• 789th BS Emblem
  • 789th Ground Crew
    L-R:

    Ralph W Widman
    Richard W Smith
    Jack P McGlon
    Michael J Kozak
    Vincent D LaRussa
    Raymond C Rothrock
    Joseph W Haenn
    Allen J Welters
    John Zelinka

    Source: Joe Haenn (Vet)
  • 789th Ground Crew
    789th ground crew standing in front of 41-29385 'Double Trouble'

    L-R:

    Edwin E Urban
    James F H Jones
    Archie C Pittman
    Bryon R Bringham
    Anthony J Berardi


    Source: Joe Haenn (Vet)
  • B-24J-50-CO  42-73512
    Standing in front of 42-73512 are mechanics of the 789th BS. '512' was originally assigned to the 448th BG and declared "War Weary" eventually being assigned to the 467th in Dec 44. She flew one combat mission on 24 Dec 44 and the rest of the time was used as an assembly ship and for practice missions.


    Standing L-R:

    RIchard W Smith
    Joseph W Haenn

    *Unknown man in the Engineers hatch behind the pilots window

    Source: Joe Haenn (Vet)
  • 789th BS Ground Crew

    Source: 467th BGA Archives
  • Frank E Wilson

    Source: Joe Haenn (Vet)

  • 789th BS Bombsite Personnel

    Kneeling L-R:

    Leonard C Fox (788th)
    Daniel A Stone (791st)
    Walter O Gronning (789th)
    Loren E Smith (789th)
    and YANK. the dog

    Standing L-R:

    Henry "Ed" Daniel (789th)
    George E Smith (789th - Sq Armament Officer)
    Robert A Brady (789th)
    Jack M Hoffman (788th)
    Charles E Murray (789th)
    Evan L Schwartz (789th)

    Source: James Parker from Ancestory.com
  • James Fredrick Hoke Jones
    Jams F.H.. Jones of the 789th BS ground Crew

    Source: Courtsey of "Joe" Haenn
  • Crew #085-R2 | Pilot: Watson
    "Our Happy Home" in the background.

    L-R:

    James "Jim" W Holt
    Ernest "Ernie" G Sorrentino
    Kenneth "Kenny" M Rabin
    Frank S Watson
    Dean H Johnson


    Source: Tom Johnson (son of Dean H Johnson)
  • Crew #033-R1 | Pilot: Close
    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
  • Crew #037-R2 | Pilot: Huston
    Photo taken next to 42-95004 'The Honey Wagon' after crew had finished their combat missions.

    Standing L-R:

    Harry Franklin Brunner - Gunner
    ???*
    Milton Royal Barnes - Radio Operator
    Raymond John Blick - Navigator
    ???*
    Beide Latham Marchbanks - Gunner
    Michael Paul Stofik - Gunner

    Kneeling L-R:

    Unknown Ground Crew
    Unknown Ground Crew
    WIllis Edwin Cobb - Co Pilot
    Charles Edward Huston - Pilot
    Unknown Ground Crew
    Unknown Ground Crew

    *The '???' are Lyle Merton Schrader and Stephen Morekin. Unsure which is which.

    Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet
  • 789th Ground Crew
    L-R:

    Louis G Macalone
    Alfred J Eisenlohr
    George A Audette
    T H Jackson
    James B Aldret
    John Zelinka
    Unknown
    Michael J Kozak

    Notes: Image name is from Tom Johnson's Dads photo's. Unsure what image name is from Joe.

    Source: Joe Haenn (Vet)
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    789th ground crew posing next to 'The Honey Wagon'. Vincent LaRussa is the man on the left.

    Photo believed to have been taken on hardstand #13 looking towards hardstand #16 with the Bomb Dump in the distant background. 41-28744 'Fate's Fortune/Go Getter' is thought to be the first B-24 in the distance.

    Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Vince LaRussa on the left, with two other members of the 789th BS ground crew, standing next to 'The Honey Wagon'. Thought to be parked at hardstand #14.

    Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
  • Ground crew next to 'Thunder Mug"
    "Ed" Sokolski (on the left) and Vince LaRussa (on the right) pause a tandem bicycle on the line near "Thunder Mug."

    Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet
  • Ground crew next to 'Thunder Mug"
    Another photo of "Ed" Sokolski (on the left) and Vince LaRussa (on the right) pausing on a tandem bicycle on the line near "Thunder Mug."

    Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet
  • B-24J-15-FO  'Up In Arms' 42-110187
    Believed to be the moment 'Up in Arms' lost her wing

    Source: Andy Wilkinson
  • Crew #044-R2 | Pilot: Shinn
    Photo taken upon completion of training at Walla Walla AAB, WA.

    Standing L-R:

    William 'Bill" Bernard Wilson - Radio Operator
    Richard Lee Cisco - Gunner
    Edward Carter Galbreath - Gunner
    Jesse Francis Watkins - Gunner
    Stanley Pindar Simpson - Gunner
    Robert L Williams - Engineer


    Kneeling L-R:

    William Edward Shinn - Pilot
    Kenneth Charles Micko - Co Pilot
    Gerard Gadarian - Bombardier
    Alfred Henry Janss - Navigator




    Source: Andy Wilkinson
  • Mission #214 - Lechfeld, Germany
    Seen in this photo are aircraft from the 789th BS at "Bombs Away" over the airfield at Lechfeld, Ger. Photo is most likely taken from 42-95032 'Silver Chief', flown by Arnold Benhart Heikkinen and crew #027-R2, flying in the #6 position of the 1st (Lead) flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron,

    Pictured are 44-10488 'Massilon Tiger', flown by Robert Owen Hipps and crew #032-R2, flying in the #5 position of the 1st (Lead) flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron,

    The very top plane is 44-10598, flown by William C May and crew #040-R3, flying in the #1 (Lead) position of the 2nd (High Right) flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron,

    Lastly is 44-40131 'Gremlin Manor", flown by John Belingheri and crew #047-R2, flying in the #2 (Deputy Lead) position of the 2nd (High Right) flight of the 3rd (Low Left) Squadron,


    Crew on "Massilon TIger' was -

    Robert Owen Hipps - Pilot
    William Powell Ray - Co Pilot
    Michael Caputo - Pilotage Navigator
    Ralph Ward - Toggler
    Louis Cruz - Engineer
    Kenneth Clayton Deagmen - Radio Operator
    Robert Perry Rogers - Right Waist Gunner
    Shiri William Richmond - Left Waist Gunner
    Raymond Mathew Fagen - Tail Turret Gunner



    Crew on '598' was -

    William C May - Pilot
    Raymond John Liddle - Co Pilot
    Ralph Gluck - Navigator
    John Wesley Perkins - Toggler
    James Joseph Connell - Engineer
    Richard Clair Sarver - Radio Operator
    Vincent Giglio - Right Waist Gunner
    Harold Leon Smock - Left Waist Gunner
    Herbert J Wheble - Tail Turret Gunner



    Crew on 'Gremlin Manor' was -

    John Belingheri - Pilot
    Vernon Oran Mason - Co Pilot
    John Lawrence Stewart - Navigator
    Philmore Sol Zibert - Bombardier
    James Howard Spence - RCM Operator
    Theron Winfield - Engineer
    Albert Kenneth Buchman - Radio Operator
    Roy Carroll Page - Right Waist Gunner
    Roy Eugene Chastain - Left Waist Gunner
    Herbert Harastine Leighty - Tail Turret Gunner


    Crew on 'Silver Chief' was -

    Arnold Benhart Heikkinen - Pilot
    Aaron Oken - Co Pilot
    James Walker Wilson - Navigator
    Anthony William Cangialosi - Toggler
    Anthony Bamond - Engineer
    Abraham Morris Shaskin - Radio Operator
    Ben Harry Bruner - Right Waist Gunner
    Charles Edward Thornton - Left Waist Gunner
    *Thomas Joseph Conners - Tail Turret Gunner
    *presummed


    Source: 467th BGA Archives
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Ground crew from the 789th BS pose behind 'Silver Chief'.

    From L-R:

    Samuel Urmson
    ???
    Marvin Cleveland McGhee
    Charles "Charlie" Raymond Wagner
    George Earl Church

    "Silver Chief' is parked at hardstand #17. In the distance on the left are two B-24's parked at hardstand #12. One of them is from the 445th BG.

    Underneath the pilot side inborn engine is 42-51289. She is parked at hardstand #14. Underneath the Co Pilots wing is 42-52590 'E Pluribus Aluminum' at hardstand #16.

    Just to the right of '590' is one of the "General Purpose Huts" (AMM#101) on the north side of the airfield.



