Photogallery of the 885th BS

B-17 Flying Fortress of the 122nd BS, later 885th BS. Blida, Algeria. April 1944.
Captain Edward H. Bradford, S-2. Blida, Algeria. April 1944.
Unidentified men of the 122nd BS, later 885th BS. Blida, Algeria. July 1944.
Colonel Monro MacCloskey decorating a man of the 122nd BS, later 885th BS. Blida, Algeria. July 1944.
Colonel Monro MacCloskey with some unidentified men of the 122nd BS, later 885th BS. Blida, Algeria. April 1944.
An unidentified officer of the 885th BS. Maison Blanche, Algeria. September 1944.
Runway of the Maison Blanche airfield, Algeria. September 1944.
Lt. General McNarney, Deputy Theater Commander and Maj. General Twining, Commanding General, 15th Air Force, attend group briefing. Brindisi, Italy. 20 March 1945.
B-24H 42-94919 Q “Smokey” pictured near the “Santa Maria del Casale” church. Brindisi, Italy. 1944.
B-24H 42-94919 Q “Smokey”. Brindisi, Italy. 1944.
Maintenance of a B-24 sprayed with snow. Brindisi, Italy. Winter 1944-45.
Colonel Monro MacCloskey explains the methods of loading to the visiting Generals. Brindisi, Italy. 20 March 1945.
Navigators of the 885th BS plot the course for their next mission in Northern Italy. Brindisi, Italy. 15 Feb 1945.
T/Sgt Charles Locasto, NY and S/Sgt John Padgett, NC, both from 885th BS, attach parachute drop packages to the static line on board of their plane over Italy. 15 Feb 1945.
Lt. Loser’s first crew, taken at their B-24 Liberator’s hardstand. Top row, left to right: 2nd Lt. Jim (Harvey) L’Hommedieu, bombardier; 2nd Lt. Thomas Bonna, navigator; 2nd Lt. Paul Le Sieur, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Henry Loser, pilot. Bottom row, left to right: Sgt. Benjamin Montgomery, waist gunner; S/Sgt. Clarence Block, waist gunner; Sgt. Andrew Babich, radio operator; S/Sgt. Leonard Schiller, engineer. Brindisi, Italy, December 1944.
Top row, left to right: 1st Lt. Jim (Harvey) L’Hommedieu, bombardier; 1st Lt. Thomas Bonna, navigator; 2nd Lt. Paul Le Sieur, co-pilot; 1st Lt. Henry Loser, pilot. Bottom row, left to right: T/Sgt. Leonard Schiller, top-turret and flight engineer; S/Sgt. Andrew Babich, radio operator; S/Sgt. Clarence Block, waist gunner and dispatcher; Sgt. Benjamin Montgomery, waist gunner and dispatcher; Sgt. Ralph Cavaliere, tail gunner. The picture was taken before a day sortie at the hardstand of their B-24 Liberator #670 (X). Rosignano, Italy, April 1945.
Colonel Monro MacCloskey, Commander of the 15th BG / 885th BS, at his desk. Pasquini castle, Castiglioncello, Italy. May 1945
Bullettin boards kept pace with the war and told everyone which way to turn. Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.
Tents of the 15th BG / 885th & 859th BS were pitched in neat rows, gravel walks laid, a canopy of shade overhead. Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.
The enlisted men mess hall is being built. Castiglioncello, Italy. March 1945.
While the enlisted men mess is being built, chowtime was necessarily “buffet”. Castiglioncello, Italy. March 1945.
The guard post of the 15th BG / 885th & 859th BS HQ in a medieval setting, up an avenue of trees and statues. Pasquini Castle, Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.
An internal room with a fireplace (on the left) where Group and Squadron sections functioned smoothly behind many doors. Pasquini Castle, Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.
Pasquini Castle, headquarters of the 15th BG / 885th & 859th BS, commanding a view of all the countryside. Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.
The briefing room with the big wall map, the most guarded asset of 15th SG / 885th & 859th BS. Pasquini Castle, Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.
The 885th BS and 859th BS are assembled at the Parade Grounds, which doubled as a ball field, to receive the Presidential Unit Citation for the February 17th/18th mission. Officers are to the left in the photo, enlisted men on the right. Castiglioncello, Italy. April 1945.