8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
...
Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions
A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-0003) nicknamed "Ol' Gappy". Printed caption on reverse: '.'70915 AC A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses in front of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Ol' Gappy" at an 8th Air Force base in England on 12 June 1944.'
The Crew pictured above at this time was:
The photo above is of the Hennrich Crew and at this time here are the names:: ....... Standing Left to Right
Stephen L Hennrich - 1st Lt - Piltot
Anthony P Lasalle - Tech Sgt - Eng/WG
Robert L Schnare - Tech Sgt - RO/G
Earl K Parker - Staff Sgt – TG
Kenneth E Dewire - Staff Sgt – WG
Dennis Houck -S/Sgt – Asst Flt John Eng
Lloyd A Carville - Staff Sgt – BTG
Peter M Beloberk - 2nd Lt – Bom
The rest are unknown Ground Crew and Armorer. It is believed that the Ground Crew Chief Joe Sligoski is squatting third from the left.
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-0003) nicknamed "Ol' Gappy". Printed caption on reverse: '.'70915 AC A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses in front of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Ol' Gappy" at an 8th Air Force base in England on 12 June 1944.'
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
...
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier
Military
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner
Kenneth DeWire served as a waist gunner with the 379th Bomb Group. He flew 30 combat missions.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot
Military | Staff Sergeant | Assistant Flight Engineer
Dennis Houck served as a flight engineer with the 379th Bomb Group.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer, Waist Gunner
Anthony LaSalle served as a flight engineer and waist gunner for the 379th Bomb Group.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
Earl Parker served as tail gunner with the 379th Bomb Group.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Gunner
Robert Schnare served as radio operator/gunner with the 379th Bomb Group.
Military | Master Sergeant | Crew Chief
157 Missions (aka Topper) 'ol' Gappy'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 1/11/43; Denver 27/11/43; Presque Is 11/12/43;
...
Military site : airfield
Planned for RAF use, Kimbolton airfield was built by W and C French Ltd. in 1941. The airfield was increased in size to accommodate a full US heavy Bomb Group, and the first such unit to us it was the 91st Bomb Group, who arrived in September 1942....
Date | Contributor | Update |
---|---|---|
25 April 2016 15:49:16 | Lucy May | Changes to person associations and place associations |
Sources | ||
Associated to airmen's records from information given in caption. |
||
Date | Contributor | Update |
16 April 2016 12:32:42 | cody1947 | Changes to caption |
Sources | ||
379th BG Anthology and personal remembrances of former 379th BG Veterans |
||
Date | Contributor | Update |
08 September 2014 15:27:53 | AAM | AAM ingest |
Sources | ||
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection |