Command Photos

321st BG Commanders:

Maj. Charles T. Olmstead, June, 1942
Col. William Mills, August 3, 1942
Col. Robert D. Knapp, September, 1942
Lt. Col. Charles T. Olmstead, December 5, 1943
Lt. Col. Peter Remington, March 18, 1944
Col. Richard H. Smith, March 26, 1944
Lt. Col. Charles Cassidy Jr., January 28, 1945

Quotes from Dick Spingler appear in blue lettering



"The people involved were gathered at the 321st Bombardment Group to evaluate the modifications that Colonel Knapp had authorized done to our B-25s: Lower turret discarded, window cut out on each side of radio compartment, window cut open at the tail and at each opening a 50 caliber gun installed. The tail gunner laid prone in the tail. These bare bones changes were approved by the USAAF and North American Aviation started putting these improvements on new production. Of course the factory elaborated on the plan. These are the changes that came on the B-25 after the C and D models. As best as I can identify the officers in the photo are from left, Major Raymond Sampson, Colonel Robert Knapp, Lt. General James Doolittle."



"With overseas cap, General Carl Spaatz; facing camera, General James Doolittle; talking to Spaatz, Colonel Robert Knapp."



"The officer between Doolittle and Spaatz might be Colonel Charles Jones, a member of the Staff. The one between Air Vice Marshall Robb (on right) and Doolittle might be Colonel Anthony Hunter. Just guesses."



"This picture of me (on right) was taken in 1981 or 1982 at the Airborne Law Enforcement Convention. General Doolittle (in center) and I are talking about the photo taken of him in 1943 during the North African Campaign - when he visited the 321st BG. The others in the picture are officials of the Convention. Later at the Convention General Doolittle was given an award and if I remember correctly Astronaut Deke Slayton (an ex-486th BS/ 340th BG pilot) presented it for the Airborne Law Enforcement Association."






Close-up of some of the stuff on the table.



321st BG Commanding Officer Colonel Knapp and Major Bates at a mission briefing in North Africa.



On way to target- Briefing for mission to Alghero Air Drome, Sardinia.



Mission Briefing- N. Africa- Summer 1943- 321st BG CO Colonel Knapp in back.



Mission Briefing- Souk el Arba, North Africa- June 28, 1943- Mission to Alghero Air Drome, Sardinia.



447th pilot Lt. Clyde Morganti standing by an Italian Savio-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero. Probably Italy's most important bomber, the SM.79 was also an excellent torpedo bomber. It's inital flight was in 1934, and 1,370 aircraft were produced. It had three 780 hp engines and could carry 2,756 pounds of bombs. The North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers with two Wright 1700 hp engines routinely carried 4000 pounds of bombs. This picture was probably taken in Brindisi, Italy between September 19-21, 1943 after Morganti, co-pilot William T. Williams and navigator Arthur Holloway ferried some generals possibly involved with the Italian surrender of September 8, 1943. The surrender resulted in German evacuation of the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, gave the Italian Navy to the Allies, and sort of made Italy an Ally. See Lt. William T. Williams' flight log describing the ferrying mission.



"Lt. Clyde Morganti and Lt. Arthur Holloway at Brindisi."(Soldiers standing on right.)



McFadden with an Italian officer.

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