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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 Elmer 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 -
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)