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Robert J Whitney

Military

  • Cpt. Robert J. Whitney, pilot with his crew in the 832nd Bomb. Squadron, and Air Leader by December, 1944, flying sorties with other crews in the 832nd B.S., 833rd B.S., 834th B.S., and the 835th B.S.

    Cpt. Robert J. Whitney, pilot with his crew in the 832nd Bomb. Squadron, and Air Leader by December, 1944, flying sorties with other crews in the 832nd B.S., 833rd B.S., 834th B.S., and the 835th B.S.

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  • Passed for Personal Use Only 17 April 1945

    Passed for Personal Use Only 17 April 1945

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  • Bronze Star Letter for Master Sergeant Jay D Cowan

    Bronze Star Letter for Master Sergeant Jay D Cowan

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  • Capt. Robert J. Whitney, from a group photo taken after 4 Aug, 1944, bombing mission over Hamburg, Germany. The photo was taken at RAF Sudbury, Sudbury, Suffolk, England. Photo is from the US National Archives, and from the official web page of the 835th Bombardment Squadron: https://486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithH.htm NOTE: The month on the caption of this photo is mistakenly put down as March, but Lt. George Smith's crew flew missions only from May 1944 until the beginning of September 1944, and March does not fall anywhere between May and September. See 'G. Smith's crew photo and mission log' at the official 835th Bomb. Squadron page at this address: https://486th.org/BS835/SmithG.htm

    Capt. Robert J. Whitney, from a group photo taken after 4 Aug, 1944, bombing mission over Hamburg, Germany. The photo was taken at RAF Sudbury, Sudbury, Suffolk, England. Photo is from the US National Archives, and from the official web page of the 835th Bombardment Squadron: https://486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithH.htm NOTE: The month on the caption of this photo is mistakenly put down as March, but Lt. George Smith's crew flew missions only from May 1944 until the beginning of September 1944, and March does not fall anywhere between May and September. See 'G. Smith's crew photo and mission log' at the official 835th Bomb. Squadron page at this address: https://486th.org/BS835/SmithG.htm

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  • Lt. Manock, a pilot; Lt Fouts, a pilot; Lt. Bob Whitney, and SSgt Whitney, Bob’s brother (visiting). This was taken just before everyone went horseback riding.

    Lt. Manock, a pilot; Lt Fouts, a pilot; Lt. Bob Whitney, and SSgt Whitney, Bob’s brother (visiting). This was taken just before everyone went horseback riding.

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  • Standing (L to R): Richard H. Warlick (BG), Raymond L. Weeks (WG), Douglas J. Putnam (TG), Robert F. Fennel (FE), Erwin F. Tomaszewski (WG), James M. Groat (RO). Seated (L to R): George L. Nason, II, (N), Roy C. Vehlow (CP), Robert J. Whitney (P), Richard H. Douglas (B).

    Standing (L to R): Richard H. Warlick (BG), Raymond L. Weeks (WG), Douglas J. Putnam (TG), Robert F. Fennel (FE), Erwin F. Tomaszewski (WG), James M. Groat (RO). Seated (L to R): George L. Nason, II, (N), Roy C. Vehlow (CP), Robert J. Whitney (P), Richard H. Douglas (B).

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"Capt. Whitney arrives at Station 174, RAF Sudbury, with his first group of replacements [crew] in mid-July of 1944; they travelled over to England in the B17G that they nicknamed the "Pogo Stick" (fate and s/n of aircraft is unknown). He flies his first combat mission with the 486th Bomb. Group on the 4th of August. He then flies with his own 832nd Bomb. Squadron crew for 18 missions, after which he is re-assigned as an Air Commander in December of 1944.

"As Air Commander, he would appear in other squadrons' crews for different missions. He and his air staff would be flying with the lead pilot of the lead squadron. The second pilot (copilot), would then fly at the tail gunner position (Officer Tail Gunner -OTG). Not only would he be responsible for the tail gun, he'd also keep a record of who was out of position in the group, and who was having trouble. Lead crews, for the reason, didn't have a full compliment. Because the planes used for lead had a radar dome in place of the ball turret, the ball gunner and tail gunner were removed from the crew."

For an account of Whitney and his bomber crew's flight from the United States to England in the "Pogo Stick," visit the 486th's web site at this address. The account is told by Whitney's navigator, George L. Nason II: https://486th.org/Photos/Letters2/Nason.htm

(As told to me by the historian of the 486th Bomb. Group web site, during private emails on the 20th and 25th of October, 2021. hv)

ALSO: See the official crew list of Pilot Lt. Willis P. Smith at the 486th Bomb. Group web page at: http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithWP.htm

Service

People

  • Richard Douglas

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm

  • W. Douglas

    Military | Pin Point Navigator | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm

  • Robert Fennell

    Military | Sergeant | Flight Engineer | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm

  • James Groat

    Military | Radio Operator Gunner | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm

  • Roland Haygood

    Military | Sergeant | Flight Engineer & Top T. Gunner | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew list of Pilot Lt. Willis P. Smith at the 486th Bomb. Group web page at: http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithWP.htm

  • Marvin Lutes

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer and Top T. & Waist Gunner | 486th Bomb Group
    "Sgt. Lutes Gets Oak Leaf Cluster" ...

