James Samuel Ritter

Military
media-15919.jpeg UPL 15919 Crew #642
James S. Ritter Crew
466th BG - 786th BS

Standing Left to Right: James T. Moser (FE), Homer Melias (TG), Patrick J. Connolly (R/O), Lewis Mixner (RWG), Walter G. Fredrick (NG)

Kneeling Left to Right: Gerald Behrens (CP), James Ritter (P), Michael Cambon (N), Franklin Smith (B)

This crew completed 10 missions with Ritter as pilot. Behrens then took over as pilot 466th Bomb Group collection

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Object Number - UPL 15919 - Crew #642 James S. Ritter Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: James T. Moser (FE), Homer Melias (TG), Patrick J. Connolly (R/O),...

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

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

People

Michael J Cambon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-716345
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Patrick J Connolly

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33425141
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Walter C M Frederick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33557130
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Walter G Kaminski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16132541
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Homer Mellas

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38564385
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (T9-D, serial number 41-29240) of the 466th Bomb Group released bombs over the target. Image stamped on reverse: 'Restricted, For personal use only.' [stamp]. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 dropping bombs, The Mad March.'

41-29402

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Mad Monk
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron

Missions

552

  • Date: 14 August 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Kansas, USA 24 July 1918

Enlisted

Oklahoma City, OK, USA 16 April 1941

Other

Crash Landing

Swanton Morley, Dereham, Norfolk NR20, UK 25 July 1944 After just stuggling into the air on takeoff, Ritter's a/c hit a tree, salvoed the bomb load and looked for a place to crash land. Ritter and Behrens successfully put the a/c down at RAF Swanton-Morley. The a/c was salvaged but the crew walked away unscathed. The a/c was B-24H-15-CF #41-29402 "The Mad Monk"

Died

466

Riverside, CA, USA 14 July 2004

Buried

Riverside, CA, USA 18 July 2004 Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County California, USA Plot: SECTION 57A SITE 3121

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom and Brassfield, page 350

James Samuel Ritter: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 15919 - Crew #642 James S. Ritter Crew 466th BG - 786th BS...