The Richard T. Gillespie crew: 708th Squadron
As Lead Crew: Pictured with 44-6462 Sandusky Jo (Rattlesden, undated)
| Standing L-R: | |
| Cpl. Paul H. Jones | Radio Operator |
| Cpl. Raliegh M. Martin | Waist Gunner |
| Cpl. Blaize J. Napolitan | Tail Gunner |
| Cpl. Richard O. Lawrence | Engineer |
| Cpl. Francis B. Froah | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Kneeling L-R: | |
| Lt. Joseph Nidich | Mickey Operator |
| Lt. Lee A. Small | Bombardier |
| Lt. Richard T. Gillespie | Pilot |
| Lt. Robert J. Beiting | Co-Pilot |
| F/O Milton A. Trodick | Navigator |
| 9/44 – 11/44 | RTU, Drew Field, Florida |
| 11/23/44 – 11/29/44 | In Transit, by ship HMS Queen Elizabeth |
| Assigned SO308, 28 Dec 1944 | |
| 12/44 – 5/45 | 708th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK |
| Missions flown: 19 + | |
Flights with Richard T. Gillespie 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 |
| #206 (29-Jan-45) | Kassel, Germany | 43-38950 | |
| #207 (01-Feb-45) | Wesel, Germany | 43-38884 | |
| #211 (14-Feb-45) | Wesel, Germany | 43-38940 | |
| #214 (19-Feb-45) | Wesel, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #215 (20-Feb-45) | Nurnberg, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #216 (22-Feb-45) | Aalen, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #217 (23-Feb-45) | Crailsheim, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #218 (24-Feb-45) | Bremen, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #220 (26-Feb-45) | Berlin, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #221 (27-Feb-45) | Leipzig, Germany | 44-8643 | |
| #222 (01-Mar-45) | Ulm, Germany | 43-38903 | |
| #239 (23-Mar-45) | Holzwickede, Germany | 44-8786 | PFF-X #786 |
| #241 (28-Mar-45) | Hannover, Germany | 44-8393 | PFF-Y #393 |
| #243 (31-Mar-45) | Salzwedel, Germany | 44-8747 | PFF-Y #747 |
| #246 (05-Apr-45) | Nuremberg, Germany | 44-8783 | PFF-X #783 |
| #247 (07-Apr-45) | Schwerin, Germany | 44-8661 | PFF-Z #661 |
| #249 (09-Apr-45) | Neuburg, Germany | 44-8747 | PFF-Y #747 |
| #250 (10-Apr-45) | Brandenburg, Germany | 44-8747 | PFF #747, Capt. Gibson was CA |
| #258 (21-Apr-45) | Inglostadt, Germany | 42-97769 | PFF #769; Hicks CA |
Drew Field, Florida
| Standing, L-R: | |
| Cpl. Richard O. Lawrence | Engineer |
| F/O Milton A. Trodick | Navigator |
| 2nd Lt. Lee A. Small | Bombardier |
| Cpl. Blaize J. Napolitan | Tail Gunner |
| Cpl. Francis B. Froah | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Kneeling, L-R: | |
| 2nd Lt. Richard T. Gillespie | Pilot |
| 2nd Lt. Robert J. Beiting | Co-Pilot |
| Cpl. Raliegh M. Martin | Waist Gunner |
| Cpl. Paul H. Jones | Radio Operator |
Arriving at Rattlesden, December 1944
Raliegh Martin; Waist Gunner |
Paul H. Jones; Radio Operator |
Francis B. Froah; Ball Turret Gunner |
Richard T. Gillespie; Pilot |
Pilot Richard T. Gillespie. Most likely taken toward the end of training at Drew Field, Florida in Nov. 1944.
On leave in London
Martin and Napoliltan
Identified as Gillespie by filename only
Francis B. Froah is greeted by his father Charles Froah in January of 1946. Photo was taken in the Kellogg, Iowa, Post Office.
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
| No. | DATE | TARGET | AIRCRAFT |
| 206 | 01/29/45 | KASSEL | 43-38950 |
| 207 | 02/01/45 | WESSEL | 43-38884 Li’l Skippy |
| 214 | 02/19/45 | WESEL | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 215 | 02/20/45 | NURNBERG | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 216 | 02/22/45 | AALEN | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 217 | 02/23/45 | CRAILSHEIM | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 218 | 02/24/45 | BREMEN | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 220 | 02/26/45 | BERLIN | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 221 | 02/27/45 | LEIPZIG | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 222 | 03/01/45 | ULM | 43-38903 Miss Lace |
| 239 | 03/23/45 | HOLZWICKEDE | PFF No. 786 |
| 241 | 03/28/45 | HANOVER | PFF 44-8393 |
| 243 | 03/31/45 | BRANDENBURG | PFF No. 747 |
| 246 | 04/05/45 | NURNBERG | PFF No. 783 |
| 247 | 04/07/45 | SCHWERIN | PFF No. 661 |
| 249 | 04/09/45 | NEWBURG A/F | PFF No. 747 |
| 250 | 04/10/45 | BRANDENBURG | PFF No. 747 |
| 255 | 04/17/45 | DRESDEN | PFF No. 747 |
| 258 | 04/21/45 | INGLOSTADT | PFF No. 769 |
Some photos/information provided by:
- Mr. Martin Ardis
- Mr. Francis Froah / Family of Francis Froah