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

Harold Kiena; Radio Operator

Herbert McNabb; Bombardier

Earlie Presson; Waist Gunner

Paul Lynam; Ball Turret Gunner

Herbert McNabb; Bombardier

  

 

Plaque honoring the Hoffman crew at the AAF Museum in Savannah, Georgia.

 

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