Crew # 555

Crew # 555
Crew # 555 - planes flown: DAMIFINO , DIXIE, LET ER RIP, TIMES A WASTIN

1st. LT. J. William Smith

1st. LT. J. William Smith

Monday, December 28, 2009

Co-Pilot Lt. Wesley Vawter "DAMIFINO" B-24J #42-50465

8th. Army Air Corps. 466th Bomb Group 785th. Squadron Crew #555





I've looked at the photos I have of "Damifino" B-24J #42-50465 numerous times. Looking at a slightly different view of the aircraft I suddenly realized that Lt. Wesley Vawters name was written on the right side of the fuselage below the co-pilots window.......Dad and Wes were life long friends...Wesley passed away last May and he will be missed. Dad said he was his closest friend throughout their war years. They shared the same dangers / fears and were very close.... another veteran who did his duty has passed.

I used some different contrast / highlighting to see the name clearer and sure enough, there was Wes's name.......Doesn't show too clearly in this photo but it is there......Wes sent Dad some documents related to their service a couple of years ago and I will post them when I look them over......

This photo below is one that Dad took in England but the angle is such that you cannot see Wes Vawters name on the side. Look at the number of mission "Penguins" in this photo Dad took and you can see that this was early in Damifinos' career...........

Sunday, December 13, 2009

"TIMES A'WASTIN & B-24 Interior Photos

"Times A'Wastin" was another aircraft flown by crew #555 ........
Dad flew on "Damifino"....."Dixie"............Times a'wastin............and a couple other aircraft whose names have been forgotten over time..................


Early B-24 Cockpit view.....
I pulled these photos from various sites on the Web............
View from Bombardiers Position on early B-24 ......no nose turret on this early model......
Dad trained on these type earlier model B-24's in the Southern United States before heading to England.
Navigators View from flight position......


Earlier Model B-24 before the electric powered nose turrets were in use......
Quite a view from the nose position I bet.............
Nose gunner / Bombardier position
Later B-24 Model with electric powered nose turret. This is also a 466th. Bomb Group Aircraft


Tail Gunners View...........

Top mechanism of Ball Turret ....Waist Gun Positions............

Waist Gun Positions facing towards Tail Gun Turret Position............

Bomb Bay catwalk, facing cockpit.................