Personnel

CREW

 

CAPT CHARLES E. ROBBS  P FEH TAPS: 6 APR 1967

2ND LT ORVILLE K. BROYLES  CP FEH TAPS: 2 SEP 1986

2ND LT JAMES J. HAWLEY  NAV FEH 

2ND LT ROBERT V. GILDEA  BOM FEH

CPL ALBERT P. LOCHRA, JR. ROG FEH

CPL CLARENCE V. HENDERSON TTE FEH TAPS: 28 OCT 1982

CPL FRANK KOPUS, JR  WG FEH

CPL ANTHONY S. CHEFFO  BTG FEH TAPS: 13 NOV 1983

CPL HAROLD E. JOHNSON  TG FEH

 

351ST SQDN.. JOINED THE 100TH ON 9 FEB 1945.  2ND LT BROYLES

BECAME THE PILOT OF THIS CREW IN EARLY MARCH WHEN CAPT. ROBBS LEFT THE CREW. ROBBS BECAME A COMMAND PILOT, WHICH SUGGESTS HE WAS PART OF 351ST BS OPERATIONS. ON APRIL 6, 1945 CAPT. ROBBS WAS TRANSFERRED TO 350TH BS AS OPERATIONS OFFICER.  IN JUNE 1945 LT COL. DAVID “HANDLEBAR HANK” LYSTER WAS TRANSFERRED STATESIDE AND WAS REPLACED BY CAPT. CHARLES ROBBS AS 350TH BS COMMANDING OFFICER, HE WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR.  



… In several conversations, Al Lochra told me (Jack O'Leary) his crew Capt. Charles E. Robbs, pilot was put together in Lincoln Nebraska in the fall of 1944. Went to Rapid City, and back to Lincoln Neb. On Dec.24th, 1944…On Dec.25th, 1944..The TG on the Robbs crew was replaced because of illness (pleurisy) with Harold E. Johnson…ROBBS crew transported by train to Camp Kilmer, NJ in Jan.1945…Transit by ship AQUATANIA, a 9 day crossing to the ETO…then to STOKE-ON-TRENT and on to Thorpe Abbotts in Early February, 1945.

 

Following is edited Oct.27, 2005 letter from Albert P. Lochra (ROG) to Jack O'Leary.

 

"On the first two missions and probably the third, our Pilot was Capt. Charles Robbs and our co-pilot was Orville K. Broyles (he preferred "BUTCH"), our Navigator was James J. Hawley and the Bombardier was Robert V. Gildea. Others were Clarence Henderson, Engineer; Anthony Cheffo, Ball Turret; Frank Kopus, Waist Gunner; Harold E. Johnson, Tail Gunner; and Albert P. Lochra, Radio.    Either at our Third mission or certainly by the fourth, Capt. Robbs was pulled from the crew with Broyles replacing him as first pilot. Broyles soon received his silver bar as a First Lieutenant.  Also, at the same time, Lt. Gildea was pulled and placed into a pool of Group Bombardiers. (Gildea told me at the Pittsburgh (100th BGF) Reunion that he completed six missions)  Capt. Robbs was promoted to Major and became C.O. of a Squadron (Editors note…Al rode over on his bike to congratulate Major Robbs at his promotion…Al thought it was the 418th BS originally but after our conversation, couldn’t be sure which Squadron area he rode to on that day 60 years ago).  Replacements as co-pilot of our plane were multiple; but I believe a Lt. Thomas J. Slaven flew several and perhaps another co-pilot flew more than one mission with us (Jan 4, 1945 while returning from training mission at Thorpe Abbotts, crashed A/C#338523 (GLORY BOUND) on landing.  2nd Lt Ivan Rosenbaum and 2nd Lt Thomas Slaven were both injured in the crash and hospitalized.   Upon recovery, Lt Slaven would become a fill in CP, he flew on Lt Streich Crew until they completed their tour in Feb 45 and then became CP on Lt Broyles Crew.). Similarly, Gildea was replaced by a series of Toggaliers and/or Bombardiers the names of whom I have no recollection. But the other members of the crew remained intact. On an occasion or two, we had a Radar Technician flying with us, one of whom, John W. Disher (from 1st Lt Harold S.Bucklew Crew), was killed during a subsequent mission (March 18, 1945 to Berlin) with another crew…." (Editors Note Reference the Edward P. “Duke “Gwin Crew page for summary of Spot Jammer Disher & crew



 

Listed below are the dates, cities and targets of our 19 Missions from Albert P. Lochra (ROG) 

 

# 1. FEB 25,1945       MUNICH    MARSHALLING YARDS… (Capt. Robbs-Pilot)            44-8632   EP-H

# 2  FEB 26,1945       BERLIN     CITY…..(Capt Robbs-Pilot)                                  43-37815   EP-L  "YOU CAN'T LOSE"

# 3  MARCH 2,1945    DRESDEN     FACTORY…(Capt Robbs-Pilot)                          42-31530   EP-X   "QUITTIN' TIME" 

# 4   MARCH 4,1945   ULM/BAUMANEIM     FACTORY   (Lt Broyles takes over Crew)  

# 5  MARCH  10,1945   DORTMUND   MARSHALLING YARDS      B-SQDN, LEAD FLGT  44-6295  EP-B  "WHITE CARGO"      HARDSTAND  #10 

# 6   MARCH 11,1945   HAMBURG   OIL REFINERY                                                 42-31708 EP-R  “SKIPPER II”            HARDSTAND # 10

# 7  MARCH 12,1945    SWINEMUNDE     DOCKS                       C-SQDN-LOW FLGT   44-6805  LN-O "FLAMIN MAMIE"      HARDSTAND # 36 

