-
-
This photo in front of 42-110168 'Old Iron Pants' was taken after the crew had completed their combat missions. Originally a 791st BS crew, by the time they were done there were just two of the original officers left (pictured) and two of the original enlisted men. The others had been reassigned to other crews.
The two officers standing are Henry Kenneth Close (Pilot) and Edward James Sanicki (Co Pilot). The other two men standing are thought to be members of the ground crew.
Kneeling L-R -
Paul E Smith - Gunner (original crew)
???
Lynn Culley - Gunner (original crew)
???
Tobias "Toby" Alberto Cordova - Radio Operator
The two "???" are thought to be Hubert L Boyd (Gunner) and Edward Kramek (Engineer). Unsure which is which
Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet -
In this second photo (again taken from ‘Sack Time’) is the 1st (Lead) flight of this 1st (Lead) Squadron, with 42-95187 from the 2nd Flight in the foreground. Note how the 466th BG PFF ship is now moved to the #3 position and Col Shower (in ‘Silver Dollar’) has moved back to the 1st (Lead) position.
The first to ships on the right are the ‘Lead’ and ‘Deputy Lead’ ships from the 467th BG. The one above is 42-51154 ‘Silver Dollar’ (flown by Robert David Sheehan and crew #080-R2) now flying in the #1 (Lead) position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron
The ship just below her is 42-51671 (flown by Wellington Coles Leonard and crew #082-R1) flying in the #2 (Deputy Lead) position of the 1st (Lead) flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.
The next ship is 44-10607 (flown by David Hallock Nash and crew #035-R2) flying in the #4 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.
Just above her is the PFF ship from the 466th BG, 42-95109 ‘Shamrock’, now flying in the 3rd position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron
The Olive Drab (OD) ship in the middle is 42-94881 (flown by George William Condry and crew #034-R1) flying in the #6 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.
The ship most prominent in the frame is 42-95187 (flown by Ray Nickens and crew #035-R2) flying in the #3 position of the 2nd Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron).
Lastly, and lagging just a bit, is 42-110168 ‘The Perfect Lady/Dirty Lil/Old Iron Pants’ (flown by John F Moffette with crew #038-R2) flying in the #5 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron
Crew on ‘Sack Time was -
Donald Eugene Reab - Pilot
Charles Arthur Pappas - Co Pilot
Albert August Henke - Navigator
Shirley WIlliam Frederickson - RCM Operator
Lyle Clayton Secor - Engineer
Jerome Degen - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
Richard Roy King - Radio Operator
Anthony Ralph Marrone - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
Irvin Louis Greenburg - Tail Turret Gunner
Melvin Eugene Knapp - Gunner
Crew on ‘Silver Dollar’ was -
Albert Joseph Shower - Command Pilot
Robert David Sheehan - Pilot
Anthony Robert Smolar - Navigator
William Charles Evans - Pilotage Navigator
Robert Edward Dolan - Bombardier
John Hall Sawyer - Engineer
Clarence Edwin Love - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
Martin Leo Altenburg - Radio Operator
John Raymond Healy - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
Elbert T Sablotny - Tail Turret Gunner
Robert Edmond Baker - Gunner
Crew on ‘671’ was -
Edward Hooten - Command Pilot
Wellington Coles Leonard - Pilot
Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator
Walter John Chappas - Pilotage Navigator
Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier
Leonard Remetta - Engineer
Charles James North - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
Donald Royce Nelan - Radio Operator
James William Stergis - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
Leslie William Malone - Tail Turret Gunner
Emil Walter Hampa - Gunner
Crew on ‘607’ was -
David Hallock Nash - Pilot
Abraham Charles Serwitz - Co Pilot
Charles Peirce - Navigator
William G Simpson - Toggler
Conrad Holton Olsen - Engineer
