Hoffman, B. C.

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.

447th Mission (Date) Target Plane Number Notes
#133 (26-Aug-44) Brest, France 42-107025  
#135 (30-Aug-44) Bremen, Germany 42-107029  
#136 (01-Sep-44) Mainz, Germany 42-97826  
#137 (03-Sep-44) Brest, France 42-107025  
#138 (05-Sep-44) Brest, France 43-37541  
#139 (08-Sep-44) Mainz, Germany 42-102668  
#143 (12-Sep-44) Bohlen & Fulda, Germany 42-107029  
#144 (13-Sep-44) Stuttgart, Germany 43-38450  
#145 (17-Sep-44) Arnheim, Holland 43-38450  
#146 (19-Sep-44) Koblenz, Germany 43-38450  
#148 (25-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany 43-38450  
#149 (26-Sep-44) Bremen, Germany 43-38450  
#150 (27-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany 43-38450  
#151 (28-Sep-44) Merseburg, Germany 43-38450 Leaflets
#153 (03-Oct-44) Giebelstadt, Germany 42-102604  
#154 (05-Oct-44) Munster, Germany 42-102604  
#155 (06-Oct-44) Berlin, Germany 42-97826  
#156 (07-Oct-44) Merseburg, Germany 43-38450  
#157 (09-Oct-44) Gustavsburg, Germany 43-38450  
#158 (12-Oct-44) Bremen, Germany 43-38450  
#159 (14-Oct-44) Cologne, Germany 43-38450  
#162 (18-Oct-44) Kassel, Germany 43-38450  
#163 (19-Oct-44) Mannheim, Germany 43-38450  
#164 (22-Oct-44) Munster, Germany 43-38450  
#171 (05-Nov-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany 43-38450  
#172 (06-Nov-44) Neumunster, Germany 44-6595  
#173 (09-Nov-44) Saarbrucken, Germany 43-38450  
#175 (16-Nov-44) Duren, Germany 43-38450 Landed at Welford Park
#176 (21-Nov-44) Koblenz, Germany 43-38450  
#178 (26-Nov-44) Hamm, Germany 43-38450  
#179 (27-Nov-44) Bingen, Germany 43-38450  
#180 (30-Nov-44) Lutzkendorf, Germany 43-38450  

 

 

 

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