Hopkins' Crew Portraits - about March 1944
Rank and position below are as in the original Crew 65 list. However, in a few cases the positions on the photo reflect what was written on the back of the photo and these are noted. It is possible that positions changed throughout training for some crew. It is believed all these portraits were taken in Rapid City the same day, on the same couch, sometime in March 1944. 2nd Lt. Ed Jordan's portrait is missing from his own collection. If other crew members have a copy or can scan it, please contact Dave Jordan.

These photos are taken from the Edward C. Jordan's 398th Photo Collection CD. If you would like to add information about these photographs, please contact Dave Jordan.

1st Lt. Robert L. Hopkins
Pilot

2nd Lt. Edward C. Jordan
Co-Pilot






Portrait Missing

1st Lt. Anthony J. Jellen
Navigator

1st Lt. David B. Moore
Bombardier

T/Sgt. Walter G. Armstrong
Engineer

T/Sgt. Raymond C. Gibeau
Radio

S/Sgt. William J. Germiller
Aft Gunner

S/Sgt. James F. Hochadel
1st Gunner

S/Sgt. Raymond A. Vicha
3rd Gunner

S/Sgt. Roy E. Nutter
Waist Gunner

Additional Notes on Hopkins' Crew
  • 1st Lt. Robert L. Hopkins, Pilot: On August 8, 1944, 1st Lt. Robert L. Hopkins (P) was shot down flying the lead plane. He survived the bailout out and became a POW.
  • 2nd Lt. Edward C. Jordan, Co-Pilot: This photograph is missing from our Crew 65 collection, possibly because Ed Jordan took the pictures.
  • 1st Lt. Anthony J. Jellen, Navigator
  • 1st Lt. David B. Moore, Bombardier: His nickname was Whitey.
  • T/Sgt. Walter G. Armstrong, Engineer
  • T/Sgt. Raymond C. Gibeau, Radio: T/Sgt Raymond Gibeau survived a bailout on August 8, 1944 and became POWs.
  • S/Sgt. William J. Germiller (Bill), Aft Gunner: The official Crew 65 listing indicates Aft Gunner but Engineer is noted on back of Ed Jordan's photo. S/Sgt. William J. Germiller (AG) survived a bailout on August 8, 1944 and became POWs.
  • S/Sgt. James F. Hochadel (Jimmy), 1st Gunner: The official Crew 65 listing indicates 1st Gunner but Ball Turret is noted on back of Ed Jordan's photo. Perhaps they are the same position. S/Sgt. James F. Hochadel (1G) was killed in his chute on August 8, 1944.
  • S/Sgt. Raymond A. Vicha, 3rd Gunner: The official Crew 65 listing indicates 3rd Gunner but Tail Gunner is noted on back of Ed Jordan's photograph.
  • S/Sgt. Roy E. Nutter, Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. Sgt. Ray E. Nutter was not in the manifest for Crew 65 when it left for England. However, I believe he trained with the Hopkins' Crew in Rapid City and then was "bumped" by Major Judson F. Gray, Squadron Commander, on the flight over. Sgt. Ray E. Nutter probably teamed up with others that were bumped; most traveled over by surface ship.


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