Heath Harding Carriker
Military
Heath H. Carriker Crew
466th BG - 786th and 784th Bomb Squadron
B-24J-1-FO #42-95592 "Black Cat" Code: T9-U
Standing Left to Right: Forrest Jackson (WG), Howard L. DeBoer (B), Jack H. Wendling (CP), Walter Schutt (PN), Ben Elizado (R/O)
Kneeling Left to Right: Steve Barnes (FE), Courtland L. Brovitz (N), Heath H. Carriker (P), Clarence A. Broadway (RN)
Crew not in photo: Willie Dee (TG), Joe Olandese (BTG/WG) 466th Bomb Group collection
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
Object Number - UPL 16148 - Crew #640/462 Heath H. Carriker Crew 466th BG - 786th and 784th Bomb Squadron B-24J-1-FO #42-95592 "Black Cat" Code: T9-U Standing Left to...
22 x missions with 786 BS from 24 July 1944 to 22 Oct 1944 and 10 missions with 784 BS from 4 Nov 1944 to 5 Jan 1944 as lead crew. Crew #s 640 & 462. Aircrafts flown: 42-10580, 42-95592 "Black Cat," 42-95609 "Ghost Too,"
23-Dec-44 on mission to Blatchen, Germany flak disabled aileron and rudder control with resulting loss of altitude from 23,000 to 8,000 ft. With elevator controls and all engines we made it back to Base 1:30 late. This was a close call!
"I, like most other pilots, thought then and now that mine was the best possible crew. I am grateful to have been associated with these good and worthy men. I am a better person for having associated with them during that critical time in our nations history." - Heath Carriker
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), EAME (3BS), WWII Victory.
Connections
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Units served with
- 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: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 467th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-765602
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Radar Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-729994
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39409468
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Liberty Belle
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Black Cat
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Parson's Chariot
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
Missions
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
25 December 1918 | BornRichmond County, North Carolina | |
|
Enlisted |
15 July 1941 | EnlistedFort Bragg, North Carolina | |
|
Other Arrived in the ETO |
19 June 1944 | Ferried B-24H 42-51134 "Liberty Belle" an aircraft that also ended up being assigned to the 466th BG | |
|
Other 786th BS Tour |
24 July 1944 - 22 October 1944 | 22 missions | |
|
Other 21st Combat Mission |
22 October 1944 | led low left squadron | |
|
Other 23rd Combat Mission |
2 November 1944 | Led 466th BG & 96th BW. Major Jacobowitz was aboard as command pilot | |
|
Other 784th BS Tour |
4 November 1944 - 5 January 1945 | 10 missions as a lead crew | |
|
Other 22nd Combat Mission |
4 November 1944 | led 466th BG | |
|
Other 28th Combat Mission |
31 December 1944 | led 466th BG with Major Crosson aboard as command pilot | |
|
Other Discharged |
30 October 1945 | ||
|
Died |
5 August 2012 | DiedPinehurst, North Carolina | |
|
Buried |
9 August 2012 | Ellerbe Cemetery Ellerbe Richmond County North Carolina, USA |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self; oral history interview
