Charles M Woodbury

Military
media-22998.jpeg UPL 22998 Crew 659
Charles Woodbury Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing L-R: Charles Woodbury (pilot), Tom Mooney (co-pilot), Hubert Sullins (navigator), Roy Smith (Bombardier)
Kneeling L-R: George Forecki (engineer), Paul Hardesty (gunner), Newell Sherwood (gunner), Norm Townsend (gunner), Vester England (radio), Val O'Palka (gunner)

This crew safely completed a 35 mission tour: 6 September 1944 - 24 March 1945 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Archives

Object Number - UPL 22998 - Crew 659 Charles Woodbury Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing L-R: Charles Woodbury (pilot), Tom Mooney (co-pilot), Hubert Sullins (navigator), Roy...

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?'

466th Bomb Group

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

People

Vester Alton England

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20820933
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

George M Forechi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Paul Hardesty

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13141740
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Thomas W Mooney

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Valentine C Opalka

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32928905
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Aircraft

42-110162

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Parson's Chariot
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 491st Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron 853rd Bomb Squadron

42-50585

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Small Change
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95067) nicknamed "Trouble Maker" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466 BG, Trouble Maker, 42-95067 D 27, 110 Msns. 787th A936E.'

42-95067

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Troublemaker
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron

44-10580

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-24 Liberator of the 467th Bomb Group flies over Berlin during a mission. 18 March 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '18/3/45 Berlin.'

894

  • Date: 18 March 1945

702

  • Date: 5 November 1944

682

  • Date: 18 October 1944

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).

Attlebridge

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

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Waltham, MA, USA 16 March 1920

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK 5 September 1944 - 25 March 1945

Died

Grass Valley, CA, USA 9 February 2008 Charles M. "Woody" Woodbury Jr. died Feb. 9 in Grass Valley. He was 87. A graveside service with military honors provided by the All Veteran's Honor Guard will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Woodbury Jr. was born March 16, 1920, in Waltham, Mass., to Charles and Ann Woodbury. He graduated from Waltham High School. He later took business administration courses at the University of California, Los Angeles and subsequently earned a license as a private investigator and adjuster. In 1963 he moved from West Covina to Grass Valley, where he owned and operated the Holiday Liquor store for 20 years. Before his relocation, he was an executive with the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Los Angeles. Mr. Woodbury Jr. served as a first lieutenant with the 466th Group of the Eighth Air Force as a pilot of a B-24 Liberator. He flew 35 missions over Germany during World War II. Mr. Woodbury Jr. enjoyed flying his own airplane and in the 1970s served as a member of the Nevada County Airport Commission. His fondest pastime was spending time with his family and his dog, Lucy. He enjoyed working in his yard, where he created shady parking spaces for employees of nearby offices to use on hot days. He also enjoyed visiting the Golden Empire Nursing Home and traveling by motor home.

Enlisted

Grass Valley, CA, USA 15 February 2008 Greenwood Memorial Cemetery Grass Valley Nevada County California, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No 137 Karlsruhe, Germany - 5 November 1944
NARA research by Brad Sullivan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No 137 Karlsruhe, Germany - 5 November 1944
NARA research by Brad Sullivan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - 18 March 1945 mission formation plan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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 352

Charles M Woodbury: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 22998 - Crew 659 Charles Woodbury Crew 466th BG - 786th BS...