Joined up with the 5th Bomb Group 15 Feb 1944, on the Canal. I was assigned Ball Turret on the V.V. with a crew that had been together for all the phase training. Capt. Bob Hannagan, pilot. Flew 33 missions in the Virgin, island hopping up thru New Guinea, missions to Wolei, Biak, Truk, Yap, Palau, Rabaul, New Ireland, etc. After 33 missions the whole crew got R&R to Sydney for ten days. Most of the crew got extended on R&R so the Nose Turret, and myself returned to New guinea and I filled in on another crew, Capt. Art Cader, Pilot, for my remaining ten missions. My last mission was the first mission to Balakpapin Oil fields in Borneo (one of the hairiest). Had enough points to return Stateside. I left the 72nd BS while on Noemfoor on Oct. 13, 44 for Wakde, then Biak, for the transport home. Myself, the "scared hero" is pictured third from the left, front row, (not the dog). The dog joined the crew in Kansas, just prior to our leaving the States for the South Pacific.

Vibratin' Virgin, Serial Unknown

Photo courtesy of William De Cecca wdeada@email.msn.com