Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. and Captain Clark Gable after the mission to Antwerp on May 4, 1943. At the age of 24 years, Captain Calhoun was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The silver oak leaves, insignia of his new rank, were pinned on by Captain Gable. Both served with the 303rd Bomb Group and the 41st Combat Wing during this mission.
On May 4, 1943 VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 54 was an attack on the Ford and General Motors assembly plants at Antwerp, Belgium. 79 B-17s of the 1st Bombardment Wing were assigned, with another 33 bombers staging a diversion off the coast.
"The lead ship of a composite group made up from squadrons from the 91st, 303rd and 305th Bombardment Groups, was Boeing B-17F-27-BO Flying Fortress 41-24635. It had been named "The 8 Ball Mk. II" by its crew, led by Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. During Mission No. 54, Captain Calhoun was the Aircraft Commander while Captain Gable served as the Top Gunner." This was Gable's first combat mission. As a qualified gunner he manned a Browning AN-M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
On May 4, 1943 VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 54 was an attack on the Ford and General Motors assembly plants at Antwerp, Belgium. 79 B-17s of the 1st Bombardment Wing were assigned, with another 33 bombers staging a diversion off the coast.
"The lead ship of a composite group made up from squadrons from the 91st, 303rd and 305th Bombardment Groups, was Boeing B-17F-27-BO Flying Fortress 41-24635. It had been named "The 8 Ball Mk. II" by its crew, led by Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. During Mission No. 54, Captain Calhoun was the Aircraft Commander while Captain Gable served as the Top Gunner." This was Gable's first combat mission. As a qualified gunner he manned a Browning AN-M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. and Captain Clark Gable after the mission to Antwerp on May 4, 1943. At the age of 24 years, Captain Calhoun was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The silver oak leaves, insignia of his new rank, were pinned on by Captain Gable. Both served with the 303rd Bomb Group and the 41st Combat Wing during this mission.
On May 4, 1943 VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 54 was an attack on the Ford and General Motors assembly plants at Antwerp, Belgium. 79 B-17s of the 1st Bombardment Wing were assigned, with another 33 bombers staging a diversion off the coast.
"The lead ship of a composite group made up from squadrons from the 91st, 303rd and 305th Bombardment Groups, was Boeing B-17F-27-BO Flying Fortress 41-24635. It had been named "The 8 Ball Mk. II" by its crew, led by Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. During Mission No. 54, Captain Calhoun was the Aircraft Commander while Captain Gable served as the Top Gunner." This was Gable's first combat mission. As a qualified gunner he manned a Browning AN-M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
On May 4, 1943 VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 54 was an attack on the Ford and General Motors assembly plants at Antwerp, Belgium. 79 B-17s of the 1st Bombardment Wing were assigned, with another 33 bombers staging a diversion off the coast.
"The lead ship of a composite group made up from squadrons from the 91st, 303rd and 305th Bombardment Groups, was Boeing B-17F-27-BO Flying Fortress 41-24635. It had been named "The 8 Ball Mk. II" by its crew, led by Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. During Mission No. 54, Captain Calhoun was the Aircraft Commander while Captain Gable served as the Top Gunner." This was Gable's first combat mission. As a qualified gunner he manned a Browning AN-M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
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