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(Please e-mail with the men's names if you know them!)
733rd Squadron Brass
From L to R:
Cpt. Odell H. (Swede) Johnson, Ass't Operations;
(?), Navigator;
Maj. Donald Heaton, 733rd Sqdn CO;
Cpt. "Bee" Behymer, Bombardier;
Maj. Sidney M. Boice, Operations Officer. (Identifications by O. H. Johnson)
- Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
735th Taxiing
- I think this photo and the next represent the entire 735th taxiing
before a mission. The plane in the foreground is believed to be BETTY BOOP.
There is another to the extreme right; perhaps in the firing butt? (Machine
gun sighting range). The
Censor's stamp
on the back reminds us that these photos were quite sensitive during the War.
Photo courtesy of Jim Hellinger.
735th Taxiing
- Note that Dumbo is wearing the H6 marking of the 735th Sqdn.
in this photo. It looks as though there is another plane directly in back of
her; you can see its landing gear. Photo courtesy of Jim Hellinger.
A/C #44-10515
- UNNAMED Crashed 6-Feb-1945 at Deopham Green. Lt. Roy Flatt and his
entire crew were killed after a mid-air collision with another ship. Click
here
for a map showing the crash site, submitted by Victor Flatt.
Also, click
here
for a description of the accident, also submitted by Victor Flatt.
A/C #276 - Nosewheel collapse
- at March Field. In all likelihood, this is not the #276 later
inventoried by the 453rd in England.
B.T.O.
- "Big Time Operator". There is a fascinating story that goes with
this artwork. See the Aircraft List sub-page.
BATTLE PACKAGE
- Neil Creer was the Crew Chief.
BECOMING BACK
- Who could miss this risque double entendre?
BLONDES AWAY
- This photo is believed to be taken at March Field, Ca. prior to being deployed to
England. Crew to be identified (possibly Lt. Fern Titus Crew or Lt. Joe DeJarnette Crew).
Info per Don Olds. Photo courtesy of Mark Forlow.
Bombers for sale
- A newspaper article from the post-war years. Courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
CROW'S NEST
- Its name was taken from that of its Pilot, Lt. Alex J. Crow.
Crew Chief was Clint Colvin (second from left, kneeling) per former
Flight Chief Dave Conner.
Tire Damage
- May 8 44 Left - RO- "Big Robbie" David G. Roberts.
Right - TG "Max" Max Martin (Martin took Pace's place after Pace flew with
another crew which was shot down 08-APR-44 on the Brunswick Mission).
Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
Tail Damage
- 8-May-44 l to r TTG- "Marty" Martin S. Sasala;
N- "Harry" Harrison E. Cassel.
Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
Nose Turret Damage
- May 8 44 Note shattered plexiglass & bullet holes. Eight aircraft
were lost on this mission, which encountered heavy German fighter attacks.
Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
Pilot Surveys Damage
- May 8 44 l to r- P- "Mac" William M. McCrocklin;
NG- "Tex" Curtis E. O'Neal.
Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
DUMBO
- Looks like DUMBO might be getting a spark plug change.
E3 was the fuselage code for the 732nd Bomb Squadron. (F6 - 733rd; E8 - 734th; H6 - 735th)
EL FLAKO
- Also known as RAINBOW GODDESS.
Shown with M/Sgt. John Nellis, Crew Chief of MALE CALL.
Another of
EL FLAKO
- Crew (from left, back): T/Sgt. C. Beaulieu wg; Lt. H. Weddington cp;
S/Sgt. R. Vernon wg; S/Sgt. N. Waldron ut/eng; Lt. A. Warfield p; (from left,
front) S/Sgt. C. Braun ng; S/Sgt. Joseph Leone tg; Lt. A. Thompson bomb;
Lt. L. Lunsford nav; T/Sgt. D. A. DeHaven ro. Many Thanks to Frans of
Arnhem, Holland for sending this photo.
EL FLAKO
- Two men in front of EL FLAKO are Lt. Roger Counselman on the left, Pilot and on the
right copilot James Wurst. EL FLAKO was their plane. Info per Don Olds. Photo courtesy of
Mark Forlow.
