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Military
Major William Calhoun of the 303rd Bomb Group climbs into his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Eight Ball". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- Major William Calhoun entering his plane "The Eight Ball". He led the raid on Huls, and also flew Captain Clark Gable on his only flight over Germany. SEA July 17th 1943 PN.' On reverse: Planet News Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Major William Calhoun, of the 303rd Bomb Group, inspects ground personnel working on his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Eight Ball". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- Major William Calhoun, aged 22, looking at workmen repairing the wing of his ship "The Eight Ball". He led the raid on Huls, and also flew Captain Clark Gable on his only flight over Germany. SEA July 17th 1943 PN.' On reverse: Planet News Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
The crew of 41-24635 on return from the 4 May 1943 mission to the Ford and General Motors plants at Antwerp, Belgium. Left to Right: S/Sgt Willam C. Mulgrew, Ball Turret Gunner; S/Sgt Richard C. Fortunak, Left Waist Gunner; T/Sgt Roman R. Zaorski, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; S/Sgt Murel A. Murphy, Right Waist Gunner; Captain Robert J. Yonkman, Bombardier; Lt. Colonel William A. Hatcher, Co-Pilot (CO of the 351st Bomb Group); Captain William R. Calhoun, Pilot; 1st Lt Joseph M. Strickland, Navigator; T/Sgt Charles R. Terry, Radio Operator; S/Sg Willard W. Stephen, Tail Gunner; Captain Clark Gable, Top Gunner. (Official USAAF photo)
Lead crew on bombing mission to Huls, Germany pose In front of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 22 June 1943. Standing L-R: 1Lt Nathan J Rosenblum, 1Lt Milton S Fonorow, Maj William R Calhoun, Capt Lloyd D Griffin, 1Lt William M Preston, 1Lt Walter C Swanson. Kneeling L-R: S/Sgt Samuel L Edwards, T/Sgt William M Eason, S/Sgt Lynewood D Wiegand, S/Sgt Paul E Henderson, S/Sgt Robert Plummer, T/Sgt Vernon Schwartz.
"Lead crew on bombing mission to Oscheraleben, Germany, beside the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'The 8 Ball'. 303rd Bomb Group. England, 11 January 1944." Rear L-R: 2Lt Robert H Halpin, Capt Jack B Fawcett, Capt Norman Nels Jacobsen, Brig Gen Robert F Travis, Lt Col William R Calhoun, 1Lt Darrell D Gust. Front L-R: S/Sgt Harley F Jennings, T/Sgt George R Keesling, S/Sgt Leroy L "Shorty" Mace, T/Sgt Kenneth P Fitzsimmons, S/Sgt Albert C Santella.
Born 10 Nov 1919 Birmingham, AL, BA Degree Stanford Univ.
Promoted to Liutenant Colonel at age 23. Clark Gable pinned his silver oak leaves on him. His aircraft was B-17F 41-24581,' The 8 Ball' 303BG/359BS. LTC William R. Calhoun (P). Mission participation (See Biography events - UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
2Lt 12-Dec-41, Class 41-I, Brooks Field, TX, Original 359BS Pilot, Arrived Molesworth 20-Oct-42 in B-17F 41-24581 'The '8' Ball' 303BG/359BS, Commanding Officer 359BS 6-Mar-43 to 22-Nov-43, Transferred to 41st CBW at Molesworth as Director of Operations and Executive Officer until 23 Dec-44, On 7 Dec 1948, flying as Pilot, ditched a C-54 Transport in the Pacific Ocean and spent 40 hours in a life raft (33 survivors and 4 Killed in Action (KIA)). Retired as a USAF Colonel. Completed his first 25 mission combat tour on 19 Aug 1943 (mission 61). Volunteered for 2nd combat tour. Flew on seven additional credited missions. Last mission on 28 July 1944 (Mission 98). Was awarded two Silver Star Medals. Flew 32 missions.
On 20-Dec-42 CPT Calhoun piloted B-17F 41-24581 'The 8 Ball' to the target at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The plane suffered damage. Calhoun ordered crew to bale out over England. He and co-pilot Major Eugene Romig crash landed at Bovingdon. All crew members returned.
SS w/ Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH/ DFC w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 4 Oak Leaf Cluster
Military | Colonel | Co-Pilot; Pilot; Group Commanding Officer | 351st Bomb Group
William Hatcher Jr was born in Grand Rapids, was brought up in Detroit’s north end and attended Northern High School. After his enlistment in the Air Corps, he followed pilot training courses and rose rapidly through the ranks.
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Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" was assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-O] with its crew on 1-Jul-42 at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. The aircraft and crew were sent to Dow Field Bangor, Maine on 4-Oct-42 to prepare for overseas deployment; Molesworth...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-O] New Castle 6/10/42; Molesworth 21/11/42. Flown by Captain William R. Calhoun on the 4 May 1943 mission to the Ford and General Motors works, Antwerp, Belgium, with Clark Gable on board for his first mission (slightly damaged...
17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
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3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Birmingham, Alabama | 10 November 1919 |
| Assigned to Aircraft | Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA | 1 July 1942 |
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Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" 303BG/359BS with the rank of Captain at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 21 October 1942 |
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Arrived as the Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS at Molesworth, UK. |
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| Mission #1, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
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Served in the Co-Pilot position on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK |
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| Mission #2, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | 18 November 1942 | |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK |
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| Mission #3, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK |
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| Mission #4, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK |
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| Mission #5, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechaniacl filure forced him to abort the sortie. |
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| Mission #7, CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The aircraft sustained battle damage the pilot, MAJ Romig managed to fly the aircraft back to England. He and MAJ Romig stayed with the aircraft after ordering the rest of the crew to bale out over the English countryside, and the made a crash landing at USAAF Staion Bovington. The aircraft was DBR but both he and MAJ Romig were OK and returned to Molesworth the next day. |
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| Mission #8 CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS | 3 January 1943 | |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanicl failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #9 CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #10 CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #11 CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #12 CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Recalled | Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #13 CPT William R. Calhoun, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 |
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Served Pilot of B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 March 2016 18:13:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43; http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 March 2016 18:11:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43; http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 March 2016 18:09:45 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43; http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 March 2016 18:07:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43; http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 March 2016 18:04:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Made connections to Missions of: 2-Feb-43, 4-Feb-43, 14-Feb-43 and 26-Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gayr Mocnur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 December 2015 23:32:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Dec-2015 . Added Mission #9 event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43; http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 00:44:51 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Dec-2015 . Added Mission #8 event pwr 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43; http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:40:39 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:33:57 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:29:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:27:17 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:25:00 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:22:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:19:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission REport of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:14:37 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015 Added Arrived in Uk event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, William R. Calhoun crw page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-calhoun.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 21:10:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Willam R. Calhoun crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-calhoun.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:55:50 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Tail Numbers to "The '8' Ball" citations in the Summary Biography and made connections to missions flown with B-17F 41-24581 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 December 2014 21:30:54 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, awards, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2014. Converted dates in biography to military-style signification; made connections to Place, AIrcraft and Mission for 20-Dec-42 mission within existing website data. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:28:36 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.303rdbg.com/pp-gable3.html# / relative, Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol.1 by Bishop and Hey p. 55 |
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