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Ralph Elliot seen posing by one of the air raid shelters on Site #5. Barrack (AM) #275 in in the background on the left. Behind that is barracks (AM) #274 and to the right is barracks (AM) #276
*(AM) - Air Ministry
Source: Ralph Hubert Elliot - Vet -
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 Ezell 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 -
DFC Review held on the main runway. Pictured are -
Front Row L-R:
Frank Boydston Summers - Pilot crew #043-R4
John Raymond Moseley - Pilot crew #089-R6
Blackwell Charles Dunnam - Pilot crew #083-R3
Ralph Hubert Elliot - Pilot crew #095-R1
William Reynolds Chapman - Pilot crew #092-R3
James William Holt - Mickey Operator crew #078-R1
Back Row:
James Francis Peters - Navigator crew #080-R3
Joseph Paul Pepino - Pilotage Navigator crew #048-R2
Arnold Rolin Thompson - Navigator crew #095-R1
Edward Walter King - Pilot crew #045-R1
???
???
Robert Miller Winger - 031-R3
Source: Ralph Hubert Elliot - Vet -
DFC Review held on the main runway. Pictured are L-R:
George William Darnell - Group Adjutant
James Jeremiah Mahoney - Group Deputy Commanding Officer
Ion Sessions Walker - Group Executive Officer
??? (behind)
Albert Joseph Shower - Group Commanding Officer
??? (behind)
Frank Fancher Creager - Commanding Officer 47th Sub Depot
Caper Andrews Holmes - Group Navigator
Paul Ellis Geske - Engineering Officer
Joseph Severance - 790th BS Operations Officer
Frank Boydston Summers - Pilot crew #043-R4
John Raymond Moseley - Pilot crew #089-R6
Blackwell Charles Dunnam - Pilot crew #083-R3
Ralph Hubert Elliot - Pilot crew #095-R1
William Reynolds Chapman - Pilot crew #092-R3
James William Holt - Mickey Operator crew #078-R1
James Francis Peters - Navigator crew #080-R3
Joseph Paul Pepino - Pilotage Navigator crew #048-R2
Arnold Rolin Thompson - Navigator crew #095-R1
Edward Walter King - Pilot crew #045-R1
???
???
Robert Miller Winger - 031-R3
* A portion of the T2 hanger of the east side of the airfield can be seen to the far right side of the photo
Source: Ralph Hubert Elliot - Vet