Bernard J Smolka

Military

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

Fred M Coon

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

Carl Crawford

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner/Top Turret Gunner

Forrest L Crute

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35634591
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Harold Dietz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

James H Lorenz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-771461
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-50465

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Damifino
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron

42-7682

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Connie
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

44-40463

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

Missions

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
Cleveland, OH, USA 2323 West 6th Street
Parma, OH, USA 1682 Wexford Avenue

Revisions

Date13 Apr 2015 05:06:54
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesChanges to nickname, highest rank, role and events
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date27 Sep 2014 18:04:30
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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

Bernard J Smolka: Gallery (2 items)

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

Object number: UPL 6437 - B-24J-401-CF #42-50465 "Damifino" Codes: T9-K & 2U...