Erwin Henry Sorensen Jr

Military
media-6381.jpeg UPL 6381 Erwin H. Sorensen Crew
Crew #674 & #489
466th BG
786th and 784th BS

Standing Left to Right: Erwin H. Sorensen (P), Joseph Goldman (CP), Ned Whitman (B), Donald J. Doll (N)

Kneeling Left to Right: Norman Bastoky (G), Chester Havrick (R/O), Vohn D. Schmidt (G), Phillip J. Krystyniak (FE), Merrill Lee (G), Carl D. Peterson (G)

Ned Whitman left the crew before they joined the 466th BG.

This crew flew eight missions with the786th BS and then 12 missions as a lead crew with the 784th BS before hostilities ended. 466th Bomb Group collection

Corrected "Norman Bastaky" to "Norman Bastoky". This is my grandfather. I have a copy of this photo with signatures on the back.

Object Number - UPL 6381 - Erwin H. Sorensen Crew Crew #674 & #489 466th BG 786th and 784th BS Standing Left to Right: Erwin H. Sorensen (P), Joseph Goldman (CP), Ned...

Assigned 786BS, 466BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew 20 x combat missions, including 12 as a lead crew with 784BS.





Awards: DFC, AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).

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

Norman Bastoky

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35926992
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Donald Joseph Doll

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2065210
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Joseph Goldman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-63397/ O-2008854
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Chester Theodore Havrick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32911910
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Philip James Krystyniak

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18188777
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-95610

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron

44-49529

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Cindy
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th 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

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

Racine, Wisconsin 15 April 1920 Son of Erwin and Helen Sorensen.

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

Attlebridge, Norwich, UK 10 December 1944 - 25 April 1945 Completed 20 missions, including 12 as a lead crew.

Died

Batavia, IL, USA 19 June 2007 Erwin H. "Erv" Sorensen Jr., 87, of Batavia, passed away June 19, 2007. He was born April 15, 1920 in Racine, WI, the son of Erwin and Helen Sorensen. He married Ruth Spring on November 20, 1943 in Pampa, TX. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1946 as a Captain and a pilot. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and valor. He moved to Batavia in 1948 and worked for Furnas Electric Co. from 1953 until he retired in 1987. He was active in the Fox Valley communities as Past Commander of American Legion Post 504 and Past Kane County Commander of the American Legion. As a member of Chief Shabbona Council of the Boy Scouts of America, he was awarded the "Silver Beaver" Award for his efforts promoting scouting in the Fox Valley. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia and was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Erv was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother.

Buried

Resurrection Cemetery Geneva Township Kane County IL 22 June 2007 Resurrection Cemetery Geneva Township Kane County Illinois
Racine, WI, USA 2417 Mohr Avenue

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/686535188

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/143850641
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20023825/erwin-h-sorensen

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Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom, page 230
"Officers of Attlebridge" booklet, page 31

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
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Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributorbenward96
Changes
Sources

personal letters
obituary

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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 351

Erwin Henry Sorensen: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 6381 - Erwin H. Sorensen Crew Crew #674 & #489 466th BG...

Object number: UPL 7449 - B-24J-165-CO #44-40463 "Consolidated Mess" Code...