The Marvin Ehrenberg Crew, 514th Bomb Squadron

by Stuart Young
(San Antonio, Texas)

The Ehrenberg Crew, 514th Squadron: Kneeling from left to right: Pete Trombetta, Ball Gunner; William Walter, Flight Engineer; Jim Merrill, Tail Gunner; Albert Johnson, Nose Gunner; Frank McKeeman, Radio Operator; and Ed Lethcoe, Upper Gunner. Standing from left to right: Marvin Ehrenberg, Pilot; Hal Heist, Navigator; and Robert Kolb, Copilot.

The bombardier, Frank N. Kautzman, Jr., missed the photo and was later shot down on Christmas day 1944, while flying a mission with the Lt. Donald D. Williams crew to bomb the Hall, Austria, Main Marshalling Yards. He became a POW. With the loss of Kautzman, Hal Heist took over the bombardier’s job in addition to his navigator duties. My father, Alfred W. “Brigham” Young, Jr. replaced Frank McKeeman as the radio operator. McKeeman had a close call with a flak hit and took a job as a truck driver. Young flew 17 missions with the Ehrenberg crew beginning on February 22, 1945, after his original crew, the McGlynn crew, was shot down on February 7, 1945, and was declared MIA. He then flew on three missions as a spare until joining his new crew. Jim Merrill, the tail gunner, was hit in the arm by flak on April 11, 1945, while throwing out chaff during a mission to an Isarco River Railroad Bridge six miles NE of Bolzano in northern Italy. He remained in the hospital while the rest of the crew, except for Young, flew north to Torretta, Italy, to the 484th Bombardment Group (H) after the 376th Bombardment Group (H) ceased operations following their last combat mission on April 15, 1945. The crew flew three missions out of Torretta with the 484th before flying home in a B-24 via the Azores and Saint Johns, Newfoundland. Their B-24 landed at Bradley Field, Connecticut, and was the first one back after combat in Europe ended. As for my father, he was directed to return home and on April 19, 1945, joined hundreds of other 376th personnel aboard the USS West Point in Taranto Harbor. They were welcomed aboard by the comedian Red Skelton and safely arrived back in the United States on April 29, 1945, docking in Norfolk, Virginia. (Photo and crew identification courtesy of Hal Heist and family).

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May 26, 2024
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His son
by: Paul Ehrenberg

My father was Marvin Ehrenberg. If there is anyone left from this group I would love to hear any stories from you

Aug 16, 2020
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Daddy’s crew!
by: Duff O’Delll

I found this same crew photo in my Daddy’s momentos... I’m so glad to finally learn the names and positions of his crew mates...

Jun 28, 2016
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Update Fallen
by: Paul Trombetta

Pete Trombetta Died in May 1946 of Leukemia.

Feb 22, 2016
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Communication for William Walter
by: Jessica (Walter)

If anyone is looking to reconnect with William Walter, please do not hesitate to contact me at my email....dj71509@gmail.com
I am his grand daughter.

Dec 04, 2015
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EMAIL
by: Anonymous

MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS p_ehrenberg@yahoo.com.

Dec 04, 2015
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Thanks for the comment
by: Stuart Young

Paul Ehrenberg, thanks for your comments. I have been attending the 376th Bomb Group reunions with you dad's navigator Hal Heist. His stories about the missions he flew on with our dads have been just awesome and have given me a true appreciation for what they did for their country. After serving as your dad's radio operator, my dad went back on active duty during the Korean War and like you, my dad served in the Viet Nam War by helping launch B-52's out of Thailand. He retired from the Air Force in 1972, worked for Raytheon, and died of cancer in 1999. I began my own Air Force career in 1973 as a personnel officer. Enjoyed it for 22 years. After my mom died in 2010, I discovered my dad left a journal of his time in Italy during WWII. I have written a book about my dad's exploits based on that journal. I'll send you a flash drive version of the book if you let me know where to send it. Good hearing from you...Stu Young

Dec 04, 2015
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SON
by: PAUL EHRENBERG

MY FATHER WAS MARVIN EHRENBERG. WE HAVE HIS MEMEROBILIA IN MY BROTHERS HOUSE. HE WAS ASKED TO FLY IN THE ISRAELI WAR OF INDEPENDENCE BUT DECLINED BECAUSE HE HAD JUST GOTTEN MARRIED. I WAS IN VIETNAM AS A RADAR MECHANIC ON F4E PHANTOMS.

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376 ARCHIVES

The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.

At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.

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My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Sep 18-21, 2025

CITY:Rapid City, SD

HOTEL:




Click here to read about the reunion details.

previous reunions


For Sale

The Other Doolittle Raid


The Broken Wings of Zlatibor


The Liberandos


Three Crawford Brothers


Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior


376th Bomb Group Mission History


The Last Liberator


Full Circle


Shadows of Wings


Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


I Survived Ploesti


A Measure of Life


Shot Down In Yugoslavia


Stories of My Life


Attack


Born in Battle


Bombardier's Diary


Lost Airmen


Langdon Liberando