William H Nabors

Military
media-39765.jpeg UPL 39765 Lt. James R. Perry Jr. crew: Crew 13.
Front row, L to R: Robert Dalton, Radio Operator - Hulon Whidden, Assistant radio Operator - Milford (Chum) Londo, Assistant Engineer - William H Nabors, Rear Gunner.
Back Row: L to R: Walter Moseley, Engineer - Richard Therian, Bombardier - Richard Gasperoni, Co-Pilot - Stan Weller, Navigator - James Perry Jr., Pilot. William H Nabors

Associated person records.

Object Number - UPL 39765 - Lt. James R. Perry Jr. crew: Crew 13. Front row, L to R: Robert Dalton, Radio Operator - Hulon Whidden, Assistant radio Operator - Milford (Chum)...

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33368743
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Assistant Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Salt Lake Katie
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Raggedy Ann II, Star Spangled Hell
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 67th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group

Missions

Revisions

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The Perry crew ferried this aircraft over to England- William H. Nabors diary.

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Lt. James R. Perry Jr. crew photo from photo collection.

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Edited from Perry crew photo.

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Mission 198, January 29th, 1944 raid on Frankfurt rail yards. His diary entry: "Jan. 1944, wounded in combat in raid to Frankfurt. Biggest raid pulled to date."

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William H. Nabors diary entry for this Oslo raid lists Ray Peterson, his crew's Ball Gunner, killed. Crashed in North Sea. *Flying with a different crew perhaps?

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He also has the Presidential Unit Citation, which is not among your list of awards. He flew his 50th mission on 3 September 1944. His diary notes: "Finished missions. Saw no flak or fighters the last 4 missions. Good thing. No nerve left."

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He would never buy Shell gasoline again after having seen their logo on storage tanks during the Ploesti Raid. Returning to Foggia, Italy the crew were ordered to bail out, but they threw everything they could out and limped back to base. He said no one wanted to bail out over the Adriatic. One German round came up straight through between his feet, missing his nose by inches.

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James Perry Crew, crew 13. My photo notes have a Richard Therian, Bombardier, as part of this crew, but could not find him in your data base.

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"27 Nov. 1943, lost Ray Peterson, our Ball Gunner in crash in the North Sea, returning from a raid on Oslo, Norway, never heard of." W.H. Nabors Diary.

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9th AF, 98th Bomb Group, 415th Squadron when he got transferred to Italy. Arrived 3 May, 1944. Completed 42 missions out of Foggia, after 8 missions completed from Shipdham in England. On 3 Sept. 1944, he completed his 50th mission. "Saw no flak or fighters the last 4 missions. Good thing, no nerve left." From his handwritten diary.

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Will post photo of crew with Plane soon: "Star Spangled Hell."

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44th Bomb Group, 67th Squadron.

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While with the 9th AF, 415th Squadron, his crew flew missions out of Foggia, Italy.

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Tail gunner in the James Perry crew.

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I will edit info as I retrieve it from family members.

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William H Nabors: Gallery (2 items)