The Herbert S. Altman crew: 710th Squadron
Rattlesden, undated
Standing L-R: |
Lt Jay W. Ames |
Sgt Charles H. Aldridge |
Lt Herbert S. Altman |
Lt Frank T. Hocking |
Sgt Marvin H. Handley |
Lt L W. McFarland |
Kneeling L-R: |
Sgt Malcom C. Campman |
Sgt Rex L. Jones |
Sgt John J. Dow |
Sgt William M. Simington |
Flights with Herbert S. Altman listed as Pilot
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.”
447th Mission (Date) | Target | Plane Number | Notes |
#74 (30-May-44) | St. Pol-Siracourt, France | 42-107003 | |
#75 (31-May-44) | Hamm, Germany | 42-107003 | |
#79 (04-Jun-44) | Pas de Calais / Marquise, France | 42-107003 | |
#82 (06-Jun-44) | Caen, France | 42-107003 | |
#84 (06-Jun-44) | Argentan, France | 42-107003 | |
#85 (07-Jun-44) | Nantes, France | 42-107003 | Landed at Wittering |
#87 (11-Jun-44) | Le Touquet – Merlimont Plage, France | 42-31902 | |
#88 (12-Jun-44) | Conches, France | 42-107003 | |
#91 (18-Jun-44) | Misburg, Germany | 42-107003 | |
#94 (21-Jun-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-107003 | |
#96 (23-Jun-44) | St. Quentin, France | 42-107003 | |
#99 (25-Jun-44) | Vercors, France Area #1 | 42-107003 | |
#103 (06-Jul-44) | Pas de Calais / Sourtrecourt, France | 42-107003 | |
#104 (07-Jul-44) | Meresburg, Germany | 42-107003 | |
#106 (11-Jul-44) | Munich, Germany | 42-102651 | MISSING before target landed in Switzerland |
On 11 July 1944, as they took off on a mission to Munich in aircraft 42-102651, Piccadilly Ann II, the crew included bombardier replacement James Walker Davidson from Ohio and tail gunner Fritz Jost from South Dakota. During the mission, they were hit by flak and subsequently landed at Dubendorf, Switzerland. Landing time was 1223 hours. The 10 member crew and aircraft were interned. The following picture is of the Piccadilly Ann II on the ground at Dubendorf.
F/O McFarland and navigator, 2nd Lt. Frank T. Hockings escaped back to England.
William M. Simington |
Jay W. Ames |
Jay W. Ames was the bombardier of the Altman crew in the 710th BS. The first 11 mission on his Operational Missions card were flown with the Altman crew. Jay was wounded on 21 June 44 (his 11th mission) did not fly with Altman after that date. WWII Service of Jay Walter Ames
See also: Raid on Berlin by L.W. McFarland
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
Mission no. | Date | Target |
72 | 28 May, 1944 | Konigsburg, Oil depot, Germany |
74 | 30 May, 1944 | St. Pol-Siracourt, Gun emplacements, France |
75 | 31 May, 1944 | Hamm, Marshalling Yards, Germany |
79 | 4 June, 1944 | Wissant, three 150mm Coastal guns, France |
82 or 83? | 6 June, 1944 | D-Day, Targets north of Caen, France |
84 | 6 June, 1944 | D-Day, Argentan, France |
85 | 7 June, 1944 | Nantes, France |
87 | 11 June, 1944 | Le Touquet, Airfield, France |
88 | 12 June, 1944 | Conches, Railroad targets, France |
91 | 18 June, 1944 | Misburg, Oil refinery, Germany |
94 | 21 June, 1944 | Berlin, Germany – Ames wounded by flak |
106 | 11 July 1944 | Munich – Landed in Dubendorf, Switzerland |
Some photos/information provided by:
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database