FLAMIN' MAMIE
- Apparently this plane's name and artwork are related to Rita Hayworth's
performance in "Gilda". This noseart panel still survives in the collection of the
Confederate Air Force, which is currently seeking funds to restore it and several
others. This tiny panel is probably all that remains of the 453rd's aircraft.
HAZEE
- Rumor has it that flight crewmen would touch the "good luck bolt" before
a mission to ensure success!
HUSTLIN' HUSSY
- Photo courtesy of Dave Prouhet, son of the pilot. (It strikes me that
there must be an error in the date (01/01/44) because the 453rd went operational
on 02/05/44 and this plane shows around forty bomb drops. I'm guessing the
photo lab committed the age old early January mistake of dating to the previous
year. If so, the correct date is 01/01/45.)
LACE
- of the 732nd, with a Line Mechanic, we think. (Miss Lace was a cartoon
character in the comic strip "Male Call", drawn by Milton Caniff, who later did
"Terry and the Pirates" and "Steve Canyon". Paradoxically the 734th ship named
MALE CALL seemed not to be a reference to her or the comic strip.)
Photo courtesy of Bruce Kaplan.
LITTLE NANCY
- Dale (last name unknown) with Crew Chief Neil Creer. Photo courtesy of Neil Creer.
LITTLE NANCY w/ WHAM BAM
- Little Nancy in the backgroud with damage to her right wing tip and no.4
engine and Wham Bam with its rudder missing. It happened on Jan. 1,1945.
Explanation in _The Liberator Men of Old Buc_ on page 120. They were hit by a
bomber taking off in a dense fog. A Ly. Smith and his crew was in Little Nancy
gettin ready to start the engines and a member of my crew and I were in front
between the planes when the bomber just skimmed over our head and crashed. We
were really lucky,by all we should easily been gone along with 9 of the eleven
crew members of the bomber that hit us. -Neil. Photo courtesy of Neil Creer.
MALE CALL
- Cpt. Charles A. Ward crew. Spring 1944. Personnel: (L to R)
Lt. Minyard - nav; Lt. Perry - cp; S/Sgt. Keith Dibble - tg; "Shorty" Evans - bg;
Frank Dietz - ro; Jack Alexander - ng; "Mac" McLain - ut/eng; "Ted" Kielar - wg;
Cpt. Ward - p; Lt. "Choo-Choo" Train - bomb. This was the first complete crew in
the Group to complete its tour of missions.
MALE CALL
- Kinney crew. Taken Feb. 27, 1945. Photo courtesy of Rex Bennet.
MALE CALL in color
- 85 bomb drops; around Feb. 1945.
MALE CALL
- With line mechanics Huebner and Jackson.
MALE CALL
- With fans turning.
MALE CALL
- With bicyclist. Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
MALE CALL
- Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
McCrocklin Crew's First Mission - February 5, 1944
- Mission #1 Tours, FR. Front l to r
B - "Bee" Raymond C. Behymer;
Eng.r- 'Johnny" John J. Doyle;
Ball/Nose Gunner- "Little Robbie" James H. Roberts;
TG- Moore (Pace ill).
Back l to r
Armorer/gunner- "Tex" Curtis E. O'Neal;
TTG- "Marty" Martin S. Sasala;
CP- "Jim" James N. Workman;
P- "Mac" William M. McCrocklin;
N- "Harry" Harrison E. Cassel;
RO- "Big Robbie" David G. Roberts.
The McCrocklin Crew usually flew HER-MAN, which was a reference to Herman,
Elsie the Borden cow's bullfriend.
Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
McCrocklin Crew's Goin' Home
- Date unknown (their last mission was July 25, 1944) Front l to r
N- "Harry" Harrison E. Cassel;
P- "Mac" William M. McCrocklin;
CP - "Jim" James N. Workman;
B - "Bee" Raymond C. Behymer.
Back l to r
Ball turret/nose gunner - "Little Robbie" James H. Roberts;
Eng. - "Johnny" John J. Doyle;
top gunner - "Marty" Martin S. Sasala;
TTG- "Tex" Curtis E. O'Neal;
TG- "Max" Max Martin (Replaced Harold Pace);
RO- "Big Robbie" David G. Roberts.
