media-18540.jpeg UPL 18540 After the crew that my Dad , Eddie Joe Choate, was assigned to, and trained with, reached Tibenham, Norfolk, and before they ever flew their first mission together, their pilot, Richard P Klopfenstein, was sent on an actual mission as a co-pilot with another B-24 crew to give him some experience on a real mission. Unfortunately, on their way back to England, their B-24 collided mid-air with another 701 BS B-24 and crashed in France, 12/11/44, killing Klopfenstein and all on board. Dad's crew was then assigned another pilot, William D Lucas, who is shown in this photo with crew prior to leaving on a mission. Eddie Joe Choate Family Collection

Eddie Joe Choate's oldest son. Source: Family Records