    Source: Vernon Mason (Vet)
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Members of the 789th ground crew pose in front of 44-49513. Interestingly, '513' was never assigned to the 789th BS until RZI. Thoughts are she was used as a backdrop for final "gang" photographs prior to RZI


    Standing L-R:

    Cecil Connor King
    Leslie Robert Miller
    John Lee McCall
    Robert Emmons Finch
    Edward Joseph Karas
    Alfred Raymond Campbell
    Forrest Glen Wilson
    Joseph Michael Reilly


    Kneeling L-R:

    Lloyd Albert Davies
    Marvin Cleveland McGhee
    ???
    William Wadsworth Wensley
    Leland Ralph Tolbert
    Louis George Macalone
    Melvin Lester Bland
    ??? Neery

    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Members of the 789th ground crew pose in front of 44-49513. Interestingly, '513' was never assigned to the 789th BS until RZI. Thoughts are she was used as a backdrop for final "gang" photographs prior to RZI


    Standing L-R:

    Edward Joseph Karas
    Cecil Connor King
    Richard Washington Smith
    Robert William Schilling
    Lewis Leon Huggins
    John Mondok
    James Benjamin Aldret
    Michael Joseph Kozak

    Center Row:

    George Wayne Watts
    Sam Joseph Viola
    John William McDole
    George Raymond Hixenbaugh
    Everett Shirly Mann
    Allen Jake Welters

    Front Row:

    Harry Jerome Rozanski
    Warren G Denson
    Stephen Anthony Midura
    Roy L Watson
    Clarence Joseph Letzel

    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Members of the 789th ground crew pose in front of 44-49513. Interestingly, '513' was never assigned to the 789th BS until RZI. Thoughts are she was used as a backdrop for final "gang" photographs prior to RZI


    Standing L-R:

    Cwcil Connor King
    Charles Raymond Wagner
    James John Ciancitto
    Welson Edwin Barrette
    ???
    John Mondok
    James Thomas De Wan
    Edward Joseph Karas


    Kneeling:

    Losse Townson Piland
    Harold H Ketcham
    Emmett Claire KInney
    Frank E Wilson
    Chester John Panus
    ??? Johnson
    T H Jackson
    Wayne Gerald Jacques

    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Members of the 789th ground crew pose in front of 44-49513. Interestingly, '513' was never assigned to the 789th BS until RZI. Thoughts are she was used as a backdrop for final "gang" photographs prior to RZI

    Standing L-R:

    Edward Joseph Karas
    Cecil Connor King
    Edwin Emil Urban
    William Lafayette Keller
    Archie Clayton Pittman
    Hubert Carson Burke
    Leon John Wenklar
    John Zelinka
    William Thomas Ulman

    Kneeling L-R:

    Joseph William Haenn
    Billy Sullivan Bell
    Byron R Brigham
    Jack Preston McGlon
    William Telfare Barnes, Jr
    Anthony Joseph Berardi


    Kneeling L-R:

    John Joseph Storminger
    Willie Matthew Russell
    Richard Robert Watrous
    George Earl Church
    Armand George Audette
    Clair Carlton Worch

    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Men from the 789th BS ground crew stand next to a Cletrac as the prepare to move 42-95187 at her hardstand #12.

    From L-R:

    Lewis Leon Huggins
    Leslie Robert Miller
    ???
    ???
    Michael Joseph Kozak

    Source: Carolyn Lyman - Daughter of Howard S Steffey (Vet)
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Men from the 789th BS ground crew pictured at their accommodation site (AMM #9). The building to the left is hut #438. On the right is #440 and behind them is the Ablution building #452,

    From L-R:

    Marvin Cleveland McGhee and T. H. Jackson.

    Marvin McGhee wrote -

    "...T.H. bunked across the aisle from me and would wake in the mornings and reach under his bunk and pull out his fiddle and start the day with a fiddle tune, if it has strings on it TH could play it. He was a great guy and a good friend..."

    Source: Carolyn Lyman - Daughter of Howard S Steffey (Vet)
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Ground crew members of the 789th BS. Joseph Michael Reilly on the left and J. C. Smith on the right

    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    Ground crew from the 789th BS.

    L-R

    Vincent David LaRussa
    James John Ciancitto
    Lloyd Albert Davies
    ???



    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet
  • 789th Bombardment Squadron (H)
    The 789th BS ground personnel pictured in this wintery scene are believed to be -

    L-R:

    Leland Ralph Tolbert
    George Earl Church
    Archie Clayton Pittman

    Source: Lloyd Albert Davies - Vet