Melvin Adrian Watson

Military

Assigned to 754BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions. Flight crew for B-24 assembly ship 'First Sergeant', when flares set A/C ablaze, along with pilot received facial burns in the ensuing fire 27-May-44.



Awards: DFC, AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32220382
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35621166
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12162769
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33377676
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-61279 / O-2045232
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Meat Around the Corner
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Bomb Totin Mama
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ill be Back
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-100341) nicknamed "Satan's Mate" of the 458th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Satan's Mate
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sweet Lorraine | Boomerang
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bessemer, AL 19 September 1916 Son of Charles John and Lillie Leona [Gray] Watson.

Enlisted

Maxwell Field, Montgomery, AL 25 March 1942 Maxwell Field Montgomery Alabama

Other

Discharged USAAF

5 September 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

7 July 2002

Based

Horsham St Faith Assigned to 754BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF.