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| Arvin Rivers, WWII |
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| Recent Address: |
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1601 Beau Chene, Westlake, LA 70669 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: Lawrence and Zelma; Wife: LaVerne; Children: Zelma, Vernie Kay, Arvin |
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| Hometown: |
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Zwolle, LA |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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February 14, 1942 |
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| Service Number: |
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34231886 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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462nd Bomb Group |
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| Squadron: |
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768th Bomb Squadron |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Piardoba, India; November 1944 |
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| Missions Flown: |
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28 combat missions |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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5 Hump missions and return |
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| Targets: |
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Bangkok, Omura, Shinchiku, Singapore, Saigon, Nagoya, Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Osaka, Omuta, Kure, Okayama, Takamatsu, Sendai, Utsonomiya, Namazu, Fukui, Kobe, Hachiogi, Saga, Fukuyama, Hikari, (some of the above targets hit more than once. |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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5 Battle Stars, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross |
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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AM School-Biloxi, MS Feb 1942; Aircraft Electric and AM Instructor Training Jun 1942; Flight Engineer School Mar 1944 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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AM Instructor, MOS 737-Flight Engineer VHB |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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T/Sgt. |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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42-24506 Untouchable, 44-69730 (unnamed) |
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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August 1945 |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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October 14, 1945 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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None |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Traffic Manager for Olin Corporation |
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| I would not take a million dollars for the experience, but no amount of money would persuade me to do it again. |
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| Comments: |
| The technical schools and training had unlimited value. Flying with a combat crew was a rewarding experience. The memories of WWII have made me a more patriotic citizen and better appreciate our freedom. |
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| Arvin Rivers |
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