Harry M Stephey

Military
Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '853rd Staff-Sq, 491st BG, Early '45. L-R Shoemaker- Asst Ops, Prochaska- Aim (not sure of spelling), Stepney- CO, Fillon- Ops, Leppert- Nav, Mercado- Bomb (not sure of position).' media-380915.jpg FRE 2110 Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '853rd Staff-Sq, 491st BG, Early '45. L-R Shoemaker- Asst Ops, Prochaska- Aim (not sure of spelling), Stepney- CO, Fillon- Ops, Leppert- Squadron Navigator, Mercado- Squadron Bombardier.' Roger Freeman Collection

David Mercado (dmercado55)

Object Number - FRE 2110 - Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '853rd Staff-Sq, 491st BG, Early '45. L-R Shoemaker-...

Was commander of the squadron from '44 to '45

At college Harry had joined the ROTC. After Pearl Harbour he trained as an observer on O-52 and was then assigned to 79th Bomber Sqdn.flying DB-7s. In Miami the 79th was changed to and anti-submarine unit. After many moves and changes in role - and marriage to Betsy - he arrived at Metfield with the 491st, his first mission 4 June 1944, his last 25 March 1945. Harry was promoted Colonel 28 February 1947, and remained in the Reserve.



DFC, Air Medal w/3Oak Leaf Cluster, EAME medal w/5 battle stars, Dist. Unit Citation

Connections

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Units served with

A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.'

491st Bomb Group

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

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Franklin City, Pennsylvania 30 June 1918

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Ringmasters Spring 2002

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000/self

Harry M Stephey: Gallery (1 items)

Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '853rd Staff-Sq, 491st BG, Early '45. L-R Shoemaker- Asst Ops, Prochaska- Aim (not sure of spelling), Stepney- CO, Fillon- Ops, Leppert- Nav, Mercado- Bomb (not sure of position).'

Object number: FRE 2110 - Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st...