Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
99.63.14 |
Object Name |
Booklet |
Scope & Content |
On the cover of the Commemorative Booklet: 509th Composite Group; In the center of the circular graphic: First Atomic Bombardment; In the outer circle of the graphic: 1945-1995 50th Anniversary. 1995 Reunion, Albuquerque, NM August 5-10. Dedication: This 50th-anniversary commemorative booklet is dedicated to those of the 509th Composite Group and Project Alberta and their families who are no longer with us. and to the vastly greater number in all branches of the U. S. armed forces who made the supreme sacrifice in the epic engagements with our enemies that started with the attack at Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and ended with the final victory in August 1945. Forward: 50 Years Ago And Now - The 50th anniversary of the combat operations of the 509th Composite Group, U. S. Army Air Forces...is a very special occasion...The storm of criticism and controversy that has intensified recently concerning the use of the atomic bombs...cannot weaken these ties. In this booklet consideration is being given to all the combat operations of the 509th...also 49 sorties by the 15 B-29 crews if the 393rd Bomb Squadron in which "Pumpkin" bombs...were dropped on selected targets in Japan. Proof of the outstanding leadership, manpower, and equipment of the 509th during the war is its remarkable record...not one man or one airplane was lost, in either training or combat. The 509th is now stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri...They have the honor of being the first...to be equipped with the B-2 Stealth bomber. Program - Pages 4 and 5 Table of Contents: Welcome from the National Atomic Museum Foundation Acknowledgments Letters of Greeting and Support Commanding Officers, Units of the 509th Composite Bomb Group, Tinian, August 1945 The 509th Composite Bomb Group in 1944-45 Wartime Histories of 509th Units Project Alberta (from the Los Alamos Laboratories of the Manhattan Engineer District) Crews and Silverplate b-29s of the 393rd Bomb Squadron with Combat Sorties and Airplane Histories Silverplate B-29 Superfortress The 15 Crews and 15 Airplanes of the 393rd Bomb Squadron Summary Data on the 15 Airplanes in Order of Production Summary Date on the 15 Crews Detailed Information on Each Crew and Assigned B-29 The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Missions 1945 Roster on Tinian, 509th Composite Group and Project Alberta In Memoriam Prayer by Chaplain Downey, 1945 1995 Roster, 509th Composite Group and Project Alberta Honorary Members of the 509th Composite Group Friends of the 509th Composite Group List of Illustrations Page 16. Commanding Officers, Units of the 509th Composite Bomb Group, Tinian, August 1945 Headquarters - Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH) - Major Charles W. Sweeney 320th Troop Carrier Squadron - Capt. John J. Casey, Jr 390th Air Service Group - Lt Col. John W. Porter Headquarters and Base Services Squadron - Major George W. Wescott 603rd Air Engineering Squadron - Capt. Earl O. Casey 1027th Air Materiel Squadron - Major Guy Geller 1395th Military Police Company (Aviation) - Capt. Louis Schaffer 1st Ordnance Squadron, Special (Aviation) - Major Charles F. H. Begg Page 38. Serial Number 44-27296; V - No. 84; Name - Some Punkins Serial Number 44-27297; V - No. 77; Name - Bockscar Serial Number 44-27298; V - No. 83; Name - Full House Serial Number 44-27299; V - No. 86; Name - Next Objective Serial Number 44-27300; V - No. 73; Name - Strange Cargo Serial Number 44-27301; V - No. 85; Name - Straight Flush Serial Number 44-27302; V - No. 72; Name - Top Secret Serial Number 44-27303; V - No. 71; Name - Jabit III Serial Number 44-27304; V - No. 88; Name - Up an' Atom Serial Number 44-27353; V - No. 89; Name - The Great Artiste Serial Number 44-27354; V - No. 90; Name - Big Stink Serial Number 44-86291; V - No. 91; Name - Necessary Evil Serial Number 44-86292; V - No. 82; Name - Enola Gay Serial Number 44-86346; V - No. 94; Name - Spook Serial Number 44-86347; V - No. 95; Name - Laggin' Dragon Page 42. Crew A-1 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Ralph R. Taylor Pilot - Raymond P. Biel Navigator - Fred A. Hoey Bombardier - Michael Angelich Engineer - Frank M. Briese Radio Operator - Theodore M. Slife Radar Operator - Nathaniel T. Burgwyn Tail Gunner - Robert J. Valley Assistant Eng./Scanner - Richard B. Anselme Ground Crew Glen Mahugh Chester A. Hammond Steve J. Kinosh Jr William B. Reedy Donald D. Fockler Mario A. Litterio Page 44. Crew A-2 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Edward M. Costello Pilot - Harry B. Davis Navigator - Robert J. Petrolli Bombardier - John L. Downey Engineer - Thomas H. Brumagin Radio Operator - David Purdon Radar Operator - James R. Bryant Tail Gunner - Carleton C. McEachern Assistant Eng./Scanner - Maurice J. Clark Ground Crew John C. Hansen Robert J. Dowling Robert E. Holse Robert E. Garn Fred D. Butler James W. McGlennon Charles W. Rich Page 46. Crew A-3 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Ralph N, Devore Pilot - William J. Easton Navigator - Franklin B. Wimer Bombardier - Leon Cooper Engineer - William T. Hulse Radio Operator - Lee E. Palmert Radar Operator - Michael B. Bohon Tail Gunner - Glenn S. Allison Assistant Eng./Scanner - Clarence E. Britt Ground Crew Forrest C. Anderson Marion C. Fowler Mack Newsom James R. Womack Jerry Grubaugh Jr Charles E. Schwab Page 48. Crew A-4 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Joseph E. Westover Pilot - William J. Desmond Navigator - John W. Dulin Bombardier - Louis B. Allen Engineer - Robert M. Donnell Radio Operator - James H. Doiron Radar Operator - William J. Cotter Tail Gunner - Walter A. Spradlin Assistant Eng./Scanner - Samuel R. Wheeler Ground Crew Robert E. Smithson Clyde R. Beecher Cleo E. Harter Filbert Reynolds Derward A. Stevens John H. Hubeny Jr Francis J. Merry Page 50. Crew A-5 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Thomas J. Classen, Elbert B. Smith Pilot - William M. Rowe Navigator - William E. Wright Bombardier - Bobby J. Chapman Engineer - Floyd W. Kemner Radio Operator - Omar G. Strickland Radar Operator - George A. Weller Tail Gunner - Alfred A. Lewandowski Assistant Eng./Scanner - Lee E. Caylor Ground Crew (Names Not Available) Page 52. Crew B-6 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - John A. Wilson Pilot - Ellsworth T. Carrington Navigator - James S. Duva Bombardier - Paul W. Gruning Engineer - James W. Davis Radio Operator - Glen H. Floweree Radar Operator - Vernon J. Rowley Tail Gunner - Chester A. Rogalski Assistant Eng./Scanner - Donald L. Rowe Ground Crew (Names Not Available) Page 54. Crew B-7 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - James N. Price Pilot - Everist J. Bednorz Navigator - William J. Collinson Bombardier - Thomas F. Costa Engineer - James A. Adkins Radio Operator - Robert H. Byrd Radar Operator - Joe R. Brown Tail Gunner - Clyde L. Bysom Assistant Eng./Scanner - Frederick E. Brown Ground Crew Russell D. Carrigan Raymond G. St. Myers William R. Compronio William R. Crotty Joe M. Madrid Edward M. Josefiak Donald E. Miller Page 56. Crew