Rhoades Crew – Assigned 754th Squadron – November 16, 1944

1Lt Frank L. “Dusty” Rhoades crew joined the 458th on November 16, 1944.  After several weeks of indoctrination, formation practice, and navigation orientation flights, they flew their first mission on December 12, 1944.  Their target that day was the marshalling yards at Hanau, Germany.  Their next mission was on December 24th, when the Eighth Air Force put up over 2,000 heavy bombers and fighter escorts to hit airfields and communications centers in western Germany.

The first few months in 1945 saw the crew flying missions to Koblenz, Dortmund, Bielefeld, and four round trips to Magdeburg amongst many other targets in Germany.  Their 33rd and final mission came on April 18, 1945 when the 458th bombed the marshalling yards at Passau, Germany.

Of the crew’s 33 missions, 19 were flown aboard B-24H-25-DT 41-51179  Dusty’s Double Trouble.  The ship was an old, but reliable Liberator in the group, having begun her combat career on May 31, 1944 and had racked up over 100 missions by the time the war in Europe was over.  The artwork which appeared in her later days was only displayed for one day before being removed, and a more subtle identification, a large 179 was applied to both sides of the nose.

Rhoades and crew and a number of ground men flew this aircraft back to the States in June 1945.

The artwork was soon replaced with the ship’s tail number and RCL

“Dusty” Rhoades in the pilot’s seat, Spring 1945

(Photos: Jim Carothers)

June 1945

Ready to depart Horsham for he U.S.A.
Standing, 2nd from left: “Dusty” Rhoades

If you can identify anyone in the photo, please contact me.

Thanksgiving 2007

Left to Right: Dusty’s grandson, Dusty and Dusty’s son Leslie, in front of B-25 Martha Jean

Photo: Jim Carothers