  • George Nason

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm

  • Kenneth Oberly

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew list of Pilot Lt. Willis P. Smith at the 486th Bomb. Group web page at: http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithWP.htm

  • Douglas Putnam

    Military | Tail Gunner | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm

  • Henry Sessler

    Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 486th Bomb Group
    See the official crew list of Pilot Lt. Willis P. Smith at the 486th Bomb. Group web page at: http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithWP.htm

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • 42-98006 The Old Yard Dog

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Dallas 30/4/44; Kearney 13/6/44; Grenier 30/6/44; Assigned PFF 832BS/486BG [3R-F] Sudbury 3/7/44; 62m ret POWs from Linz 11/7/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 13/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 7/11/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...

  • 43-37800

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 23/5/44; Hunter 2/6/44; Grenier 11/6/44; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 28/6/44; transferred 835BS/486BG [H8-S] Sudbury 29/6/44; 833BS [3R-R]; `64m` Returned to the USA Bradley 7/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/7/45;...

  • 43-37820

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 26/5/44; Kearney 7/6/44; Grenier 17/6/44; Assigned 832BS/486BG [4N-A] Sudbury 28/6/44; 833BS [3R-T]; [75m Missing in Action Brandenburg 10/4/45 with Melvin Thaler, Carl Oestreich, Don Wheeler, Art Greenfield togg), Neal Fielder, Chas...

  • 43-37835

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 27/5/44; Hunter 6/6/44; Presque Is 28/6/44; Assigned 833BS/486BG [4N-B] Sudbury 2/7/44, then 832BS [3R-B]; 81m Returned to the USA Bradley 8/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold...

  • 43-37910

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 3/6/44; Kearney 17/6/44; Grenier 30/6/44; Assigned 832BS/486BG [3R-C] Sudbury 2/7/44; 38m crashed on take off for Misburg 31/12/44 with Virgil Raddatz, Co-pilot: Ken Hart, Navigator: Bill Winship, Ex Navigator: Fred Koehn, Bombardier...

  • 43-37959 Flak Plow

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 9/6/44; Kearney 20/6/44; Dow Fd 7/7/44; Assigned 834BS/486BG [2S-K] Sudbury 8/7/44; `77m` battle damaged Koblenz 19/9/44 with Jim Shaw, Co-pilot: John Slaton; Navigator: Edwin Hoffner, Bombardier: Jim Martin,ettg-George Ross, Radio...

  • 43-37983 Umbriago

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 12/6/44; Kearney 25/6/44; Dow Fd 9/7/44; Assigned 835BS/486BG [H8-M] Sudbury 11/7/44; 833BS [2N-N]; `83m` Returned to the USA Bradley 7/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...

  • 43-37992

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 13/6/44; Kearney 25/6/44; Dow Fd 9/7/44; Assigned 832BS/486BG [3R-P] Sudbury 11/7/44; `49m` battle damaged Chemnitz 6/2/45 with Bruce Evans, all crew [KIA]; crash landed Truleigh Hill, Upper Beeding, four miles N of Shoreham, Sx, UK,...

  • 44-8002

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Dallas 11/5/44; Langley 24/6/44; Dow Fd 11/7/44; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 13/7/44; transferred 838BS/486BG [4N-A] Sudbury 14/7/44; flak damage 10/1/45 with Dean Eakin (Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Dan Casey (brought ship home safely in...

  • 44-8025

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Dallas 14/5/44; Langley 3/7/44; Dow Fd 24/7/44; Assigned 833BS/486BG [4N-B] Sudbury 26/7/44; [42m] Salvaged 9AF 10/5/45.

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Missions

  • 514

    4 August 1944

  • 519

    5 August 1944

  • 524

    6 August 1944

  • 530

    8 August 1944

  • 552

    14 August 1944

  • 8th Air Force 556

    16 August 1944
    Aircraft factories and oil refineries are the primary targets for this mission. A total of 1090 heavy bombers are despatched. See Mission Details for particulars. ...

  • 570

    25 August 1944

  • 583

    27 August 1944

  • 606

    5 September 1944

  • 628

    13 September 1944

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Associated Place

  • Sudbury

    Military site : airfield
    Situated between the villages of Great Waldingfield and Acton, the airfield was used by the 486th Bomb Group from March 1944 to August 1945. Facilities for administrative offices for the Combat Wing were also made available here and along with barrack...

