340th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Squadron

340th Bomb Group 487^th Bomb Squadron

B-25 Photos from Charles Cook’s Photo Collection

Edited by his son Doug Cook. Comments and corrections welcome.

Last update October 5, 2009

Please be patient for high resolution scan images to load.

Photos unless noted otherwise are from Charles Cook’s Collection

My father was a B-25 pilot in the 487^th Squadron. I have always assumed that my father personally took these photos since I remember him saying that he mixed his photo chemicals in unlabeled wine bottles. One time he used the wrong bottle confusing developer for fixer and ruined a roll of film. (Perhaps a little too much wine?) I have seen some of these photos in other collections (http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/planes13.html ) so I have to assume that Dad shared them or the men swapped photos.

Thanks to many squadron veterans, families, and friends who have contributed!

References:

http://warwingsart.com/57thWing/340thBG/489BS/index.htm

http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html

These B-25 Bombers were primarily B-25 J Models.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-32704 - 7A “MY NAKED ASS”

INSPIRATION! Original pin-up art by Billy de Vorss

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27541 - 7B “BITCH N MITCH”

Chas. Cook (back row right) flew this plane on Aug. 12, 1944 to bomb gun positions at Drammont, France prior to S. France D-Day invasion. The next mission he flew it on was D-Day Aug. 15. 1944 to bomb a bridge in Avignon, France. He was hit by heavy flak and sustained control damage and 109 flak holes. He still took out the target and returned safely to base. This mission earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 42-87461 - 7C

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

Lost or destroyed

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-28074 - 7C

Lost or destroyed

Photos courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

340th BG 487th BS 7C ROSIE SN UNKNOWN

From Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay FULL RES 6 MB

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27656 - 7C

McKinley Jr. High

PUBLICITY CREW PHOTO of McKINLEY JR. HIGH after her MAIDEN MISSION MAY 19, 1944

The plane was financed by Muncie, IN students raising war bonds!!

PLANE was SHOT DOWN JUNE 22, 1944

“Left to right) Pilot 1^st Lt. William A. McLaughlin ; Pilot 2^nd Lt. Charles M. Cook (photo credit);

Radio Operator/Gunner T/Sgt. Harvey Hyland;Turret Gunner/Engineer Sgt. Eugene Simonson;

Tail Gunner Sgt. Robert Bishop; Copilot 2^nd Lt. George Simpson (shot down April 6 and made it back!)

(kneeling) Crew Chief S/Sgt. Howard Pinneo; Asst. Crew Chief/ Gunner S/Sgt Charles Floyd

Soon after this photo, the plane was shot down 6/22/44 by German flak over Griciliana, Italy killing the pilot Tom Casey and top turret and waist gunners. (The tale is well written by the surviving co-pilot Harry D. George in his book “Georgio Italiano” ISBN 1-55212-538-6 ]

7C Hit and going down: Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

This photo also appears in “Georgio Italiano”.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27556 - 7D

From Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

487^th Veteran Capt. James Littlefield: “I was given the DFC for getting back from my 10th mission on one engine and we ran out of fuel, brakes shot out and my good engine quit 1/4 of the way down the runway. We crashed, but no one was hurt badly. Everyone else got the Purple Heart. [Your father’s album had] one of the pictures of 7D [after the landing]. I made Captain after I returned to the states.” [I asked James for some details on this skilled emergency landing.] “ In regards to 7D, It's been a longtime since that happened, I can't say that it was my skill and determination that got us back. I did what I had been taught to do to get the plane and crew back. It was something a lot of pilots did from time to time. We were hit [by flak] over the target and lost the right engine and on this mission we were breaking left and down after we had dropped our bombs so I lost a lot of altitude. We were leaking fuel but we couldn't see it. The B-25 could maintain altitude on one engine but couldn’t climb. We tossed out some equipment that wasn't tied down in order to clear the mountains on Italy’s west coast. We had no problems and made clear approach, with the meat wagons waiting on us. I lowered the nose and checked the brakes and they seemed OK. I then pulled the nose up to kill some speed. When the nose came down, the right brake gave away and the left brake locked. I hit the left throttle to bring the ship to the right and the left engine ran out of fuel, taking us left. I told the copilot to pull the emergency air lever. He pumped the hydraulic pump instead. We hit an old bomb casing, knocking out the nose gear. The mission [target] as have it noted in my log book was Fano [M/Y June 10, 1944 NE coast of Italy- a long way to limp back to Corsica!]. I didn't keep very good records. 7D had no name or nose art. “

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27540 - 7E

WATCH COPIER

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Aug. 15, 1944 to bomb a gun position at Frejus, France prior to the D-Day invasion of S. France and on Dec. 10, 1944 on a mission to bomb RR bridges in Brenner Pass at Calliano, Osseniga, and Roveretto, Italy and on Dec. 27, 1944 to bomb a RR bridge at Borovinica, Yuguslavia. (Photo- Credit K. Dempsey)

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as noseart. http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/billmauldin.html

7E after 142 Missions- A Record??

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

7E WATCH COPIER IN FLIGHT FORMATION- (before the dogface art?)

(PHOTO CREDIT LT. CLAIR J. CLARK)

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27510 - 7F

WILLIE (see 7F Saga)

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as noseart.

