My grandfather passed away in 2010 at the age of 89 and was one of the most amazing and influential people in my world and in many.
I was 27 when he passed away and feel so blessed to even know him and have the opportunity to grow up with him around.
My PopPop was 6’4 and was a gentle giant and known to many as Big Jim. He spoke about the war everyone once in a while and some experiences as a B-26 pilot but the one thing he would always mention was that he lost his best friend and co-pilot and also one of his gunners in one of the missions. He always talked about their sacrifice for this country when negative things would happen in the government but would never talk about what he did for the country. He was so humble and amazing. He flew in 57 missions before being awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross.
When he returned home, he went to University and then started a business with his brother. My father and now brother both still work at the small family business that he started in 1958.
The reason for my letter is I wanted to know if I could purchase copies or jpeg, or pdf’s of the pictures with my grandfather online? I want to do something special for my dad for Christmas and I think this will be perfect. He was so touched when he saw these and I would love to frame them so they could go next to my grandfather’s flag and medals.
My family is very close and not a day goes by where we don’t think of my grandfather. If this is not an option, I completely understand, I just knew I had to reach out when we saw these pictures. My father just could not believe they existed and was so moved to see them. When you see something like this, it just amazes you at what else might be out there.
Thank you again for your consideration and for the amazing website. What a treasure it is.
Sincerely,
Ashley Amick
Dave Padgett
Bomb Group: maybe 394th
Bomb Squadron: unk
Years in service: 1942-45
Graduation Class: Douglas Class of 1943-I
Class Location: Douglas, GA
Comments: My Dad flew B-26s over Europe from England for 66 missions. According to his flight school graduation book, he was shot down twice and returned to England via the French Resistance. His co-pilot was Eugene Wegman from Rochester, NY. All of his records were apparently destroyed in a fire. I would love any information regarding his service as he never discussed any of it with his family. Dad died in 1990.
What happened on May 13, 1944 mission? I would like to know who all were on the crew and who were the wounded crewmen. I have a pic of my dad later in the war with Col. Wood and crew where dad again flew co-pilot. Most of the original crew were in that pic, so I wondered about the wounds, etc.
Thanks,
Wynn Anderson, son of Andy Anderson
Brian McGregor
Thank you,
Jim Burwell
Thank you,
Andrew Sparkman
| exCaptain Max Petrisek, pilot, class 43F, 17BG 95th BSqd., 1942-1945. My B26 bases were Barksdale Field, Constantine N Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, Dijon France. 63 missions most as Flight leader and one as Command Pilot. We flew over by the Southern route. Sadly I lost my tail gunner, "Smitty" Gunnels, original 1st pilot Joseph Shoepps and bombardier, Camillo Tensi, because they shot down; attrition and time, I was transferred to first pilot. The most memorable missions were invasion of S France, Bombing N Italy bridge were a 88mm AA went through the rear and exited before exploding and crippling the plane and killing the tail gunner- Sgt. Gunnels. We made it to an emergency field S of Venice. Beyond combat missions there was a short wing B26 that I took to the red line of 350 MPH where it permanently lost normal air dynamics. Another not so normal flight was ferrying a new B26 across the North Sea in a storm with most of the flight instruments non functional. One flight was to bring war correspondence to our Sardinia home base that resulted in an unplanned night landing without any operating control tower. Some all fun flights included buzzing sail boats and mountain goats in the Sardinia area. Perhaps the dumbest act was to overload the plane with over a dozen cases of rum in Puerto Rico on our long trip overseas. The complete team support made it possible for many of us to survive. The pilot I trained with at Barksdale was Jack D. Amos. Thanks buddies! |
Bomb Group: 394th
Bomb Squadron: 585th
Years in service: till 1944
Graduation Class: Unknown
Class Location: Unknown
Comments:
I am trying to get in contact with Ms. Mollie Garcia and Mr. Scott M. Kirby that posted on this site previously regarding their relative/father Lt. Francis M. Kirby aircraft commander on B-26-B-55 Marauder 42-96117 shot down June 12, 1944. My wife’s Grandmother’s, Mary Louise Richie, first husband was 2Lt James D Jones, bombardier of the crew and Killed in Action on that day. They were married shortly before his leaving for the ETO and did not have any children. She later married Rush Lee Johnson, another member of the 585th.