# 8   MARCH 15,1945   ORANIENBURG   MARSHALLING YARDS    B-SQDN-LOW FLGT  44-6817  LD-S  "HEAVENLY ANGEL" HARDSTAND # 44    

# 9  MARCH 21,1945    PLAUEN    MACHINE WORKS  

# 10  MARCH 22,1945  ALHORN   AIRFIELD    

# 11  MARCH 23,1945   MARBURG      CITY                               D-SQDN,              42-31708   EP-R  “SKIPPER II”           HARDSTAND # 10     

# 12   MARCH 24,1945   STEENWIJK     AIRFIELD                       B-SQDN                 44-8616  LD-Z                               HARDSTAND # 47 

# 13   MARCH 28,1945   HANOVER TANK FACTORY                    C-SQDN               43-38963  EP-E/F                            HARDSTAND # 13   

# 14  MARCH 30,1945   HAMBURG   SHIPYARDS                                                   43-38963  EP-E/F                            HARDSTAND # 13

# 15  MARCH 31,1945   ZEITZ    OIL REFINERY                           C-SQDN               43-38963  EP-E/F                            HARDSTAND # 13  

# 16  APRIL 15,1945   ROYAN-GIROND ESTUARY NEAR BORDEAUX    GROUND DEFENSES   258  EP-M                             HARDSTAND  # 5  

# 17  APRIL 16,1945   ROYAN- GIROND ESTUARY NEAR BORDEAUX   GROUND DEFENSES   258  EP-M                             HARDSTAND  # 5

# 18   APRIL 17,1945  AUSSIG (BELOW DRESDEN) MARSHALLING YARDS                          258  EP-M                             HARDSTAND  # 5 

# 19  APRIL 20,1945   ORANIENBURG    MARSHALLING YARDS                                         258  EP-M                             HARDSTAND  # 5



 

FERRY MISSION:

JUNE 12,1945 CASABLANCA GREEN SUPPORT MISSION ,JUNE 12,1945                       44-8452  LN-V      (no name)        HARDSTAND #29

 

KNOWN Aircraft flown…LT. BROYLES MISSIONS…Jack O’Leary

COMBAT MISSIONS:

 

 MARCH 10,1945   BROYLES   B-SQDN, LEAD FLGT       44-6295  EP-B  "WHITE CARGO"  HARDSTAND  #10       

 MARCH 12,1945   BROYLES   C-SQDN-LOW FLGT        44-6805  LN-O "FLAMIN MAMIE"   HARDSTAND # 36     

 MARCH 15,1945   BROYLES   B-SQDN-LOW FLGT        44-6817  LD-S  "HEAVENLY ANGEL" HARDSTAND # 44      

 MARCH 23,1945   BROYLES   D-SQDN,                     42-31708  EP-R  “SKIPPER II”  HARDSTAND # 10    

 MARCH 24,1945   BROYLES   B-SQDN                        44-8616  LD-Z   HARDSTAND # 47   

 MARCH 28,1945   BROYLES   C-SQDN                      43-38963  EP-E/F   HARDSTAND # 13     

 MARCH 31,1945   BROYLES   B-SQDN                      43-38963  EP-E/F   HARDSTAND # 13   

 APRIL 15,1945     BROYLES   D-SQDN                             258  EP-M  HARDSTAND  # 5

 APRIL 16,1945     BROYLES                                           258  EP-M  HARDSTAND  # 5 

 APRIL 17,1945     BROYLES                                           258  EP-M  HARDSTAND  # 5 

 APRIL 20,1945     BROYLES                                           258  EP-M  HARDSTAND  # 5





At the request of his widow, Mrs Kim Gildea, please include a notification on the passing of Bob Gildea in the next publication of Splasher Six.



ROBERT V. GILDEA: Robert V. "Bob" Gildea, retired United States Foreign Service Officer, died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, on November 25, 2013, following a prolonged battle with Parkinson's disease and related complications. He was 91 years old. His wife and friends were at his side when he died. Born on April 28, 1922, in Coaldale, Pennsylvania, he was the son of former Congressman and newspaper publisher, James H. Gildea. During the Second World War, Bob flew combat missions with the U. S. Army Air Corps' 100th Bomb Group, based in England, and later served with U. S. forces in Europe. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1948 and worked for several years as a reporter for local newspapers in Pennsylvania. He joined the United States Information Agency in 1954, managing United States government public information programs in Southeast Asian trouble spots during the Viet-Nam War. He later supported German-American cultural relations from several locations in Germany and in Washington. Recognizing the importance of these contributions, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany awarded Bob a distinguished service medal on April 22, 1985. Among his former colleagues, he had many close friends who regret his passing. No matter how difficult the circumstances, Bob enjoyed life. His good humor and spirit of fun helped us face our own problems, and enriched our lives. Everyone who knew Bob will miss him. He is survived by his wife, Kim Gildea of Arlington, a daughter from an earlier marriage, two stepchildren, five grandchildren, an older brother and sister, a younger brother, and numerous nieces and nephews. 



The below photos include Mr Gildea and my father, John B. Murphy (351 BS/Nav/1920-2012), who were friends. The first three photos have been seen in previous 100 BG publications and on-line postings. The last photo is a personal one, taken Nov 2005 at Mr Gildea's home in Arlington, VA. This was the last time these two friends reunited to remember the war and share some 100 BG stories. 





On behalf of Mrs Gildea, she would greatly appreciate if the 100 Bomb Group Foundation could update any/all newsletters and webpages on the passing of her husband, Bob Gildea.





Thank you advance.

V/R,

Mike Murphy