My father SSGT Oliver W Hartwell was the bombardier on Blue Grass Bettye. I am looking for additional information on the crew aircraft sn and operations.

Charlie.....Here is the information on the 22nd BG.
 
[url "http://www.armyairforces.com/dbgroups.asp?Group=44"]Click here for a brief history of the 22nd.[/url] Association contacts: Charlie Baker (2003 reunion) Phone: 408-252-8942 E-mail: [url "mailto:cbaker@carolandcharliebaker.com"][#0000ff]cbaker@carolandcharliebaker.com[/#0000ff][/url] Reunion News: 54th Annual Reunion October 15 ? 18, 2003 at the Holiday Inn Mountain View, Albuquerque, New Mexico. For additional information contact: [url "mailto:cbaker@carolandcharliebaker.com"][#0000a0]Charlie Baker. [/#0000a0][/url] Web sites: [url "http://www.redraiders22bg.com/"][#0000ff]http://www.redraiders22bg.com/[/#0000ff][/url], 22nd BG site includes an extensive photo collection and several articles about the RED RAIDERS. [url "http://avyberman.com/contents.htm"][#0000ff]http://avyberman.com/contents.htm[/#0000ff][/url], Site by bombardier Avy Berman of the 33rd BS includes his mission list, letters home (74 of them), biography and photos. [url "http://www.aerothentic.com/PilotWritings/index.htm"][#0000ff]http://www.aerothentic.com/PilotWritings/index.htm[/#0000ff][/url], Aerothentic Publishers? collection of ?Writings by Men of the Fifth? includes two by 22nd BG personnel. Click on ?Crack-up at Cairns? and ?Frozen in Time.? Related Books: 5th Air Force, 2nd edition, Turner Publishing. History of the Pacific Air War fought by the Fifth Air Force, includes the 3rd, 7th, 19th, 22nd, 38th, 43rd, 90th, 312th, 345th, 380th, and 417th BG?s; 8th, 27th, 35th, and 49th FG?s, the 69th TFS; 6th and 71st Recon, and the 317th TCG. Hundreds of photos, association history and roster. 1563113465. Gateway to Victory: the Establishment of the First US Armed Forces in Australia 1941 ? 1942, 3rd BG (M) - 7th BG (H) - 19th BG (H) - 22nd BG (M) - 27th BG (L) - 49th FG, Noel Tunny. Published by the author, 1991. 26 pages, photos
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Charlie,
I am the owner of a website dedicated to bombardiers.  I have fairly strong confirmation that your father was indeed an enlisted man bombardier.  A rare bird! 
 
Please contact me at my website address: hfhmsite@safeplace.net   I would like to add him to my database and post his info to the site.  Any data and photos would be appreciated.
 
A link to my site is below my name.
 
Dave

Link to: Bombardiers of WWII Website

New email address as of Feb 2006: hfhmsite@comcast.net

Charlie,
 
Maybe you already have a copy, but in case you don't, attached (see below) is a crew photo with your father and Blue Grass Bettye.
 
http://www.b-26marauderarchive.org/PH/Noseart/P1030.htm
 
Crew of Blue Grass Bettye
Front row: Charles Amato, radio gunner; Dick Egan, engineer; S/Sgt. Hartwell, Bombardier.
Back row: Lt. William A. Pappano, Lt. Cecil E. Riddle; Pvt. Tibbett, (also spelled ‘Tibbot’) tail gunner; Lt. Walker, copilot
 
Couldn't locate a tail number or squadron, but confirrmed 22nd BG as the squadron's higher headquarters.
 
Good luck in your search
 
Andy
 
 
 
 

Dave thanks for the photo. I did find this earlier. I think I found the serial number of the aircraft as 401549 that list showed the aircraft changed names in 43 to Kansas Comet II and was scraped in Brisbane Australia Jan 1944. Don't know if this was battle damage results or not.
Also I think dad and this aircraft were in the 408th BS.
Charlie

Charles Ford

Mike,
 
'Found another photograph of your father - searching on his name this time vs. the aircraft's Blue Grass Bettye name.
 
The photograph attached to this message appears to be in the same series as the attachment I provided in my earlier response - but this photograph does not display the aircraft nose art.
 
As before, good luck in your search.
 
Andy
 
 
“The Butcher Boys” Identified as l to r, standing: William A. Pappano, pilot; Cecil E. Riddle, navigator; navigator; Pvt. Tibbett, tail gunner: Lt. Walker, co-pilot - sitting l to r: S/Sgt Charles Amato, radio; S/Sgt Dick Egan; S/Sgt. Hartwell, bombardier

Charlie,
 
"Blue Grass Bettye" was indeed serial 40-1549.
This aircraft was one of the very first models of B-26 aircraft off the Martin Baltimore production line, designated B-26-MA. It aircraft served with the 408th BS (22nd BG), and later with the 19th BS of the same group as part of what was known as the "Silver Fleet".
Basically the 22nd BG ran out of useable B-26 airframes, as no more replacements were being sent out to this theatre of operations. All of the remaining airframes were overhauled and repaired at the maintenance depot, and the camouflage paint removed, hence where the nickname "Silver Fleet" came from. There was just enough aircraft to equip one squadron, the 19th BS. I believe it was during this period that the aircraft was renamed "Kansas Comet III".
The aircraft served with the 19th BS until January 1944 when it was scrapped along with the rest of the "Silver Fleet" at Eagle Farm, Brisbane.
 
Regards
Paul Clouting