Berry B Skaggs

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-32421.jpeg UPL 32421 Captain B.B. Skaggs the pilot of Crew #620 of the 466th BG - 786th BS enjoying a dance with a local girl at the opening of the Officer's Club at Attlebridge, 10 April 1944
Tragically he only had hours to live. He was Killed In Action the following day.

Norfolk Records office via Marcia Melnyk genealogy researcher

Object Number - UPL 32421 - Captain B.B. Skaggs the pilot of Crew #620 of the 466th BG - 786th BS enjoying a dance with a local girl at the opening of the Officer's Club at...

Although a native Texan from Wichita Falls, Berry “BB” Skaggs moved with his family into southwestern Oklahoma, settling in Lawton, where he obtained most of his schooling. After completing High School he attended Cameron Jr., A.&M. College near Lawton where he was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, the Aggie social fraternity, and the boxing team. He entered the Army Prep School, Camp Bullis, Texas in 1938 and attained the first of his many ambitions by qualifying for West Point. He had his choice of either an Army or Congressional appointment, from Mr. Jed Johnson of Oklahoma, and he chose the latter so that one of his friends could have the Army appointment.



BB, as he was known to one and all, worked diligently and persistently from his start in life, and throughout his days in the Corps, and he did a good job in all he set out to do. His industrious habits kept him on a high standing in the classroom, yet he found time for extracurricular activities. He was quite an adept dancer as we well remember in the ballroom at Cullum Hall. His excellent physical make-up and keen mind proved him in the intercollegiate boxing ring. Although reared in the vicinity of the Field Artillery School. BB gained another of his ambitions by graduating with Wings, and opening a fighting career in the Air Force. Oklahoma had given us another fightin’ man!



Shortly after graduation, BB married his school days’ sweetheart, the former Clarisee Rene Finch, in the Post Chapel at Fort Sill. Thus, another phase of his active and ambitious life was fulfilled.



The next few months then were busily spent in B-24 combat crew training before B., as a Captain, joined the 466th Bomb Group under the 8th Air Force near Norwich, England. BB’s brother Douglas, now a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF, was based near Norwich and was able to visit him frequently. Of BB’s missing-in-action Doug wrote: “On his third combat mission over Oscherslaben, Germany BB was reported as missing. I immediately went over to his base and talked with several other pilots who were on the mission. They were hit by a swarm of fighters shortly after leaving the target. Several planes (about six or eight) were shot down. BB and his crew were pretty well shot up, and the plane went out of control. The aircraft engineer was the only one able to parachute and the others went down with the burning plane which crashed and exploded. The remains of the crew are buried together in the National Cemetery near St. Louis.”



BB had many close friends and a definite niche in the Air Force. His friends were denied his abundance of personality and warm ness, and the Air Force his wealth of knowhow and potential. BB came in fighting, always fought well, and one can rest assured that he went out fighting too. The Long Gray Line added another distinguished member, B. B. Skaggs.

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: 12168685
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17060549
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39461143
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663540
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Worry Bird
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th 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

Wichita Falls, TX, USA 13 May 1920

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Ströhen, 49419 Wagenfeld, Germany 11 April 1944 January 1943 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Trained as part of B-24 combat crew. Joined the 466th Bomb Group under the Eighth Air Force near Norwich, England, during World War II. Reported missing on his third combat mission over Oscherslaben, Germany. The aircraft engineer was the only one able to parachute and the remainder of the crew went down with the burning aircraft. The remains of the crew are buried together. Extracted from information originally published in ASSEMBLY, January 1956.
Lawton, OK, USA 805 A Avenue

Buried

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Lemay St. Louis County Missouri, USA Plot: Section 84, Site 21-23

Other

Graduated

West Point, NY, USA United States Military Academy

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

He earned at least one bronze service star on the EAME Campaign Medal. No DFC or AM card exists for B.B. Skaggs in the NARA files. He was on his third mission, so didn't attain the five combat sorties to earn an AM when he was KIA.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Letter from A. Douglas Skaggs (brother) dates 26 April 1994

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian
findagrave.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3845 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Berry B Skaggs: Gallery (3 items)