15th Air Force Gunner's Photo Album

[Mortmer]

When I was in High School, many years ago, my parents went to an auction and bought a photo album and collection of photos that had belonged to a member of the 15th Air Force in Italy during 1944. A recent move prompted me to scan them and try and get at much information about them, and him, as I could. I spoke with Mr. Bickford on the phone twice in 2006 but since then the letters I sent were un-answered. I've decided at this point to just put up a web site with what I have so far. If people are interested it is located at -

http://spike.cs.umass.edu/~pbinder/bick ... lcome.html

If you have any information that could be added to the site, or of a better place for the pictures and information, please let me know.

Thanks,

Paul

[Ztex]

Those are quite interesting. I have copies of my uncles photos from Italy, 465th BG 15thAF. they are all quite similar to these.

I guess they all went to Capri for R&R.

Thanks for sharing.

[Jack Cook]

The P-38 is of the 27th FS 1st FG

[Oscar Duck]

Nice shots indeed

Guys, any pics of the 483rd Bomb Group????

[Dan Johnson II]

The 24s are 454th Bomb Group Liberators based out of San Giovanni

That 38 with the 24 photos is in the 454th BG history

Some good photos of Col James Gunn who was Deputy CO of the 454th and ended up a POW. he was later flown back to an Allied base by a Rumanian 109 pilot in that 109 with the American flag paited on it. Gunn was inside the fuselage.

The Rumanian pilot was Captain Carl Cantauzino

That's a photo album of a 454th BG member no doubt

[Dan Johnson II]

OK checked my 454th BG stuff.

Mr Bickford was an armorer-gunner on the J. McGeehan crew with the 738th Bomb Squadron, 454th Bomb Group. From the other photos you could easily put together the crew list for "Stand By"

The B24 "Stand By" was a 738th B24H serial #42-52248

"Miss-U" is 42-64493

Also suggest you contact the guys who do the 454th BG Association website.

http://www.bombgroup.com/

[Mortmer]

Thank you for all the additional information!

I had contacted the historian for the 454th BG Association at the time I was trying to get in touch with Mr. Bickford and he provided some information which gave me my starting point. He has, however, since stopped acting in that capacity which is why I decided to put up what I have and see what other information I can get.

Thanks again, I will update the pages with the new information and re-post them.