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"Blackie" Dunnam's crew show shortly after arriving to the 467th BG from the 492nd. They were assigned to the 788th BS at the time of this photo. In Dec '44 the crew was transferred to the 791st BS to become a Lead crew.
Standing L-R:
Robert J Moran - Gunner
Melvin J Gillette - Radio Operator
James H Thompson - Gunner
Roy V Winden - Gunner
Adrien R Giguere - Gunner
William D Surface - Engineer
Standing L-R:
Lewis D Blanich - Navigator
Blackwell C Dunnam - Pilot
Carl O Brasier - Co Pilot
James J Kish - Bombardier
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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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This photo is from the 467th’s second to last mission. The date was 20 Apr 45. The target this day was a railroad junction near Zweisel, Ger. The planes are from the 2nd Squadron, 1st (Lead) section. Primarily 788th BS aircraft and crews. The photo was taken from 44-40140 ‘Alice’ (flown by Carl Oscar Brasier and crew #021-R5) flying in the 5th position of this Lead Squadron. Interestingly, Charles Arthur Schaumburg (Group Lead Bombardier) was credited with an 8th AF “Best of the Week” as all but four bombs fell within 500’ of the target. The other four fell within the 1000’ radius.
On the plane right, 42-50816 (flown by Arthur Gerald Anderson and crew #022-R1) flying in the 2nd (Deputy Lead) position.
The plane partially obscured is the Lead ship 42-51832 (flown by Nolan Gerald Patton and crew #087-R5)
The right most aircraft on top is 42-50765 ‘Winged Victory’ (flown by Norman William Felbinger and crew #020-R2) in the #3 position of this Section.
The aircraft trailing ‘Winged Victory’ is 42-50641 ‘Dugar’ (flown by Harry Cleveland McCann and crew #001-R4) flying in the #7 position.
Finally, the plane “on fire” is 44-40166 ‘Monster” (flown by Charles Winship Pratt and crew #003-R4) flying in the #4 position of the formation.
Missing from this photo is 44-10600 ‘Piccadilly Commando’ (flown by Walter Jack Mullen and crew #024-R0)
Crew on ‘Alice’ was -
Carl Oscar Brasier - Pilot
Harold Kahn - Co Pilot
Joseph Dominick Yashkas - Navigator
Floyd Eugene Yates - Toggler
Irving David Zimbler - RCM Operator
James Crowe Skilton - Engineer
Burton Lee Coffey - Radio Operator
John A Curran - Right Waist Gunner
James Leslie Mangold - Left Waist Gunner
Walter Naruta - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew on ‘816’ was -
Arthur Gerald Anderson - Pilot
Richard E Bell - Co Pilot
James Frederick Farrell - Navigator
David James Pool - Toggler
Charles William Hampp - RCM Operator
Taliferro Jenkins George - Engineer
Hollis Boyd - Radio Operator
James Wisniewski - Right Waist Gunner
Earl Howard Rossi - Tail Turret Gunner (assumed to be flying. IR report has ‘Ross’)
Crew on ‘832’ was -
Nolan Gerald Patton - Pilot
Wilburt Burl Kirsch - Co Pilot
Juan R Torres - Navigator
Edward Anthony Tripold - Pilotage Navigator
Willard Joseph Overlock - Bombardier
William Lewis Bieber - Mickey Operator
John R Carroll - Engineer
Isadore Schultz - Radio Operator
Joseph James Nackman - Right Waist Gunner
Charles Philip Bednarik - Left Waist Gunner
Paul Harlan Collis - Tail Turret Gunner
The crew on ‘Winged Victory’ was -
Norman William Felbinger - Pilot
Russell Fredrick Garfield - Co Pilot
Joseph Albert Fantino - Navigator
Robert Wendell Hughes - Toggler
Edward Florence Mahoney - Engineer
Harry Tanzer - Radio Operator
Harold Boyette Peterson - Right Waist Gunner
Lewis W Owens - Left Waist Gunner
Floyd Oscar Olson - Tail Turret Gunner
The crew on ‘Dugar’ was -
Harry Cleveland McCann - Pilot
Orville Arnold Dozois _ Co Pilot
Walter Wayne Weaver - Navigator
George S Casey - Toggler
John Kelly Galien - Engineer
Henry Augustine O’Neil - Radio Operator
Neal Rankin Guntrum - Right Waist Gunner
Walter Naruta - Left Waist Gunner
Edwin Carlton Vestal - Tail Turret Gunner
The crew on ‘Monster’ was -
Charles Winship Pratt - Pilot
Randall Herbert Bigsby - Co Pilot
Joseph Santo Imburgia - Navigator
Vincent Joseph Corvino - Toggler
William Nick Gonnello - Engineer
Wayne Frederick Schrum - Radio Operator
Raymond E Wells - Right Waist Gunner
Jack Richard Welch - Left Waist Gunner
Samuel White - Tail Turret Gunner
Source: 467th BGA Archives