NAME TP - M# SER - BLK - MF

SERIAL #

AF

BG

BS

SC RCL/# V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

BELLE OF THE BRAWL

B

-

24

J

-

15

-

FO 42-51963

15

459 758

~

8K 04-2

AL BERGER

Force-Landed 8 Mar 45, YUG - MACR 12915 - Pilot Willford G Czora

Contributor - Ed Clendenin
Al Berger (Gunner/Artist) used the "Burlesque Queen" Sherry Britton as the model. The 3 unknowns were not members of Olsen's crew, but were on the plane when it returned home. Their names were Alfred Bowman, William Bryant, Ransom Senter.

Standing (L-R)
Bernard O. Bridenstine - Top Turret Gunner
Johnnie G. Sykes - Radio Operator
??
George R. Olsen - Pilot
Henry R. Bettmam - Tail Gunner


Kneeling (L-R)
??
Albert P. Donnelly - Ball Turret Gunner
Bronko T. Barr - Co-Pilot
??
Bruce R. Franks - Navigator
Alfred E. Berger - Nose Gunner
Howard K. Crafton - Engineer

Info Contributor - Tom Brittan
Force-landed on the 8 Mar 45 mission to Budapest on an airfield near Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where it was recovered and repaired before being flown back to Italy. Unnamed in the 459th BG, she was named by the crew who flew her back to the ZI in Jun 45.

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B-24 Best Web. Published on Veterans Day 11/11/97. Last modified: 27-Mar-2021