Daniel Crew – Assigned 753rd Squadron – February 22, 1945
Crew Photo Needed
Flying at the End of Hostilities
| Rank | Name | Serial # | Crew Position | Date | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lt | Robert Daniel | 0831677 | Pilot | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| 2Lt | Henry A Kramer | 02074462 | Co-pilot | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| F/O | William R Banks | T64652 | Navigator | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| S/Sgt | George W Bonderant | 37356947 | Radio Operator | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| T/Sgt | Louis J Patrizzi | 19094301 | Flight Engineer | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| S/Sgt | Herman Bellerjeau | 33578020 | Armorer-Gunner | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| S/Sgt | James W Guttery | 18155974 | Aerial Gunner | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| S/Sgt | William R Moore | 16139689 | Aerial Gunner | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
| S/Sgt | Russell S Selberg | 37573378 | Aerial Gunner | Jun-45 | FEH | Ferry Crew 640 |
2Lt Robert Daniel and crew were initially assigned to the 753BS on February 22, 1945. Four days later, on February 26th, the entire crew were transferred to the 754BS. On the day they were assigned, the 754th lost two crews on the mission to Peine/Hildesheim. This may have been the reason for Daniels’ transfer. Their first mission was on March 12th to Friedburg, Germany. They flew a total of seven missions in March, all in different aircraft.
In April the crew completed another seven missions, using six aircraft. The last of these was on the April 20th attack on the railroad bridge near Zwiesel, Germany.
Two of the crew’s gunners, S/Sgts Herman Bellerjeau and William Moore, flew on the last Eighth Air Force mission of the war on April 25, 1945. Bellerjeau flew with 2Lt Glenn J. Wallis and crew aboard an aircraft that had been recently transferred form the 453BG, named Linda Lou on their 21st mission; and Moore flew 1Lt Ralph J. Nutter, Jr on Dorothy Kay Special. It was Nutter’s 19th combat mission. It is not known whether the men volunteered to fly or were assigned as fill in gunners.
In June 1945 the crew were tasked with the job of flying one of the group’s Liberators back to the States.
Missions
| Date | Target | 458th Msn | Pilot Msn | Serial | RCL | Sqdn | A/C Msn | A/C Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Mar-45 | FRIEDBURG | 202 | 1 | 42-95108 | B | Z5 | 64 | ENVY OF 'EM ALL II | |
| 17-Mar-45 | HANNOVER | 205 | 2 | 42-50578 | F | Z5 | 45 | SKY ROOM | |
| 19-Mar-45 | LEIPHEIM | 207 | 3 | 42-51179 | P | Z5 | 79 | DUSTY'S DOUBLE TROUBLE | |
| 21-Mar-45 | HESEPE | 209 | 4 | 42-100366 | H | Z5 | 71 | MIZPAH | |
| 24-Mar-45 | KIRKOFF | 213 | 5 | 44-40298 | E | Z5 | 47 | THE SHACK | |
| 30-Mar-45 | WILHELMSHAVEN | 215 | 6 | 44-40126 | L | Z5 | 75 | SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP | |
| 31-Mar-45 | BRUNSWICK | 216 | 7 | 42-95183 | U | Z5 | 95 | BRINEY MARLIN | |
| 06-Apr-45 | HALLE | 219 | 8 | 42-51179 | P | Z5 | 88 | DUSTY'S DOUBLE TROUBLE | |
| 07-Apr-45 | KRUMMEL | 220 | 9 | 42-110059 | T | Z5 | 76 | UNKNOWN 056 | FLYING w/466TH "C" GRP |
| 08-Apr-45 | UNTERSCHLAUERSBACH | 221 | 10 | 42-51196 | Q | J3 | 57 | THE GYPSY QUEEN | |
| 14-Apr-45 | POINTE DE GRAVE | 225 | 11 | 42-50578 | F | Z5 | 55 | SKY ROOM | |
| 16-Apr-45 | LANDSHUT | 227 | 12 | 42-50456 | D | Z5 | 57 | DOROTHY KAY SPECIAL | |
| 18-Apr-45 | PASSAU | 228 | 13 | 42-50640 | O | Z5 | 46 | BUGS BUNNY | |
| 20-Apr-45 | ZWIESEL | 229 | 14 | 42-51196 | Q | J3 | 64 | THE GYPSY QUEEN |
June 1945
Daniel crew members, along with ground men preparing to return to the States. Aircraft is B-24J-1-FO 42-50640 Z5 O Bugs Bunny
Sitting, 4th from right: S/Sgt James W. Guttery – G
If you can ID any of the men in this photo, please contact me.
Identified by: Ben Guttery