Lucky Bastards’ Club
This is a collection of Lucky Bastards Club certificates provided by members of the 447th. The certificates were issued to combat crewmen upon completion of their tour of duty. Surviving certificates vary greatly in the condition of the original, and the quality of the images provided.
Why are Lucky Bastards certificates important? For several reasons. Without doubt, they are valuable historical artifacts and have a certain charm — light-heartedly commemorating difficult and trying events.
But more importantly, they are a formal, official record of significant data, particularly the names given to aircraft by their crews. In several cases below, the certificates have established not only specific names that are not previously recorded, but also the dates those names were used. These certificates are widely accepted proof for the provenance of aircraft names.
Should you add yours to the collection? Absolutely!
[Maybe?] 447th Members: Have you lost your Certificate? The 447th Bomb Group Association is now able to provide authentic reproductions of lost certificates to its qualified veterans or family members. See the Association’s PX for more details.
Joseph A. Adams
Ball Turret Gunner on Miss Undecided
Robert W. Adams
Pilot on Sweet Seventeen
August Altese
Navigator, Young crew, 708th
Osvaldo Angelocci
Lowry crew, 711th. Perhaps one of the earliest ever issued in the 447th
William Beste
Lakeman/Noonan crew, 708th
Roy Bogard
McMath crew, 711th
James O. Burke
Waist Gunner
Raymond Casserly
Navigator on Eagle’s Brood; Robert L. Warriner crew
Guy E. Chandler
Tail Gunner
Joseph C. Chehetar
Waist Gunner
Chris J. Christie
Radio Operator; Big Shorty
Wilbur L. Clark
Turret Gunner; Round Trip
Paul J. Collins
Bombardier; Jocko
Ellis Colvin
Aaberg/Moriarty crew, 711th. Navigator; Journey’s End
Alan Cook
Co-pilot Rohde crew, 711th. Umbriago
Edward Corker
Harms crew, 708th. Radio Operator; Bang Bang Lulu
Henry “Hank” Corrow
Tietjen crew, 708th
George Dannehl
Tail Gunner
Russell Davis
Navigator 710th
William J. Delange
Ripley W. Gage
Pilot
Raymond H. Garrant
Spot Jammer
John Hardie
Coleman crew, 709th
William Hecker
708th
Loran B. Heeb
Flight Engineer; Ol’ Scrapiron
Carl Herdic
Pilot, 708th
Leonard D. Hessenauer
Noonan and Zammett crews, 708th
Virgil H. Hill
Bombardier
Richard B. Hilsinger
Hawkins crew, 708th
George Hoidra
Folts crew, 708th
John S. Huff
William Brown crew, 709th
John Hughes
Engineer on Scrap Iron
James Hysong
Pilot, 708th
James P. Jennings
Co-Pilot on Lush Thrush
Leonard T. Johnson
Bomb/Nav on Lonesome Lads.
Signed by his crew members Milton Hampton, Robert E. Johnson, Kenneth W. Wells, Abraham B. Lobel, Charles E. Lower, Paul Stanik and Arthur J. Schuppel.
Peter Karp
710th
John Kates
Henningsen crew, 710th
Jack Keller
Stevenson and Dahlgren crews, 711th
Harold Kiena
Hoffman crew, 710th / signed by the entire crew
Robert W. King
Tail gunner on Lil’ Eight Ball
Robert O. Knapp
Radio Operator
Lyndon F. Lakeman
Pilot
Jerry Lashin
Waist Gunner
John K. Lauer
Radio Operator on Hellsapoppin’
Gerald Leavitt
Pilot, 710th
C.W. LeGrand
Co-Pilot
Frank E Lehner
Pilot
Edward E. Leighty
Waist Gunner
Eugene Lewis
Co-Pilot; Devil’s Brat
Peter Linza
Beaty crew, 710th
Abe Lobel
Hampton crew, 710th
Robert F. Longwitz
Engineer
Leslie F. Lund
Pilot
Donald R. Marrison
Tailgunner on Lil Larry
Roy May
Skalitsky crew, 709th
James McBroom
Pilot, 710th
Donald McDermott
Pilot 710th
Charles Meshel
Phaneuf crew, 708th
Ralph Minker
Pilot, 709th
David O. Monroe
Farson crew, 709th
Thomas Moriarty
Copilot/Pilot, 711th
Earl E. Morrison
Radio Operator
Harold A. Motz
Navigator
Frederick W. Nedvins
Navigator
Leonard Nelson
Pattee crew, 710th
Kenneth Pebley
Right Waist
George W. Phillips
Pilot
Lauri Rautio
Mayhew crew, 708th
James C. Ray
Pilot
Roy A. Roesch
Turret Operator
Ernst “Bob” Rohde
Pilot, 711th
Carmen “Tony” Schiavoni
Nance crew, 709th
Isaac D. Shields
Navigator
30 Missions
50 Missions
William Shrum
Reece crew, 710th
Skip Simon
Waist Gunner
Donald L. Smith
James Ray crew, 709th
Robert Stevenson
Shute crew, 710th
Melvin Strunk
Mahl and Fagg crews, 709th
(Original in the collection of the Eisenhower Center in Abelene, Kansas)
Jackson L. Todd
Ball Turret Gunner, Eastman crew, 708th
Leonard H. Van Over
Togglier/Ball Turret Gunner
Elwyn Warfle
Bombardier
Thomas W. Watson
Tail Gunner on Lucky Stehley Boy
John G. White
Sandquist crew, 709th
John T. Williams
Polansky Crew, 708th
Rembert H. Wooldridge
Waist Gunner, Tuxedo Tomie
Ken T. Wright
Togglier
Phillip C. Zenoya
Pilot
If you have a Lucky Bastards’ Club certificate from the 447th and would like to add it to this collection, please contact webmaster@447bg.com