Joseph Paul Saban - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
George Hatalosky - Radio Operator
Robert A Hudson - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
Martin Victor Bona - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on ‘881’ was -
George William Condry - Pilot
Frederick James Jansen - Co Pilot
Lester Norman Anenson - Navigator
Harvey Gunnar Erickson - Toggler
Howard C Bright - Engineer
Paul Joseph Hester - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
Andrew William Csumy - Radio Operator
Joseph Nathaniel Londeree - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
Earl H Johnson - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on ‘187’ was -
Ray Nickens - Pilot
James A Martin - Co Pilot
Lloyd Francis Koth - Navigator
Robert William Harr - Toggler
Ralph Gaines Townsend - Engineer
John Clifford O’Connor - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
Philip Joseph Hellsten - Radio Operator
Ralph Wilbert Davidson - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
Thomas Joseph Conners - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on ‘Old Iron Pants’ was -
John H Moffette - Pilot
Aaron Oken - Co Pilot
Michael Steven Besich - Navigator
Paul Greenfeder - Engineer
Howard Joseph Blanchard - assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
Edward James Ferrara - Radio Operator
Virgil Duane Miller - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
James A Lang - Tail Turret Gunner
Victor Thomas Bakan - Gunner
Source: 467th BGA Archives -
Photo taken by Kirby Chase Stafford, Co Pilot with William Van Washburn and crew #034-R2. Appears that he left his Co Pilot position and snapped this photo from behind the pilot's seat while they were flying 44-10448 'Massilon Tiger' in the #2 position of the 2nd Flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron.
The aircraft in center of frame is 42-110168 'The Perfect Lady/Dirty Lil/Old Iron Pants' (flown by Henry Kenneth Close and crew #033-R1) flying in the #3 position of the 2nd Flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron.
The aircraft just above 'Old Iron Pants' is 42-52621 'Silver Dollar' (flown by Robert Miller Winger and crew #031-R3) flying in the #6 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron
Finally, the aircraft just below is 42-52590 'E Pluribus Aluminum' (flown by Robert Linville. Hutchens and crew #043-R4) flying in the tail position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron
Crew on 'Massilon Tiger' was -
William Van Washburn - Pilot
Kirby Chase Stafford - Co Pilot
William Lester Groves - Navigator
Leslie Harold Edgerton - Toggler
Calvin Collidge Turk - Engineer
Eugene Harvey Jordan - Radio Operator
William Gustave Pallo - Right Waist Gunner
Rodric Louis Villemaire - Left Waist Gunner
Mack Howell Harvey - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on 'Old Iron Pants' was -
Henry Kenneth Close - Pilot
Edward James Sanicki - Co Pilot
Cornelius Gerald Costigan - Navigator
Paul E Smith - Toggler
Irving David Zimbler - RCM Operator
Edward Kramek - Engineer
George Orren Zeiber - Radio Operator
Lynn Culley - Right Waist Gunner
Hubert L Boyd - Left Waist Gunner
Victor Sheldon Smith - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on 'Silver Dollar' was -
Robert Miller Winger - Pilot
Joseph Lawrence Casey - Co Pilot
Walter Leroy Parker - Navigator
Ralph Eugene Priest - Toggler
Donald Phillip Cote - Engineer
Wilbur Abraham Lewis - Radio Operator
Joseph Leo Flynn - Top Turret Gunner (most likely Tail Turret)
Emile Joseph Boutin - Right Waist Gunner
Robert John Perkins - Left Waist Gunner
Crew on 'E Pluribus Aluminum' was -
Robert Linville Hutchens - Pilot
Ralph Kenneth Ritter - Co Pilot
Gordon Andrew Buchmiller - Navigator
Jack Maurice Bristow - Toggler
Wallace Ray Skeen - Engineer
Walter Roland Colby - Radio Operator
George Charles Farris - Right Waist Gunner
James Alexander Rollo - Left Waist Gunner
Donald Rudolph Raats - Tail Turret Gunner
James Elmer Wiener - Observer
Source: Kirby Stafford (Vet)