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Walter P. Joens, Crew # W-91
723rd Squadron |
Officers Back Row Left to Right:
2nd Lt. Walter P. Joens, 0810154 - Pilot
2nd Lt. Joseph Shellick, 0822972 - Co-pilot
2nd Lt. Calvin K. Hubbard,0707272 - Navigator
Lt. Daughtery - Bombardier *
Enlisted Men Front Row Left to Right:
Sgt. George C. Adriano, 395768825 - Asst. Engineer
Sgt. Wallace C. Berringer, 9336827 - Asst. Radio
S/Sgt. Harry J. Franz, Jr.,33719488 - Radio
S/Sgt. Robert R. Ambrose,37501779 - Engineer
Sgt. Robert L. Douglas,12089372 - Armorer
Sgt. Charles J. Blaser,Jr.,13060373 - Asst. Armorer
* (Lt. Daughtery was replaced by 2nd Lt. Ambrose Y. Maushart, 0768825 as Bombardier.
The crew was designated Flight Crew 'AY47', and was assigned to B-24J number 42-51159, Peekin Thru, by May 19, 1944
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This picture was likely taken within days of May 19, 1944.
On that date, the Air Force issued orders for this crew to fly to Italy as a replacement crew for the 450th Bomb Group.
They arrived in Italy on June 1,1944, and for the most part, flew missions as a crew until February, 1945.
The plane appears to be new.
Note the mechanic's marks on the fuselage near the nose turret,
the shiny aluminum skin and the lack of markings other than the nose art.
The name was decided on because all of the crew were bachelors.
Officers Back Row Left to Right:
2nd Lt. Ambrose Y. Maushart, 0768825 - Bombardier
2nd Lt. Joseph Shellick, 0822972 - Co-pilot
2nd Lt. Walter P. Joens, 0810154 - Pilot
2nd Lt. Calvin K. Hubbard,0707272 - Navigator
Enlisted Men Front Row Left to Right:
Sgt. Wallace C. Berringer, 9336827 - Asst. Radio/nose turret
Sgt. George C. Adriano, 395768825 - Asst. Engineer/ball turret
S/Sgt. Harry J. Franz, Jr.,33719488 - Radio/waist gunner
Sgt. Robert L. Douglas,12089372 - Armorer/waist gunner
Sgt. Charles J. Blaser,Jr.,13060373 - Asst. Armorer/tail turret
S/Sgt. Robert R. Ambrose,37501779 - Engineer
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Information provided by Richard Franz, son of Harry J. Franz, 723rd Squadron
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