We have seen the picture of Lt Kirby’s crew on this website and the book “Bridge Busters” but are still trying to confirm which individual is James Jones.
We are doing research on both men and would greatly appreciate any information that you may have.
I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help.
V/R
E.G. “Buck” Shuler III
Lt Col. SCANG
BombGp: 320
Squadron: 441
Years: 44-45
Class: N/A
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Comments: Writing a book about my uncle Nicolas assigned to the 320 BG/441st Sqd. Need some information on the a list of surviving B-26s today, flying or static condition. I found some information that is not current, using this for the introduction of the book. I have his grave marker in Michigan and the memorial site in France with his crew. My brother, an artist by profession, did a portrait of him. The picture of him was from a family photo he sent home during his training in the US. Use as you will. Also providing a picture of me at the memorial site in France.
The crew:
Pilot Author Mac-Curdy
Co-Pilot Elmer Cudworth
Bombardier John Hill
Gunner Nicolas Bentas
Gunner Lloyd Rahl
Gunner Henry Tothamer
Thanks to all.
Nick Cressy
If anyone has anything about the By-Golly, Captain West or the crew that they would like to share with Captain West's grand-daughter Christy
Thanks so much for this site and all the wonderful information about so many brave and loved men. -Greg Johnson
Dear Greg,
In his account of the events, the co-pilot says that he was hit by shell fragments in his right leg and knee, and that the aircraft was filled with fumes from the fire. The pilot was last seen at his position attempting to keep the aircraft under control so that the crew could bail out. The navigator passed out from inhaling the fumes, and it is assumed that the pilot was also overcome by fumes before he could bail out.
The crew were: Capt. John Q. West (Pilot), 1/Lt. William C. Budge (Co-Pilot), 2/Lt. Douglas H. Cramer (Navigator), 1/Lt. Fred J. Daoust (Bombardier), T/Sgt. Chester J. Natanek (Radio/Gunner), S/Sgt. Harold Zola (Engineer/Gunner), S/Sgt. Edward B. Picklesimer (Armorer/Gunner), Sgt. Jacob W. Brinn (Armorer/Gunner), S/Sgt. Lloyd T. Webb (GEE Operator).
West and Cramer were killed, the rest of the crew became prisoners of war. Daoust was treated in hospital for burns to his face, hands, and legs. Picklesimer broke his neck, and Budge was treated for wounds to his knee and leg.
Budge recommended that Capt. West should receive an award for his courageous and selfless actions that allowed the crew to survive that day.
A few weeks previously, on July 16, 1944, Capt. West flew 42-96138 ("By Golly") for 150 miles on one engine and crash landed at a fighter strip at Azeville (A-7) in Normandy. All crew members survived, and West was awarded the DFC. There are photographs of Capt John Quinn West and crew standing alongside "By Golly" at http://www.fold3.com/image/231730383/ and of the crashed aircraft at http://www.fold3.com/image/231730384/
The aircraft was evidently named because Capt. West was a devoutly religious man, and "By Golly" was the strongest language that he would use.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
-Michael Kuzma
Marauderman's Name: Russell Johnson
Bomb Group: 9th
Bomb Squadron: 451
Years in service:
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: Planes we have pictures of "I'll be Seeing You soon", "Piece Maker", "Eleanor B."
[large
image]Looking for information on B-26 S/N 42-96101 fuselage code 4T-N assigned to the 585 BS, 394 BG. According to the internet this was Captain Lyndsey's aircraft. I would like to onow if there are any photos of this aircraft, specifically the nose art.
I am doing some research on Captain Lyndsey so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Lt Col Twedt
TRENTON N. TWEDT, Lt Col, IA ANG
Commander, 233d Intelligence Squadron
Sincerely,
J2 and Duryea Warn
Mr. Warn is awesome! Thank you!!
