Walter A Cantrell 321st, 447th

57th Bomb Wing 12th Air Force B 25 Mitchell Medium Bombers

321st Bombardment Group 447th Bombardment Squadron

Technical Sergeant Walter A Cantrell Radio / Gunner

T/Sgt Walter Cantrell The Harp Crew Capt R Richardson Crew Walter's Crew

The "HARP" B-25 #41-31007 and her Crew.	* Pictures and Story by Walter Cantrell*

	Walter Cantrell rang in the New Year, 1942, by joining the AAC. (Jan. 3rd, 1942) After Basic training at Shepard Field, Texas . . . he went to the Scott Field, Illinois, Army Air Corp Radio Training Academy. He was then assigned to the gunnery school in Arlington Texas. Finally on to the 447th Bomb Squadron, the 321st Bomb Group in Columbia, S.C. He joined Lt. Albert Duke's Crew and started his flight training.Which also included some "Bomb Runs" using 2 pound sacks of flour !
	Although he trained with Lt. Duke, only days from departure from De Ridder, LA, Lt Duke flew in with a brand-spanking new B-25.
	Lt. Dukes new ship, The TRIGGER #41-13171 was equipped with the New Top-Secret Airborne RADAR. Walter was transferred to the Lt. R. Richardson Crew and The HARP #41-31007, . Walter was completely happy with his new crew and ship. He was replaced with Sgt. Edward Ennis, his soon-to-be new best friend, Ed newly graduated from Airborne RADAR School at "The Club" Boca Raton, Florida. (Soon to open as the BRAAF, Boca Raton Army Air Field)

Walter and Carl Hannaman Walter Cantrell and AAC 2006, Walter and Jeanne Walter Display The HARP #41-31007

	Tech/Sgt. Walter Cantrell was an original member of the 447th BS and 321st Bomb Group and flew 50 Combat Missions in the African Theatre. He flew across the Atlantic in the "Now-Famous Knapp Group" Capt. R. Richardson and The HARP #41-31007 was the ship and crew that he flew 49 of his 50 Missions with.
	OH ! The "50th Mission" ? Walter has no memory of it, he was assigned to another ship and thought it was bad luck and that he was not coming home !

321st BG 447th BS Walter Cantrell Photo Album