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15th AAF

Passionate Pirate
720th Squadron



Passionate Pirate

Standing Left to Right:
F/O Martin A. Koloch - Bombardier - KIA
William Shea - Nose Gunner (not on mission)
F/O Robert G. Strachan - Navigator - KIA
Sgt. George L.Kardos - Tail Gunner - KIA
2nd Lt. Jack C. Teague - Co-Pilot - KIA
Sgt. William A. Keane - Waist Gunner - KIA

Kneeling Left to Right:
Sgt. James J. Hope - Engineer - KIA
2nd Lt. Benjamin Wolfe - Pilot - KIA
Sgt. James J. Smith - Radio Operator - POW
Sgt. Donald J. Kishman - Ball Turret - POW

Not pictured are:
Sgt. Frank G. Haggard - Nose Gunner (replaced Shea for Innsbruck mission) - KIA
Sgt. Jean Roger Arcand - Photographer - POW

The crew of Passionate Pirate went down on December 25th 1944, over Innsbruck, Austria.
2nd Lt Benjamin Wolfe, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl B. Wolfe; born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado.
Family moved to Walsenburg, Colorado in 1943.
He graduated from Pueblo Centennial HS, worked at local steel mill and Pueblo AAB prior to enlisting November 7, 1942.
Commissioned at Altus, OK on March 12, 1944; graduated from command pilot training at Walla Walla, WA; to Italy October 44.
After loss of aircraft, was buried in St. Avold American Cemetery, France in plot K, row 11, grave ten.
Memorial services in Pueblo April 8, 1945.
Survived by wife Virginia Ruth Zink Wolfe (Pueblo), brother and sister (Portland, OR).

Photograph & Crew Information provided by William Keane & Mike Thomason


Passionate Pirate

Standing Left to Right:
Cpl. John Greer - Gunner
2nd Lt. Alan Feeback - Pilot
2nd Lt. William Reis - Navigator
Cpl. Fernand Fournier - Gunner
2nd Lt. Henry Freitas - Co-Pilot

Kneeling Left to Right:
Unknown Original Crew Member - was replaced prior to leaving USA
Cpl. Frank T. Haggard - Gunner - KIA 25 December 1944
T/Sgt. Gordon Brown - Engineer/Gunner
Sgt. George Condeelis - Radio Operator
Robert Forschner - Bombardier

Photograph & Crew Information provided by:
Laurie Paterson, Daughter of Robert Forschner & T/Sgt. Gordon Brown

Link To MACR #9135

Passionate Pirate Crew

Passionate Pirate Crew

Passionate Pirate Crew



Photographs provided by Laurie Paterson, Daughter of Robert Forschner

Passionate Pirate

Front Row Left to Right:
2nd Lt. William Reis - Navigator
2nd Lt. Henry Freitas - Co-Pilot
Robert Forschner - Bombardier
2nd Lt. Alan Feeback - Pilot

Back Row Left to Right:
Cpl. Frank T. Haggard - Ball Turret Gunner - KIA 25 December 1944
Cpl. John Greer - Gunner
T/Sgt. Gordon Brown - Engineer/Gunner
Cpl. Fernand Fournier - Gunner
Sgt. George Condeelis - Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Norman F. Arnold - Tail Gunner

Picture provided by Sgt. George Condeelis




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