Joseph F Risko

Military
media-17336.png UPL 17336 The Henry H. Northrop crew in Topeka, Kansas, just before leaving for England. They left Topeka on the morning of 27 April 1944 and, vie Goose Bay, Labrador, Iceland and Ireland, they arrived in England on 3 May,

Back row, from left to right :
Charles D. Clifford, Tail Gunner;
Joseph Risko, Waist Gunner;
Alexander Cardenas, Nose Turret Gunner;
Harold J. Flaugher, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner;
Lawrence E. Dean, Radio Operator;
Jack J. Gonzales, Ball Turret Gunner.

Front row, from left to right :
Frank C. Deimel, Navigator;
Henry H. Northrop, Pilot;
Dee Jack Butler, Co-Pilot;
Thomas F. Jeffers, Bombardier.

[ Photo : via Marilyn Jeffers Walton ]
[ Note : Waist Gunner Sgt Joseph Risko was suffering from frostbite endured during the 14 June mission, and was replaced on 18 June by 1st Lt William J. Brodek who assigned himself as a Waist Gunner that day. ]

Added Jack Gonzales to caption information.
Source: Thomas F Jeffers' daughter, Marilyn.

Object Number - UPL 17336 - The Henry H. Northrop crew in Topeka, Kansas, just before leaving for England. They left Topeka on the morning of 27 April 1944 and, vie Goose Bay,...

Assigned to 754BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. Waist gunner on B-24 41-28733

'Rhapsody in Junk'. Suffered form frostbite due to faulty heated suit 14-Jul-44. Hospitalised for 6 days missing 'Rhapsody in Junk' final mission. Finished his tour of 35 missions with several other different crews. ETD.



Awards: DFC, AM (6 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 Stars).

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.'

458th Bomb Group

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

People

Thomas Francis Jeffers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15327020 and O-698015
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Henry Harris Northrop

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32472369 and O-813561
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group prepare to board their B-24 Liberator, (serial number 41-28733) nicknamed "Rhapsody in Junk", for a mission, whilst ground crew refuel the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], ' Passed for publication 28 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '317857.' [Censor no.] Printed caption attached to the reverse: ROUND THE CLOCK BOMBERS. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS: As the ground crew refuels, the crew of a Liberator at a U.S. Bomber Base " somewhere in England"

41-28733

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Junk
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Hospitalised

Horsham St Faith, Norwich NR10, UK 14 June 1944 - 21 June 1944 Hospitalised with frostbite.

Other

End Tour Duty (ETD)

England, UK 5 November 1944 Ended Tour Duty (ETD).

Based

Horsham St Faith 5 November 1944 Assigned to 754BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF.
Detroit, MI, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.458bg.com/crewnorthrop.htm

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

 458bg.com - crew picture in Northrop crew in 754th BS / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Joseph F Risko: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 17336 - The Henry H. Northrop crew in Topeka, Kansas, just...