42-50555 Baby Shoes

media-17773.jpeg UPL 17773 Crew #453
Birto Brumby Crew
466th BG - 784th BS
458th BG - 755th BS
B-24J-1-FO 42-50555 "Baby Shoes" Code: J3-G 458th BG - 755th BS

Standing Left to Right: Donald Fraser (B), Edwin Wilcox (CP), Julius Sabo (RN), Birto Brumby (P), Harold Simeone (PN), Elmo Geppelt (N)

Kneeling Left to Right: Doyle Matz (FE), Robert Larimer (R/O), Wells Gardner (WG), Stanley Hammell (TG), George Strickland (TTG), Robert Voss (WG)

This crew flew 3 missions with 466th BG in the middle of their tour, while undergoing lead crew training. The balance of their 30 combat missions was flown with the 458th BG to which they were originally assigned

http://www.458bg.com/crewbrumby.htm

Object Number - UPL 17773 - Crew #453 Birto Brumby Crew 466th BG - 784th BS 458th BG - 755th BS B-24J-1-FO 42-50555 "Baby Shoes" Code: J3-G 458th BG - 755th BS Standing...

Replaced 44-40102 HEAVEN CAN WAIT lost on 27 May 44.

Transferred to 458th BG, 755th BS in Aug 44.

Reassigned to 753rd BS in Oct 44.

On 14 Mar 45 it was damaged by a gun firing accident on the base. Baby Shoes was repaired and returned to the USA at the end of the war. 

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'

458th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.

492nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Birto R Brumby

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Wells N Gardner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13088477
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Elmo W Geppelt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-707038
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator - Assistant Squadron Navigator

Stanley E Hammell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Robert W Larimer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35252363
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Missions

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group fly in formation.

514

  • Date: 4 August 1944
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane. Six men standing to the rear, four men kneeling in front. Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men

513

  • Date: 3 August 1944

508

  • Date: 1 August 1944

Revisions

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Contributoracbernstein1
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http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr…

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Contributoracbernstein1
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http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr…

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Contributoracbernstein1
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http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr…

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Contributoracbernstein1
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http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircraftPage=42-50555 

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Contributor466thHistorian
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Sources

466th BG Historian

42-50555: Gallery (5 items)

Object number: UPL 17773 - Crew #453 Birto Brumby Crew 466th BG - 784th BS...

Object number: UPL 49752 - "Baby Shoes" - B-24J 40-50555 Baby Shoes was flown...

Object number: UPL 49755 - Serial Number 42-50555, Model B-24J Manufacturer...

Object number: UPL 49756 - Total Missions with the 492nd BG: 8 Total WWII...

Object number: UPL 50501 - "At 46, Sgt. Gardner is the oldest air gunner on...