Events

Event Location Date
Nationality
American
Nickname
Not yet known
Service numbers
0-764539
Highest rank
Captain
Role/job
Flight Commander
Awards
  • Distinguished Flying Cross

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
17 November 2021 17:50:15 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to person associations
Sources

There is only evidence that Flight Capt. Whitney only shared a mission with T/Sgt. Marvin Lee Lutes (30 March, 1945, 8th A.F. 918), and no other member of Lt. George 'Hunter' D. Smith's 835th Bomb. Sq. crew. hv
Date Contributor Update
17 November 2021 17:41:04 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to person associations
Sources

There is only evidence that Flight Capt. Robert J. Whitney flew with T/Sgt. Marvin Lee Lutes, formerly of Lt. George D. Smith's 835th Bomb. Sq., and no other members of Smith's crew; as per loading lists that can be found on the official web page of the 486th Bomb. Group at: https://486th.org/
Date Contributor Update
12 November 2021 20:43:00 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to media associations
Sources

See the official crew list of Pilot Lt. Willis P. Smith at the 486th Bomb. Group web page at: http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithWP.htm
Date Contributor Update
12 November 2021 20:40:38 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to biography
Sources

See the official crew list of Pilot Lt. Willis P. Smith at the 486th Bomb. Group web page at: http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithWP.htm
Date Contributor Update
05 November 2021 16:47:10 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to biography
Sources

Added a bit more to Whitney's biography, see : https://486th.org/Photos/Letters2/Nason.htm
Date Contributor Update
05 November 2021 16:40:14 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to biography and mission associations
Sources

Personal emails from the webmaster and historian of the 486th Bomb. Group web page, and also see Whitney's Crew & Mission page on this web site at this address: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm
Date Contributor Update
04 November 2021 19:49:55 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to person associations and media associations
Sources

See Flight Captain Whitney's Crew & Mission sheet at the official 486th Bomb. Group web page at this address:
https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm
Date Contributor Update
04 November 2021 19:46:35 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to biography
Sources

This biography bit was from two personal communications with Robin, the Webmaster and Historian of the 486th Bomb. Group's official web page, on the 20th and 25th of October, 2021.

See Flight Captain Whitney's Crew & Mission sheet at the official 486th Bomb. Group web page at this address:
https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm
Date Contributor Update
30 October 2021 19:54:05 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to unit associations
Sources

Added Flight Capt. Whitney's other Bomb. Squadron association of the 832nd, with whom he flew as pilot from his first mission in August of 1944, until November 1944, according to his 'loading list,' which I obtained from the historian/webmaster of the official web page of the 486th Bombardment Group. Whitney also flew as 'Air Leader', according to this loading list, for the 832nd, 833rd, 834th, and 835th on sorties from 6th December, 1944, until his last mission on 9th April, 1944. hv
Date Contributor Update
17 October 2021 17:47:05 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

This information from the official web page of the 486th Bomb. Group, and specifically, the crew and mission page of Lt. G. Smith of the 835th Bomb. Sq. at: https://486th.org/BS835/SmithG.htm
Date Contributor Update
19 September 2021 15:16:04 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to media associations
Sources

Adding the 'key image' for Robert J. Whitney's profile. hv
Date Contributor Update
16 April 2021 17:13:52 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to media associations
Sources

From the photo page of the 486th Bombardment Group's official web page: https://486th.org/Photos/index.htm
Date Contributor Update
15 April 2021 18:13:50 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to person associations, place associations and media associations
Sources

From the official web page of the 835th Bombardment Squadron at: https://486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithH.htm
Date Contributor Update
15 April 2021 18:07:18 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to unit associations
Sources

From the official web page of the 835th Bomb Squadron: https://486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithH.htm
Date Contributor Update
15 April 2021 18:01:57 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to highest rank
Sources

From a photo on the official web page of the 835th Bomb Squadron: https://486th.org/Photos/Crew2/SmithH.htm
Date Contributor Update
15 April 2021 17:56:27 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to highest rank, person associations, unit associations, place associations and media associations
Sources

Official web page of the 835th Bombardment Squadron: https://486th.org/BS835/index.htm
Date Contributor Update
15 April 2021 17:55:46 hansvonmaltzahn Changes to highest rank, person associations, unit associations and place associations
Sources

Official web page of the 835th Bombardment Squadron: https://486th.org/BS835/index.htm
Date Contributor Update
03 February 2016 21:05:04 Bluejay89 Changes to service number, highest rank, role and awards
Sources

personal document
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:23:39 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / WWW.486th.org roster

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