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On your web page is a photo labelled "Unidentified Crew" which is AF photo #81891AC. This photo has been included in the journal of Lt. Nick Radosovich of the 734Sqdn, 453rd BG, 2nd AD, 8thAF, entitled, A Retrospective View - World War Two, on page 29 as his B-24 aircrew returns from the plane's hard stand to the debriefing. The jeep belonged to Maj. Jimmy Stewart who had driven out to greet Nick and crew with the news that their 32nd mission on 23 June 1944 in Lucky Penny II [#42-95312] was their last. That crew had flown Lucky Penny (I) named for Nick's pet dog, Penelope, out from the U.S. and flew that plane through their 18th mission when they got R & R and another crew got it and was shot down. After a flight using someone else's B-24, they got a new B-24H [#42-95312] which he named Lucky Penny II, which went on to fly 47 other missions before being shot down on 17 October 1944. The crew pictured on the jeep are: Lt. Carl Powell, navigator, Lt. Nick Radosovich, pilot, Sgt. Ed Survilla, tail gunner, Lt. Leslie Lee, bombadier, Sgt. Joe Craft, radio op, and Sgt. Bob Victor, left gunner. Walking or not seen are Lt. Luke Clark, co-pilot,Sgt. Bob Hanson, crew chief, Sgt Laddie Head, nose gunner, and Sgt Jim Terwiliger, armament chief and right gunner. Nick was one of those B-24 pilots instructed by Jimmy Stewart in Idaho and had numerous contacts with him when he became Operations Officer for the 453rd. There are two other interesting photos in Nick's journal: (1) the crew in front of Lucky Penny I and (2) a photo taken just after their first D-Day flight over Omaha Beach being de-briefed at the hard stand as the plane was being refueled and new ordinance loaded for a second mission over St. Lo. My connection to the information is that I helped Nick write his journal covering all his military service including his later experience as a B-29 pilot instructor. Victor and and Hanson had also written journals of their Air Force experiences. I am trying to get a navigator in the 392nd [Wendling] to do his story. I have appreciated all you have put into the Old Buck page. All the best, Ed Walker |
