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397th Bomb Group, WW II, B-26 Marauders


Thumbnail for Martin B-26 (A/C 296154) Of The 397Th Bomb Group Crash-Landed On 24 February 1945 At The 410Th Bomb Group Base In France. - Page 1Martin B-26 (A/C 296154) Of The 397Th Bomb Group Crash-Landed On 24 February 1945 At The 410Th Bomb Group Base In France. X2-0 596th BS LITTLE LADY, Bretigny, France, Crash Landed Pilot George R Brendle, Looks like 97 Combat Missions on her. INFO from Paul Clouting/Historian (B Connolly)
Thumbnail for 397thBG, The "By Golly" B-26 MarauderAdded by: PrincessbarbiThe # 42-96138, "By Golly", the B-26 Marauder mentioned in Jack Stovall's book "Wings Of Courage".
Thumbnail for 397thBG, The "By Golly" B-26 Marauder and her CrewAdded by: PrincessbarbiCrew shot posing in front of "By Golly",(probably taken at Hurn, England, shortly before the group moved to France). Rear row: 1st Lt. William C Budge (co-pilot), 2nd Lt. Douglas H Kramer (navigator), Capt. John Quinn West (pilot), 1st Lt. Fred James Daoust (bombardier). Front row: S/Sgt. Harold Zola (engineer/gunner), T/Sgt. Chester Joseph Natanek (radio operator/gunner), S/Sgt. Edward B Picklesimer (tail gunner/armourer), Arthur H Robinson (crew chief). The dog was named "Jiggs".
Thumbnail for 397thBG, The "By Golly" B-26 MarauderAdded by: PrincessbarbiThe By Golly bellied in at emergency Normandy landing strip A-7 at Azeville, France on 16th July 1944, after returning badly damaged from a mission to Nantes, France. The pilot Capt. John Quinn West was awarded the DFC for his bravery shown in bringing the badly damaged aircraft back, and saving the crew.
Thumbnail for 397thBG, The "By Golly" B-26 Marauder -Painting by Mark Stylings ArtAdded by: PrincessbarbiThe nose art shot from Mark Styling's graphic, stencilled under the pilots name "Rube and Johnnie". This referred to the names of pilot, John Quinn West's wife and young son.
Thumbnail for "By Golly" WINGS of COURAGE by Jack D Stovall, Jr. See description below please.Added by: Princessbarbi"By Golly" WINGS of COURAGE by Jack D Stovall, Jr. See description below please.
Thumbnail for Sgt Eric HoneymanAdded by: honeypersonSgt Eric Honeyman
Thumbnail for USAAF Norman front.jpgAdded by: poetaster1737USAAF Norman front.jpg
Thumbnail for Grant N Braden.jpgAdded by: SePennartzGrant N Braden.jpg