1st Lt. Philip Kelley Whitman (O-818258) was the pilot for this his 50th mission. He was born on 5 May 1919 in Zion, Illinois, the son of Guy F. and Sadie Whitman. The Whitman’s lived in Zion in 1930. Whitman graduated from high school in 1936. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Yoemen from 1937 until 1941, first aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga and then the _U.S.S. Augusta, _attaining Petty Officer First Class. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a B-17 pilot. Whitman was awarded the Air Medal with three oak clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.

He married Virginia E. (Wesp) Whitman (1922-2009) and they had three children. He was employed in the insurance industry and worked for Citibank.

Whitman died on 28 September 2019 at age 100. He was buried in plot O3, grave 9785 in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, NJ.

Brig Gen Wm C Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Crash of B-17 44-6163 MACR 12109