My name is Tom Drodge and I am trying to do some research on the B26 Marauder "Times Awasting" that left Greenland in the fall of 1942 with seven officers on board. It crashed in Saglag, Labrador, Nl. with all on board surviving. I have read some articles about this plane but I was wondering if you know anything about any of the officers that were on board. I am planning on writing a book and is finding it very difficult in trying to gather information. If you could be of any help it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and look forward to your reply.
Yours truly,
Tom Drodge
Could you please help me to find, in the web, the pictures of B26 in action over the marshalling yard of Florence Campo di Marte on March 11 , 1944 ? It is a series of shots taken during the above mentioned action led, as far as I know, from 42nd BW, 319th and or 320th BG.
Thanking you in advance, Sandro Censi from Italy
Bomb Group: 17th
Bomb Squadron: 95th
Years in service: 1941-43 (KIA 1 March 1943)
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments:
I'm Hi's great nephew. His footlocker recently turned up in a shed in, I believe, Wyoming. Sgt. Gary Wayland at Warren AFB did yeoman's work in tracking down Hi's family and getting the the footlocker to his surviving relatives.
Some folks have in the past here asked about any information about the downing of his ship, the Barrel-House Bessie and Capt. William Kemp, Hi's buddy. In true "two birds, one stone" fashion, I have a letter Bill sent to Hi's wife Judy about the crash and one he sent to Hi's parents.
Hi was listed as MIA after the crash on March 1, 1943. It wasn't until October 12, 1943, that the War Department confirmed he had been killed in a telegram to Hi's wife.
Sometime during that long wait, Bill wrote to Judy about the crash.
Undated letter from “Bill” to Judy
(Judy was Hi’s wife. She retyped many letters Hi had sent to her and sent the typed copies to Hi’s parents. This is one of the retyped letters. Bill is almost certainly Captain William R. Kemp)
COPY
Judy, I really don't know what to tell you about Hit! The only thing that I can possibly do is to tell you how it happened and let you draw your own conclusions. I'm not trying to destroy your faith, but I feel that you should know the facts, and thereby know what to expect. If you will read back through Avaition [sic] you will find that a few people, but just a very few have lived through accidents just about as bad.
Well, here it is. We had a target that day that would require us to go in over the target, right on the ground. Everything went find [sic], we made our run on the target at a pretty good speed, being right on the ground, and saw no opposition till we were right over the target. Then all hell broke loose. They were throwing everything at us. Right in the midst of this, Hi's airplane seemed-to pull up a bit and then just slowly began to roll over. It went all the way over and it seemed that he was just doing a slow roll, but just as he came out on the bottom of the roll, he hit the ground, and the airplane, which still had its bombs in it, just literally blew to pieces. That's just the way it happened-there one minute, gong the next, and who am I to say if anyone lived through it? Clint Caywood and little Ivan Martin were in the airplane with Hi. The ship was old "Barrel-House Bessie." We lost 3 other crews and 4 ships right there within about 5 seconds.
This may all sound very harsh, Judy, but I believe you will want to know just how and what happened, and it is surely your right to know! Nobody knows whether Hi and Caywood were hit, or whether their control cables were severed, but as far as I can figure it out, it must have been one of the two, because apparently, it was completely out of control.
That's all anyone knows about it Judy, so I can hardly say more except that it all seems so utterly senseless and futile. I just _can’t_ understand why people must _fight_ wars.
If you wish to know anything else please feel free to write me as I know how you must feel - believe me.
As Ever,
Bill
--
BIll also wrote to Hi's parents. In a sad twist of fate, his letter to them bears the same date as the War Department's "sincerely regret" letter to them.
Letter from Capt. William R Kemp to Mr. & Mrs. T.C. Appelget (Hi’s parents, Thomas C Appelget and Helen (Gallup) Appelget)
Oct 16 1943
Hello Folks:
How is the hunting coming along? Sure wish I could be there to go with you. Instead of that, I again have to be the bearer of bad tidings. Did you ever find out anything from the Red Cross that was operating in the vicinity of Hi’s accident? If you didn’t, this will probably be news to you—bad as it is.
