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Source: Vernon Mason (Vet)
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Photo taken just before their last mission.
Standing L-R:
John Belingheri - Pilot
Vernon O Mason - Co Pilot
John L Stewart - Navigator
Philmore S Zilbert - Gunner
Kneeling L-R:
Albert K Buchman - Radio Operator
Roy C Page - Gunner
Roy E Chastain - Gunner
Theron Winfield - Engineer
Source: Vernon Mason (Vet)
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Photo taken before arriving at Rackheath
Standing L-R:
John Belingheri - Pilot
Vernon O Mason - Co Pilot
James E Wisner - Bombardier
John L Stewart - Navigator
Kneeling L-R:
Theron Winfield - Engineer
Herbert H Leighty - Gunner
Albert K Buchman - Radio Operator
Roy E Chastain - Gunner
Roy C Page - Gunner
Philmore S Zilbert - Gunner
Source: John "Larry" Stewart
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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
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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