B-24J Alley Oop of 465 BG 780 BS

[warbirdguy]

I saw this particular B-24 on B-24bestweb and was curious as to who flew it and who was part of the crew, how many missions, etc. I've seen photo's of this plane but no info what so ever. Any help would be appreciated.

[L. Thompson]

You probably can find out all you need by making a post on the 465th BG forum (sorted by number under USAAF Groups) at armyairforces.com

A good place to start anyway.


http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/forumid_94/tt.htm

[L. Thompson]

On May 8, 2001 a Maj. Gregg Softy made this post on armyairforces.com:


I am looking for any information/contacts/photos related to my Dad (1LT Charles Softy) or his crew. He was the pilot of a B-24 named "ALLEY OOP" belonging to 780th squadron, 465th Bomb Group, 55th Wing, 15th Air Force. He and his crew were shot down Dec 2, 1944 over Poland following a mission to Blechhammer, Germany. Crew members include:
John Schlomer(Engineer); James Long(radioman); Bill Haight (Navigator);Harry Millington (Tail Gunner); Ted Withington (Pilot);Ken Hardesty (Waist Gunner);Bill Johnson (Bombadier);Jerry Jackelen (Ball Gunner);Harry Weaver (Waist Gunner);Charles Softy (Pilot).

I sent you a PM with his address & E-mail.

[myfelixthecat]

I have a book about the history of the 780th squadron put together by Major Charles Davis. Major Davis was the intelligence officer for the group. There is a photo of Lt. C. D. Softy, but not with an aircraft. He could have been a replacement for some shipped out or killed in action. There is a picture of the Alley OOP and the crew, but Lt. Softy isn't in the photo. There were many more members that Major Davis could not get photos, but the books list mission, missing crews, POW's and those that with help got back to safety. If Lt. Softy's son would email me at marcsellshomes@gmail.com I would be happy to photo the pages with anything about his father. My father was Lt. Stromberg, pilot of the Agony Wagons first 54 missions. I wanted to post an image, but could not get it to work.