I visited the scene of the accident about a month ago. I didn’t write you then, because I thought I was on my way home, and could see you personally. I didn’t make it as you can see by the address.
Well, anyway, I found Hi’s airplane. It was pretty awful. The plane was all burned up, but the type was easily recognizable, and as it was the only one of that type lost in the area, I have no doubts that it was Hi’s. As I said, it was pretty awful. The ship hit the ground with such force, that pieces of it were scattered all over the area. But the worst of it was that we found bits of clothes, shoes, caps, earphones, etc., scattered around a radius of nearly 100 yds. It must have been a terrific explosion. We could find no definite means of identifying anything, except a piece of Caywards overalls with his initials on it. It proved _to me_ beyond doubt that no one got out. I wish to god I could send you _good_ news, but I know you want to know the truth. On top of everything else, we have had no news whatsoever about him being a P.O.W.
More later.
I remain, as ever,
Bill
Can anyone tell me what the bomb load of the 5 B26’s was that bombed the gasworks in Amsterdam? And maybe also what was the result of the bombardment?
Thank you for the help,
Niels van der Lee
I have included two photos - on of my father and mother, taken just before he left and a second one of a Christmas card that he sent to me, received after his death. I was six months old when he died and never met him.
I would so much like to learn more about him and hope that there may be someone who can share information with me.
Thank you,
Judith Pollard Harned
I am an American citizen from Pennsylvania, although I have been living in the United Kingdom for a number of years. Last week my family and I took a trip to Normandy, staying right on Utah Beach and visiting Omaha Beach, completing our visit at the American Cemetery. I am not aware of any family involvement in the D-Day invasion, but in the visitor's center at the cemetery I searched in the lists for my family name and discovered one entry for Edward N. Grove.
Thank you for any help or suggestions offered.
Yours Sincerely,
Timothy W. Grove
P.S. Coincidentally, the place where we were staying was near to the museum on Utah Beach and I took a couple of photos of the B-26 on display there.
Dear Timothy,
According to Missing Aircrew Report #6359, on 5 July 1944, B-26 serial number 42-107834 T6-F (no name) of the 573 Bomb Squadron was participating in an attack on the Senonches Fuel Dump by the 391 Bomb Group. It was hit by FLAK on the bomb run and a fire started which spread to the aircraft's bomb bay. The co-pilot and bombardier suffered burns when the hydraulic tank exploded, but both managed to bail out. They were later treated in hospital for their injuries. In the rear of the aircraft, only the Radio Operator/Gunner managed to bail out before the aircraft exploded.
The crew were: 1/Lt. Louis E. Hartman (P) KIA, 2/Lt. Kenneth L. Arneson (CP) POW, 1/Lt. Donald E. Collins (BN) POW, S/Sgt. Adolph L. Pavinski (EG) KIA, T/Sgt. Donald R. Shearer (RG) POW, Pvt. Edward N. Grove (AG) KIA.
Witnesses were: S/Sgt. Arlo L. Carr (AG), S/Sgt. James H. Thurmon (EG), T/Sgt. Howard G. Baldwin (RG).
In his statement, Collins implied that both he and Arneson bailed out through the bomb bay. He also states that Hartman, the pilot, was unable to follow them due to fire. He was forced to bail out through the top hatch, but was knocked unconscious when hitting the tail stabiliser, and failed to open his parachute.
Pavinski and Grove were last seen near the waist window, but it is unknown why both failed to bail out. This crew's regular Armorer Gunner, Sgt. William J. Bell, was KIA on 28 May 1944 and is buried at Cambridge, UK. The remaining crew members had flown 42 missions together, except for Grove - it was his first, and sadly his last, mission !
A photo of Hartman and of his crew can be found at http://www.391stbombgroup.com/391stbga_136.htm & http://www.391stbombgroup.com/391stbga_137.htm
Grove's next of kin (his mother) is listed as residing in Philadelphia. You state that you are originally from Pennsylvania also, so there's a chance that you may be related !
