David I Bridgers

Military
media-7271.jpeg UPL 7271 Crew #765
David Bridgers Crew
466th BG - 787th BS
B-24J-155-CO #44-40253 "Hard Luck" Code: 6L-N

Standing Left to Right: Herb Leopold (B), Dewey A. Whisenant (N), David I. Bridgers (P), Charles Walker (CP), Joe Iurlano (G)

Kneeling Left to Right: Andrew Van Slot (FE), Jack Starlin (WG), Richard Garlich (R/O), James Steel (TG), Joseph Van Dyke (WG), 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 7271 - Crew #765 David Bridgers Crew 466th BG - 787th BS B-24J-155-CO #44-40253 "Hard Luck" Code: 6L-N Standing Left to Right: Herb Leopold (B),...

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

Missions

B-17s of the 398th Bomb Group bombing the railyard at Bingen, 29 December 1944. Printed caption on reverse: '57548 AC- With bomb bay doors open, the first of a large formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses send their bombs plummeting earthwards on rail installations at Bingen, Germany, as heavy bombers of US Eighth Air Force press home their attack of December 29, 1944. US Air Force Photo.'
  • Date: 29 December 1944
  • Date: 28 December 1944
  • Date: 26 December 1944
The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 23 December 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Jackson, MS, USA 23 March 1923

Died

Vicksburg, MS, USA 23 August 2007 Mr. David I. Bridgers, Sr., 84, died Thursday, August 23, 2007, at his home in Belmont Gardens. He was a resident of Vicksburg for 45 years. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Bridgers attended Central High School. He served as a combat pilot during World War II, flying 35 missions for the 8th Air Force, including the bombing of Berlin. After the War, he attended the University of Mississippi on a football scholarship. He played center on the 1947 team that won the school's first South Eastern Conference Championship. Upon graduation, Mr. Bridgers accepted a job with Mississippi Power & Light, Co., where he worked for 40 years. He retired in 1991, while serving as Division Manager for the Western Division, located in Vicksburg. Mr. Bridgers served as chairman of numerous boards of directors, such as, The Salvation Army Advisory Board, Andrew Jackson Council of BSA, Governing Board of Mercy Regional Medical Center, Mississippi Heart Fund and The Committee of 100. Mr. Bridgers is a past president of the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Foundation. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, serving as president of the Parish Council, Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

Buried

Jackson, MS, USA 25 August 2007 Lakewood Memorial Park Jackson Hinds County Mississippi, USA
Jackson, MS, USA Route #5

Other

University of Mississippi

Oxford, MS, USA Played Center on the 1947 SEC Champion football team

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

David Bridgers' entry in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, p 343

Date
Changes
Sources

David Bridgers' entry in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, p 343

Date
ContributorLucy May
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, p 343

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian
David Bridgers provided mission list

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

David I Bridgers: Gallery (1 items)