Personnel

CREW



LT JOHN T. RAY  P KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

LT RICHARD H. REED CP KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

LT  DAVID I. DUNNING NAV KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

T/SGT ALEXANDER DEC  KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

T/SGT LLOYD L. BALL   KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

S/SGT MILTON D. JOHNSON, JR KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

S/SGT WILLMER C. FANKHANEL KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

S/SGT JOSEPH F. PERKINS KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS

S/SGT CLAUDE W. SEIFERT  KIC 20 FEB 43 WALLA WALLA, WS



351ST SQDN…..THIS CREW WAS KILLED IN A TRAINING ACCIDENT AT WALL WALLA.  IT WAS THE ONLY FATALITIES THE 100TH EXPERIENCED ON TRAINING PEROID. (NEARLY SIX MONTHS)



VANCE R. BOSWELL, THE REGULAR BOMBARDIER, HAD A COLD ON 20 FEB 43 AND DID NOT FLY. LT BOSWELL JOINED THE CREW OF SAM TURNER AND WAS INTERNED IN SWITZERLAND..





 a message dated 2/10/2009 8:53:04 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, perkins1b@charter.net writes:

My brother, S/SGT Joseph F. Perkins, waist gunner, was killed, along with all the crew in a training accident flying out of Walla Walla, February 20, 1943.  He was my oldest brother.  I was 5 years old at the time.  The bombardier on that training crew,  Vance Boswell, had a cold and couldn't fly.  He went on to fly in Europe with quite a history himself.  I am enclosing a picture of my brother, Joe, and a picture of the Vance Boswell crew.  I don't know where either of these pictures were taken.



Thank you



David Perkins

Fort Worth, Texas

A death in our family, a sister of S/Sgt Joseph Francis Perkins, my big brother -member of pilot Ray’s crew killed in the Walla Walla accident- has given us newly found photos of other members. The photos are not labeled so unfortunately we have no idea who these heros are.

I submit these photos to you for you to use at your discretion.

My family’s hope is that these photos bring some relief or happiness to those families.

You all remain my heros and I’m hoping I can attend your reunion in Dallas next year.



David Perkins, little brother of Joe Perkins 15 years older than me.

Fort Worth, Texas