Looking for anyone who may have known my father, JB Dailey, 615th SQ,

Posted:
By: Cody Dailey
On: 08/06/2006

JB Dailey was a tail-gunner stationed with the 615th squadron from August 1944 through January 1945.  He flew with the crew of Capt. George Sombart.

All but two or three of their missions were flown in the aircraft "Morning Star" and they always flew in the Tail-End Charlie position.  While "Morning Star"'s nose art consisted only of a single star painted on the nose of the aircraft, my father's crew painted the name "Tail-End Charlie" on the other side.  Their A-2 flight jackets were also painted with the name "Tail-End Charlie".

I am looking for anyone who might remember my father or his crew.  Would love to share stories!

Re: Looking for anyone who may have known my father, JB Dailey, 615th SQ,

Posted:
By: Scott C. McElvain
On: 08/06/2006

If you are looking for a picture of the plane, the National Archives has a photo negative number NASA C65449AC of it. There are instructions you can get from them on how to get a xerox of it (so you know what you are getting) then order from companies who can pull the negative and make prints......

Re: Looking for anyone who may have known my father, JB Dailey, 615th SQ,

Posted:
By: Carol Schaffer
On: 09/20/2006

My father, Paul Campbell was Operations Officer along with Clyde Lewis when your father was ball turret gunner in the 615th squadron. He asked me to send you the following information:

History of J.B. Daley
They flew their first mission August 25, 1944.

This is the crew with number of missions flown:

1st Lt  G.W. Sombart  Pilot    36 missions
1st Lt   L. Shapiro   Co-pilot  35
1st Lt   C.W. Mrozek  Bombadier 35
1st Lt   J.B. Milek   Navigator  35
T/Sgt    E.E. Smith   Radio      35
T/Sgt   L. Andrews    Engineer   35
S/Sgt   J.B. Daley    Ball Turret 35
S/Sgt   L. Allen      Tail Gunner 35
S/Sgt   L.G. Livezeg  Waist Gunner 35

Lt Colonel White was in charge of the squadron.
These missions were flown with fighter escort.

Re: Looking for anyone who may have known my father, JB Dailey, 615th SQ,

Posted:
By: Cody Dailey
On: 09/21/2006

Thank you (and your father) for the information. I think I recall the story behind Sombart's 36th mission. I believe I was told that Sombart could not take the plane up on one of the missions due to the communications on the plane being out. I had heard he was ordered to fly an extra mission due to this. Not sure how true that is.