Thomas M Dilworth

Military
media-6712.jpeg UPL 6712 Crew #680
Thomas M. Dilworth Crew
B-24J-150-CO #44-40173 "Our Baby"

Standing Left to Right: Gerald Cardon (CP), Walter H. Ortel (N), Thomas M. Dilworth (P), Eugene V. Nichols (G)

Kneeling Left to Right: John E. Kerr (G), Bernie E. Miller (G), Jay E. Pittsley (R/O), Gear G. Ellison (G)

Dilworth got on the wrong side of Colonel Jacobowitz when on a training flight in a driving snow storm he crash landed a brand new B-24. As a result he was "demoted" to co-pilot for 6 missions and assigned to the Paul Evans Crew. Evans co-pilot, David Cahill flew as Pilot with Dilworth's crew. After 6 missions in Jake's "purgatory", Dilworth got his crew back.

Attlebridge Arsenal

Object Number - UPL 6712 - Crew #680 Thomas M. Dilworth Crew B-24J-150-CO #44-40173 "Our Baby" Standing Left to Right: Gerald Cardon (CP), Walter H. Ortel (N), Thomas...

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: 35899497
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33795803
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radar Countermeasures Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2058932
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33707712
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36780423
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ma's Lil Angel
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 491st Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron

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, Michigan 7 April 1917

Enlisted

Detroit, Michigan 5 October 1942

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

Attlebridge Airfield, UK 5 January 1945 - 25 April 1945

Other

Ground Accident

Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK 28 January 1945 Taxied 44-10558 "Ma's Little Angel" off the perimeter track. "I was taxiing at about 10 mph and had just made the turn on the perimeter track just beyond runway 04. It had been snowing off and on all morning and it was absolutely impossible to tell where the paved part of the track ended. I thought I was on the pavement as I was judging by the tracks on the pavement, when suddenly the left wheel dropped into an unmarked soft spot on the edge of the perimeter. The wheel dropped a good 3 feet causing the landing gear to snap off. The prop of #1 engine hit the ground while the left wing tip and nose wheel were also damaged. If that ditch had been properly filled in the plane would have never been damaged." - Lt. Thomas Dilworth, Accident Report dated 5 February 1945

Died

Novi, Michigan 18 May 2008
Detroit, MI, USA 2340 Tuxedo Avenue

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG HIstorian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Officers of Attlebridge booklet - 1944

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 345

Thomas M Dilworth: Gallery (3 items)