I have been researching and reconstructing the military history of my grandfather, WWII & Berlin Airlift pilot William J. Quinlivan. I knew only at the outset that he flew B-17s, and with the help of the veterans and researchers on this board, determine that he was a member of the 99th BG, 348th BS based at Foggia (Tortorella).

However, my grandfather arrived in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in June of 1943, and until I was able to obtain pictures from my grandfather's war days, didn't know that he and his crew (picture attached) had been trained on B-26s - and that they were Marauder Men before they were Diamondbacks!
The wonderful historians at B26.com have helped me determine some information about my grandfather, which I will post in the hopes of connecting with veteran crew or family of crew.  In the picture attached, taken at Barksdale, LA in 1943 are:

The Ol' Liz crew pictured is:

Quinlivan, William J - Pilot
Barlow, Kenneth R - Co-Pilot
Mulcahy, W J - Bomber-Navigator
Bruce, Robert L - Engineer/Top Turret
Evenson, Paul A - Radio Operator/Gunner
Lloyd, Marion E - Armorer-Gunner/Ball Turret

Any information about this crew and its missions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Scotty Ann


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335th Bomb Group was a Replacement Training Unit consisting of four Squadrons, 474th; 475th; 476th and 477th, based at Barksdale Field in LA. The attached photo shows a B-26 Marauder from this RTU. The nose art indicates that it might have been the a/c this crew used for their flight to MTO, as it does not bear the usual markings of training aircraft. Will ask an expert on this subject. As you mention MTO June 1943, there is three possible Marauder Bomb Groups; 17th; 319th and 320th. As 320th BG has a great website with roster, I checked this first: http://320thbg.org/roster_q.html
 
As you see, there was a William J. Quinlivan with 444th BS. Search NARA for that name, if not done already:
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=WR26
 
As 320th BG website has all mission reports available as pdf-files, you can look into these reports for his name and mission details. I found a Paul Evenson in 320th BG roster with 441st BS, but not the other names.
 
 
 

Thank you, deefeater, for your reply.

In fact, I've been in touch with the historians at B26.com as well as Dr. Reisdorf at the 320th historical society. Here's what we've been able to determine:

per Trevor Allen, B26.com:

The photograph taken with the 447th.Bomb Squadron was taken at Barksdale,La which was the unit B26 crews went through prior to going overseas.The two photographs you have of "Modern Design" show a B26 that served with the 319th Bomb Group,440th Bomb Squadron and later with the 320th.Bomb Group 441st Bomb,Squadron.

Here's all that I know of my grandfather's service, per recently acquired copies of his service records:

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Date of Entry on Active Duty: 10 November 1942
Military Occupational Specialty and No: Pilot VHB 1093
Battles and Campaigns: Mediterranean Theater-Air Offensive Over Europe, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno
Decorations and Citations: European Afrcan Middle Eastern Theater Operation Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Citation, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Nine Oak Leaf Clusters
Wounds Received in Action: None
Service Schools Attended: Basic Flying School, Greenville, Mississippi; Advanced Flying School, Columbus, Mississippi
---
Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return:
Date of Departure: 25 May 1943 > Destination: Mediterranean Th > Date of Arrival: 5 June 1943
Date of Departure: 1 June 1944 > Destination: U S A > Date of Arrival: 13 June 1944
---
Airplane Qualifications (Military): B26, C45, B17, B29, C54, KC97
Combat Data (AAF only): 52 Combat Missions in European Theater of Operations, 300 Combat Hours
---

My grandfather arrived in the Med Theater June 1943 and flew B-17s for the 99th beginning Nov 1943.

Because there is a William J. Quinlivan listed in the 320th BG/444th BS roster, I searched through nearly every mission PDF at the 320th site in the hopes of seeing my grandfather's name on one of mission reports.

Alas, I have not been able to find his name on any 320th mission report from June 1943 - Oct 1943.

per Dr. Reisdorf, 320th BG historian:

There is a Paul Evenson on our roster, though with the 441st. It is very possible his crew was split up. I could not find the other fellows associated with the original crew.

As for the NARA records mentioned in the last post, this one is my grandfather.

So ... it is still a mystery with which outfit and where my grandfather was flying from June - Oct 1943. Any other thoughts very gratefully requested!

Scotty Ann





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I got a reply from another B-26 expert today regarding "Ol Liz" which unfortunately was not known to him. I see that you have been in contact with persons known to have outstanding expert knowledge, and that you have done an enormous amount of work looking through 320th BG mission reports. I've searched for Quinlivan at Aviation Archaeology with negative result. One faint possibility is that he witnessed an aircraft being shot down during a combat mission; he could then be listed as an eyewitness in the MACR. Have checked at www.footnote.com for Quinlivan, but heavy traffic halted such a search now. If this was the case, one would have information about the unit etc.

Your photos of "Modern Design" are nice. Added a scan here showing her just before take off medio 1944 from Decimomannu on Sardinia, as part of a six-ship take off.

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Wow! Great shot! Thank you for posting.

I had not heard of footnote.com before your message. I will check there as well. Appreciate the info ... and your continued inquiries.

ps - am now a little obsessed with your site: http://www.b26marauder.info/