If you're currently living in UK, you may be interested to hear that some of the buildings, roads, and parts of the runway and perimeter track of the 391BG's airfield at Matching Green, Essex, have survived should you wish to see them. The men of the 391BG are also commemorated at the local church and airfield memorial. Photographs of the airfield and buildings can be found at http://www.wartime-airfields.com and http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?1647-Matching
Regards,
Steve Sharp
Present age: 95 years
94th Bomb Group
344th Bomb Squadron
Years in Service: 1941-1945
Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, Newark, NJ
Graduated November 1941
Staff Sergeant
Comments: I first flew in a B17 until my crew was split up while overseas in England where I was put into a pool of gunners. I then flew in a B26 which disappointed me because of all of my B17 training. After awhile, I got used to the B26 which was a bit easier to deal with due to flying in a lower altitude. No heated suits or oxygen masks were necessary, as they were in the B17. The missions were also shorter ones. While flying over France in a B26, my plane collided with another B26 due to zero visibility, and I bailed out using my parachute. I still have that parachute that saved my life. My daughter made commemorative pillows for me and for my grandchildren using the silk from the parachute.
I have many photographs depicting my years in The United States of America Army Air Corp.
Thank you,
Judy Harned
BombGp: 391
Squadron: 573
Years: 44-45
Class: ?
Location: Topeka, Ks
I am the Grandson of Earl L Theis. He was a B26 tailgunner shot down in 45. Just recently found out that while he was assigned to the 391st 573rd Squadron due to a lack of tail gunners he was assigned to fly with the 387th BG 559th Squadron.
Found this on the site and would like to hear from anyone with to exchange information, I know have some pictures and documents that I will be adding to the site soon. Message that led me to post this as follows The plane mentioned below was 44-67894 , I now have a picture, albeit poor quality of the wreckage from the crash site.
Date: 10/14/2002
Time: 12:53:51 PM
Johnnie F. Jones BombGp: 391st Squadron: Years: 1942-1945 Location: Scott Field, IL. Radio/gunner on Little Pink Panties in ETO in Winter-Spring 1945. On 27th mission my plane was shot down over Germany. Escaped to Switzerland till end of War.
Originally I joined the 573rd Squadron of the 391st Bomb Grp., and started flying missions January 19,1945. "Little Pink Panties" was one of the planes our crew flew missions in. We also flew missions in "Little Gal". On April 4,1945 my crew was broken up so the pilot could fly on A-26s and I was reassigned to the 387th Grp., 559th Squadron. On April 16th, our squadron was assembled to fly our second mission of the day. I do not remember what plane we were assigned to fly in. We were on a mission to Tuttlingen when the plane took a direct hit in the left engine and began losing altitude. The pilot ordered us all to commence the bail out procedure. I was the second man out of the plane, landing about 40 miles inside Germany. I spent four days and four nights walking through Germany, arriving at the Rhine River on April 20th at the town of Laufenberg. I attempted to swim the Rhine River, narrowly missing the dam's intake, being pulled out of the river by Swiss soldiers. I was sent to an internment camp at Adelboden for the remainder of the war in the ETO. The tail gunner was taken prisoner by German soldiers. The Co-pilot, Bombardier and Engineer/gunner also made it into Switzerland. The pilot, named Reed, was killed; his chute being full of flak. I completed 26 missions.
Thank you!
Johnnie,
If you were on the crew of "Little Pink Panties" you would have been in the 573rd Bomb Squadron. That being so the only B26 to be lost over Germany, by that squadron, was February 13th 1945 when 1.Lt Michael Dobda and crew were lost.
My sincerest thanks for your story of the bailout on April 16 1945 the real story beats any official report... The B26 on the April 16 mission 1945 was 44-67894 TQ-M and the crew was as follows:
2.Lt Raymond Reid
2.Lt Kenneth J Stear
S/Sgt Richard J Bockhahn
Sgt Johnnie Jones
Sgt Robert L Mercado
S/Sgt Earl L Theis
Regards, Trevor J Allen
I have recently moved to Stebbing in Essex, UK where the 1st Pathfinder Squadron was based during the war, the various bits I have read online regarding the Squadron are a real insite to the time, extremely brave young men, as were all the airmen during WWII who fought against Germany and its allies.
