Crew 16, 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 16 in front of BuNo 59410 “Miss Lottatail.” The crew shared a plane from the rest of the squadron. Here they are in front of 59410, “Miss Lottatail” (see Crew 2) By the time the squadron was deployed in the Pacific, all crews shared planes so they could keep up with their mission schedule. photo (Courtesy James Pettit)

PPC Lt. Nolan W. “Jumpin’ Joe” Weller

Crew 16 of VPB-118 consisted of:

Lt. Nolan W. Weller (PPC), Lt. (jg) J.D. Brewis (co-pilot), Lt. (jg) Walter E. Meier, Jr. (co-pilot), Earl R. Mann, Jr. AMM2c (plane captain/forward top turret), Paul F. O'Neil AMM2c (2nd mechanic/waist turret), John F. Healey AMM2c (3rd mechanic/aft top turret) Edwin R. Palzynski AMM2c (4th mechanic/waist turret), Harold P. Bower ARM2c (1st radio/forward top turret), Joseph E. Travascio ARM2c (2nd radio/forward top turret), Richard C. Burns AOM2c (bombardier/bow turret), Donald F. Berger AMO2c (1st ordnanceman/tail turret).