Courtesy of Bill Wilson; photo credits to Raymond Behymer/James Workman.
MALE CALL
- Nelson crew. Photo courtesy of Chas. Reus.
MISS MINNESOTA
- Pictured Sateside during training with Crew #34. In England this
Crew flew the CLOUD HOPPER. Photo courtesy of John Durborow.
OHIO SILVER
- Note the B-24 in flight just over the #2 prop. Photo courtesy of Rick Webb.
OUR BABY
- With the Tardiff Crew. Front row, second from right is tail gunner Joe B. Moore, jr.
RUTH MARIE
- This one was mangled in the e-mail, but we're working on it! Photo
courtesy of Mary Aukerman.
SILENT YOKUM
- Named for a character in the long-gone comic strip Li'l Abner. Note the
fishhook antennae. Ronald Barnhart (radio operator) is at far right.
another shot of SILENT YOKUM:
Nose Gunner Arlie Aukerman is on the right, pointing.
yet another of SILENT YOKUM, taken by Pilot Lt. Irving Kraus
Photo courtesy of Mary Aukerman.
SKY CHIEF
- Shown with Crew Chief Evje, per Dave Conner.
Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- Crew Chief is John Shaner (second from left, kneeling) per Dave Conner.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- With line mechanics? Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- Loading the bombs. Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- With Armorer John Cardoza. Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- Photo courtesy of Stuart Wright.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- Photo courtesy of Chas. Reus.
SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
- Crew Chief John Shaner on the right. Photo courtesy of Chas. Reus.
STOLEN MOMENTS
- B-24-H #42-52627 shot down 12-JUL-1944 near Ensisheim/Klass Germany.
Crew - Pilot Bill B. Banias; Co-Pilot Fred B. Foltz; Nav. Richard A. Matheis;
Bombardier John A. Staedler; RO Julius W. Gordon; Top Turret Charles J.
Scheffer; Nose Gunner Robert D. Thompson (Tim's cousin); Right waist Bill G.
Hileman; Left Waist Leonard E. Lincoln; Tail Gunner Albert G. Hitz.
Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.
STOLEN MOMENTS
- Nose. Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.
STOLEN MOMENTS
- Taken from aft. Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.
STOLEN MOMENTS
- Tail. Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.
STOLEN MOMENTS
- Nose art. Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.
STOLEN MOMENTS
- Clipped wing. Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.
UNIDENTIFIED
- Apparently beyond economical repair..... Photo courtesy of David J. Cardoza.
VAMPIN' VERA
- Photo courtesy of Lyle Alverson.
VAMPIN' VERA
- Shown with the Biel crew:
S/Sgt A.G. Meyer, Gunner, Massachusetts;
T/Sgt J.R. Huber, Radio Operator, New York;
S/Sgt D.L. Cantril, Gunner, Oregon;
T/Sgt. W.G. Ross, Gunner, Tennessee;
S/Sgt R.E. Martin, Gunner, Mississippi;
T/Sgt J.A. Sargent, Engineer, Louisiana;
1st Lt. J.R. Rosenblum, Navigator, New York;
1st Lt. F.E. Strickland, Bombardier, Texas;
1st. Lt. A.H. Biel, Pilot, California;
2nd Lt. C.A. Petersen, Co-Pilot, Maine.
Photo and crew identifications courtesy of Phil Curry.
VAMPIN' VERA
- with Pilot George Baatz. This plane was named for the Baatz's girl
friend. The plane went down over Belgium on June 24, 1944, and George
perished in the crash. Photo courtesy of Vera, of Lodi, California.
VAMPIN' VERA
- another photo with Pilot George Baatz. Photo courtesy of Vera, of Lodi, California.
VAMPIN' VERA
- another photo with Pilot George Baatz. Photo courtesy of Vera, of Lodi, California.
VAMPIN' VERA
- Nose art. Photo courtesy of Vera, of Lodi, California.
WHAM BAM
- L to R, assistant crew chief John Berzai; George (name blurred but last name Compro); last
name appears to be Gigliello; Neil Creer. Photo courtesy of Neil Creer.
WHAM BAM
- The 453rd's assembly ship, transferred from the 93rd BG. Photo courtesy of Mark Forlow.
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