Erwin Henry Sorensen Jr
Military
media-6381.jpeg
UPL 6381
Erwin H. Sorensen Crew
Crew #674 & #489
466th BG
786th and 784th BS
Standing Left to Right: Erwin H. Sorensen (P), Joseph Goldman (CP), Ned Whitman (B), Donald J. Doll (N)
Kneeling Left to Right: Norman Bastoky (G), Chester Havrick (R/O), Vohn D. Schmidt (G), Phillip J. Krystyniak (FE), Merrill Lee (G), Carl D. Peterson (G)
Ned Whitman left the crew before they joined the 466th BG.
This crew flew eight missions with the786th BS and then 12 missions as a lead crew with the 784th BS before hostilities ended. 466th Bomb Group collection
Crew #674 & #489
466th BG
786th and 784th BS
Standing Left to Right: Erwin H. Sorensen (P), Joseph Goldman (CP), Ned Whitman (B), Donald J. Doll (N)
Kneeling Left to Right: Norman Bastoky (G), Chester Havrick (R/O), Vohn D. Schmidt (G), Phillip J. Krystyniak (FE), Merrill Lee (G), Carl D. Peterson (G)
Ned Whitman left the crew before they joined the 466th BG.
This crew flew eight missions with the786th BS and then 12 missions as a lead crew with the 784th BS before hostilities ended. 466th Bomb Group collection
Corrected "Norman Bastaky" to "Norman Bastoky". This is my grandfather. I have a copy of this photo with signatures on the back.
Assigned 786BS, 466BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew 20 x combat missions, including 12 as a lead crew with 784BS.
Awards: DFC, AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35926992
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2065210
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-63397/ O-2008854
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32911910
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18188777
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 18 March 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Racine, Wisconsin | 15 April 1920 | Son of Erwin and Helen Sorensen. |
Other 466th BG Combat Tour |
Attlebridge, Norwich, UK | 10 December 1944 - 25 April 1945 | Completed 20 missions, including 12 as a lead crew. |
Died |
Batavia, IL, USA | 19 June 2007 | Erwin H. "Erv" Sorensen Jr., 87, of Batavia, passed away June 19, 2007. He was born April 15, 1920 in Racine, WI, the son of Erwin and Helen Sorensen. He married Ruth Spring on November 20, 1943 in Pampa, TX. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1946 as a Captain and a pilot. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and valor. He moved to Batavia in 1948 and worked for Furnas Electric Co. from 1953 until he retired in 1987. He was active in the Fox Valley communities as Past Commander of American Legion Post 504 and Past Kane County Commander of the American Legion. As a member of Chief Shabbona Council of the Boy Scouts of America, he was awarded the "Silver Beaver" Award for his efforts promoting scouting in the Fox Valley. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia and was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Erv was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother. |
Buried |
Resurrection Cemetery Geneva Township Kane County IL | 22 June 2007 | Resurrection Cemetery Geneva Township Kane County Illinois |
Racine, WI, USA | 2417 Mohr Avenue |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom, page 230
"Officers of Attlebridge" booklet, page 31
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 ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, page 351