Standing (L to R): Eugene Goralski (TG); John O’Neill (CP); William Herwitz (B); John Burschell (NG); Roger Baber (N). Kneeling (L to R): Almerico Barbato (FE); Matthew Terenzi (RO); Robert Aaron (G); Clayton Fowler (G)

  • KETTERING, Ross E, Pilot
  • O’NEILL, John F, CoPilot
  • BABER, Roger D, Navigator
  • HERWITZ, William H., Bombardier
  • BARBATO, Almerico A, LWG, Engineer
  • TERENZI, Matthew M, RWG, Radio Operator
  • GORALSKI, Eugene O., Tail Gunner
  • BURCHELL, John E., Nose Gunner
  • FOWLER, Clanton O, Ball Gunner
  • AARON, Robert H., Top Turret Gunner

718th Squadron

718logoWilliam Nosker was the original C.O. from July ‘43 until April ‘44 when he was transferred to the 47th Wing Headquarters as Assistant Operations Officer. Nosker was killed when the 376th Bomb Group B-24 that he was aboard crashed on takeoff on 15 August ‘44. Rexford Tompkins, the original Operations Officer for the 718th, became the C.O. in April ‘44 and remained so until September ’44. Charles Jordan finished out the war as the 718th C. O. from September ‘44 through May ’45.

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A replacement ship that arrived with 449th on 15 August ’44. Named for the wife (Viola) of Sgt. Lewis Newton, tail gunner on Kettering’s crew. Gunner Newton made the stencil and the crew chief O.K.’d because her combat number was 06 and “VI” was the Roman numeral representation of the combat number. Flown to the Gioia Depot on 29 April ‘45 on Group’s last ferry flight. Subsequently returned to the U.S. by a crew from another bomb group riving at Hunter AAF, Savannah, GA., on 1 July ’45.

Pictures of Darling VI

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