Forrest L Crute

Military
media-15001.jpeg UPL 15001 Crew #574
Bernard J. Smolka Crew

Standing Left to Right - Fred M. Coon (N), Bernard J. Smolka (P), James Lorenz (CP), Carl Crawford (TTG), Perrone (TG)

Kneeling Left to Right: Laurie Van Winkle (WG), Robert D. Moushon (R/O), Forrest Crute (FE), Harold Dietz (NG)

The core of the is crew (Lorenz, Coon, Crawford, Van Winkle, Moushon and Crute) were flying with their 5th different pilot, having previously formed the core of the Donald Poutry (1 mission), Clyde Shrum (4 missions), Thomas McKiernan (4 missions) and Robert Yelton (6 missions) before flying their final 20 missions with B.J. Smolka leading them.

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Object Number - UPL 15001 - Crew #574 Bernard J. Smolka Crew Standing Left to Right - Fred M. Coon (N), Bernard J. Smolka (P), James Lorenz (CP), Carl Crawford (TTG),...

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

Thomas H McKiernan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot/Co-Pilot

Donald Leo Poutry

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Clyde S Shrum

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot

Bernard J Smolka

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

Robert L Yelton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-7682

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Connie
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-14 Liberator (serial number 44-40328) nicknamed "This Above All" of the 487th Bomb Group.

44-40328

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: This Above All
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron

44-40463

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Consolidated Mess
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

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

Ohio, USA 30 September 1912

Enlisted

Columbus, OH, USA 25 March 1943 Fort Hays

Died

Ohio, USA 3 March 1990

Buried

Dayton, OH, USA 8 March 1990 Dayton National Cemetery Dayton Montgomery County Ohio, USA Plot: 25, 0, 305
Butler County, OH, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Correspondence with Forrest Crute's son, Larry.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives

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 and Brassfield, page 344

Forrest L Crute: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 14539 - Crew #557 Donald L. Poutry Crew 466th BG - 785th...

Object number: UPL 15001 - Crew #574 Bernard J. Smolka Crew Standing Left to...

Object number: UPL 6923 - Crew #574 Robert Yelton Crew 466th BG - 785th BS...