A TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDFATHER
FREDERIC N. HERNANDEZ
Wartime Photographs
If anyone out there can help me out with crewmember identification, I would greatly appreciate it.
"The Bitch's Sister"
14th AF / 308th BG / 375th BS
B-24J #42-73319
(Back row L. to R.)William G. Barnard (Bombardier); Don Howland (Co-Pilot); Jake Havens (Pilot); Paul Hosp (Navigator) &
(Front row L. to R.) Wes Schneider (Tail Gunner); Bob Newton (Top Turret Gunner); Isidore Swillinger (Nose Gunner); Andy Verbosh (Radio Operator); Jerry Moore ((1st Engineer); Mike Sauer (Ball Turret Gunner)[I.D. Courtesy Bill Barnard]
This photo taken at either Casper, WY or Topeka, KS.
This is my grandfather's original crew - "Crew 67" of the 10thAF / 7th BG / 492nd BS consisting of:
(Back row L. to R.) "Bam" Hernandez (Bombardier); Harold West (Navigator); John Conrad (Co-Pilot); Donald Tennent (Pilot) &
(Front row L. to R.) Ed Moss; Norman Long (Asst. Engineer/Waist Gunner); Tony Johns (Engineer); Charles Motley, Jr.; Hugh Courtney (Top Turret Gunner); Roy Schroeder (Ball Turret Gunner)
"Tough Titti"
14th AF / 308th BG / 375th BS
US Army B-24J Serial #44-40296
During the monsoon season, my grandfather flew with this ship and crew in July '44. The caption reads "This is the crew I went with when we were jumped by Zeros."
(Back row L. to R.) Walter Kaestner (Pilot); John Apsega (Co-Pilot); Harold Crawford (Navigator); Ben Adelson (Bombardier)
(Front row L. to R.) James Mann (Nose Gunner); Thomas Young (Tail Gunner); A.V. Smith (Engineer/Waist Gunner); Hobert Jones (Top Turret Gunner); William Luebbers (Radio Operator/Waist Gunner; Don Bartell (Ball Turret Gunner) [I.D. Courtesy of Ellen Dunham and Tom Quinn]
Another picture of "Tough Titti" with my grandfather standing at far right. [Photo courtesy of Walter Kaestner]
The "Georgia Peach"
14th AF / 308th BG / 374th BS
US Army B-24J Serial #42-73445
She flew 36 missions. Destroyed in an accident, taking off from Nadzab airstrip, April 2, 1944.
No crew I.D. available.
In flight after an attack on the Youchow railroad yards in August '44.
My grandfather was aboard the ship at far left.
Written to my grandmother, the caption notes a "battle with Zeros"
The "Tough Baba"
th AF / 7th BG / 493rd BS
US Army B-24J Serial #42-73159
Shot down by AAA and fighters at Danubya, Burma Dec 1, 1943. MACR 1233. 11 KIA
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