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Military
A bomber crew of the 44th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7507) nicknamed "Heaven Can Wait". Handwritten on image: 'Back Row: Sam Bowman III (P), James Rossman (CP), Art Young (N), Charles Gordon (B). Front Row: Kenneth Dropek (Flt Engineer), Thomas Gorrey (Gunner), Bernard Greeden (Radio), Patrick Commisa (Ball Turret), Donald Ennis (Tail Gunner), Michael Tarzia (Gunner), HEAVEN CAN WAIT.'
Joined squad 11 Feb 1944. On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, AC #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD. Completed tour 11 July 1944. Trans/12th RCD 16 July 1944.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd 2/11/44. On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, AC #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD. Completed tour 5/30/44. Trans/492 BG 6/20/44.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd 2/11/44. On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, AC #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD. Completed tour 5/30/44. DS/1287 Military Police Company 6/13/44. Trans/492 BG...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd. . 2/11/44. On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, AC #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD. Completed tour 5/30/44. Trans to 482nd BG 6/16/44.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner/Nose Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd. 7/5/44. On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, AC #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD. Completed tour 2/26/45. Trans/70 RD 3/15/45.
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier/Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Charles Gordon flew 17 missions as a navigator and 18 as a bombardier with the 44th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Shipdham, England.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Our crew arrived in England on about the last day of November or the first of December, 1943. The American Air Offensive against Nazi Germany was under way with daily strikes against Nazi targets. Our crew, along with six others, were assigned to the...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, A/C #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD.
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Squadron
B-24 Liberator
Military site : airfield
Shipdham was built in 1941-1942, the first US heavy bomber airfield in the English county of Norfolk. It was a standard design, with T2-type hangars and a domestic site dispersed to the south east. Improvements were carried out to increase the number...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Minneapolis, MN | 12 August 1921 |
| Lived in | Minneapolis, MN | 1930 |
| Lived in | Miami, Florida | 1942 |
| Enlisted | West Palm Beach, FL | 3 April 1942 |
|
Morrison AAF |
||
| 44th BG Combat Tour | Shipdham Airfield, UK | 11 February 1944 – 11 July 1944 |
| Crash Landed | RAF Friston, UK | 12 March 1944 |
|
42-7507. A/C burned. Crew were ok. |
||
| Died | Winter Park, FL | 10 October 1971 |
| Buried | Minneapolis, MN | 15 October 1971 |
|
Lakewood Cemetery |
||
