Virgil Louis Brave

Military

Assigned to the 34th Bomb Group on 1 April 1944 in Blythe California.

Completed 33 missions as part of Leon Salverson's crew from 25 May 1944 to 16 August 1944, including 2 missions on 6 June 1944 (D-Day)

Brave was considerably older than the rest of his flight crew.

Connections

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

Units served with

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8309) nicknamed "Ol' Buddy" of the 18th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group at Mendelsham. Pete Gray was the aircraft's crew chief. Handwritten caption on reverse: '18th B.S. 34th BG. Pete Gray C/C.'

18th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 34th Bomb Group

34th Bomb Group

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

People

William J Browne

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

John W Demko

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

Acy R Lehman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

Leon E Salveson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

Frank J Zukaitis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron

Aircraft

41-29500

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ramblin Reck
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 834th Bomb Squadron

41-29518

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Picadilly Lucy
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator nicknamed" Crow's Nest" of the 34th Bomb Group. Handwritten on reverse: '34 BG'.

42-94766

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Crow's Nest
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron

42-94813

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Skotty
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

42-94889

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Patches
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

Missions

548

  • Date: 13 August 1944

541

  • Date: 11 August 1944

537

  • Date: 10 August 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Wood River, Illinois 12 December 1909

Enlisted

Jefferson Barracks, Missouri 10 November 1942

Died

Bethalto, Illinois 26 September 1998

Buried

Rose Lawn Memory Gardens, Bethalto, Illinois
Bethalto, Illinois

Based

Mendlesham

Revisions

Date20 Jan 2020 14:40:10
ContributorEmily
Sources

Information provided by Bridget Brave, Granddaughter

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