349th Bomb Squadron
James C. Adair Crew (left to right)
Ben Goddard (NAV), Conley Culpepper (TTE), Mike Dalgarn (TG), Barney Meley (ROG), Jim Hendrix (BTG), Jim Horny (WG), Elmer Wesala (CP), James Adair (P), Milton Brucker (BOM) Standing in front of Little Sweetheart 48532
James C. Adair Crew
From left: Calloway C. Gammill, Ralph S. Krebbs, "Cowboy" Roane, and Lyman A. James in the Link Trainer area at Thorpe Abbotts (100th Photo Archives)
Link Trainer Area - Thorpe Abbotts
B-17 Top Turret - this is probably a public relations shot for local media consumption (100th Photo Archives)
B-17 Top Turret
The French actor Adolphe Minjou with "Moe" - 2 Sep 43 (100th Photo Archives)
French actor Adolphe Minjou
Award ceremony for the 100th - Cutis LeMay, then a Colonel, presenting DFCs. From Left; William Veal, Jack Kidd, LeMay, John Brady, (mustache), Flesherfacing LeMay, Jack Justice, Thomas E. Murphy, and Henry Henington. The awards are for Regensburg, Cowboy Roane was also awarded the decoration but was in the hospital with Jaundice and is not pictured here. (100th Photo Archives)
Award ceremony for the 100th
(100th Photo Archives)
The enclosed photo is of the Neil Jesperson crew that went down on either their 18th or 19th mission, depending on who you talk to. We were in the 349th Squadron and were shot down by fighters on one the several disastrous missions that our group had during the war. Our particular day of bad luck was on May 24th, 1944. This was a Berlin mission and I believe this was the day of no return for nine 100th planes.
The following will identify those in the photo. From left to right, standing in the rear is: Frank Gronkowsky, Radio Operator; George Kostoulakos, Engineer; Robert Atkins, CoPilot; Neil Jesperson, Pilot; Burton Seely, Navigator. From left to right in front: Frank Fischer, Ball Turret Gunner; John Durrenberger, Tail Gunner; John Legg, Armorer and Waist Gunner; Thomas Kiriako, Waist Gunner. Inset is the Bombardier, Joseph Savino. Joe probably took the original picture and later someone added what looks like a school photo of Joe. (100th Photo Archives)
Jespersen Crew
Formation Time: By the spread in the formation it is likely they are nearing the English on the route out from the target. (100th Photo Archives)
Flying in Formation
The price of freedom is never cheap - Direct Flak hit
(This is NOT a 100th Bomb Group aircraft)
Direct Flak hit
The high cost of liberty, paid for by our greatest generation - WWII. (100th Photo Archives)
The high cost of liberty
