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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 -
Photo taken after training departing overseas.
Standing L-R:
Edward James Sanicki - Co Pilot
Henry Kenneth Close - Pilot
Cornelius Gerald Costigan - Navigator
Ernest Gaetano Sorrentino - Bombardier
Kneeling L-R:
Peter John Martino - Engineer
Burton Lee Coffey - Gunner
Lynn Culley - Gunner
Victor S Smith - Gunner
Paul E Smith - Gunner
Burton Hurwitz - Radio Operator
Source: Vincent LaRussa - Vet -
Photo taken from 42-95004 ‘The Honey Wagon’ flown by Henry Kenneth Close and crew #033-R1 in the 2nd Squadron / 1st Flight / 6th position.
Plane just below the wing is 42-51354 flown by Travis Sewell Whitsel and crew #094-R2 in the 2nd Squadron / 1st Flight / 2nd (Deputy Lead) position.
he aircraft foremost (and just below ‘354) is 42-50309 ‘Plow Jockey/Tenovus’ flown by George William Condry and crew #034-R1 in the in the 2nd Squadron / 1st Flight / 4th position.
Crew members on 42-95004 ‘The Honey Wagon’
Henry Kenneth Close - Pilot
Edward James Sanicki - Co Pilot
Billy Gordon Deck - Navigator
Paul E Smith - Toggler (Nose Gunner)
Gerald David Donovan - Radio Operator
Lynn Culley - Right Waist Gunner
Victor S Smith - Tail Turret Gunner
*Oakie Roy Triplett - Engineer
*Hubert L Boyd - Left Waist Gunner
*Not identified on loading list but presumed to be aboard
Crew members on 42-51354
Travis Sewell Whitsel - Pilot
Joseph Martin Gehring - Co Pilot
George Branin Hallowell - Navigator
David Arvin Keithly - Pilotage Navigator
James R Andrews - Bombardier
Daniel Garver Reiff - Engineer
Edward Francis Deane - Radio Operator
Raymond W Swenson - Ball Turret Gunner (not sure this position is accurate as the ball turret has appears to have been removed)
Peter Levi Buller - Right Waist Gunner
Frank Alfred Strickland - Left Waist Gunner
Norman Alfred Gauthier - Tail Turret Gunner
Crew members on 42-50309 ‘Plow Jockey/Tenovus’
George William Condry - Pilot
Frederick James Jansen - Co Pilot
Lester Norman Anenson - Navigator
Harvey Gunnar Erickson - Toggler (Nose Gunner)
Howard C Bright - Engineer
Andrew William Csurny - Radio Operator
Paul Joseph Hester - Right Waist Gunner
Joseph Nathaniel Londree - Left Waist Gunner
Earl H Johnson - Tail Turret 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)