The Robert A. Westrope crew: 708th Squadron
Westrope crew at Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, before leaving for England, May, 1944
From Motz’s notes on back of photo
| First Row L-R | |
| Lt. R.J. “Bob” Westrope | Pilot |
| Lt. W.M. “Kelly” Callahan | CoPilot |
| Lt. Harold “Scotty” Motz | Nav |
| Lt. W.V. “Bill” Lawrence | Bombardier |
| Second Row: | |
| Sgt. H.M. “Muscles” Woods | Engineer |
| Sgt. E.E. Wells | Radio Operator |
| Sgt. O. Flores | Right Waist |
| Cpl. O.H. Moreland | Lower Ball |
| Sgt. T. Diamond | Top Turret |
| Cpl. J. A. Pfeiffer | Tail |
Assigned SO154, 26 Jun 1944
| Lt. Robert J. Westrope |
| Lt. W. M. Callahan |
| Lt. Harold A. Motz |
| Lt. W. J. Lawrence |
| Sgt. H.M. Wood |
| Sgt. E. E. Wells |
| Sgt. O. Flores |
| Cpl. O. H. Moreland |
| Sgt. T. Diamond |
| Cpl. J. A. Pfieffer |
Flights with Robert A. Westrope listed as Pilot
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
Westrope crew standing in front of 42-31185 Satchel Lass (most likely just a convenient backdrop) probably autumn 1944.
| Back Row: |
| Otto Moreland |
| Robert Westrope |
| Harold Motz |
| Warren Callahan |
| Oscar Flores |
| Front Row: |
| Joseph Pfeiffer |
| Robert Orlosky |
| Edwin Wells |
| Harold Woods |
The presence of Sgt. Robert Orlosky, the crew chief for 43-37756 Milk Wagon, which the Westrope crew flew for the last third of their combat tour, suggests that the photo was taken at the end of that tour in late October, 1944.
Harold A. Motz: Note on the reverse in Harold’s writing, “Escape Picture”
See the growing collection of Lucky Bastard’s Club certificates from the 447th BG.
Harold A. Motz in Air Navigation School, probably late 1943
Graduation photo, Army Air Forces Navigation School, San Marcos Army Air Field, San Marcos Texas. About March 16-18, 1944. Harold Motz is in the second from the back row, in the center.
Graduation announcement for Herold Motz‘s Navigation School class
A group of newly-commission second lieutenant air navigators on leave. Cotillion Lounge, Jung Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana. Harold Motz is third from the right in the photo.
Harold Motz with his future wife, Dorothy Rita (Dickson) Motz |
Harold and Dorothy at their wedding in August of 1946 |
Some photos/information provided by:
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database