An unique co-pilot grouping of a co-pilot who flew with the 44. Bomb Group, 68yj Bomb Squadron out of Shipham, England during 1944. Billingsley (ASN 0-697387) of Seattle, WA flew as co-pilot on the 1/Lt Joseph W. Parks Crew with the B-24 Liberator 44. Bomb Group, 68 Bomb Squadron out of Shipdam, England, Station 115, APO 558. Bob Billingsley was born on October 6. 1921 in Washington State and died at the young age of 44 on October 13, 1965. He is buried at Green Acres Memorial Park, Scottsdale, Maricopa County in Arizona. 1944 while flying a bombing mission to Moyenneville, France, Lt Billingsley was injured by flak and received the Purple Heart, which is included in this Grouping together with the certificate. The story about April 27. 1944 can be found in the book History of the 68. Bomb Group The Flying Eighthball researched and compiled by Webb C. Todd on page 160. This book is not included in the Grouping which is for sale. Grouping contains the original items. Purple Heart awarded on April 27. 1944 for wounds received in action against the enemy, while participating in aerial flight over enemy occupied Europe. Serial # 403916 matches the original box, which is a little damaged for the years. Original Certificate Extract of Purple Heart Award by General Orders Number 79, Headquarters Eighth Air Fiorce, Office of the Commanding General dated May 12. Including photos of the presentation of the Air Medal by Colonel Gibson of the 44. Bomb Group to Lt Billingsley. His Purple Heart decoration can also be seen on his uniform. Air Medal in box and complete with original Certificate Extract by General Orders Number 144, Headquarters 2. Bombardment Division dated July 22, 1944. 1 bag with aircrew silver wings, metal US eagle cap insignia and several small metal USAAF insignia. Memorial folded US flag. Pilot Flight Record Logbook, flight entries starts on March 23, 1943 and ends at September 27, 1951. Photoalbum with training photos taken at Scott Field, IL 1942. Thanksgiving Day Dinner Menu, 44. Bomb Group, Station 125 dated November 23. Christmas Day Dinner Card, 44. Bomb Group dated December 25. Graduation Dinner cards Class 43-J, August 28, 1943, Garden City Army Air Field, Garden City, Kansas. Graduation Exercises, Class 43-J, November 3. 1943 Pampa Army Air Field, Pampa, Texas. Army Air Forces Diploma Aerial Gunners at the Harlingen Army Gunnery School, dated October 7. Diploma Army Air Forces Technical School given at Scott Field dated September 1, 1942. Appointment to S/Sgt (Temporary) Air Corps, signed Harlingen Army Gunnery School, Harlingen, Texas dated October 7. Folder with newspaper articles, appointment as Aviation Cadet and personal papers related to USAAF and pre-war. Certificate of Retirement from the Federal. Aviation Agency dated July 26. 8×10 Photo of Billingsley as 1/Lt. 8×10 Colored photo of Billingsley as Aviation Cadet wearing Air Crew wings, included in the Grouping. Several strike photos of target bombed during his combat tour with the 44. Numerous photos taken at Shipdham in front near nissenhut with his crewmembers and photos taken in North Africa when flying a new B-24 from the US to England. Three WW2 bibles, one signed by Billingsley and dated. Recent research material about Billingsley and his crew while serving with the 44. The item “44TH BOMB GROUP CO-PILOT GROUPING 8TH AIR FORCE WW2″ is in sale since Sunday, December 2, 2018. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Photographs”. The seller is “serpo1961″ and is located in Kingwood, Texas. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
