So why are there a couple pages devoted to a 485th Bomb Group member here? Well as can be seen immediately below, the aircraft in the photo is "Miss Conduct - Target for Tonight," a well known 456th ship. Red, a ball turret gunner in the 830th Bomb Squadron flew with his crew in this aircraft from the United States to Italy. The nose art and crew's names at their flight stations were painted at Topeka, Kansas. His name, "Red Kempffer," was painted on the right hand side of the aircraft just above the ball turret position. Another reason is simply that these are great photos that indicate what it was like for an American airman in Italy during the time of the 15th Air Force. Many thanks to Red for all of these photos!
Back row, left to right: 1st Lt. Arthur W. Rasco, pilot; 2Lt. Robert W. Walcott, co-pilot; 2Lt. Joseph M. Stewart, bombardier, 2Lt. Max L. Childers, navigator.
Front row, S/Sgt.Bloyce F. Jordan, waist gunner; S/Sgt. Raymond J, Buster nose turret gunner; T/Sgt. Ernest Birch, flight engineer; S/Sgt. Edward J. Kelly, radioman/waist gunner; S/Sgt. Harold J. Kempffer, ball turret gunner, S/Sgt. Raymond S. Lonergan, tail turret gunner.
Red in full flying gear with a 485th Bomb Group ship - apparently quite new.
Red Kempffer and "LIFE." This ship was a B-24H built by Ford Motor, S/N 42-52728, and was an olive drab colored aircraft, one of many in the 830th squadron. It flew over one hundred missions and it did survive the war.
