Photos

Wally in the sheepskin garb worn by B-24 crews on all missions because temperatures in the non-heated and non-pressuriezed plane reached -50 degrees Farenheit. It is unknown when this photo was taken or what the numbers represent.

Wally sitting on a car with California license plates. Given that he doesn’t have his Aerial Gunner Wings or his ribbons pinned on his formal Air Force uniform, this was likely taken before the war.

Squadron Commander Colonel McAtee pinning Wally’s Air Medal at Shipdham.

Wally, 1/11/1943, Lubbock, Texas; likely taken during Basic Flight Training when Wally was an Aviation Cadet flying BT-13s.

Unknown, Found in Wally’s Records

Caption: “Emmett Burns.” This photo was found in Wally’s records. Both photos in this wallet-sized, side-by-side appear to be Pilot and Captain Emmett Burns in the cockpit of the crew’s B-24.

Likely the Radio Operator, Whalen, on Wally’s crew.

The five crewmembers who stayed at Shipdham and continued flying missions after completing their first tour: Whalen, Kennedy, Truslow, Sims, and Burns.

Caption reads, “Truslow and Caldwell, 1945.” Paul Caldwell returned to the US after his 35th Mission on 2/6/1945, so this photo was likely taken in January or February 1945.

Emmett J. Burns Pilot of Crew of B-24 J (Wally’s Crew)

Ground Crew Chief Charles Elledge standing in front of Bar L, the aircraft that Wally’s crew flew on 28 missions.

Unknown in front of PT-19. Likely Burns. Unknown who photo came from.

Morgan Sims, the Tail Gunner on Wally’s Crew, standing near the tail of the crew’s B-24 the day they left Shipdham for the United States.

Ground Crew Chief Elledge and Captain Burns visiting on the hard stand before the crew took off for the United States after V-E Day. Elledge used to wait for Wally’s crew to return after every mission on the hardstand; he cared deeply for the crew.

Kennedy with the crew just before leaving Shipdham for the United States.

Wally and Kennedy standing in the field just off the hardstand before leaving Shipdham for the United States.

View out the waist gunner’s “window” of another plane from the 506th Squadron, Bar K. According to Burns’ records, the crew flew Bar K for one or more missions. Photo sent by Tim Burns in April 2018.

Caption “British Jet”; Printed 1956. As Wally’s crew took off from Shipdham for the last time headed back to the United States, Whalen described that a British Jet pulled up next to them and waved goodbye before peeling off back towards England. The crew carried 10 passengars, one of whom was Appenzellar from the PR Office, who likely took this photo.

Photo of Bar G aircraft, which was a B-24 flown by the 506th Squadron, but was not flown by Wally’s crew. (The bar above the letter “G” on the tail indicates it was flown by the 506th Squadron.)

From Wally’s Files; No Additional Info. Known

Sent by Tim Burns in April 2018; caption reads “British Jet, 1945.” Likely the same British Jet shown in the other photos that accompanied Wally’s crew from Shipdham as they left for the United States.

Caption: “The Ice Cap in Greenland”, Printed 1956, likely taken during their stop for rest and refueling on the way back to the United States at Meeks Field, Iceland

Caption “BW-1 Greenland”; Printed 1956; BW-1 stands for Bluie West One, the Airbase where Wally’s crew stopped for rest and refueling on the way back to the United States.

Photo of the Cologne Cathedral that was left standing after V-E Day. It was one of the few structures left standing in Cologne, which was hit was numerous bombing raids. Photo was taken during The Trolley Missions after V-E Day. Found in Wally’s records; likely came from Burns.

This photo shows B-24 #42-50427, which Wally and his crew flew on 8/27/44 for their second mission to Basdorf. Unknown who took this photo.

Caption “British Jet”; Printed 1956. As Wally’s crew took off from Shipdham for the last time headed back to the United States, Whalen described that a British Jet pulled up next to them and waved goodbye before peeling off back towards England. The crew carried 10 passengars, one of whom was Appenzellar from the PR Office, who likely took this photo.

Click on image to view complete document in a new window.

Photo from Wally’s records; appears to be an aerial photo taken from a B-24, which was typically captured with a camera mounted to the Norden Bombsight that captured images of the bomb pattern after the Bombardier toggled, releasing the bombs on the MPI.

Photo from Wally’s records; Appears to be from the 40s/50s; No Date; Image of Clouds and Wing Tip of a B-24.

Photo from Wally’s records; Appears to be from the 40s/50s; No Date; Image of Clouds and Wing Tip of a B-24. In the clouds, you can see another squadron of B-24s in formation.