An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you've safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
"Seeing the AA fire coming up toward the plane looking like white orange red peppermint candy sticks then burst a large fiery bloom. That’ll get your attention."
Will R. Swinney, ARM, VPB-139
Standing from left to right: Elmer Hedrick, Co-Pilot & Navigator; Boris Georgeff, Pilot; and Erwin “Bud”Hanson, Co-Pilot & Navigator . Kneeling from left to right: Dewey A. Tarkington “Tark,” Top Turret Gunner (AOM); Robert Johnston “Smokey,” Mechanic (AMM) & Dorsal Tail Gunner; and Will R. Swinney, Radio & Radar Operator (ARM).
Courtesy Will R. Swinney, ARM, VPB-139
Standing from left to right: Ensign Gaetano “Tom” Anzalone, Co-Pilot & Navigator; Carl Heikkinen, Pilot; and Robert Andrews, Navigator. Kneeling from left to right: Jack Miller, Mechanic; Charles Rowles, Radioman; and James Sarvis, Ordinance.
Courtesy Will R. Swinney, ARM, VPB-139
A PV-2 crew during their second tour of duty in Alaska with VPB-139. From left to right: Sutton, Radioman; Yakich, Navigator; Potter, Co-Pilot; Becnel, Mechanic; Jenkins, Ordinance; dog (unknown) and Bradbury Jr, Pilot.
Courtesy Will R. Swinney, ARM, VPB-139.
Standing from left to right: Ensign Richard D. Switzer, Co-Pilot; Lieutenant A. Paul Stehle, Pilot; and Ensign Henry T. Jenssen, Navigator. Kneeling from left to right: Arthur G. Molten, Crew Chief (AMM1c); Chet E. Silas, Ordnance (AOM2c), and Joe Baldeschi, Radio & Radar (ARM2c).
Courtesy Joe Baldeschi, ARM2c, VB-139, June 1943-June 1945.
Arthur G. Molten, Crew Chief (AMM1c); Chet E. Silas, Ordinance (AOM2c); and Joe Baldeschi, Radio & Radar (ARM2c).
Courtesy Joe Baldeschi, ARM2c, VB-139, June 1943-June 1945