Sgt John D'Angelo was the Radio Operator/Gunner in the Sutterfield flight crew. The Sutterfield crew joined the 392nd Bombardment Squadron in Jan 1945. The squadron was based in Saipan. The targets of their bombing missions were Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima and Haha Jima. In Feb 1945 they were transferred to the 26th Bombardment Squadron (in the 11th Bomb Group). They later were based in Okinawa and flew missions against China, the Ryukyu Islands and Japan.

The Sutterfield crew flew a variety of planes while in the 392nd Bomb Squadron, but the two planes they flew more than once were "065" (#42-42065) and THAR SHE BLOWS III (#44-41468).

The members of the Sutterfield flight crew were:

Warren G Sutterfield (Pilot)

William J Verbeek (Co-Pilot)

Nesbit K Maluf Jr (Navigator)

Robert E Bemiss (Bombardier)

Marion P Cash (Engineer)

John DAngelo (Radio Operator)

Ralph V King (Tail Gunner)

Albert A Pettifor (Ball Turret Gunner)

Jack P Alexander (Gunner)

Elliott Bespolka (Gunner)

Lyle L Leber (Gunner)

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El_Paso_Times_1945_02_17_page_3

The Mariana Islands (Special) — How Lt. Nesbit K. Maluf. Jr., of El Paso, a navigator and other crew members of the Liberator bomber, "Patriotic Patty," did "the impossible" by bringing their heavily-damaged plane back from a mission over Iwo Jima has been revealed. Three separate bursts of flak knocked out the planes hydraulic system, ripped into fuel cells and fuel lines, and damaged 40 electrical cables to a point where turrets and electrical flying suits were rendered useless. "The first burst hit during 'bombs away,”’ Lieutenant Maluf said, "and then we were hit twice more. Immediately after leaving the target, Jap fighters met the squadron and stayed above us. They dropped phosphorous bombs so close that we passed through their streamers." The number one engine was feathered after flak had ripped into it over the target, while the supercharger of number two engine was hit badly. "By rights." Lieutenant Maluf continued, "number Imo engine should have gone out .too. but it Was lucky for us it didn’t.” Meanwhile, other crew members worked frantically to plug fuel-line leaks. They used pencils and whittled plugs from a wooden bannister from the tail section and used whatever they could find to reduce loss of fuel from the broken lines in the bomb-bay. "Jap fighters stayed with us for a half-hour," he said, "but they hung around just out of range. We couldn't have fired, anyway, because muzzle blasts would have ignited the fuel that had swirled into the plane." On the return trip to their base, ammunition, guns and flak suits were jettisoned to lighten the load. Later investigation disclosed only gas enough for less than an hour’s additional flight. And, with the hydraulic system gone, parachutes had to be used to brake the plane after it had landed.

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Missions flown from Saipan:

Date/Target: 7 Jan 1945 - Pagan Island -----Airplane B-24: Salty Sal, #42-100219

Date/Target: 11 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: Salty Sal, #42-100219

Date/Target: 18 Jan 1945 - Haha Jima -----Airplane B-24: Thar She Blows III, #44-41468

Date/Target: 23 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 27 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: Pacific Passion, #44-41500

Date/Target: 30 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: Bathless, #42-109838

Date/Target: 3 Feb 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: Thar She Blows III, #44-41468

Date/Target: 7 Feb 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: [No name known], #44-42065

Date/Target: 13 Feb 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: Bugs Bomby Jr., #44-41466

Date/Target: 17 Feb 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: [No name known], #44-42065

Date/Target: 19 Feb 1945 - Iwo Jima -----Airplane B-24: [No name known], #44-42065

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More information about the 30th Bombardment Group:

30th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

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