John Perella

Military
media-17391.jpeg UPL 17391 Crew #768
Earl H. Beitler/Neil Gobrecht Crew

Standing Left to Right: Richard S.Lundberg (R/O), Russell K. Mason (FE), Earl H. Beitler (P), John Perella (N), Neil M. Gobrecht (CP/P)

Kneeling Left to Right: Gale Raymond (NG), Donald Sargeant (TG), Wilfred Smith (WG), Edward M. Smith (WG)

During this crew's combat tour, the pilot, Earl H. Beitler was promoted to 787th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer and Gobrecht took over as pilot. Neil Gobrecht Collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 17391 - Crew #768 Earl H. Beitler/Neil Gobrecht Crew Standing Left to Right: Richard S.Lundberg (R/O), Russell K. Mason (FE), Earl H. Beitler (P), John...

Originally a member of the Earl H. Beitler Crew (Crew #768), Perella was flying with the Richard Farrington Crew (Crew #487) when he was KIA on 21 April 1945

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

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?'

466th Bomb Group

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

People

Earl H Beitler

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-713684
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot -- Squadron Operations Officer

Richard J Farrington

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-713376
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Neil M Gobrecht

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot

Aircraft

42-50368

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Delores Jean
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron

42-50791

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Judy Sue
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron

42-95592

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Black Cat
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron

Missions

796

  • Date: 16 January 1945

729

  • Date: 29 November 1944

704

  • Date: 6 November 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).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Oberhinkofen

  • Site type: Aircraft crash site
  • Known as: Black Cat Memorial

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Joliet, IL, USA 25 June 1924

Died

Scharmassing, 93083 Obertraubling, Germany 21 April 1945 Shot down with the Farrington Crew aboard "Black Cat" the last 8th AF B-24 shot down during the war.
Joliet, IL, USA 506 Grant Street

Buried

Joliet, IL, USA Mount Olivet Cemetery Joliet Will County Illinois, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Roll of Honor

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

John Perella: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 14519 - Crew #769/487 Richard J. Farrington Crew 466th BG...

Object number: UPL 17391 - Crew #768 Earl H. Beitler/Neil Gobrecht Crew...