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Crew #715 & #443
John C. Woolnough Crew
466th BG - 787th BS & 784th BS
This crew completed a 30 mission tour including the last seven as a lead crew flying with the 784th BS.

Standing Left to Right: Alvin Gerik (N), James Christiansen (784th BS Communications Officer), John H. Woolnough (P), Vincent L. Reed (CP), Donald Neish (NG).
Kneeling Left to Right: Max Dudley (FE), Arthur P. Childs (TG), Frank Columbini (G), Gilbert C. Cox (R/O), Frank A. Kowalski (G)

Missing from photo: Lawrence T. Bortness (B) - this photo was taken immediately after arriving from the U.S. Christiansen had displaced Bortness on the flight over.

Connections

Units

  • 466th Bomb Group

    466th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 466th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Attlebridge, Norfolk, during the last year of the war in Europe. The Group flew 232 missions in the course of the year and celebrated the 100th one by inviting local people onto the base to mark the...

  • 784th Bomb Squadron

    784th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

  • 787th Bomb Squadron

    787th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Lawrence Bortness

    Military | Colonel | Bombardier
    Retired from the USAF as a Colonel after serving in WW 2, Korean War and Vietnam. Was bombardier (B-24J), Nav Radar/NAV N-52, flight engineer B-29, NAV B-36, performance engineer B-52, OPS/Plans officer, Base Commander, Wing Commander, 8th Air Force....

  • Arthur Childs

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
    Flew 30 missions with pilot John Woolnough. DFC

  • James Christensen

    Military | Captain | Communications Officer / Radar Maintenance Officer
    Officers of Attlebridge booklet - 1944

  • Frank Colombini

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner

  • Gilbert Cox

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator/Gunner

  • Max Dudley

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer

  • Alvin Gerik

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator

  • Frank Kowalski

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Gunner

  • Donald Neish

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Nose Gunner

  • Vincent Reed

    Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot/Pilot
    After Vincent Reed completed B-24 transition in the Fall of 1943, he went to Salt Lake City to pick up his crew. Fully qualified to be an aircraft commander, Vince was eager to go. To his dismay, upon arrival at SLC, he found there were too many B-24...

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Aircraft

  • 41-28747 Gruesome Goose

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24H “Gruesome Goose” while on a mission to bomb Mourmelon-Sur-Marne Ammuniton Dump in France ditched over the Channel with the loss of all 10 on board. ...

Locations

  • Attlebridge

    Military site : airfield
    Attlebridge was constructed for RAF use and completed to that standard in 1942. However, with news that it was to be assigned to the American Air Force, the runways were extended and additional hardstandings and outbuildings constructed for the heavy...

Edit entry 

Collection name
466th BG Archives
Object number
UPL 6400

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
14 April 2015 21:54:29 466thHistorian Changes to collection
Sources

Attlebridge Diaries - John H. Woolnough
Attlebridge Arsenal - Chris Brassfield & Earl Wassom
Date Contributor Update
01 November 2014 02:55:26 466thHistorian Created entry with caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations and aircraft associations
Sources

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

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