Wesley R Williams
Military
Crew #907
492nd BG - 859th BS (28 missions)
467th BG - 788th BS (3 missions)
Standing Left to Right: Donald Prytulak (P), Raymond Suchiu (CP), Benjamin A. Babitz (N), Wesley R. Williams (B)
Kneeling Left to Right: Duane C. Heath (FE), Benjamin B. Cronemeyer (RO), Thomas W. Floyd (TG), George B. Robb (TTG), Anthony Maiorino (BTG), Alton Mohney (NG)
Photo taken at North Pickenham in July 1944
492nd Bomb Group collection
Object Number - UPL 37926 - Donald Prytulak Crew Crew #907 492nd BG - 859th BS (28 missions) 467th BG - 788th BS (3 missions) Standing Left to Right: Donald Prytulak (P),...
Transferred 467th BG
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-810948
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Breezy Lady/Superman/Marie
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Oonie Doonie *
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Broad+High
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Bold Venture III
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Eli Swof, Jr
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron 790th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: North Pick
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other 2nd Combat Mission |
Zeitz, Germany | 12 May 1944 | I had problems with my oxygen mask the entire mission and flew in a hypoxic haze. I do not recall much of anything after takeoff. When we got back, Pry downed a large beaker of mission booze and was sick on the way back to our digs. The next day, he and I (and the rest of the crew) got 72-hour passes. We went to London and had a very dull time. Although we did see Piccadilly Circus and had a chance to think of all the old British movies we had seen with the big old Bovril sign on the theater. Of course, it was blacked out, but we could see the outline in the dark. By the time I got back to see the sign illuminated, it read "Coca-Cola". So much for history. Also, by being on passes we missed the mission to Brunswick in which the group got its' butt kicked big league. |
|
Other 7th Combat Mission |
Politz, Germany | 29 May 1944 | The first Politz was a rehearsal for the butt-kicking we would take over this same target some weeks later. We lost three aircraft, but most of us came home safely. Note that this target was not too far from Peenemunde which the RAF had done major damage to earlier. Maybe they thought we were about to stir up the ashes. But petroleum targets should have been hit earlier and harder. Flying ME-109's is difficult without petrol. Later you could measure the damage to the Luftwaffe when they ran out of av-gas. |
|
Other 9th Combat Mission |
Normandy Beach Head, France | 6 June 1944 | We invade Europe. We also take off and assemble in the dark to be over the landing beaches by dawn. Enroute I note what seems to be every ship built since the dawn of time. I would not have been surprised to see a Viking galley pulling for the beach. We also know that if we bail out, they would not stop to pick us up. Couldn't bomb. Low clouds. Hauled our bombs inland a ways and dropped through the murk. Someone got a nasty surprise. Hairy part was milling around like sheep in the dark with a zillion other aircraft. Probably were midair's. Didn't see any flashes. |
|
Other 11th Combat Mission |
Montabon, France | 11 June 1944 | There were some yucks on this one. We had never carried 2000# GP's before. They took special bomb racks. Why do I suspect that these were still in cosmoline. Pray note that these racks had to be bolted into special stations in the bomb bay. Also note that an aircraft which is being used tends to have its airframe warped a little (although most of ours were never around long enough to have a problem is this area) so the holes probably didn't match the racks and vice versa. Then, assuming you got the rack bolted in place and the electric's connected, the ordnance chaps had to load real live 2000# bombs and drop them on big canvas pads on our parking hardstands. Got to make sure they work, of course, and then you've got to load 'em again and install the fuses before takeoff at dawn. The ordnance guys looked pinchfaced for a long time after that. But we hearties took off into the blue and dropped those big bombs all over France. I watched four of them go into a fair sized lake and raise a gorgeous plume of spray. I assumed that someone had seen a Panzer division hiding in the pond/lake. |
|
Other 30th Combat Mission |
Uchte, Germany | 15 August 1944 | Nice trip. We did note, however, that our new group comrades were dismantling their guns while we were still over enemy territory. We didn't do that, and we were horrified to see someone else doing it. Our copilot loses his brother, also a B-24 pilot, today and goes ballistic when we return. They used to talk to each other on the fighter channel during missions. (Note: His brother was John Suchiu, pilot in the 466th BG. You can see his profile here: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/117819 |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roster supplied by Dave Arnett
