Learn more about the Battle of the Bulge HERE

War Time Photos: WW2 Combat Vet, Anthony Hmura

Anthony Hmura - WW2 Combat Vet

445th Bomb Group. 701st and 703rd Bomb Squadrons 

On lead plane, with ace Pilot Otto Tauer at Kassel Raid.

Gunner on B-24 Liberator. (Nickname - Casanova)

28 air combat missions. Shot down 3 times.

Survived that Kassell Raid - with highest losses of any U.S. air battle.

The 445th flew B-24's and was based at an airbase in Tibenham, England.

Hmura - Sent back on Duty after 28 combat missions.

Tony Hmura onboard a WW2 fighter plane

WW 2 airman Tony Hmura - before a combat mission.

Here's another photo and more info on our Squadron - the 703rd.

  Tony Hmura: Gunner on B-24 with Ace pilot Otto Tauer

Ours was the lead plane in the most deadly air battle of WW2 (Kassel)

With fellow airmen in the 445th Bomb Group, Air Corp

Photo from book on Polish-Americans in Central Mass.

I'm 2nd from left on bottom row.

Fellow airmen of the 445th bomb group - just after a mission.

As it happened, actor Jimmy Stewart was our Squadron Commander

703rd Bomb Squadron

Missions	Position	Name
15-19	Pilot	Lt. Otto S. Tauer
	CoPilot	Lt. Philip H. Goldfarb
	Bombardier	Lt. Abner G. Musser, Jr.
	Lead Navigator (DR)	Lt. George W. Herbert, Jr.
	Mickey (Radar) Navigator	Lt. Robert A. Livingston
	Pilotage Navigator/Gunner	Lt. Robert E. Conrad Jr.
	Engineer	T/Sgt. Robert H. Eisenberg
	Radio Operator	T/Sgt. Maurice E. Guerriero
	Tail Turret Gunner	S/Sgt. William J. Trollinger, Jr.
	Top Turret Gunner	S/Sgt. Jack C. Wikoff
	Waist Gunner	S/Sgt. Anthony P. Hmura
	Waist Gunner	S/Sgt. Richard P. Schultz

701st Bomb Squadron (lead crew)

Missions	Position	Name
20-30	Pilot	Lt. Otto S. Tauer ("Skipper")
	CoPilot	Lt. Philip H. Goldfarb ("Toggle")
	Bombardier	Lt. Abner G. Musser, Jr. ("Mate")
	Lead Navigator (DR)	Lt. Robert E. Conrad Jr. ("Gimper")
	Mickey (Radar) Navigator	Lt. Robert A. Livingstone ("Livy")
	Pilotage Navigator/Gunner	Lt. Harold L. Clark ("Head")
	Engineer	T/Sgt. Robert H. Eisenberg ("Ike")
	Radio Operator	T/Sgt. Maurice E. Guerriero ("Pappy")
	Tail Turret Gunner	S/Sgt. William J. Trollinger, Jr. ("Bill")
	Top Turret Gunner	S/Sgt. Jack C. Wikoff ("Jack")
	Waist Gunner	S/Sgt. Anthony P. Hmura ("Casanova")
	Waist Gunner	S/Sgt. Richard P. Schultz ("Dutch")

Read: Combat Mission Record with 445th Bomb Group
At this link, can read descriptions of many of the missions I was on with Ace pilot Otto Tauer and (site's source) Lt. Robert Conrad

More info on the 445th Bomb Group: http://www.445bg.org/

"Dedicated to the men who flew with the 445th Bomb Group out of Tibenham, England."

Post-War Vet Activities: Anthony Hmura

My recruiting sign for AmVets - for which I was Commander in 1956

Polish American Veterans - Memorial Fund

1956 - Pearl Harbor Commemoration at Faneuil Hall, Boston, Mass.

 

Saluting during Veteran's Day event.

Local "Salute to Veterans" - an event that I sponsored

 

Ceremony for Gulf War Vets Memorial

 

Laying a wreathe at Gulf Memorial Plaque

I painted this mural for my office, as a memorial for those lost in WW2 air battles

An image of a B-24 Liberator - painted on the back of Jacket

My Life in Politics - WW 2 Vet Anthony Hmura

 Tony and Rose Hmura with Mass. Governor Volpe - 1960s

Hmura with Sheriff Glodis and Council candidate Yanis (Worcester, Mass)

... with Mass. State Rep. Amerello 

 ... with Mass. Governor Weld - 1990s

 ...with Mass. Lt. Gov. Tim Murray

 Tony Hmura's campaign for Mass. State Rep - 1965

 ... with Mayor Mariano (Worcester, Mass)

...with Mass. State Rep. Binienda

Hmura takes a stand for the "PILOT" Program

 

 Tony Hmura in Poland - Donation drive for Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital

 Hmura campaign article- 1974

 Hmura at Patriotic Rally - 1972

 Hmura campaign article - 1974

Postwar Life in Central Massachusetts - Anthony Hmura

... the 'Godfather of Canterbury Street'

 

..with Worcester's own World Champion Boxer - Jose Rivera

Organizing clean-up efforts for a local cemetary with many neglected veterans' graves

My Work as a Sign Maker

 Then and now...

Sign for a local landmark - the Boulevard Diner

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Links
445th Bomb Group Home Page

My Other Pictures Related to 445th
Flickr: The B-24 Libertator and PB4Y-1/2 Privateer Fan Club (free pictures!)
Pictures of 445th Bomb Group and Tibenham

B-24 Web Board Forum
445th Bomb Group Forum

Eighth Air Force Museum
Collins Foundation - B-24
445th Bomb Group Info
AAF Squadron Patches

445th Bomb Group Wartime Memories
Kassel Mission
Sam Mastrogiacomo
Sidney Swanson
Jack A. Williams