Albert Duke
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Albert Duke, Lt. Pilot 447th BS
Photo Album in the Gallery of the 57th Bomb Wing.
added by Princessbarbi 24 Aug 2009
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The Lt Albert Duke Story.
His web-site at warwingsart, about the Mission and Return after being Shot-down at Sea.
added by Princessbarbi 24 Aug 2009
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Stories
Lt Albert Duke, 321stBG, 447thBS, Pilot /MTO
1943 | Africa
Lt. Albert Duke was one of the earliest pilots assigned to the 321st BG, in fact Jim Bugbee remembers there only being himself and one or two others, when Duke came in. The new 447th pilots were given their ships, and almost immediately the crew members started filling in. They started their training maneuvers and practicing the skills needed for air battle in the African Theatre. Walter Cantrell remembers having two pound sacks of flour for practice bomb runs. After training in S. C. was completed, they did some torpedo practice, and then Aerial Gunnery at De Ridder in LA. In fact, Al Dukes crew even attended his wedding !
Very shortly before leaving De Ridder, Duke flew away and returned with a brand-spanking new ship, and had named her after his wife. (Al's nickname for her was "Trig"...short for TRIGGER) #41-13171 Since it was such a big secret, no one much past the pilot and crew knew about the new Airborne RADAR. From Lt. Dan Mc Duff's pilot log, we know that it was tough to "see" Florida as it was so flat, but the Ascension Islands were seen about 50 miles out ! Lt. Duke flew the TRIGGER #41-13171 over in the famous Knapp Group with Dan Mc Duff, Doug Orr, Harold Govini, Edward Ennis, Francis Noble and Passenger Robt. Manley. After arriving at their destination in Africa, there were practice flights and armament changes made in the first few weeks. We know of the "Sea-Sweep" that caused so much flak damage that he had to ditch in the sea, but now we also know that the target was a German Transport Group. This was a tragic loss, (H. Govini Govioni died) but the mission was a huge success, especially as this was the beginning of our raids to completely cut off all supplies to Africa. Barbi Ennis Connolly, 321st BG Historian, Aug. 2009
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