Page 4

The Robert Gillman Crew, 15th AF, 745 BS, 456 BG

Back row, left to right:

Robert J. Gillman Jr. 2nd Lt. Pilot; Thomas E. Colley 2nd Lt. Co-Pilot; Carl S. Hey 2nd Lt. Navigator; Carl J. Manske 2nd Lt. Bombardier

Front row, left to right:

Willis J. W. Hildy S/Sgt Radio Operator Gunner; Clarence C. Ryder S/Sgt. Engineer Gunner; Edwin J. Caley S/Sgt. Upper Turret Gunner; Charles E. Daugherty S/Sgt. Ball Turret Gunner; Ross W. Dye Sgt. Tail Turret Gunner; Theodore J. Pesch Sgt. Nose Turret Gunner


The quote below is a short segment from Bob Gillman's memoirs, entitled "Memories of War and Peace." This segment comes from August 26, 1944. 

"We flew a ship today called the "PHONEY EXPRESS II." Since our new plane was taken from us, we flew anything available. This ship flew well and seemed lighter on the controls - just what we needed. Went to the Squadron C.O. and requested that we be assigned this aircraft as often as possible. He agreed to look into it."

Crew 13, taken in April 1944

Back row, left to right:  Lt. Jim Cleary; Lt. Paul Marler; Lt. Arthur Crow; Lt. Robert Millette

Front row, left to right: Sgt. George Liddle; Sgt. Harold Wright; Sgt. Joe Foti; Sgt. Joe Niess; Sgt. Tom Raliegh; Sgt. Frank PuFont

John Bello with crew and "Miss Laid". Second from left in the back row is Milton D. Waite. Please help fill in the other names...

One of the crews that flew in "The Joker":

Back row left to right: Lloyd Merill, pilot;  Mike Demio, co-pilot; Al Racitti,
navigator; Bob Rosser, bombardier

Front row : Bob Martin, flight engineer/waist gunner; Bob Anderson, waist gunner; Walter Lent, radio operator; Earl Maurer, ball turret; Sigmund Lekan, armorer top turret; Calvin Utterback, nose turret.

---

Another crew of  "The Joker" consisted of Robert Mace, pilot; Walter Gruber, co-pilot; Albert Degenhart, navigator; Theodore Strater, bombardier; James Williams, flight engineer; James Hudson, top turret; James Chesnutt, ball turret; Murphy Roberts, waist gunner; Larry Fergus, wiast gunner. Mace and Williams originally painted the "Joker" on this particular ship, and flew all but one mission on it. A closup of the nose art can be seen on the Noseart page.

The John Gabriel Crew:

Front row:  S/Sgt. Ralph Simpson, Tail Turret; T/Sgt. Glen Midboe, Engineer; S/Sgt. Charles Moller, Ball Turret Gunner; T/Sgt. Ed Zivkovich, Top Turret Gunner; S/Sgt. Robert Hinckley, Radio Operator; S/Sgt. Gene Cronin, Nose Turret Gunner.

Back row: Capt. John Gabriel, Pilot; F/O Sal D'Amoto, Co-pilot; 2nd Lt. James Nugent, Navigator; 2nd Lt. Ray Miltmore, Bombardier.

This crew was shot down in "Flak Happy", No. 42-78328 (MACR 10033) on 2 Dec 1944. The co-pilot was dead when he hit the ground - his chute never opened. The story of this mission is in the 456th history book under 12 Dec 1944, and will be posted here at a later date.

This photo was supplied by Ray Miltimore shortly before he passed away in January, 2000. Photo location unknown but presumed in the US due to uniform condition and concrete runway.

Click here to hear  SOUNDS of the times: Music and more

Back To Top of This Page

Home