Commanding Officer

CAPT Lionel J. Cormier

Operations

CAPT Raymond Baguley

Operations

CAPT George E. McNeice

Operations

1st LT Miller

Operations

1st LT Roy M. Scott

Flight Surgeon

CAPT Hickerson

Adjutant

1st LT George A. Reed

Sqd. Armament Off.

1st LT Foster

Sqd. Eng. Off.

1st LT Jones

Call Sign: PEBBLY

Call Letters: 4N

Squadron Color: Blue

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Bombardiers of the 833rd Bomb Squadron.

Front row (L to R): Noah Henson; Ron Casperson; Fred Hermann (behind bombsight); Joe Rogers. Back Row (L to R): Harold Ealer; Walt Hummel; ? Smith; Morton McConnell; James Stewart; John Clarke; Chester Scott; Merle Medley; Jordan Goldberg. (reprinted from the O&W N/L Fall '90)

The 833rd was originally referred to as the "Wyverns" squadron. The symbol chosen is fashioned after the Heraldic monster used on Sir Frances Drake's coat of arms. The beast was a fire spitting bird with draconic tail and tongue. A bomb and 50 caliber machine gun were added to complete the link between the historic and modern missions this emblem became associated. The emblem was drawn from a prototype found in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. When the 486th received its first Pathfinders they were assigned to the 833rd BS. At the same time all lead aircraft were assigned to the 833rd, and it became this squadron's responsibility to maintain the lead ships and train their crews. Thus, the 833rd was alternatively known as "the Pathfinders."

The 486th Pathfinders used the British radio navigation system Gee-H, which was deployed starting in the Spring of 1944.  This system was a follow on to the Oboe and Gee radio navigation systems. GEE-H radar sets, although very helpful and accurate, had several short comings. They were limited in range (200 miles from the English ground stations with the lead A/C at 25k ft), frequently failed or easily jammed, and required highly trained operators. When the 486th gave their B24s up to the 2nd air division, they also lost their pathfinders. During the month of August, the 486th relied on other groups for pathfinder bombing cues. Late in August of 44 the pathfinder B17s began to arrive. These carried the new An/APS-15 radar sets (cover name H2X). The crews, however, called them "Mickey sets."

The Mickey sets were located in the radio compartment of the A/C with the transmitter replacing the ball turret. The radar return was displayed on the operators scope clearly marking ground features to a radius of 50 miles at an operating altitude of 25k feet. Natural landforms; e.g., water, land and forests, as well as man made objects could easily be seen.

Assigned Aircrews

The listings show the pilot name, a/c name, a/c type, number and a/c id.
Blue names indicate crew photos

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