Lt Ray Bathurst, B-25 Combat Bombardier….

Lt Col Raymond J. Bathurst USAF (Ret) 11 Oct. 1920 - 15 Aug. 2018

Bombardier School, Class of 1943-1

Graduated from Blytheville Army Airfield, Arkansas. S/N: O-813295?. Assigned to 3rd A.F. 46th Bomb Grp.at Columbia, S.C. Then the 310th Bomb Gp 381st Bomb Sqdn flying B-25’s in the Ghisonaccia Corsica area in Dec. 1944 (see http://57thbombwing.com/ 381st_History/HistoryDec44.pdf (p. 22)

Capt.
of Columbia, S.C

From Grandson James G Nagler; to 57th Bomb Wing Face Book;

Well, it's taken me pretty much all day to wrap my head around it and accept the hard fact that this morning at approximately 0530 EST my grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Bathurst, USAF Retired, aka "Pap," passed on to be with my beloved grandmother Lois Bathurst, aka Nanna, once again. I feel very lucky to have had him in my life for the 47 years that I did, and I owe him everything as he taught me so much through life. He started life during the depression in very humble beginnings, but lived a very adventerous, full and successful life through the years to come. I had hoped he would reach a century, but considering the numerous different ways and times that he cheated death, I have to say less than 2 months shy of his 98th birthday was a most impressive feat to reach in and of itself….and he did so somehow without so much as a scratch! lol For those of you who knew him, you already know he was the most salt of the earth man you could ever meet. Patient, well educated and wise, he was a man that showed respect to all, no matter who they were or where they came from. I never once saw hime be mean, arrogant, irrational, or unkind to anyone - a true gentleman in every sense of the word and always willing to help others. If you didn't know him, I wish you had gotten the chance, he tended to rub off on others and for the better of all. As for me, I am going to be pretty lost without him knowing that he is no longer here, but I couldn't be more thankful for having had him in my life and for what he taught me. Rest in peace, Pap, I can only aspire to be half the man you were, and for that I truly love you now and forever no matter where you are. Thank you for everything.

Barbi Ennis Connolly Princessbarbi_B25@msn.com 57th Bomb Wing Historical Researcher.

http://57thbombwing.com/

Raymond J Bathurst