Russell Thomas Elkin Jr

Military
media-44684.jpeg UPL 44684 T/Sgt Russell T. Elkin - The engineer and top turret gunner on the B-24D, Chug-Lug, in the 98th Bomb Group and the 9th Air Force. Returned home for a war bond tour.

Aircraft name punctuation removed for clarity. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 44684 - T/Sgt Russell T. Elkin - The engineer and top turret gunner on the B-24D, Chug-Lug, in the 98th Bomb Group and the 9th Air Force. Returned home...

TSgt. Russel Elkin was an engineer and top turret gunner, assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, in the USAAF, on Lt. John Childers crew. He flew on Operation Tidal wave, completed his combat tour, and returned to the USA with his B-24D, Chug A Lug, for a war bond tour.



Awards: AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39305311 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Summerville, PA 21 November 1922 Son of Russell Thomas Sr and Camie M [Morrison] Elkin.

Died

17 February 2016

Buried

Laurel Land Memorial Park Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX 21 February 2016 Laurel Land Memorial Park Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas

Based

Benina Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Enlisted

Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed extra info in the "Role/job" field.

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Aircraft name punctuation removed for clarity. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Aircraft name punctuation removed for clarity. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKrisTico
Changes
Sources

Childhood nick name that stayed with him.

Russell Thomas Elkin: Gallery (2 items)