The 489th Bombardment Squadron in Corsica


487th Bomb Squadron Photographs from Pilot Harry D. George provided by his son, Harry George Jr.
Planes, Part 17





























These great pictures were provided by Harry D. George Jr. whose father, 2nd Lt. Harry D. George (pictured on the left in full dress uniform) was a pilot in the 487th Bombardment Squadron, 340th Bombardment Group stationed at Alesani, Corsica. Harry George Jr. describes the picture on the right: "This is my father (center) with his two Italian protectors, Giuseppe Ferri and Nello Nicolai, - the ones who kept him hidden and fed after he was shot down and behind the lines for 3 months. The date of the photo is September, 1944 - when Allied troops reached the area. My father was shot down on 6/22/44. The mission was a railroad bridge at Grichiliana (about 20 miles north of Florence). It was an evening mission - the early afternoon attempt to take out the same bridge having failed. My father was the co-pilot on the mission. The pilot was Tom Casey (killed by flak), Ed Dombrowski (bombardier - survived), Ahlstrom (jumped without a chute or chute didn't open - was also seriously injured by ammunition detonated by the fire in the plane), Kaplan (killed by flak), and Obravatz (tailgunner - survived). The plane was 7C, 'The Mckinley Jr. High.' It was the second 7C in the 487th. It was new (arrived 5/20/44) after the original 7C was removed from service after the 5/13/44 German air raid. Ed Dombrowski (former 57th Bomb Wing President) is still alive. Three of my father's original crew (Ferrell Holley-pilot, Joe Semenak-bombardier, and Donald Dick-gunner) were in the plane immediately behind. Holley and Dick are also still alive. Donald Dick did a painting of the plane going down which he gave to me. There is a reference to the mission in Palouze Pilot and, of course, it is detailed in my book about my father's experience, Georgio Italiano. "


Go on to Planes, Part 18.


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