340th Bomb Group 486^th Bomb Squadron Planes

B-25 Photos from Charles Cook’s Photo Collection

Edited by his son Doug Cook

Photos unless noted otherwise are from Charles Cook’s Collection

Last Update Sept 27, 2014

My father was a B-25 pilot in the 487^th Squadron. I have always assumed that my father personally took these photos since I remember him saying that he mixed his photo chemicals in unlabeled wine bottles. One time he used the wrong bottle confusing developer for fixer and ruined a roll of film. I have seen some of these photos in other collections (http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/planes13.html ) so I have to assume that Dad shared them or the men swapped photos.

References:

http://warwingsart.com/57thWing/340thBG/489BS/index.htm

http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html

The 486^th Squadron can claim that one of their pilots went on to become a famous astronaut. Donald K. (Deke) Slayton entered the Air Force as an aviation cadet and received his wings in April 1943 after completing flight training at Vernon and Waco, Texas. As a B-25 pilot with the 340th Bombardment Group 486^th Bomb Squadron based in Corsica, he flew 56 combat missions in Europe. He returned to the United States in mid-1944 as a B-25 instructor pilot at Columbia, South Carolina, and later served with a unit responsible for checking pilot proficiency in the A-26. In April 1945, he was sent to Okinawa with the 319th Bombardment Group and flew seven combat missions over Japan… On April 9, 1959, Slayton joined fellow Mercury astronauts, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, John H. Glenn, Jr., M. Scott Carpenter, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., and L. Gordon Cooper, Jr….

The plane returned with thanks to God and the pilot. Tail-Gunner?

Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection.

These B-25 Bombers were primarily B-25 J Models.

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-4019 - 6A

SAHARA SUE II

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27487 - 6B

DEVIL'S HELPER

486^th Squadron thanks Herman Voss and MikeLaney: On McKinnan, Racetlo and Zawestowski. Mack (pilot) was the sole survivor and spent the remainder of the war in Mooseburg Prison Camp.March 20, 1945 on a mission to Campo, near the Austrian border, 6B received a direct hit by an 88MM shell and went down. Crew included Mack Coneglio, Granger

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27723 - 6C

Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-28080 – 6E

Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27629 - 6F

SAN ANTONEO ROSE

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-28069 -6G

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-4063 - 6H

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-4033 - 6J LADIES DELIGHT

Photos courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection.

340th BG 486TH BS - SN 43-4061 -6K

I'LL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN KATHLEEN II

Photo Credit: 486^th BS Hal Bridges material from his son Hal Bridges, Jr. via John Purvis

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27639 - 6L RINKY DOO

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27709 – 6M SCHAPPS YO YO

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-28073 - 6N

THE OLD MILL

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27784 - 6N

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27661 - 6P

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27784 - 6Q

NOAH'S ARC

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27662 - 6R

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27700 - 6S

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27783 - 6T

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27647 - 6U

LIL BEA HIND II (thanks to Mike Laney for the translation!)

Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection.

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27900 - 6V

BOTTOMS-UP II

Photo Credit: 486^th BS Hal Bridges material from his son Hal Bridges, Jr. via John Purvis

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-35954 – 6W

SECTION 8 – IDIOTS DELIGHT

From Mike Laney- I believe is 6W, not sure of serial since all 6W’s had this name

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27505 - 6W

AFTER WOMEN OR LIQUOR (A.W.O.L.)

486^th_Squadron by Herman Voss: First mission 07-04-1944, Shot down Feb. 13, 1945

on mission #735 to Ambrogio in the Brenner Pass. The mission was called "Operation Glassknob"
Crew:
P: M.W. Knighton, CP: J.C. Smith
B: E. C. Reseburg, RG" R. R. Chappius
G: J. R. Long, TG: A. A. Kropp

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27491 - 6X

THE ALICE L

486^th_Squadron by Herman Voss: This plane made it to the end of the war in Europe

and was flown home. Last mission 04-20-1945

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-27670 - 6Y

YANKEE DOODLE DANDY

Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection

340th BG 486th BS - SN 43-4028 - 6Z

340th BG 486th BS – SN UNKNOWN

ROYAL FLUSH

Note from Ron Holman, son of Ralph L. Holman, 486^th Squadron Tailgunner on Royal Flush:

The plane was shot down in 1943 on the way to a target. The crew survived and he spent

two days in the water before being rescued.

[Thanks for the history!]

John Pulos pictured with wrecked German JU-88 Bomber:

Photo courtesy of Bob Knox, custodian of 486^th BS Radioman-Waist Gunnner John Pulos’ photo collection

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