Veterans of Foreign Wars: Howard Pitts

World War II and the Greatest Generation

Howard Eugene Pitts, 782nd Bomb Squadron, 465th Bomb Group, 55th Bomber Wing, Fifteenth Army Air Force, European Theater of Operations

Howard E. Pitts, B-24 Flight Engineer, Pantanella Air Base, Italy, 1944

I was raised by the generation that fought World War II and I honor them. My father, my Uncle Howard, my grandmother’s brother, Uncle John, along with many others I knew are representative of this “Greatest Generation.” They are American heroes. It’s worth pointing out that if these men were perfect and didn’t suffer from the usual human shortcomings they wouldn’t be heroes, they’d just be, well, normal.

My uncle, Howard Pitts, who lives in College Grove, Tennessee, flew B24 Liberators for the US  Fifteenth Army Air Force during World War II based at Pantenella, Italy with the 55th Wing, 465th Bomb Group (Heavy), 782nd Bomb Squadron.  Between September 1944 and March 1945 he flew a total of 60 missions, 35 of which were designated combat sorties.  Howard Pitts’ “Little Friends” over Germany were sometimes the famous Red Tails of the Tuskegee Airmen, who flew escort for the Fifteenth Air Force.

465th Bomb Group Tail Markings & 15th AAF Shoulder Insignia

Go here for a video of Howard’s memories found on Google Video.

Uncle Howard was Flight Engineer on the  B24 Liberator, most commonly planes known as ”Myakinas” (as in, “My Aching Ass”), “No Love, No Nothin’”, and occasionally the very famous “V-Grand” (the 5000th Consolidated B24 Liberator built).

B-24, No Love, No Nothin'

When not busy with the typical chores of the Flight Engineer, he was responsible for combat photography.  Flying over Blechammer Germany he took a very famous and very tragic photograph.

781st Sqd Commander LtCol Clarence Jack Lokker's aircraft flying lead on a mission to Blechhammer Germany, shot down November 1944.

Uncle Howard’s plane took up the lead position for the mission and returned safely after their successful bomb run over Blechhammer.

Howard’s Crewmates

John Charlton, Pilot
Otis Scott, Co-Pilot
Harold Glasser, Bombadier
Howard Pitts, Flight Engineer
Herbert Talin, Navigator
Floyd King, Radio Operator
Wade Goode, Ball Turret & Armorer
Charles Walters, Upper Gunner
Charles Iseminger, Tail Gunner
Joseph Biondo, Nose Gunner

Howard E. Pitts Official Combat Missions, 15th Army Air Force, ETO

(Howard Mission #/ 465th BG Mission #)

1. /  81, 12-Sep-44, Wasserberg, Germany, Jet Aircraft Factory
2. /  82, 13-Sep-44, Oswiecin, Poland, Synthetic Oil Plant
3. /  83, 17-Sep-44, Budapest, Hungary, Cslell Oil Refinery
4. /  84, 18-Sep-44, Szob, Hungary, Railroad Bridge
5. /  85, 20-Sep-44, Hatvan Hungary, Marshalling Yards
6. /  87, 23-Sep-44, Cararsa, Italy, Railroad Bridge
7. /  88, 24-Sep-44, Scaramanga, Greece, Submarine Docks
8. /  89, 04-Oct-44, Munich, Germany, Marshalling Yards
9. /  90, 07-Oct-44, Ersekujvar, Hungary, Marshalling Yards
10. /  93, 12-Oct-44, Bologna, Italy, Stores Depot
11. /  94, 13-Oct-44, Blechammer, Germany, South Oil Refinery
12. /  96, 17-Oct-44, Vienna, Austria, Industrial Area
13. /  97, 20-Oct-44, Prien, Germany, Targets of Opportunity
14. /  99, 04-Nov-44, Linz, Austria, Benzol Plant
15. /101, 05-Nov-44, Vienna, Austria, Florisdorf Oil Refinery
16. /103, 07-Nov-44, Isarco-Albes, Italy, Railroad Bridge
17. /105, 16-Nov-44, Munich, Germany, West Marshalling Yards
18. /114, 06-Dec-44, Bratislava, Hungary, Marshalling Yards
19. /119, 15-Dec-44, Amstetten, Germany, Marshalling Yards
20. /122, 18-Dec-44, Blechammer, Germany, North Oil Refinery
21. /124, 20-Dec-44, Brüx, Germany, Oil Refinery
22. /126, 27-Dec-44, Maribor Area, Yugoslavia, Marshalling Yards
23. /128, 29-Dec-44, Verona, Italy, Marshalling Yards
24. /131, 20-Jan-45, Linz, Austria, Marshalling Yards
25. /136, 08-Feb-45, Vienna, Austria, Marshalling Yards
26. /140, 14-Feb-45, Schwechat, Austria, Oil Refinery
27. /142, 16-Feb-45, Regensburg, Germany, Airdrome
28. /144, 19-Feb-45, Vienna, Austria, Marshalling Yards
29. /146, 21-Feb-45, Vienna, Austria, Marshalling Yards
30. /148, 23-Feb-45, Villach, Austria, Marshalling Yards
31. /154, 25-Feb-45, Linz, Austria, Ordinance Depot
32. /155, 04-Mar-45, Szombathely, Hungary, Marshalling Yards
33. /158, 12-Mar-45, Vienna, Austria, Marshalling Yards
34. /160, 14-Mar-45, Nove Zamky, Czechoslovokia, Marshalling Yards
35. /163, 19-Mar-45, Muhldorf, Germany, Marshalling Yards

Howards’ Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal (with Four Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Good Conduct Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Southern France Defense Medal
American Defense Service Medal

He also received the following marksmanship badges…

Sharp Shooter – Pistol
Marksman – Rifle
Marksman – Sub Machine Gun

Howard makes his home in College Grove, Tennessee where he lives quietly with his wife, Marjorie.

Fifteenth Air Force Summary
During it’s mere 18 months existence during World War II, and largely operating out of southern Italy, the Fifteenth destroyed 6,282 enemy aircraft in the air or on the ground and dropped 303,842 tons of bombs on the enemy while racking up 148,955 heavy bomber and 87,732 fighter sorties against the Axis.  The Fifteenth lost 3,364 aircraft and 21,671 personnel killed, wounded, missing or captured.