Ezekiel Wimberly Napier

Military
media-52178.jpeg UPL 52178 Brigadier General Ezekiel Wimberly Napier, 489BG.

https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106102/brigadie…

Object Number - UPL 52178 - Brigadier General Ezekiel Wimberly Napier, 489BG.

Assigned to 489BG, 8AF USAAF. Group commander.





Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, American campaign, EAME.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 489th Bomb Group.

489th Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

Colonel Dent (right) welcome Colonel Napier of the 489th Bomb Group back to base after a mission in his B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94947) nicknamed "The Betty Jim". Image via J Archer. First handwritten caption on reverse: '489 BG CO Col Napier Welcomed back to base by Col Fred Dent. 4/8/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Napier (L) & Col Dent (R) 5/9/44. 489 BG.'

42-94947

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Betty-Jim
  • Unit: 489th Bomb Group 847th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Hawkinsville, Georgia 28 May 1906 Son of Robert Freeman and Nina [Rentz] Napier.

Other

Discharged USAF

2 April 1959

Died

San Antonio, TX 11 August 1980

Buried

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio, Bexar County, TX 14 August 1980 Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Enlisted

Enlisted Sep-22, Joined regular army 13-Jun-29.

Other

Completed flight training

Kelly field, San Antonio, TX Received his wings Jun-30 after completing pilot training at Brooks and Kelly fields, Texas.

Other

Flight Instructor

Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX First assignment was as a flying instructor at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

Other

B-24 Training

Mountain Home, ID Aug-43 entered B-24 transition training at Fort Worth, Texas. Completing this training in Oct-43 at Mountain Home, Idaho.

Other

Promoted to Group Commander

Wendover Field, UT Oct-43, became group commander of the 489th Bomb Group at Wendover Field, Utah. The group was assigned in Apr-44 to the Eighth Air Force in England.

Other

Based

Wheeler Field, Hawaii In May-31 he was assigned successively to Luke and Wheeler fields in Hawaii.

Based

Halesworth Assigned to 489BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/312803058
https://www.fold3.com/record/710521083/napier-ezekiel-w-us-veterans-gra…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1024952/ezekiel-wimberly-napier

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

489th Bomb Group Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added "Possible DUPLICATE" in the Nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45

Ezekiel Wimberly Napier: Gallery (7 items)

A personnel of the 489th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94947) nicknamed "The Betty-Jim". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Dakar 4/44- Front L to R: Maj Frank C Hoak, Gp Flt Surgeon, Cpt James N Laffert, Gp Intell Officer, Cpt John E McGarth, Gp Nav, Maj Chester N Morneau, Gp Cps Officer, Col Ezekiel W Napier, Co. Back L to R: M/Sgt John R Gregor, S/S Howard R Brown, T/S John W Straus, Spt Charles H Freudenthal, M/S Garnett B Shtler, a/c 294947.'

Object number: FRE 2071 - Personnel of the 489th Bomb Group with their B-24...

Commanding officers of the 489th Bomb Group after a briefing. Handwritten caption on reverse: '6/44 after briefing. L to R Maj Arvo E Lohela 847 BS CC, Cpt Charles Freudenthal, Gp Bombardier, Cpt Wendell Buck, Inte, Col Napier, CO, Standing- Major Morneau, Gp ops officer. 489 BG CO Col Napier with staff after briefing.'

Object number: FRE 2073 - Commanding officers of the 489th Bomb Group after...

Colonel Napier of the 489th Bomb Group greets Captain Glenn Miller besides a B-24 Liberator. Handwritten caption on reverse: '489 BG CO Col Napier with Capt Glenn Miller.' Image via J Archer.

Object number: FRE 2074 - Colonel Napier of the 489th Bomb Group greets...

Colonel Dent (right) welcome Colonel Napier of the 489th Bomb Group back to base after a mission in his B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94947) nicknamed "The Betty Jim". Image via J Archer. First handwritten caption on reverse: '489 BG CO Col Napier Welcomed back to base by Col Fred Dent. 4/8/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Napier (L) & Col Dent (R) 5/9/44. 489 BG.'

Object number: FRE 2076 - Colonel Dent (right) welcome Colonel Napier of the...

Object number: UPL 28693 - Wing and Group Commanders meeting of the 2nd Bomb...

Object number: UPL 50173 - 489TH COL NAPIER AND HORACE 'MICKEY' BASKIN 1944

Object number: UPL 52178 - Brigadier General Ezekiel Wimberly Napier, 489BG.