B-8 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Charles F. McKnight Pilot - Jacob Y. Bontekoe Navigator - Jack Widowsky Bombardier - Franklin H. MacGregor Engineer - George H. Cohen Radio Operator - Lloyd J. Reeder Radar Operator - William F. Orren Tail Gunner - Roderick E. Legg Assistant Eng./Scanner - Donald O. Cole Ground Crew Arnold E. Sleipnes Carmine A. Genova Chester J. Krajewski Oscar J. Thigpen Francis J. Schramke Frank E. Sutton Page 58. Crew B-9 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Robert A. Lewis Pilot - Richard McNamara Navigator - Harold J. Rider Bombardier - Stewart W. Williams Engineer - Wyatt E. Duzenbury Radio Operator - Richard H. Nelson Radar Operator - Joseph S. Stiborik Tail Gunner - George R. Caron Assistant Eng./Scanner - Robert H. Shumard Ground Crew Steve C. Lizak Leonard W. Markley Jean S. Cooper Winfield C. Kinkade John E. Jackson John J. Lesniewski Harold R. Olson Page 60. Crew B-10 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - George W. Marquardt Pilot - James M. Anderson Navigator - Russell E. Gackenbach Bombardier - James W. Strudwick Engineer - James R. Corliss Radio Operator - Warren L. Coble Radar Operator - Joseph M. DiJulio Tail Gunner - Melvin H. Bierman Assistant Eng./Scanner - Anthony D. Capua Ground Crew Joseph I. Gulick George J. Brown Matthew W. Huddleston George P. Hammons Frank W. Berzinis Aram E. Bezdegian Carl C. Mason Page 62. Crew C-11 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Claude R. Eatherly Pilot - Ira C. Weatherly Navigator - Francis D. Thornhill Bombardier - Frank K. Wey Engineer - Eugene S. Grennan Radio Operator - Pasquale Baldasaro Radar Operator - Albert G. Barsumian Tail Gunner - Gillen T. Niceley Assistant Eng./Scanner - Jack Bivens Ground Crew Donald D. Beaudette Howard A. Thompson Yive J. H. Ping William E. Smith Chester S. Chudy Harold E. Knisley Page 64. Crew C-12 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Herman S. Zahn Pilot - Gilbert B. Dickman Navigator - Henry Deutsch Bombardier - Francis R. Ormond Engineer - James K. Elder Radio Operator - Leander J. Baur Radar Operator - Gerard F. Clapso Tail Gunner - Raymond E. Allen Assistant Eng./Scanner - Neil R. Corey Ground Crew Elbert E. Owens Carl W. Rein Gerald J. Corcoran Francis A. Pellegrino Lavern L, Holmes Page 66. Crew C-13 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Frederick C. Bock Pilot - Hugh C. Ferguson Navigator - Leonard A. Godfrey Bombardier - Charles Levy Engineer - Roderick F. Arnold Radio Operator - Ralph D. Curry Radar Operator - William C. Barney Tail Gunner - Robert J. Stock Assistant Eng./Scanner - Ralph D. Belanger Ground Crew Frederick D. Clayton Robert L. McNamee John L. Willoughby Robert M. Haider Rudolph H. Gerken Page 68. Crew C-14 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Norman W. Ray, James I. Hopkins Jr Pilot - John E. Cantlon Navigator - Stanley G. Steinke Bombardier - Myron Faryna Engineer - George L. Brabenec Radio Operator - Francis X. Dolan Radar Operator - Richard F. Cannon Tail Gunner - Martin G. Murray Assistant Eng./Scanner - Thomas A. Bunting Ground Crew William E. Egger Richard E. Blouse Woitto T. Laine Paul C. Schafhauser Barton B. Crespin Edgar A. Poe Troy B. Scott Page 70. Crew C-15 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH), 509th Composite Group Flight Crew Airplane Commander - Charles D. Albury Pilot - Fred J. Olivi Navigator - James F. Van Pelt Bombardier - Kermit K. Beahan Engineer - John D. Kuharek Radio Operator - Abe M. Spitzer Radar Operator - Edward K. Buckley Tail Gunner - Albert T. Dehart Assistant Eng./Scanner - Raymond G. Gallagher Ground Crew Chester V. Pawiak Charles B. Rinard Claude C. Gilliam Allan L. Moore James J. Reilly Theron L. Blaisdell Robert E. Davenport Pages 72 - 73 The Hiroshima Mission, 6 August 1945: Crews and Airplanes Weapon: "Little Boy" Bomb, Uranium-235 Core, Gun Mechanism Field Order No. 13, Special Bombing Mission No. 13 Operations Order No. 35 of the 509th Composite Group Airplane Commander - Col Paul W. Tibbets Jr. - Crew B-9 Airplane Commander - Major Charles W. Sweeney - Crew C-15 Airplane Commander - Capt. George W. Marquardt - Crew B-10 Airplane Commander - Capt. Claude R. Eatherly - Crew C-11 Airplane Commander - Capt. John A. Wilson - Crew B-6 Airplane Commander - Capt. Ralph R. Taylor Jr.- Crew A-1 Airplane Commander - First Lt Charles F. McKnight - Crew B-8 The Twelve Men Who Flew On "Enola Gay" To Hiroshima, 6 August 1945 (photograph) Front Row, L to R: Lt Jacob Beser, Radar Countermeasures Officer Lt Morris R. Jeppson, Bomb Electronics Test Officer Capt. Theodore J. Van Kirk, Navigator Major Thomas W. Ferebee, Bombardier Navy Capt. William S. Parsons, Bomb Commander Col. Paul W. Tibbets Jr, Airplane Commander Capt. Robert A. Lewis, Pilot Back Row, L to R: Sgt Robert H. Shumard, Assistant Engineer Cpl Richard M. Nelson, Radio Operator S/Sgt Joseph S. Stiborick, Radar Operator T/Sgt Wyatt E. Duzenbury, Engineer T/Sgt George R. Caron, Tail Gunner Pages 74-75 The Nagasaki Mission, 9 August 1945: Crews and Airplanes Weapon: "Fat man" Bomb, Plutonium-239 Core, Implosion Mechanism Field Order No 17, Special Bombing Mission No. 16, Operations Order No. 39 of the 509th Composite Group Airplane Commander - Major Charles W. Sweeney - Crew C-15 Airplane Commander - Capt Frederick C. Bock - Crew C-13 Airplane Commander - Major James I. Hopkins Jr. - Crew C-14 Airplane Commander - Capt. George W. Marquardt - Crew B-10 Airplane Commander - First Lt Charles F. McKnight - Crew B-8 Airplane Commander - Taylor - Crew A-1 The Thirteen Men Who Flew On "Bockscar" To Nagasaki, 9 August 1945 (photograph) Front Row, L to R: Lt Philip M. Barnes, Bomb Electronics Test Officer Lt Jacob Beser, Radar Countermeasures Officer Lt Fred J. Olivi, Co-Pilot Capt. Kermit K. Beahan, Bombardier Capt. Charles D. Albury, Pilot Capt. James F. Van Pelt, Navigator Major Charles W. Sweeney, Airplane Commander Navy Cmdr Frederick L. Ashworth, Bomb Commander Back row, L to R: M/Sgt John D. Kuharek, Engineer Sgt Abe M. Spitzer, Radio Operator Sgt Raymond K. Gallagher, Assistant Engineer S/Sgt Edward K. Buckley, Radar Operator S/Sgt Albert T. Dehart, Tail Gunner 1945 Roster On Tinian Pages 76 - 87 The total number of entries (alphabetical order by last name and the name of the unit in which they served) is 1,840. In Memoriam Pages 88 - 90 Alphabetical by last name and the name of the unit in which they served Prayer by Chaplain Downey, 1945 "It has been a long road that we traveled...We have seen out days of trail and tribulation...we have seen man's entry into the storehouse of Nature and his harnessing of the greatest source of power in the universe...And we pray with the airmen. 'Lord, grant us Thy peace. Amen.'" 1995 Roster, 509th Composite Group and Project Alberta Pages 93-107 Alphabetical order by last name, including: mailing address, telephone number, and Unit Name Honorary Members, 509th Composite Group Pages 108-110 Alphabetical order by last name, including: mailing address, telephone number, and Unit Name Spiral bound, 111 pages, illustrated |
Catalog type |
Archive |
Title |
509th Composite Group 50th Anniversary Booklet |
Collection |
Found in Collection |