43-37918

media-26114.jpeg UPL 26114 First Lieutenant Ernest F. Witham--flew 18 missions in the B-24 "Bit-o-Lace" and switched to B-17 "Problem Child" and flew 16 more trips into Germany with the last flight on September 22, 1944. Lt. Witham was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak clusters as a veteran of aerial bombardment missions to Nazi industrial targets. 487th Bomb Group collection

Lt. Witham flew missions on B-24 42-94969 from May 7, 1944 through July 20, 1944 in Europe, switching to
B-17 43-37918 August 3, 1944 through September 22, 1944
He flew B-17 43-38882 for 14 missions while serving in the 4th Squadron Air Sea Rescue in the Pacific May 5, 1945 through June 26, 1945.

Object Number - UPL 26114 - First Lieutenant Ernest F. Witham--flew 18 missions in the B-24 "Bit-o-Lace" and switched to B-17 "Problem Child" and flew 16 more trips into Germany...

Delivered Cheyenne 5/6/44; Kearney 19/6/44; Grenier 30/6/44; Assigned 839BS/487BG [R5-Q] Lavenham 2/7/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 12/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 13/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 9/12/45.

Connections

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People

Earnest R Degan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Ernest F Witham

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-690158
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Officers of the 487th Bomb Group outside the 838th Bomb Squadron operations room.

Lavenham

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Lavenham/Alpheton Airfield

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

43-37918: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 26114 - First Lieutenant Ernest F. Witham--flew 18...