Village Flirt

323rd Squadron

Chatanooga Choo Choo -

Serial # 42-29739

Back Row - Left to Right:

1st Lt. Quentin Ellis, Navigator; 1st Lt. Robert Singer, Bombardier; Capt. David Bramble, Pilot; 1st Lt. Philip Mack, Co-Pilot; T/Sgt. John Williams, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner.

Front Row - Left to Right:

S/Sgt. Walter "Dutch" Reich, Tail Gunner; T/Sgt. Paul Zimmerman, Radio Operator; S/Sgt. Ray Ridings, Ball Turret Gunner; S/Sgt. Jerry Bernasconi, Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Rocco Poppa, Waist Gunner.

Click here for a photo of Village Flirt

Village Flirt Factoid - As part of the 91st Bomb Group (H), 323rd Squadron, stationed at Bassingbourn, England, the crew completed a full combat tour of 25 missions between September 1943 and March 1944 (with the exception of Sgt. Bernasconi who filled in with another crew that was shot down March 8, 1944).  He survived injuries incurred on bail-out but remained a Prisoner of War until the end of WWII. 

As a Lead Crew, Mack was replaced by a Group or Wing Officer on missions when the crew led the formation.  He completed his last six missions as pilot-in-command taking new crews on their first combat missions for a total of 26 missions.  The crew was credited with 12 enemy aircraft destroyed, probably destroyed, and damaged.