William B Pennington

Military

Retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: What's Cookin Doc
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pale Ale
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 29 November 1944
  • Date: 5 November 1944
  • Date: 19 October 1944
  • Date: 17 October 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Topeka, KS, USA 1 November 1922

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

RAF Attlebridge 24 July 1944 - 21 January 1945

Died

Joplin, MO, USA 9 December 2011 Col. William 'Bill" Pennington USAF RET passed away at 4;54 a.m. Friday December 9, 2011 at Freeman West Hospital. Col. Pennington was born November 1, 1922 in Topeka, Kansas. to the late Jessie Pennington and Lucille Campbell Pennington. He had lived in Joplin the past seven years, moving from Colorado Springs Colorado, where he made his home for 40 years. Col. Pennington served 27 years active duty with the United States Air Force. He flew different styles of aircraft in three different wars- World War 11' Korea and the Vietnam War. He was also a 30 year veteran of the Air Force Reserves. Following his retirement Bill was CEO for Western Horseman Magazine in Colorado Springs Colorado. Bill was a member of the Military Officers Association; the Quiet Birdmen Association and the American Legion.

Buried

Webb City, MO, USA 12 December 2011 Mount Hope Cemetery Webb City Jasper County Missouri, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No 137 Karlsruhe, Germany - 5 November 1944
NARA research by Brad Sullivan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Formation Plan 19 October 1944 - NARA

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE DIARY by Wassom & Brassfield, page 349