
John Joseph Logan - Right Waist Gunner
William Thomas Ulman - Taił Turret Gunner
Crew on ‘832’ was -
Ross Elgin Voyles - Command Pilot
Warren William Meyer - Pilot
John Robert Harbison - Navigator
Richard Ahearn Donahue - Pilotage Navigator
Steve Bensko - Bombardier
John Edward Meyer - Mickey Operator
Edward Jessie Wilson - Engineer
John Adams - Radio Operator
Don Stanley Harp - Right Waist Gunner
John Henry Morris - Left Waist Gunner
Crew on ‘The Honey Wagon’ was -
Evan Lamar Dastrup - Pilot
Glenn Russell Shinn - Co Pilot
Ralph Robinson Haas - Navigator
Charles Joseph Balash - Toggler
Joseph Holland Monts - Engineer
Richard Irvin Jeppe - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘573’ was -
Charles Joseph Ercegovac - Pilot
Ralph Kenneth Ritter - Co Pilot
Gordon Andrew Buchmiller - Navigator
Jack Maurice Bristow - Toggler
Wallace Ray Skeen - Engineer
Walter Roland Colby - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘846’ was -
Frank Ross Kerr - Pilot
Robert Wesley Dudley - Co Pilot
Wilton Paul Bibko - Navigator
Ernest Ezell Bailey - Toggler
Wilfred Joseph Vernette - Engineer
Jack W Wolf - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘187’ was -
William Valentine Baxter - Pilot
Aaron Oken - Co Pilot
Michael Steven Besich - Navigator
Raymond Narcho - Toggler
Edward Kramek - Engineer
Melvin James Gillette - Radio Operator
Source: American Library via Peter Bond
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'674' being flown by Lt Victor L Neel and crew #014-R3 on mission to Royan France.
Aircraft in front is 44-49513. She is being flown by Lt Earl G Sawyer and crew #064-R3.
The photo was taken by F/O Lawrence D Swart, Co Pilot with Lt Joseph C Wilson and crew #060-R3. They were flying in 42-94943 ‘The Cherub’.
Source: Dale Swart (Grandson of Lt. Lawrence Swart)
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Pictured is the 3rd Section/Squadron, 1st (Lead) Flight. The photo taken from 42-95224 ‘Lonely Heart’ (flown by John T Cockrell and crew #052-R3) in a position that seems to have been started later in the war which is “high left” of the regular Section positions.
Visible in the foreground is 42-52534 ‘Witchcraft (flown by James Watson McFarland and crew #073-R1) in the #3 position.
The far left ship is 44-48820 ‘Lucky ‘Leven (Always a Winner)’ (flown by Edward Theodore Holum and crew #088-R2) in the 1st ‘Lead’ position
The ship just behind and above is 44-10552 (flown by Robert Anthony Meyers and crew #062-R3) in the #2 ‘Deputy Lead’ position
Pictured just above ‘Witchcraft’ is 44-50482 (flown by Legrand Guild Steele and crew #059-R3) in the #4 position.
Just above and behind ‘482’ is 42-110171 ‘The Prowler’ (flown by Oscar Luther Leathers and crew #074-R0) in the #5 position
Finally, just coming into view to the right is 44-10596 ‘Rheinmachen’ (flown by James Gerald Coffey and crew #056-R4) in the #6 position.
Crew on ‘Lonely Heart’ was -
John T Cockrell - Pilot
Arthur Horovitz - Co Pilot
George Albert Bunch - Navigator
Roy Ronald Christian - Toggler
Albert Neil Coppedge - Engineer
Thomas Joseph McLaughlin - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘Witchcraft’ was -
James Watson McFarland - Pilot
Steve Joseph Maznio - Co Pilot
Joseph George Dzenowagis - Navigator
Edgar Sutton Collins - Toggler
Don Clifford Fields - Engineer
Robert E Lee Held - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘Lucky ‘Leven’ was -
Edward Theodore Holum - Pilot
Morris Lee Davidson - Co Pilot
Arthur Newton Gentry - Navigator
Frank Panetta - Pilotage Navigator
Willard Joseph Overlock - Bombardier
James Joseph Kish - Mickey Operator
Richard Jerome Muffoletto - Engineer
Alexander Kaiwi - Radio Operator
Lyle Dwaine Waite - Right Waist Gunner
Raymond Alton Swanson - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on ‘552’ was -
Robert Anthony Meyers - Pilot
Caswell Fincher Neal - Co Pilot
Henry Junior Storey - Navigator
Geoffrey Gibson Gregory - Bombardier
Leroy Wayne Reynolds - Toggler
James B Wilson - Engineer
James N Hunt - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘482’ was -
Legrand Guild Steele - Pilot
Fred Cecil Hudlow - Co Pilot
Maurice Beaty Dunn - Navigator
Kenneth Lee Orndorff - Toggler
Vernon Wayne Hibbs - Engineer
Chester A Olenik - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘The Prowler’ was -
Oscar Luther Leathers - Pilot
Lorain Darell Johns - Co Pilot
Robert Leonard Dotts - Navigator
Charles William Mohrman - Toggler
Robert Rothchild - Engineer
Paul B MacDonald - Radio Operator
Crew on ‘Rheinmachen’ was -
James Gerald Coffey - Pilot
Harmon Joseph Small - Co Pilot
Albert Anthony Muller - Navigator
Robert Leon Miller - Toggler
Horace Ellis Halpin - RCM Operator
Anthony Debiasse - Engineer
Donald Joseph Faford - Radio Operator
Source: 467th BGA Archives