Kibler Crew
Courtesy of Chuck Tygart
This is Capt John D. Kibler's crew. This picture was taken stateside in Topeka< KS when the crew was assigned their plane (42-95371) "Topper." The nose art was a gal wearing a top hat. The plane in this picture is not "Topper." The crew flew all their missions together until they were shot down over Vienna, Austria on 8 July 1944.
Squatting L-R: Carl Chapman (B); Paul Westerhouse (N); John D. Kibler (P); James Welsh (CP)
Standing L-R: George Schultz (NG); Lewis Hendricks (TG); Richmond Dvis (E/TTG); Frederick Smith (RO/WGG); Leonard Tygart (BTG); Ferdinando Arigoni (WG)
Kibler and Arigoni were KIA on their last mission because they were unable to get out of "Topper." The rest of the crew all became POWs. The officers went to Stalag I and the enlisted men went to Stalag IV.