cody1947181

This is the McClain Crew: James A Rainwater 2nd Lt Co-Pilot Harold E McClain Jr. 1st Lt Pilot Edward R Chapman 2nd Lt Bom Alfred E Smith S/ Sgt Togglier Alphonse A Annunziato S/Sgt Radio Oper/Gunner Dean N Buck S/Sgt Engineer/TT Gunner Raymond J Posielenzny Sgt Ball Turret Gunner Raymond A Halley Sgt Waist Gunner Marvin P Hasselfield Sgt Tail Gunner

Left to right. back row: Staff Sergeants John Eckenrode, OH, Radio Operator and Gunner; George Lalich, NY, Tail Gunner; Wm. M. Hardin, AL, Waist Gunner; Larry L. Buckman, TX, Waist Gunner; Wm. D. Combs, OH, Ball Turret Gunner; Roy Stanley, TX, Engineer and Top Turret Gunner. Front row: 2nd Lieutenants George A. McClellan, NJ, Bombardier; John E. Price, TX, Navigator; Ralph J. Riggio, WI, Co-pilot; Charles E. Walker, FL, Pilot. ...more

Sorry to disagree with anyone but as noted in the Annotation, I think you have this aircraft confused with another aircraft with nose art of a similar name. 44-6111 was assigned to the 457th BG, 749th BS, *Hell's Belle* was damaged by flak on mission to Munich and diverted to Switzerland Jul 12, 1944. MACR 6925 Returned Sep 24, 1945. 44-6111 was never painted OD green as this one surely is. also the nose art according to our research was painted by a local artist from Kimbolton. We have unfortunately not discovered his name but his work is distinct & found throughout photos of aircraft & buildings around the base. I am probably correct in saying Tony never made it to Kimbolton but some of his work did when several aircraft was reassigned from the 457th to the 379th. ...more

Close to 400 Airmen flew on the Swamp Fire. If you had a relative assigned to the 379th Bomb Group contact us and see if he or any of his crew ever flew on the Swamp fire. E-mail: swampfire1944@gmail.com or Visit http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

40 different crews flew "Swamp Fire". Close to 400 Airmen knew this ship and helped create her legacy. One of the fill-in crews was Lt. Donald Day's Crew. On 06 June 1944- Lt. Donald Day & his crew flew "Swamp Fire" for the morning run to Arromanches / Caen , France. Yes that's right, Lt. D. Day flew "Swamp Fire" on D-Day. For this story & more go to:http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home ...more

Swamp Fire was the first Heavy Bomber to reach 100 missions without an abort. For more info go to :http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

This aircraft and her first assigned crew were selected to drop America's first guided bomb on 28 May 1944, known by the code name "Grapefruit Bomb". Sixty aircraft took off that morning hidden behind a 1300 aircraft bomb run on the Ruhr Valley. They left formation and started their run on Cologne from 25 miles out. for more info: http://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home