B-24 pilot- Albertson Seaman "Bert"

[Dave]

My wife's father Bert was a B-24 pilot during WWII, most missions flown over Italy. Bert passed away several years ago. He kept a detailed account of his time as a bomber pilot, but as is so often the case....never spoke of that period of his life. A couple of years before he passed away we were able to arrange for Bert and my wife to fly across Cape Cod Bay in a restored B-24 from Hyannis to Plymouth. He had never been a passenger aboard the B-24, only the pilot. That short trip was an opportunity of a lifetime for my wife and Bert. We would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who may have had a connection with Bert, and would gladly share what little we know of his time in service.

Thank you.

 

[Snautzer01]

Look here. Fold3 - Historical military records

 

[Snautzer01]

found a name here 484th Bombardment Group (H)

article here Torretta Flyer 30

 

[Dave]

Thanks for this!
Bert had mentioned being the first combat plane to fly back to the USA, and now we've found confirmation and a photo we did not know about. His journal is complete with all flimsies.

 

[Snautzer01]

Care to show some of it? I for one would like that.

 

[Dave]

My wife is in the process of scanning the journal. I've asked her to send you some excerpts.
Thanks for your help / interest.

 

[Snautzer01]

Nice !

 

[fubar57]

Agreed

 

[Snautzer01]

484th Bombardment Group (H)

 

[Snautzer01]

Nicknames and serials b-24 from 484BGth 827Sq

Duck (The) 484 827 42-94737 no Ford B-24H-15-FO
Generator Joe 484 827 42-52700 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO salvaged May 4, 1945
Hell's Hangover 484 827 44-49936 no Ford B-24L-15-FO lost Mar 1, 1945. MACR 12508
Hot Rocks 484 827 42-52683 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO
Knockout 484 827 42-94738 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO
Miss Snow Job 484 827 42-94751 no Ford B-24H-15-FO
Peggy Ann 484 827 44-50476 Ford B-24M-5-FO to RFC Walnut Ridge, Ark Jan 17, 1946
Roll Me Over 484 827 44-49939 no Ford B-24L-15-FO to RFC Kingman Dec 3, 1945
Sinful Cynthia 484 827 42-52661 no Ford B-24H-15-FO interned in Switzerland Jun 13, 1944. MACR 6017. Returned Sep 19, 1945
Sweet Revenge 484 827 42-52648 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO
Trouble Maker 484 827 42-52667 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO lost Oct 23, 1944, Mediterranean. MACR 9512
Uninvited (The) 484 827 42-52683 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO
A-Broad Abroad 484 827 42-51993 yes Ford B-24J-15-FO
American Beauty 484 827 41-29530 no Consolidated B-24H-15-CF (451st BG) lost Jun 23, 1944. MACR 10720

https://484th.org/Aircraft/PDFs/Aircraft Spreadsheet.pdf

 

[Snautzer01]

42-52648 | American Air Museum in Britain

Sweet Revenge 484 827 42-52648 yes Ford B-24H-15-FO

 

[VetsDaughter]

My father was one of Bert Seaman's crew. A lot of vets preferred not to talk about the war, but Dad dealt with his troublesome memories by telling stories about the war in great detail and with tongue-in-cheek humor. He had a few stories about Bert as well as all the crew members. If you are still interested and still keeping up with this thread, please contact me at cathabes at hotmail dot com (I hope it is alright to refer to an email here). I would be happy to share some of Dad's stories. A sample from a memoir my Dad started to write: "[Bert Seaman] had long since established himself as a daredevil during our days in Georgia. He reconfirmed that reputation many times overseas particularly in France [an unusual mission by the 15th in support of General Patton] where, I am told, he got the bomb bay doors of a B-24 wet when skimming the Rhone River. Fortunately, his skill with an aircraft - spectacularly demonstrated in terrifying combat missions - more than matched his streak of daring do. He won our undying gratitude. To a man, we all knew that we owed our lives to him."

 

[SaparotRob]

I'd love to see some of that posted.

 

[Snautzer01]

I agree. Please post here. It is a good community that is very interested in in this kind of history. Would be a waste realley not to.

Then again no pressure. Only if you like.

 

[VetsDaughter]

I have a concern for the privacy of the crewmates and fellow soldiers Dad spoke of in his stories (and their families), but I will think this over and perhaps post some stories in a separate thread.

 

[SaparotRob]

I have a concern for the privacy of the crewmates and fellow soldiers Dad spoke of in his stories (and their families), but I will think this over and perhaps post some stories in a separate thread.

Could you present these stories with the names of the others redacted or use just their initials?

 

[VetsDaughter]

Could you present these stories with the names of the others redacted or use just their initials?

That's what I'm thinking. I'd also like to choose some stories that are relevant to the forum - relate directly to the functioning and foibles of the aircraft with which he had familiarity and the training or equipment of the air crews and how they fared on missions. I will work on this.