Wells N Gardner

Military
media-17799.jpeg UPL 17799 SSGT Wells Gardner
Ball Turret Gunner
458th BG - 755th BS

Object Number - UPL 17799 - SSGT Wells Gardner Ball Turret Gunner 458th BG - 755th BS

Served 16 months in World War I. Was a glider pilot befor he became a gunner. Flew 26 missions over Germany. Was twice reported Killed in Action (KIA) while flying against Japan. At age 46, was the oldest air gunner on combat duty with the 458th BG.



AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster

Connections

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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
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: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Baby Shoes
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
media-16636.pdf (4.95 MB) Document 16636 "The Mishap of Crew 92".
The detailed account of a mission flown by 467th Bomb Group, 791st Bomb Squadron on 18 March 1945, to Berlin, in B-24 42-50599.

Media added from MACR 15454 -http://www.fold3.com

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 467th Bomb Group 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: That Red Headed Gal

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

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Erie County, PA, USA 10 December 1898

Enlisted

Fort Meade, MD, USA 27 January 1943

Other

Combat Tour

Horsham St Faith, Norwich, Norfolk, UK 7 June 1944 - 9 February 1945 Flew 3 missions with the 466th BG and 23 with the 458th BG OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE WE DON’T THINK WE ARE PUTTING OUR NECKS OUT TOO FAR WHEN WE STATE WE BELIEVE THAT THIS GROUP HAS THE OLDEST COMBAT GUNNER IN THE ETO. WE BASE OUR CLAIMS ON S/SGT WELLS N. GARDNER WHO IS AN AERIAL GUNNER ON B-24’S WITH THE 458TH. SGT GARDNER IS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR 1, HAVING SERVED 16 MONTHS IN FRANCE WITH THE 56TH ARTILLERY, A BATTERY. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE ARGONNE, CAMPAIGN AND WAS DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL, JUNE 25, 1919. THIS 46 YEAR OLD GUNNER, WAS A BRAKEMAN FOR 10 YEARS WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA, RR, ENLISTED FOR WORLD WAR 11 IN OCTOBER 1942 AS A CORPORAL AND ENTERED FOREIGN SERVICE MAY 1, 1944. HE IS CREDITED WITH 26 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER GERMANY AND ENEMY OCCUPIED EUROPE AND HOLDS THE AIR MEDAL WITH THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. BEFORE SGT GARDNER WAS ASSIGNED TO B-24’S HE WAS A GLIDER PILOT. GARDNER’S BETTER HALF, MRS. DOROTHY GARDNER, IS ALSO DOING HER FAIR SHARE IN THIS FRACAS AS SHE IS A WAC STATIONED AT LOWRY FIELD, COLO. AND AS WE SAY, “OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE”, THEY JUST KEEP ON GOING FOREVER.

Died

Erie, PA, USA 14 March 1973

Buried

Erie, PA, USA 17 March 1973 Lakeside Cemetery Erie Erie County Pennsylvania, USA Plot: Sec 6,121C,#3

Other

World War I Service

Forêt de Hesse, 55120 Aubréville, France Participated in the Argonne Offensive with the 56th Artillery, A Battery

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
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Contributor466thHistorian
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Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
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Date
Contributor466thHistorian
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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / newspaper article & Page 272 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Co, 1998 edition

Wells N Gardner: Gallery (3 items)