I would like to put to bed a rumor which various people in the village seem to think happened just after the war, apparently there was a vast pit dug and equipment buried in it, some say it is under our house or field but the only people who would really know are the members of the Squadron who put it there, are you able to help me by contacting any surviving members of the Squadron who may have been involved?
Kind Regards, Brain Jones (name changed)
Greetings from the UK.
I have recently become a little bit obsessed with researching details about Great Dunmow Airfield, in Essex, England. I live very close to this airfield and when I was a lot younger remember cycling along the runway, there are still remnants of the runway left and you can still clearly see the outline of the Airfield and runways on Google earth. I find all this fascinating, and as I say extremely interested in the history of this important site.
I am a keen modeller and plan to build a Marauder, twinning this with photos and history of the time, which I have already researched.
My plans include building a particular Marauder that was known to fly missions from Great Dunmow so that in some small way I can remember the history of the airfield and the crews that flew from it before the planned proposal to build 700 houses on the site.
So – to my question, the Marauder I am keen to know the history of is 9th USAAF 386th Bomb group 553rd Bombardment squadron, B-26B-15-MA Marauder 41 31608 AN-Q, with nose art ‘Our Baby’, from your site I have found several references to this plane but have come to a dead end with regard to what actually happened to it, there are conflicting reports that it crash landed in Lympne, Kent on the 26th November 1943, but also a picture of the same plane on a visit to the 381st Bombgroup base at Ridgewell on the following day the 27th November, it’s there that I have ground to a halt. I would dearly like to complete the story of this plane and its crew and closing the loop with Great Dunmow, and would appreciate any additional details that your experts can supply me.
With thanks and kind regards, Dave Matthews
My father kept hand written notes of each of his over 50 missions. A summary of those is attached. The crew: Pilot William J. Moriarity Co-Pilot Jesse N. Wilkes, Bombardier Clarence E. Burgland, Engineer Kenneth A. Schell, Radio Man Doyle K. Gantt, and Gunner Charles F. Salas.
Marauderman's Name: William J. Moriarity
Bomb Group: 387th
Bomb Squadron: 556th
Years in service: 2
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: "Wild Bill" piloted his crew on over 50 missions from May 27, 1944 to October 30, 1944. Sometimes twice a day. They bombed railroad bridges, ammo dumps and enemy troops. Same crew for all missions, returned safely even through 2 emergency landings. Bill received the Air Medal, 9 Oak Leaf Clusters and several other medals. On D-Day they flew cover for Utah Beach.
I have additional information if you are interested. Thanks, William F. Moriarity
My uncle, Frank Osetek, was a gunner on "Mr. Five-by-Five" and served I believe pretty much the entire duration of the war with Lt. Col. Ross. Thank you.
Mr. Frohne:
I just wanted to reach out to you with regards o the post your recent post regarding your father-in-law, Lt. Col. Ross. My uncle Frank Osetek served on "Mr. Five-by-Five" with your father in law, for from what I can ascertain was the duration of the war.
I do not have many articles from my uncle's service - but I do have his discharge papers and all of his mission logs.
My Uncle Frank passed away in 1996. He, like I suspect many other men who served really didn't talk a lot about his service, other than showing me all of the locations of the bases at which he was stationed throughout his service abroad. When asked, my father would tell me my uncle had some difficulties after he returned home, saying, "he saw a lot of his friends lose their lives, and that he was very fortunate to have been flying with the best pilot in the squadron (your father-in-law)."
Judging from the information I have been able to put together, it is remarkable that "Mr. Five-by-Five" came through without major incident, given the disposition of so many other places in the 386th BG. Remarkable.
Anyway, occasionally I visit the B26.Com site just to see what folks are posting. I just wanted to reach out and say thanks for the item you shared and if you have any other similar items (photos) in your family's possession related to "Mr. Five-by-Five" that you might be able to copy and pass along, I would be interested.
Thanks and have a good day.
