The Beverly C. Hoffman crew: 710th Squadron
Rattlesden, undated
Standing, L-R: | |
Cpl W H Harris | (Mechanic). |
Sgt. Paul Lynam | Ball Turret Gunner |
Lt. Herbert McNabb | Bombardier |
Lt. Beverly Hoffman | Pilot |
Lt. John D. Wells | Navigator |
Sgt, Melvin Ragsdale | Tail Gunner |
Kneeling, L-R: | |
Cpl J W Miller | (Mechanic) |
Sgt. Robert Longwitz | Engineer |
Sgt. Harold 0. Kiena | Radio Operator |
Sgt. Earlie Presson | Waist Gunner |
M/Sgt Henry M Mikulski | (Crew Chief) |
4/44 – 6/44 | RTU, Drew Field, FL |
6/44 | Transit Station, Hunter Field, GA |
7/44 | In Transit |
7/28/44 | 710th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK |
Missions flown: 33 |
Flights with Beverly C. Hoffman listed as Pilot
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
Standing, L-R: Lt. Herbert McNabb, B Lt. Beverly Hoffman, P Lt. John D. Wells, N Sgt, Melvin Ragsdale, TG Front, L-R: Sgt. Earlie Presson, WG Sgt. Harold O. Kiena, ROG, Sgt. Robert Longwitz, ENG Sgt. Paul Lynam, BTG Not pictured: Lt. William North, CP
Kiena photo, also appears in Pictorial History (C40-2)
Beverly Hoffman; Pilot |
John D. Wells; Navigator |
Robert Longwitz; Engineer |
Melvin Ragsdale; Tail Gunner |
Herbert McNabb; Bombardier |
Herbert McNabb; Bombardier |
Earlie Presson; Waist Gunner |
Paul Lynam; Ball Turret Gunner |
See the growing collection of Lucky Bastard’s Club certificates from the 447th BG.
Paul Lynam at the controls of Aluminum Overcast in 1994
See also: Combat Diary- Lt. Herbert McNabb
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
No. | Date | Target | Aircraft | Comments * from Harold Kiena’s diary | |
1 | 131 | 08/24/44 | BRUX | 42-102668 “COCK OF THE SKY” | Combat Orientation. Pilot: Purdy |
2 | 133 | 08/26/44 | BREST (π) | 42-107025 “LITTLE CHUM” | *MADE THREE RUNS ON TARGET, DID NOT DROP BOMBS |
3 | 134 | 08/30/44 | BERLIN | 42-107029 “TAIL WIND” | *EARNED COMMENDATION |
4 | 136 | 09/01/44 | MAINZ | 42-97826 “BIG SHORTY” | *MISSION RECALLED ONE HOUR SHORT OF TARGET |
5 | 137 | 09/03/44 | BREST (π) | 42-107025 “LITTLE CHUM” | *DROPPED ON THIRD RUN FROM 8,800 FEET |
6 | 138 | 09/05/44 | BREST (π) | 43-37541 “MAH IDEEL” | *EARNED AIR MEDAL |
7 | 139 | 09/08/44 | MAINZ | 42-102668 “COCK OF THE SKY” | *ENCOUNTERED BRITISH FLACK ON RETURN |
8 | 143 | 09/12/44 | BOHLEN | 42-107029 “TAIL WIND” | |
9 | 144 | 09/13/44 | STUTTGART | 43-38450 | *SMOKE SCREEN PREVENTED DROP |
10 | 145 | 09/17/44 | ARNHEIM | 43-38450 | |
11 | 146 | 09/19/44 | KOBLENZ | 43-38450 | *HEAVY FLACK, MANY HOLES IN PLANE |
12 | 148 | 09/25/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | 43-38450 | *HEAVY FLACK, MCNABB HIT, LOST NUMBER 2 ENGINE |
13 | 149 | 09/26/44 | BREMEN | 43-38450 | *MODERATE FLACK, NOT HIT |
14 | 150 | 09/27/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | 43-38450 | *HEAVY FLACK, NOSE SHATTERED, MCNABB ALMOST LOST LEFT EYE. |
NOTE: It was probably after this mission that 43-38450 was named “Little Herbie” for McNabb | |||||
15 | 151 | 09/28/44 | MERSEBURG | 43-38450 “LITTLE HERBIE” | *ROUGH MISSION, MANY HOLES IN PLANE. |
16 | 153 | 10/03/44 | GILBERSTADT | 42-102604 “MAC’S HIGH HATS” | *JET AIRCRAFT FACTORY AND AIRFIELD |
17 | 154 | 10/05/44 | MUNSTER A/F | 42-102604 “MAC’S HIGH HATS” | |
18 | 155 | 10/06/44 | BERLIN | 42-97826 “BIG SHORTY” | *ROUGH MISSION. FIGHTERS TOOK OUT 19 OUT OF 36 BOMBERS IN THE GROUP BEHIND US IN ONE PASS. |
19 | 156 | 10/07/44 | MERSEBERG | 43-38450* | *MODERATE FLACK, NO PROBLEMS |
20 | 157 | 10/09/44 | GUSTAVSBURG | 43-38450* | |
21 | 158 | 10/12/44 | BREMEN | 43-38450* | |
22 | 159 | 10/14/44 | COLOGNE | 43-38450* | *PICKED UP A FEW FLACK HOLES |
23 | 162 | 10/18/44 | KASSELL | 43-38450* | |
24 | 163 | 10/19/44 | MANNHEIM | 43-38450* | |
25 | 164 | 10/22/44 | MUNSTER | 43-38450* | |
170 | 11/04/44 | HAMBURG | 42-97400 “FUDDY DUDDY” | *REGULAR CREW NOT SCHEDULED TODAY.
KIENA FLEW WITH F/O MYERS (708th BS) |
|
26 | 171 | 11/05/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | 43-38450* | *HEAVY FLACK, FEW HOLES. |
27 | 172 | 11/06/44 | NEUMUNSTER | 44-6595 | |
28 | 173 | 11/09/44 | SAARBRUCKEN | 43-38450* | |
29 | 175 | 11/16/44 | DUREN AREA | 43-38450* | *START OF “BIG PUSH”. LANDED AT WELFORD PARK, RETURNED TO RATTLESDEN ON THE 18TH. |
30 | 176 | 11/21/44 | KOBLENZ | 43-38450* | *LOST 40 BOMBERS TODAY |
31 | 178 | 11/26/44 | HAMM | 43-38450* | |
32 | 179 | 11/27/44 | BINGEN | 43-38450* | *LAST MISSION [FOR KIENA] |
33 | 180 | 11/30/44 | LUTZKENDORF | 43-38450* |
Some photos/information provided by:
- Mr. Hal Kiena
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database