William Alfred Duke

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left to right) Carl Johnson - Nose Gunner, Chuck Frazer - Gunner, Charles Gretz - Top Turret Gunner, "Bubba" Monroe - Co-Pilot, (front row, left to right) Dick Eselgroth - Navigator, Al Miller - Bombardier, Billy Duke - Pilot "Luke" Lucas - Radio Operator, Baldamore Garcia - Engineer, "Pan" Panarese - Tail Gunner . Image via RM Eselgroth. Written on slide casing: ' media-395537.jpg FRE 6717 A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left to right) Carl Johnson - Nose Gunner, Chuck Frazer - Gunner, Charles Gretz - Top Turret Gunner, "Bubba" Monroe - Co-Pilot, (front row, left to right) Dick Eselgroth - Navigator, Al Miller - Bombardier, Billy Duke - Pilot "Luke" Lucas - Radio Operator, Baldamore Garcia - Engineer, "Pan" Panarese - Tail Gunner . Image via RM Eselgroth. Written on slide casing: 'Crew 22, 458th Bomb Gp. 754th Squadron, Horsham Jan 1945.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 6717 - A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left...

Pilot of B-24 #4410491 'Iron Duke'. Shot down over Bieber, Germany and crashed at Hainhausen on 22 February 1945. He and his co-pilot Lt. A. B. Monroe and waist gunner Sergeant Charles Frazer were murdered by German civilian police. (Story of 'Iron Duke' and its crew, written by George Reynolds was published in Air Wars magazine.) Killed in Action (KIA).

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

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left to right) Carl Johnson - Nose Gunner, Chuck Frazer - Gunner, Charles Gretz - Top Turret Gunner, "Bubba" Monroe - Co-Pilot, (front row, left to right) Dick Eselgroth - Navigator, Al Miller - Bombardier, Billy Duke - Pilot "Luke" Lucas - Radio Operator, Baldamore Garcia - Engineer, "Pan" Panarese - Tail Gunner . Image via RM Eselgroth. Written on slide casing: '
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Top O The Mark
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Jonesboro, Arkansas 7 October 1924

Died

22 February 1945

Buried

Oxford, Mississippi

Revisions

Date
ContributorKauko56
Changes
Sources

"Review and Recommendations" paper in US case # 12-2000, page 30

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Bettye Duke Jackson, sister; MACR 12675 & Page 275 of the book LIBERATORS OVER EUROPE by Mackay, Bailey & Scorza, D790G458 & 458bg.com (detailed info including story of final mission) / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

William Alfred Duke: Gallery (3 items)