Darrell Ward Latch

Military
media-20022.jpeg UPL 20022 Standing: T/SGT Max K. Van Buren – FE; T/SGT Leon C. Huggard – RO; CPT Charles S. “Sam” Evans – P; 1LT Frederick A. Johnson – CP; 1LT George F. Adkins – B
Kneeling: S/SGT James A. Michaelson – G; S/SGT Lawrence R. Matson – Armorer/WG; S/SGT Darrell W. Latch – G
Missing: 2LT Walter M. Cline -- N; S/SGT Donald R. Conway -- FE

Winter 1944, Horsham St. Faith

The aircraft behind the crew is likely B-24J-5 FO, 42-50768, ARISE MY LOVE AND COME WITH ME. If so, this photo would have been taken just after either mission no. 21 on 30 October 1944 to Hamburg or mission no. 22 on 5 November 1944 to Karlsruhe.

http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

Object Number - UPL 20022 - Standing: T/SGT Max K. Van Buren – FE; T/SGT Leon C. Huggard – RO; CPT Charles S. “Sam” Evans – P; 1LT Frederick A. Johnson – CP; 1LT...

Born 13 Nov 1924 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois; sent by draft board in March 1943 to army induction center for possible induction; entered service the same month; trained at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; Franklin Technical Institue in Boston, Massachusetts; Peterson Field, Colorado; and Tonopah, Nevada; sent overseas January 1944; assigned as aerial gunner on a B-24 Liberator piloted by Captain Charles S. "Sam" Evans; completed 25 (of the 30 required) combat missions as of 1 December 1944; discharged at Scott Field, Illinois, September 1945.



He was a budding musician, playing in both his high school band and orchestra, and was also in at least one high school play. After his service, he was employed primarily in the insurance industry.



Died 30 Mar 1997 in Omaha, Nebraska, at age 72.

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'

458th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Charles S Evans

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-664988
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. Written on slide casing: 'SOL, Azon a/c.'

41-28697

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Spotted Ass Ape : Dixie Belle II : Wonder Bread
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

42-110141

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Breezy Lady/Superman/Marie
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron 752nd Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40281) nicknamed "A Dogs Life". Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew 24, Sub co-pilot- Unk, Pilot Lt Vincent, Req Co-pilot- Lt Cronkite, Bombiagtor [sic] Lt Halvorsen, Genner- Sgt Johnson, RO- Valenzvela, Sgt, Eng- Sgt Lohr, GRR- Moss, Sgt, Sub Eng- Unk, Sub Gnr- Unk, Reg NT Gnr- wounded in hosp, Sgt Simpson.

44-40281

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: A Dog's Life
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

562

  • Date: 18 August 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Illinois, USA 13 November 1924

Enlisted

Peoria, IL, USA 9 March 1943

Died

Omaha, NE, USA 30 March 1997

Buried

Omaha, NE, USA 2 April 1997 Hillcrest/Westlawn Cemetery 5701 Center Street Omaha, NE 68106
Macon County, IL, USA

Revisions

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Contributor466thHistorian
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mooseroots.com

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http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=6454217

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http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

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http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

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Decatur (Illinois) Review, 28 Dec 1944

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The Decatur Herald, 26 Jun 1967

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http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

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Decatur (Illinois) Daily Review, 2 Mar 1943; 27 Jul 1943; 28 Dec 1944; 8 Mar 1945; 26 Sep 1945

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&msT=…

http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

http://interactive.ancestry.com/1265/43135_b170690_00088?pid=356658672&…

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&msT=…

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=VAcemeteries&h=49…

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Decatur (Illinois) Daily Review 17 Jan 1943; 2 Mar 1943; 27 Jul 1943; 28 Dec 1944; 8 Mar 1945; 26 Sep 1945
http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

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Decatur (Illinois) Daily Review, 17 Jan 1943; 2 Mar 1943; 28 Dec 1944; 8 Mar 1945; 26 Sep 1945
http://www.458bg.com/crewevans

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Page 326 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition, D790.A2S45

Darrell Ward Latch: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 20022 - Standing: T/SGT Max K. Van Buren – FE; T/SGT Leon...

Object number: UPL 20025 - L to R: S/Sgt Larry Matson - WG; S/Sgt Darrell...