Robert Francis Applin

Military
media-6941.jpeg UPL 6941 Crew #758
Robert F. Applin Crew
466th BG - 787th BS

Standing Left to Right: Robert F. Applin (P), Richard Joyce (CP), Carl Herbst (B), Leon Appel (N), Earl Rau (FE)

Kneeling Left to Right: Barkev Hovesepian (R/O), Henry Ciocci (G), Donald Brooks (G), Arthur Huggins (TG), LaVern Young (G)

This crew completed a 33 combat mission tour
5 October 1944 - 24 March 1945

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Object Number - UPL 6941 - Crew #758 Robert F. Applin Crew 466th BG - 787th BS Standing Left to Right: Robert F. Applin (P), Richard Joyce (CP), Carl Herbst (B), Leon...

Our pilot, Bob Applin, was a natural leader and an excellent pilot. - Barky Hovsepian, R/O



Complete a 35 mission tour

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: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 698839
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Peggy Ann
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Joker
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Lady
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Big Fat Mama
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron 93rd Bomb Group 579th Bomb Squadron 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Abel Mabel
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-24 Liberator of the 467th Bomb Group flies over Berlin during a mission. 18 March 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '18/3/45 Berlin.'
  • Date: 18 March 1945
  • Date: 30 November 1944
  • Date: 16 November 1944

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

Marlboro, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA 27 April 1919

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK 5 October 1944 - 24 March 1945

Other

Mission

Manston, Ramsgate, Kent CT12, UK 21 February 1945 Received a flak hit on #2 engine. Landed at an emergency field in France. Ground personnel there would only allow them a small amount of fuel and then made them take off. Flying at 1200 feet at the Channel coast small arms fire knocked out #1 engine and the prop couldn't be feathered. Too low to bail out, being trailed by an RAF crash boat across the Channel, the crew cranked down the landing gear by hand and the pilots crash landed successfully at RAF Manston. Found out later we had overflown Dunkirk at 1200 feet, thus the huge amount of small arms fire.

Died

Hanover, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA 27 June 1971 (aged 52)
Keene, NH, USA 114 Marlboro Street

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated Middle Name and Died event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 193166302.
Added a Born event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 193166302.
SOURCE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193166302/robert-francis-applin

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No 135 Castrop, Germany 2 November 1944
NARA research by Brad Sullivan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"Attlebridge Notes" - 1975 466th BGA Register

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - 4 March 1945 mission formation plan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

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 & Brassford, page 343

Robert Francis Applin: Gallery (1 items)