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

Saturday, April 23, 2011

466th. Bomb Group, 785th. Squadron, Crew # 503 -"Jamaica?" - B-24 H-10-DT #41-28746 - Ball Turret Gunner, George W. Corrar



Credit: - "Attlebridge Arsenal" - Chris Brassfield & Earl Wassom - 


I recently had a comment by the son of Ball Turret Gunner George W. Corrar. I thought I'd post a few details of his time with the 466th. on the ill fated "Jamaica?"

"Jamaica?" was lost on September 25th. 1944 during a fuel hauling mission. The plane was piloted by 2nd. Lt. Joseph F. W. Diamni of Donora PA. according to Missing Air Crew Report #9575. All 6 crewmen were listed as KIA. The fuel hauling missions were performed without guns / gunners so that is why there was only a 6 man crew.

Crew #503 flew with the 466th. BG earlier in 1944 so they were definitely in the thick of things. This period of the daylight bombardment of Germany had a high attrition rate due to a lack of long range fighter escorts.


The "Jamaica?" name was a play on words....= "Did you make her?"



George W. Corrar, Ball Turret Gunner , Standing 3rd. from left.

The Booth Crew saw action with different Bomb Groups.


Booth Crew Missions with the 466th. Bomb Group


"Jamaica? had some of the best nose art in the 466th. BG. Evidently the Germans thought so too. Pate Given, Radio Operator recalled this story:

"In 1975 I worked for National Waterlift in Kalamazoo MI. There was a German Pilot who came to the U.S. after the war. He and I talked about some things that happened during the war. He asked if I had a photo of my plane, so I brought it in and showed it to him. He said, "I had you in my gunsight! However, I looked too long at the painting and forgot to shoot!""