K  e  n  s  m  e  n   :   4  3  r  d    B  o  m  b    G  r  o  u  p    (H),    5  t  h    A  A  F
 Home > 63th SQ BR






Patch of the 63rd SQ, B-17 era
Patch of the 63rd SQ, B-24 era
63th SQ Tail Insignia



Commanding Officers

Maj. John G. Fowler

15 January 1941

9 January 1942

Maj. Leonard E. Symroski

10 January 1942

15 August 1942

Lt. Col. James O. Ellis

16 August 1942

5 September 1942

Maj. William G. Benn

6 September 1942

13 November 1942

Maj. Edward W. Scott, Jr.

14 November 1942

24 May 1943

Capt. Folmer Sogaard

24 May 1943

16 August 1943

Capt. John Van Trigt

16 August 1943

27 November 1943

Capt. Robert L. Coleman

27 November 1943

6 December 1943

Capt. Herbert O. Derr

6 December 1943

29 May 1944

Maj. Harry G. Park

30 May 1944

29 August 1944

Maj. Merrill F. Sargent

29 August 1944

9 January 1945

Maj. Albert W. Brownfield

15 January 1945

22 May 1945

Maj. Earl A. Butts

22 May 1945

c. September 1945


   
Duty Stations


From:

To:

Sydney, Australia

28 March 1942

15 June 1942

Charleville, Australia

15 June 1942

3 August 1942

Torrens Creek

3 August 1942

12 November 1942

Mareeba, Australia

12 November 1942

23 January 1943

Port Moresby, New Guinea

23 January 1943

29 October 1943

Dobodura, New Guinea

29 October 1943

1 April 1944

Nadzab, New Guinea

1 April 1944

20 July 1944

Owi, Schouten Islands

20 July 1944

?

Tacloban

?

15 March 1945

Clark Field

15 March 1945

?

Ie Shima, Okinawa

?

?

Ft William McKinley, Luzon

?

?




Note on the name "Seahawks" and logo: creation of the 63rd Seahawk name and logo occurred during the transition from B-17 Flying Fortress to the B-24, which took place with " The Scott Project ", a group of low altitude, radar-equipped Liberators dedicated to attacking shipping. Capt. Herbert Derr was the Squadron Commanding Officer who decided that a new identity was required, hence the creation of the "Seahawks" nickname. He and artist Thomas Rote created the design for the new squadron insignia.

63rd Squadron Deaths
63rd Squadron Deaths Sort database by Squadron by double--clicking on the word "Squadron" at the top of the Squadron column. To return to this page, use your browser back button.

Interviews

Interview with T/Sgt. Edward Grant Harris
Interview with Captain "Skipper" Col. Kent L.A. Zimmerman
S/Sgt. Maurice H. Walker
Interview with Sgt. David "Shorty" Poarch
Interview with S/Sgt. L.H. "Jack" Fultz
Interview with Robert H. Butler
Interview with S/Sgt Gerald "Gerry" Egger
Interview with T\Sgt Raymond "Ray" Gates

Crew Pictures
2nd Lt. James O'Brien
Crew of "Who's Next?"
Captain Ken McCullar
Art's Cart & Crew
Crew in front of B-17 "Old Baldy"
Crew in front of B-17 "Lulu Belle"
Ed Gammill in front of the B-24D "Pug"
Crew in front of B-24D "Pug"
63rd SQ Maintenance Crew, November 1943
Col. Robert H. Butler, Bombardier (1983 photo)
Butts' Crew
Grave of Albert Brownfield, CO of the 63rd
Patton's Crew
Bill Chief Proudfoot at Owi showers
Bernard N. Dunetz, Navigator
Hockman Crew
Joseph Thompson
Captain Quinette and Crew
Captain Quinette and Crew (2)
Captain Quinette and some of his crew
Floyd Redding's crews
William H. Bishop and crew
Rodger W. Little Crew
Photo of a 63rd SQ crew, contributed of Jim Dieffenderfer, 63rd SQ
Crew of 1st LT J.B. ‘Tex’ Saunders
SSgt E.J. ‘Ed’ Polaski and his crewmates

Aircraft Pictures
Wonder Gal
B-17F "Lak-a-Nookie"
B-17F "Tuffy"
Out of the Night II
Ka-Puhio-Wela (Double Trouble) taken during Battle of the Bismarck Sea
B-17 Lulu Belle
B-17 Black Jack (a.k.a. as "Jokers Wild")
B-17 Panama Hatti
B-17 Tojo's Nightmare (or "Tojo's Night Mare")
B-17 Reckless Mountain Boys
Nose art from the B-17 Pluto
B-17 "Mustang"
B-17 "Old Baldy"

Miscellaneous
The Seahawks' Sign
Another Seahawks' Sign
63rd SQ Duty Board
Floyd Redding Collection
Flight Engineer William H. Bishop's "Combat Diary," "My Buddies in the Service," and "Officers I've Met" Diaries (all in PDF format)