S/Sgt William L Kopp was the Ass't Radio Operator/Gunner in the Dodd Flight Crew. The crew completed most of their training in the US in 1943. Their final training began in Feb 1944 when they joined the 819th Bombardment Squadron at Wheeler Field, on Oahu, Hawaii. The Dodd crew began combat missions when they transferred to the 38th Bombardment Squadron in May 1944. They completed their required 40 missions in Dec 1944 and returned to the US for rest and reassignment.

Members of the Dodd Flight Crew were:

Frederick C Dodd (Pilot)

Howard G Miller (Co-Pilot)

Iver R Swenson (Navigator)

Richard E McBride (Bombardier)

Richard L Williams (Engineer)

Julio Depuma (Radio Operator)

Donald E Hunnicutt (Ass't Engineer/Top Turret Gunner)

William L Kopp (Ass't Radio Operator)

John W Kinnaman (Gunner)

John J Mullen (Gunner)

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Lansing State Journal, Michigan · Friday, December 08, 1944

Second Lieut. Frederick C. Dodd. 28. of Pontiac. Mich.. was the pilot of a gasoline-flooded, fume-charged 7th AAF Liberator bomber named the K. Lucy, on its perilous return flight from a Jap target only 650 miles from Tokyo.

One engine was shot out and the fuel lines severed by ack-ack over the target, and shell fragments tore 20 holes in the fuselage, Lieutenant Dodd said in telling his story. High octane gasoline from the broken fuel lines was whisked by the slipstream into the bomb bay. The crew jettisoned the bombs and closed the bomb bay doors, but the gasoline still leaked in. “The fumes were so strong that I almost passed out, and three of the crew members did.” Lieutenant Dodd said. “I saved myself by putting on my oxygen mask." Lieutenant Dodd managed to fly safely back to the home base in the Marianas on the three remaining engines in spite of the danger that the plane might blow up and the belated discovery that two cylinders of another engine had been cracked up by Jap fire.

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Missions flown by the Dodd crew from Kwajalein:

Date/Target: 13 May 1944 - Taroa Island, Maleolap Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Swing Shift, #42-109940

Date/Target: 14 May 1944 - Jaluit Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Pistol Pakin Mamma, #42-72989

Date/Target: 22 May 1944 - Wotje Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 29 May 1944 - Guam Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 31 May 1944 - Ponape Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 4 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 11 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Bomb Baby, #42-72976

Date/Target: 14 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 21 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 24 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 28 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 2 Jul 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 6 Jul 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 11 Jul 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 16 Jul 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 22 Jul 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Pistol Pakin Mamma, #42-72989

Date/Target: 26 Jul 1944 - Truk Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

From the Unit History of the 38th Bombardment Squadron:

"Lt. Frederick C. Dodd, pilot, was hospitalized the latter half of the month [of July]"

Missions flown by the Dodd crew from Saipan:

Date/Target: 20 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 22 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 25 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 28 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 31 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

Date/Target: 3 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Dottie Anne, #42-100376

The Dodd crew was forced to ditch the DOTTIE ANNE on the mission on 3 Sep 1944, and the Engineer, Richard L Williams died. There was a 6 week pause in the Dodd crew's missions after that experience. (See story below).

Date/Target: 18 Oct 1944 - Haha Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 25 Oct 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Our Baby, #42-109954

Date/Target: 29 Oct 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Parkn Strip Patty, #42-109948

Date/Target: 3 Nov 1944 - Marcus Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 8 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Pacific Avenger, #42-72975

Date/Target: 10 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 12 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 14 Nov 1944 - Woleai Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 18 Nov 1944 - Haha Shipping ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 24 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 27 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 30 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Temptation, #44-40617

Date/Target: 8 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 10 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 14 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 16 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: [No name known], #44-41578

Date/Target: 19 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Chute The Works / K Lucy, #44-40302

Date/Target: 20 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Parkn Strip Patty, #42-109948

Date/Target: 22 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: [No name known], #44-41578

From the Unit History of the 38th Bombardment Squadron: Dec 1944:

"Lt Howard G Miller fractured both bones in his lower left leg while sliding

into second base in a soft-ball game. He was later evacuated to Oahu, and upon

discharge from there will return to the states. Lt Miller, co-pilot for Lt Dodd,

had completed 38 combat missions."

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More information about the 30th Bombardment Group:

30th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

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