Back Row (viewer's left to right):

  1. Cpl. Oliver W. Bradford, Engineer / Top Turret
  2. Cpl. Donald B. Colbert, Waist Gunner
  3. Cpl. John S. Bourquin, Radio Op
  4. Cpl. Kenneth A. "Greenie" Green, Waist Gunner
  5. Cpl. Wilbur F. Lucas, Ball Turret
  6. Cpl. James J. Briody Tail Gunner

Front Row (viewer's left to right):

  1. 2nd Lt. Kenneth S. Hastings, Pilot
  2. 2nd Lt. Donald J. DeCleene, Co-Pilot
  3. 2nd Lt. Oral Birch, Navigator
  4. 2nd Lt. John K. Binder, Bombardier

Notes:

  1. Cpl. Donald Colbert was KIA on September 8, 1944, mission to Ludwigshafen, Gr.. He was killed instantly by a piece of flak piercing the tail.
    1st Lt. Kenneth Hastings was KIA when his B-17 was shot down November 21, 1944 on a mission to Merseburg, Gr. (he made the rank of 1st Lt by this date).
    1st Lt. Donald DeCleene was killed on January 2, 1945 while on a non-mission to ferry a new B-17 from Burtonwood England to Nuthampstead (he made the rank of 1st Lt by this date). All 5 members of this reduced crew were killed when their plane crashed into Birchenough Hill at Macclesfield, England.

Comments:

  1. Photo Date: July or August 1944
  2. Aircraft in photo: Serial number 42-102399
  3. Photo Location: Pyote Army Air Field, also known as 'Rattlesnake Bomber Base', Pyote, Texas.
  4. The Hastings crew arrived at Nuthampstead on August 28, 1944 and were assigned to the 603rd SQ. They flew their first practice mission on August 30, 1944.
  5. Ranks are as of August 28, 1944. It is most likely a few of the enlisted men were privates at the time this photo was taken.
  6. Photo Reference: HastingsTraining1944
  7. Information compiled by the 398th BGMA web team with thanks to Oral Birch's grandson for providing this photo to Amanda Cockcroft (an incredible Nuthampstead Airfield Museum Volunteer!) who then in turn shared it with the 398th BGMA. Amanda is 100% sure of James Briody's identification and 90% sure of Donald Colbert and Kenneth Green.
    We have determined Wilbur Lucas' ID by comparing his face in a photo found on Ancestry.com. Oliver Bradford's face was compared with his photo in the 398th BGMA's photo collection. This left John Bourquin's identification determined by process of elimination.
  8. If you would like to add information about this photograph, can confirm the identifications, or can provide a better scan, please contact our Crew Photos Coordinator. Please mention the title and photograph date.