Valentine Arthur O'Brien

Military
media-20451.jpeg UPL 20451 Hit and Run, 43-38391, B-17-G-85-BO
With the Harmon crew.
Standing (l-r): unknown, Harmon, O'Brien, Baun, Lindia, and unknown.
Kneeling (l-r): Cannon, Davy, Riley, Stiver and Pignanelli.

Edited to correct misnamed front row crew members Riley and Stiver. Riley is 3rd from the left; Stiver, my father, is 4th from the left.

Object Number - UPL 20451 - Hit and Run, 43-38391, B-17-G-85-BO With the Harmon crew. Standing (l-r): unknown, Harmon, O'Brien, Baun, Lindia, and unknown. Kneeling (l-r):...

Valentine O'Brien served as B-17 Co-Pilot in the Charles Harmon crew with the 34th Bomb Group / 7th Bomb Squadron. At the end of his tour, he requested to be transferred to a Fighter Squadron. He joined the 364th Fighter Group / 383rd Bomb Squadron at Honington in the last months of 1944 and completed another tour. He flew on P-51 Mustangs.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 34th Bomb Group

34th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 7th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group.

7th Bomb Squadron

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

People

Dale Clement Cannon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37576057
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Arthur J Davy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16089223
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Charles Harmon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Joseph F Lindia

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11037051
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

James W Riley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron

Aircraft

43-38391

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hit and Run
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group

Places

Aerial photography of Honington airfield looking south, the technical site with four C-type hangars and bomb dump are at the top, 21 June 1946. Photograph taken by No. 540 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1589. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Honington

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: RAF Honington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

14 February 1923 Anaheim, Orange County, California

Enlisted

9 February 1943 Santa Ana, California

Died

24 April 2000 Bexar County, Texas
Anaheim, Orange County, California

Buried

Valentine O'Brien rests at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Cards for California
34th BG website http://valortovictory.tripod.com
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Valentine Arthur O'Brien: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 20451 - Hit and Run, 43-38391, B-17-G-85-BO With the...

Object number: UPL 31150 - 383rd Fighter Squadron seen in 1945. (L-R) FRONT...