Joseph William Tikey

Military
media-13151.jpeg UPL 13151 LT Joseph W. "Bill" Tikey
Pilot
Crew #509
466th BG - 785th BS

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 13151 - LT Joseph W. "Bill" Tikey Pilot Crew #509 466th BG - 785th BS

Favorite aircraft was "Slick Chick" as his crew had named her. She would go on to be the longest serving 466th BG aircraft. Completed 30 missions: Three as Squadron Lead, Seven as Group Lead, Nine as Wing Lead and two as Division Lead.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31160529
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33019082
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36248546
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15339239
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Eastern Beast
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51141) nicknamed "Pegasus The Flying Red Horse" of the 466th Bomb Group uses parachutes as a landing aid. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: 'B-24 42-51141, T9-N 466BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pegasus
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94979) nicknamed "Slick Chick" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466 BG, Slick Chick, 42-94979 F 43, 128 Misns, Per Crew Chief John Doskocz, 785th A443F.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Slick Chick
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 16 November 1944
  • Date: 17 October 1944
  • Date: 6 October 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sharon, PA, USA 9 November 1920

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK 22 March 1944 - 29 November 1944

Other

Mission

Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK 5 April 1944 "I had to abort my 2nd mission over the North Sea due to losing two superchargers in the "Eastern Beast." I had to return to Attlebridge with a full bomb load & heavy with fuel. After this mission the group put out an edict to 'dump the bomb load in the North Sea." - Bill Tikey

Other

5th Combat Mission

89340 Leipheim, Germany 24 April 1944 "We (the wing) destroyed sixty ME-262's in final assembly" - Bill Tikey

Other

14th Combat Mission

Zeitz, Germany 26 May 1944 "With General Peck aboard, we led the entire 8th AF on this mission." - Bill Tikey

Died

Lakeway, TX, USA 17 October 2013

Buried

Saint Louis, MO, USA 21 October 2013 Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Sharon, PA, USA 22 Emmett Street

Other

Graduated

Pittsburgh, PA, USA Carnegie Tech - Aeronautical Engineering

Revisions

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466th BG Archives
Written interview with Bill Tikey

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466th BG Historian

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466th BG Historian

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466th BG HIstorian

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466th BG Historian

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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 & Brassfield, page 331 & Page 424 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45)

Joseph William Tikey: Gallery (8 items)