Bernard J Smolka

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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

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

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

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 & 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...