William A Campbell

Military
media-16284.jpeg UPL 16284 Crew #432
Everett R. Jones Crew
466th BG - 784th BS
This crew transferred in from the 44th BG where they had done their lead crew training. They flew 21 missions as a lead crew with the 466th BG. This photo was taken on 30 December 1944 upon return from the final mission of their combat tour.

Standing Left to Right: Robert J. Blumenfeld (B), Carton Gibbs (RN), Paul Plascke (CP), Sylvester Bauer (G), J. Taylor (G), Wayne A. Cochran (G), Everett R. Jones (P), William A. Campbell (FE), Dale G. Hapner (G)

Kneeling Left to Right: Frank Judkovics (N), J. Purser (?), J. Taylor (Command Pilot - not from the 466th BG) Everett Jones Collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 16284 - Crew #432 Everett R. Jones Crew 466th BG - 784th BS This crew transferred in from the 44th BG where they had done their lead crew training. They...

Bill joined up at 18 and went to gunnery school. Was based at Myrtle Beach, Florida, then Salt Lake City, Utah and then Topeka, Kansas. From there his unit flew in B-24s to Canada and then over to Northern Ireland. Then they travelled to England by ferry.



Bill was a flight engineer/ gunner but he also flew as a tail gunner in the lead ship. This meant that rather than sticking with one or two aircraft, they flew in any ship that had radar equipment fitted.



He was with the 458th Bomb Group for 8 missions and then transferred to the 44th BG for radar training. He then transferred to the 466th BG and flew 20 missions with that group.



Bill was hit by flak and was in the hospital for about a month. He was told he just had to wait for the shrapnel to work itself out. So finished his 27 missions in November 1944. Then sent home in February 1945. Went to Atlantic City for classes and then went to a convalescent hospital in Plattsburgh, New York. After a few months the surgeons removed the remaining shrapnel. This was in July 1945. They discharged him later that month.



After the war, Bill worked for General Electrics in jet engine development in Massachusetts.



In 2001 and 2012 Bill returned to England. He says that he loves the fish and chips over there and visiting Edinburgh.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-813144
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Hubba Hubba!
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron 329th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 786th Bomb Squadron 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Paper Doll
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Black Cat
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th 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

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

 

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

As told to me by Bill Campbell at the 8th Air Force Historical Society reunion in Nashville, TN, in October 2014.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000

William A Campbell: Gallery (4 items)