Standing L-R: George H Sine, Copilot; George B Schold, Navigator; Wilbur L Soester, Pilot; Earl W Fisher, Bombardier.
Kneeling L-R: Robert F Wilhelm, Radio Operator; John J Norstrom, Waist Gunner; Donald E Kelsey, Tail Gunner; Thomas R Schmeller, Ball Turret; Nicholas M Pavlos, Engineer.
Sine replaced original crew copilot Daniel S Grabon, who was KIA on his first mission, with another crew. In fact, Soester never had a "regular" copilot after the loss of Grabon. The crew as pictured flew only two missions together, 3rd and 9th of September 1944.
Identifications taken from notation on back of photo.
Date of photo is on or after 14 August 1944, based on the ranks of the enlisted men, and may be on or prior to 16 August 1944, the date on which Soester received his Air Medal (he is not wearing the medal ribbon in photo).
Contributed by Bill Soester, son of Wilbur L Soester, in 2017.
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- wsoester
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- Thursday 2 February 2017
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- Wilbur with his B-17 crew 1944.jpg
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