Allan W. “Pete” Webb
Born January 6, 1921 Electra, Texas
Died June 18, 1980 Dallas, Texas
My father/ Lt. Webb / wanted to become a fighter pilot, which I am sure was the desire of most pilots, but instead he was assigned to become a bomber pilot, flying B-25 medium bombers, and completed his combat training in Columbia, South Carolina. I found it

interesting that both he and Bob Beck, a bombardier he trained with and flew many missions with, commented excitedly about flying the B-25 G or H model armed with the 75 MM gun in the nose. Upon firing it my father said he felt the plane hesitate for a brief moment, and Bob Beck said the interior of the plane filled up with smoke. On August 13, 1944 he departed for Corsica from Hunter Field, Georgia flying a B-25 to Corsica, taking the route down South America, across to Africa and up to Corsica. His crew on the trip to Corsica was Raymond “Red” Rung Jr. as co-pilot, Robert Cravey as Bombardier, Joseph Watts Jr. as Engineer, Bud Engleman as Radio Operator and Lewis Moorehead asGunner.

He flew his first mission on September 4, 1944, a Pavia Road bridge in Italy. On his second mission the next day they saw both fighters and FLAK, and his plane returned with three holes in it. One of the few stories he told me as a boy was the first time he encountered fighters telling me “Someone came over the radio and said – fighters!” At that the pilot hunkered down in his seat to take advantage of the armor it provided, but my dad said he popped up saying “Where, where are the fighters!” trying to see them!

I am not sure when he stopped flying as co-pilot, which all new combat bomber pilots do to give them time to adjust before becoming the first pilot. However there is a listing in his log book for October 12, 1944 as “First Pilot and Element Lead”. On October 20th, 1944 he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading an element and making a perfect run through intense FLAK on a railroad bridge at Galletto, Italy. He also made the note in his logbook of returning home on one engine.

My father continued to fly missions and at one point becoming a Group Leader, and being assigned his own plane. This was B-25J serial (43)27698 named Peggy Lou by her first pilot, Mal Rygh. Peggy Lou was Mal’s girl friend when he went overseas, but turns out not the woman he married. My father was the 4th pilot assigned as Peggy Lou’s Aircraft Commander. A funny antidote about the nose art on Peggy Lou., which was a nude girl sitting sideways. Crew Chief Fred Lawrence felt he could not have his plane flying around with a nude girl on the side so he added an umbrella….but as it turned out, it was just an outline of an umbrella. However, I guess Fred was happy that he’d done the right thing.

Father completed 62 combat Missions on April 23, 1945 before being assigned to a position on the 321st Group staff. The war in Europe ended 15 days later on May 8, 1945.

Dad did not return home until July 15, 1945, when he flew the B-25 named the “Spirit of St Louis” back, arriving at Morrison Field, West Palm Beach Florida. Willard Eckogren was his co-pilot . I do not know the other men who were in the crew. But they sure do look like young men grown up very quickly. Written by his son Terry WEbb

Photo taken August 2, 2016
Requested by Bruce Hicks (#46591021)
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Thank you LKat.