The 6th Bomb Group

The members of crew #3910 included:

Cpt William W. Sams (A/C)
1/Lt William G. Catts (Pilot)
1/Lt Gary Lipton (Navigator)
1/Lt Frank J. Schelling (Bombardier)
1/Lt Robert J. Volin (Engineer)
S/Sgt Albert E. Alderson, Jr. (Radio)
S/Sgt George F. Schmidt (Radarman)
T/Sgt Arthur R. Simpson (CFC)
S/Sgt Melvin Warshaw (R Gunner)
S/Sgt Nicholas F. Priester, Jr. (L Gunner)
Sgt Edmund R. Wills (T Gunner)

1/Lt William G. Catts later became Aircraft Commander of Crew #3914.  Cpl Frank W. Stallworth may have also served with this crew.  S/Sgt Melvin Warshaw was assigned to the crew of 1/Lt Harry H. George.

Photo courtesy of Jerilyn (Schelling) Nikiel, daughter of 1/Lt Frank J. Schelling, all rights reserved.

Standing - Left to Right: ---, ---, 1/Lt William G. Catts (Pilot), 1/Lt Frank J. Schelling (Bombardier), ---.
Kneeling - Left to Right: ---, ---, ---, ---, ---, ---.

DFC Citation - Mission 47. Kobe Urban Area (June 5)

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 5 June 1945. These individuals were members of a B-29 combat crew attacking important industrial facilities in the city of Kobe, Japan. Taking their heavily loaded plane off in darkness, this crew flew their planned course from a base in the Marianas and effected assembly at the briefed time and place with outstanding skill. On the run into the target, heavy, intense, and accurate flak was encountered and two extremely aggressive fighter attacks were fought off. One fighter was probably destroyed and the other damaged. They underwent a total of fourteen interceptor attacks, but despite the determined opposition, this crew pressed home their strike, making a well-controlled bomb run and dropping their projectiles accurately on the target. On this mission, more than four square mile of the city were destroyed. By their coolness, courage, determination to accomplish the mission, and their high degree of individual skill, these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

First Lieutenant GARY LIPTON as Navigator
First Lieutenant FRANK J. SCHELLING as Bombardier
First Lieutenant ROBERT J. VOLIN as Flight Engineer
Technical Sergeant ARTHUR R. SIMPSON as Central Fire Control Gunner
Staff Sergeant ALBERT E. ALDERSON as Radio Operator
Staff Sergeant GEORGE F. SCHMIDT as Radar Operator
Staff Sergeant EDMUND R. WILLS as Tail Gunner
Staff Sergeant NICHOLAS F. PRIESTER JR as Left Blister Gunner
Staff Sergeant MELVIN WARSHAW as Right Blister Gunner

[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]

A separate DFC Citation was prepared for First Lieutenant Captain WILLIAM W. SAMS, Aircraft Commander of Crew #3910 on this mission.

This crew generally flew "Do It Again".