Sincerely,
Greg Osetek
Date:
10/5/2013
Time:
7:40 PM
Recently found my father in laws photos from his mothers scrap book circa 1942 -1945. Lt. Col Joseph H. “Jack” Ross USAF deceased May 24, 1993. Crusaders – 386th Bomb Group (M) B/N “Mr.Five by Five”. [Read more about Mr. Ross here]. -Tom Frohne
Bomb Group: 386th
Bomb Squadron: 555th
Years in service: enlisted March 24, 1942 in Lubbock, Texas - shot down October 7, 1944
Graduation Class: want to find information
Class Location: want to find information
Comments: Just learned about this bombardier who was a first cousin to my son-in-law's mother. Researching family history for son-in-law's birthday - as a surprise. Found someone online yesterday - ironically, 69 years to the day that the plane was shot down - who was also searching for information and he had the crash report. Joseph and the pilot and copilot were buried at the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri on January 26, 1950. Three other crew members were able to get out of the plane. The serial number on the plane was 131970 and it was called the Spam Burger. Joseph's father died before he enlisted and his mother and brother died in 1949. His grandfather and his aunts have also died. There are only two other people directly related who are still alive - my son-in-law and his cousin. I am interested in a picture of Joseph and of the B-26 called the Spam Burger - and any other information or stories anyone might have. Ironically enough, my husband - who is now 94 years old - was a bombardier instructor at Big Spring AAF from May 1943 till August 1944. Joseph is not in any of the three books he has. When I know more, I want to write a dedication page for this first generation American who gave his life. -Bunny Bond
Dear William,
The name "Bar Fly" was given to a number of Marauders. As the photograph you mention does not appear on your post, it's hard to identify which one. However, I've found that your father-in-law's name, "Rosselli Ernest.J.", is listed as a Corporal of the 554BS on page 69 of "The History of a Bombing Outfit, the 386th BOMB GROUP" http://www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/pdf/386th_bomb_group.pdf . So it's likely that aircraft serial number 131877 RU-V "Bar Fly" of the 554 Bomb Squadron, 386 Bomb Group, is the aircraft that he appears with in your photograph.
We are very fortunate to have the "DIARY OF THE 386TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP By Chester Klier" available on B26.COM. Although your father-in-law's name does not appear in the diary, there are many accounts of the missions which "Bar Fly" took part in. If you type "bar fly site:www.b26.com" in Google you'll find these, but I feel all of these fantastic documents are well worth reading.
Furthermore, there are a number of photographs of "Bar Fly" on the web:
http://www.b26.com/marauderman/alfred_j._byrnes.htm, http://www.fold3.com/image/32180041/, http://www.fold3.com/image/32180086/, http://www.fold3.com/image/38860728/,
Perhaps, your father-in-law appears in some of these ?
Curiously, the second photograph shows different artwork to the others and also a fixed 50 calibre gun can be seen protruding from the nose. Aircraft 131877 was a B-26B-30-MA model fitted with the fixed nose gun, so either these are different aircraft or perhaps the gun was subsequently removed (to reduce weight and provide more room for the bombardier) and the artwork repainted.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
###
Regarding the post by Michele - Date: 8/18/2013 Time: 9:56 PM
Dear Michele,
There is a post on the B26.COM guestbook for 2002 which mentions Mr. Steen (http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2002.htm Date: 11/4/2002 Time: 9:02:04 PM) by Brenda Hunter Pullin. Her father, Andy G. Hunter Bomb (322BG 451BS) was a the pilot of B-26 "Pickled-Dilly", serial no. 118276. His co-pilot was Carl O. Steen of Duluth, MN.
There are photographs of "Picked-Dilly" on George Raymond Moon's dedication page at http://www.b26.com/marauderman/george_raymond_moon.htm
Furthermore, there are two photographs at http://www.fold3.com/image/270821325/ and http://www.fold3.com/image/270985909/ . Lt. C.O. ("nickname illegible") STEEN is just visible underneath the co-pilot's window on the first photograph, and ANDY "Rebel" HUNTER underneath the pilot's window on the second.
