Crew 17, U.S. Navy PB4Y-2 "Privateer" Patrol Bomber Squadron VPB-118

Information recounted here was obtained from the VPB-118 book, "The Old Crows, VPB-118, The History of Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron 118." Most of the crew names were compiled by James Pettit. Crew photo courtesy James Pettit of VPB-118.

Crew 17 in front of “Flying Tail?” The crew shared a plane from the rest of the squadron. Here they are in front of 59379; (see Crew 12). By the time the squadron was deployed in the Pacific, all crews shared planes so they could keep up with their mission schedule. (Courtesy James Pettit)

PPC Lt. Henry J. “Horse” Thompson

Crew 17 of VPB-118 consisted of:

(Back row L-R) Robert E. Roper AOM1c (1st ordnanceman/aft top turret), Wlliam R. Knudsen, Jr. AMM1c (plane captain), Lt. (jg) Paul W. Prior (co-pilot), Lt. Henry J. Thompson (PPC), Lt. (jg) Gaylord H. Lloyd (co-pilot), James A. Halley ACRM (1st radio)

(Front row L-R) William R. Brown ARM2c (3rd radio/radar), Bernard M. Haughsby AMM3c (4th mechanic/port waist turret), Edward A. Kwiatkowski AOM1c (bombardier), Kellis C. Bostick ARM2c (2nd radio/forward top turret), William E. Morgan AMM2c (3rd mechanic/tail turret), Lloyd J. Jones AMM2c (2nd mechanic/bow turret)