Anthony Carras

Military

Object Number - UPL 23589 - 1LT Anthony Carras 466th BG Co-Pilot - Harry Merritt Crew

Co-Pilot of the Harry C. Merritt Crew - Crew 671
Competed 36 missions.
Post war he was a well known television and film editor and producer. His credits include:
The Bob Hope Christmas Special (TV Special)
1967 Tarzan and the Great River
1963 The Comedy of Terrors
1963 X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
1963 Operation Bikini
1962 Tales of Terror
1961 Pit and the Pendulum
1961 Master of the World
1960 Last Woman on Earth
1960 House of Usher
1960 Ski Troop Attack
1959 Blood and Steel
1959 Beast from Haunted Cave

He married Catherine M Davis on March 13,1944 and had five children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Carras recalled an incident that occured 12 December 1944 in "Attlebridge Arsenal": ' As we were approaching our base after an all out mission, the oil pressure suddenly dropped on our #3 engine. I feathered #3 and we shot two red flares indicating a mechanical failure. The tower told us to come straight in. Landing a bomber with only three engines is a nightmare. Harry (Merritt, Pilot) and I stood on our left rudder pedals and I adjusted the trim to keep the right wing up. On final approach, Harry brought her in pretty hot because he did not want to land short. On flare out I had to readjust the trim because there was less power.
On landing we could here the tower screaming "get off the runway!" to the ship that landed in front of us. We were traveling at a high speed and catching up to that aircraft ahead, but we had no brakes; #3 engine provides power for the brakes. I said "we have to get off the runway." Harry replied, "We will get court martialed." I said "That's fine, I'd rather be court martialed than dead!" I took over the controls and headed for the right side of the field traveling over the grass and sand. I hoped the brussel sprout field next the base would stop us, but before that happened, fate stepped in. We hit a pothole in the ground with the left main gear, which then collapsed. The left wing dug into the ground. On the runway the ship that had been ahead of us was now parallel to us. One of our props came off and took off the nose of that ship. I now had destroyed TWO B-24's, but thank God, no one was hurt'

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2000240
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Missions

  • Date: 29 November 1944
  • Date: 5 November 1944
  • Date: 19 October 1944
  • Date: 14 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).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Detroit, MI, USA 23 November 1920

Other

Married

13 March 1944 Married Catherine M Davis

Died

Laguna Beach, CA, USA 15 August 2007

Buried

Riverside, CA, USA 19 August 2007 Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County California, USA Plot: 57B 0 50
New York, NY, USA 5626 Broadway

Revisions

Date1 Jan 2022 20:11:02
Contributordecwriter
Sources

NARA files verified AM with four Oak Leaf Clusters. His picture shows the EAME Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars.

Date28 Nov 2015 02:46:08
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date12 Jun 2015 09:49:10
ContributorEmily
Sources

Information provided by Cathy Carras Cwiok, Carras' Daughter.

Date2 Apr 2015 00:32:43
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom
Letter from Anthony Carras dated 25 December 2003

Date4 Dec 2014 00:12:00
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date4 Dec 2014 00:09:50
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date4 Dec 2014 00:02:11
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

Officers of Attlebridge booklet - 1944

Date27 Sep 2014 18:03:46
ContributorAAM
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

Anthony Carras: Gallery (2 items)