WWII Archive

702nd Squadron, 445th Bomb Group

My B-24 Crew

The men who flew together over Europe

B-24 Liberator bomber crew photo

Top Row, Left to Right

Top Turret Gunner / 1st Engineer

TSgt Chester B. "Chet" Hincewicz

Pilot

1st Lt. Joe Pavelka

Copilot

2nd Lt. Albert Gilsdorf

Navigator

2nd Lt. Phillip Soloman

Bombardier

2nd Lt. William Burtt

Radio Operator

TSgt Richard F. Hanson

Bottom Row, Left to Right

Tail Turret Gunner / Armorer

SSgt Peter Clarke

Waist Gunner

TSgt Walter J. "Jay" Turnbull

Later replaced by Mike Ciano after Jay was moved to the ground crew

Ball Turret Gunner / 3rd Engineer

SSgt Robert T. "Doodlebug" Hansen

Waist Gunner / 2nd Engineer

SSgt Ralph Oak

Later replaced by SSgt Wade Luce

About the B-24 Liberator

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was a heavy bomber used extensively during World War II. With a crew of ten, it was one of the most produced American military aircraft in history. The 445th Bomb Group, based at Tibenham, England, flew B-24s on strategic bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe.