The Thomas F. Eastman crew: 708th Squadron
Rattlesden, Feb 44. Captioned as the crew of “Virginia Helen”
| Standing L-R | |
| Sgt. Norman P. Joseph | Tail Gunner |
| Lt. Edwin D. Wright | Co-Pilot |
| Sgt. Jackson L. Todd | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Lt. David W. Irvin | Bombardier (Irving?) |
| Sgt. Robert Barker | Waist Gunner |
| Lt. L.A. Ericsson | Navigator |
| Kneeling L-R | |
| Lt. Thomas F. Eastman | Pilot |
| Sgt. Richard H. Conant | Waist Gunner |
| Sgt. Frank M. Sparkman | Engineer |
| Sgt. Albert Green | Radio Operator |
| 11/43 | Harvard AAB, Nebraska |
| 11/43 | in transit by air (42-31154) |
| 11/43 | 708th Sqdn, Rattlesden (Original crew) |
| Missions flown: 30 | |
Flights with Thomas F. Eastman 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 |
| #3 (31-Dec-43) | Cognac, France | 42-31154 | |
| #7 (11-Jan-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-31191 | 154 on list, scratched on chart |
| #11 (29-Jan-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-38039 | |
| #13 (03-Feb-44) | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 42-38097 | (was 039) |
| #14 (04-Feb-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-31431 | slated #104 |
| #16 (06-Feb-44) | Evreux-Fauville, France | 42-31530 | |
| #22 (24-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #24 (28-Feb-44) | Bois de la Justice, France | 42-31724 | |
| #25 (29-Feb-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #26 (03-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-31104 | |
| #27 (04-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #29 (08-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #33 (15-Mar-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #37 (22-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-37854 | |
| #39 (26-Mar-44) | Cherbourg, France area | 42-97092 | |
| #43 (08-Apr-44) | Rheine, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #46 (11-Apr-44) | Arnimswalde, Poland | 42-31724 | |
| #57 (30-Apr-44) | Clermont Ferrand, France | 42-97400 | |
| #59 (07-May-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-32081 | replaced LaGasse |
| #73 (29-May-44) | Leipzig, Germany | 42-32080 | |
| #75 (31-May-44) | Hamm, Germany | 42-32080 | |
| #81 (05-Jun-44) | Le Touquet, France | 42-32081 | |
| #82 (06-Jun-44) | Caen, France | 42-32080 | |
| #85 (07-Jun-44) | Nantes, France | 42-32081 | |
| #94 (21-Jun-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-32080 | |
| #103 (06-Jul-44) | Pas de Calais / Sourtrecourt, France | 42-102632 | |
| #105 (08-Jul-44) | St.Andre De L’eure / Nogent, France | 43-37531 |
Eastman crew taken at Harvard
| Standing L-R: | |
| Lt. Thomas F. Eastman | Pilot |
| Lt. Edwin D. Wright | Co-Pilot |
| Lt. John C. Cook | Navigator |
| Lt. David W. Irvin | Bombardier |
| Front row L-R: | |
| S/Sgt Frank M. Sparkman | Engineer/Top Turret |
| S/Sgt Albert Green | Radio Operator |
| S/Sgt Robert Barker | Waist Gunner |
| Sgt Richard Conant | Waist Gunner |
| Sgt Jackson Todd | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Cpl. Norman P. Joseph | Tail Gunner |
Escape photos for the enlisted crew members: (clockwise from top left) Albert Green, Jackson Todd, Bobby Barker, Richard Conant and Frank Sparkman.
Pilot Thomas Eastman (right) and Radio Operator Albert Green
Aircraft acceptance Form signed by Pilot Eastman and the crew
Thomas F. Eastman; Pilot |
Edwin D. Wright; Co-Pilot |
Frank M. Sparkman; Engineer |
Jackson L. Todd; Ball Turret Gunner |
Norman P. Joseph; Tail Gunner |
Richard H. Conant; Waist Gunner |
David W. Irvin; Bombardier |
Albert Green; Radio Operator |
See the growing collection of Lucky Bastard’s Club certificates from the 447th BG.
See also: Scrapbook page for Albert Green
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
| 1 | 12/31/43 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | 42-31154 Shack Happy |
| 2 | 01/11/44 | BRUNSWICK | 42-31191 |
| 3 | 02/03/44 | WILHELMSHAVEN | 42-38097 |
| 4 | 02/04/44 | FRANKFURT | 43-31431 |
| 5 | 02/05/44 | ROMILLY | N/A |
| 6 | 02/06/44 | EVREUX-FAUVILLE | 42-31530 |
| 7 | 02/24/44 | ROSTOCK | 42-31918 Little Rock Blonde |
| 8 | 02/28/44 | NOBALL NO. 74 BOIS DE LA JUSTICE | 42-31724 Dear M.O.M. |
| 9 | 02/29/44 | BRUNSWICK | 42-31918 Little Rock Blonde |
| 10 | 03/03/44 | BERLIN – RECALL | 42-31104 |
| 11 | 03/04/44 | BERLIN – RECALL | 42-31918 Little Rock Blonde |
| 12 | 03/08/44 | BERLIN | 42-31918 Little Rock Blonde |
| 13 | 03/15/44 | BRUNSWICK | 42-31918 Little Rock Blonde |
| 14 | 03/22/44 | BERLIN | 42-37854 |
| 15 | 03/26/44 | NOBALL NO. 93 LA SORELLERIE | 42-31092 Butch II |
| Co-pilot Edwin D Wright was made first pilot with a composite crew. On May 12, 1944 he was killed in action when 42-107020 was shot down over Ailingen, Germany | |||
| 16 | 04/08/44 | RHEINE | 42-31918 Little Rock Blonde |
| 17 | 04/11/44 | ARNIMSWALDE | 42-31724 Dear M.O.M. |
| 18 | 04/30/44 | CLERMONT A/D | 42-97400 Fuddy Duddy |
| 19 | 05/07/44 | BERLIN | 42-32081 Yellow Cab |
| 20 | 05/08/44 | BERLIN | 42-97646 |
| 21 | 05/12/44 | ZWICKAU | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 22 | 05/13/44 | OSNABRUCK | 42-31092 Butch II |
| 23 | 05/20/44 | LIEGE | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 24 | 05/29/44 | LEIPZIG | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 25 | 05/31/44 | HAMM M/Y | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 26 | 06/05/44 | LE TOUQUET | 42-32081 Yellow Cab |
| 27 | 06/06/44 | D-DAY TARGETS NORTH FRANCE | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 28 | 06/07/44 | NANTES | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 29 | 06/21/44 | BERLIN | 42-32080 Virginia Helen |
| 30 | 07/06/44 | SOUTRECOURT | 42-102632 |
Some photos/information provided by:
- Steven Todd
- Michael Green; Family of Albert Green
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database