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Dec. 15. 1944 to bomb the RR bridge at Chivasso, Italy.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27738 - 7G

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as noseart.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27570 - 7H

WHITE LITENIN

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Jan. 20, 1945 on a mission to bomb RR Lines in Brenner Pass at Trento, Italy

From Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27478 - 7J YAHOUDI

7J Yahoudi with P-47 Fighter Escort Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

7J Yahoudi Photo Credit right:

I signed the Guest book on your website. Thank you for putting together such a great piece of history. I was just looking through a family photo album last night and came across the picture attached. It is my Great Uncle Albert William Schang…Crew Chief for the 487^th 7J aircraft. I only knew it was my Great Uncle before I found your website. It’s amazing what history you find when you look.

Dennis Schang

Editor’s Note: The first photo of 7J Yahoudi from Chas. Cook above also captured Albert Schang apparently when the 7J was first delivered. In the photo at left, 7J has survived 49 missions. My father must have had some close friendship connection with the crew possibly Albert Schang since he took more photos of this bird in flight than any of the others.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4011 - 7K

Early Bird III (Original Destroyed 3/22/44 by Vesuvius) Damn thing got the worm!!!!

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Nov. 28, 1944 to bomb a RR bridge at Magenta, Italy.

Waist Gunner T/Sgt. Harvey Hyland is pictured here.

Early Bird III After 152 MISSIONS!! - A RECORD??

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS SN 42-32279 – 7L

(Shot down 6/6/43 over Messina Beach)

340th BG 487th BS – SN ?--?022 – 7L

Replacement plane (number jinx?) Did not return from mission to bomb Trento, Italy in Brenner Pass campaign Jan. 20, 1945

Note: Charles Cook promoted to Capt. and leading the squadron on this mission.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 42-53483 - 7M

TUFF STUFF

(photo in formation with 7B above) (Shot down Feb. 13, 1944)

Both photos from Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4066 - 7M

Replacement plane shows up on mission sheet above

Chas. Cook flew this plane on a mission July 14,1944 on a mission to bomb a RRBridge at Corbola, Italy. He flew it on Aug. 13 to bomb a gun position at LaCiotat, France and on Aug. 19, 1944 to bomb a RR bridge at Orange, France during the D-Day invasion of S. France.

7M in flight- photo courtesy SSGT Don Kenney

7M in flight: Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS - SN 44-30343 - 7N

Alesan Air Base in the aftermath of the German Raid May, 13, 1944

Note: 487^th Planes 7N and 7P survived

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

340th BG 487th BS – SN 43-4047 – 7P

Chas. Cook flew this plane on July 15, 1944 on a mission to bomb Ferrara, Italy RR bridges.

340th BG 487th BS – SN 43-27633 – 7Q

7Q in flight: Photos courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27531 - 7R

UNCLE WILLIE

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as noseart.

Chas. Cook flew this plane on July 26, 1944 on a mission to bomb Poggio Renatico, Italy RR bridge.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27731 - 7S

Quanto Costa

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Nov. 6, 1944 on a mission to bomb Castel Nova RR bridge in the Alps and on Jan 3, 1945 to bomb a RR bridge at Lavis, Italy in Brenner Pass.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4056 - 7T

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-36102 - 7U UNCLE WILLIE

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as noseart.

Chas. Cook flew this plane on July 20, 1944 on a mission to bomb Mantua, Italy RR bridge.

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

340th BG 487th BS - SN XX-XXXX - 7V

SNOW WHITE II

Both photos from Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4078 - 7W

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay SN from photo archive: 43-4078 ‘Watch Copier’ (not 7E above)

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4065 - 7X GI JOE

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as noseart.

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4039 - 7Y

SKY DEMON

Sky Demon had been shot up badly on 9-18-44, Pilot 1^st Lt. Howard L. Owen’s diary submitted by his son Donald Owen:

"#54 mission. Frags [at] Rimini on Gothic Line. Hydraulic system shot out.

Oil reservoir shot out., also elevator trim tab cable. Main landing gear support half shot away.

E. Landing back at base, no one hurt".

Owen and Triunfo?

Note Owen’s name painted on as airplane commander.

Photos above and below from Capt. Chas. Cook’s collection

7Y Sky Demon Bombs Away- Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection.

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4031 - 7Z

SHIRLEY ANN

2LT Robert H. Meek KIA October 19, 1944 over the Magenta Bridge near Milan while flying as co-pilot of 7Z "Shirley Ann"

at eternal rest in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery Nettuno, Italy.

Alberto Vargas ‘pin-up’ art that was the inspiration for 7Z Shirley Ann’s noseart.

Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486^th BS veteran John Sutay

340th BG 487th BS

OTHER PLANES NUMBERS UNKNOWN

RUM DUM

Charles Cook at the controls

From Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

Unknown

Unusual photo of the belly of a B-25 in flight.

340th BG 487th BS

OTHER PLANES NUMBERS UNKNOWN

RED ASS

From Charles Cook’s 487^th Squadron Album dated June 1944

Robert W Gaffney submitted Nov 5, 2007: “My Uncle George P. Gaffney (Bud) 36503953 was in the 12^thAir Force, 340th Bomb Group (M), 487th Bomb Sqd. I know he served in Tunisia and I think also Sicily and Italy. He served as an electrician for the B 25 bomber, the Red Ass. He was instrumental in developing a radio bomb release for which he received the Legion of Merit.” [The radio release technique from the lead plane greatly increased bombing accuracy. Capt. Chas. Cook’s bomb run photos specify if they were radio released. See below ]