It would be fascinating to learn if Mr. Steen remembers any of the people named on any of these web pages and photographs !
Regards,
Steve Sharp
Bomb Group: 319th
Bomb Squadron: 439th
Years in service: 1942
Graduation Class: Unknown
Class Location: Unknown
In regards to http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2005.htm#Ron_Miller past and Laurie Witche. Ron Miller passed away some years ago. I am Robert Miller, his Grandson. I have continued what he left off and I am continuing to look for any info on Lavern Helpingstine, my Great Grandfather. I currently Live in Moore Oklahoma and Work on Tinker AFB so i have visited Lavern's grave. I am Posting here once more to try to get into contact with anyone who has any info on Lavern. I will continue to monitor this page in hopes that someone may contact me.
Thanks,
Robert Miller
The man is still alive and is 93 this year. He told me that he was escorting B26 Marauders. The Spitfire escort would have joined them somewhere near Le Havre.
f you have anyone that can shed some more light on the incident it would be most appreciated. Anything time and weather conditions, eye witness accounts even just an operations report will assist in my research.
Kind regards,
Ron Pemberton
Dear Ron,
I'm sorry if this is hard to follow, but I think I've managed to dig up something that may be of help...
On August 27, 1943, only four B-26 groups were operating from the UK i.e. the 322, 323, 386, and 387 bomb groups.
Rouen was hit by Marauders on August 25:
August 25th, 1943 (WEDNESDAY) [here]
The VIII Air Support Command flies Missions 34A and 34B against two targets in France.
(1) 21 B-26B Marauders bomb the power station at Rouen at 1832 hours and
(2) 31 B-26s attack Tricqueville Airfield at 1834 hours; they claim 1-8-5 Luftwaffe aircraft.
The Group (387th) then rested until August 25 when a mission was flown to Rouen, France. [here]
According to this information [here], only the 322 and 387 BG flew missions on August 25.
Therefore, we can deduce that Tricqueville must have been hit by the 322BG, and Rouen was hit by the 387BG on August 25, 1943.
Rouen was again scheduled for attack by Marauders on August 27:
Another site [here] has more information;
August 27, 1943:
Eighth AF - Over 180 HBs attack German rocket-launching site construction at Watten. This is the first of the Eighth's missions against V-weapon sites (later designated NOBALL tgts). 36 B-26's hit Poix A/F. Mission to bomb Rouen power station is aborted because of bad weather and extremely heavy enemy fighter opposition.
Another site [here] has more information; August 27th, 1943 (FRIDAY)
- The VIII Air Support Command flies Missions 36A and 36B against targets in FRANCE:
(1) 35 B-26Bs bomb Nord Airfield at Poix at 0826 hours.
(2) 21 B-26Bs are dispatched to the Rouen Power Station but the mission is aborted because of bad weather and extremely heavy enemy fighter opposition.
According to 8thafhs.com, only the 322 and 386 BG flew missions on this date. Although their database gives Poix-Nord as the target for both groups, Rouen is again listed as a target for a B-26 group.
Friday, August 27, 1943 - 386th Bomb Group Mission Number 9, mentions the 322BG that day "the Group (386th) is scheduled to bomb the airdrome at Poix Nord, France, the target is identified as Z364." and "The 322nd Bomb Group will be hitting a target south of us about the same time as we go in."
Furthermore, it states "The 322nd Group had a rough time operating just to the south of us today; one plane turned back early with mechanical failure, and another ship probably ditched before reaching the enemy coast. The formation made enemy landfall at 0818 hours, the remaining nineteen B-26’s were turned back at 0833 by their escort. They were immediately jumped by thirty enemy fighters, some of which pressed home attacks to within thirty yards of the formation. The fighters seemed to be using the cloud cover to their advantage with most of the attacks being made from 5 to 7 o’clock positions. At 0850 hours the Group reported a Spitfire smoking and losing altitude, but under control near St. Valery. The Marauders exited the enemy coast at 0855 hours somewhat beat up, but none the less in tact!"
According to http://www.8thafhs.com/db/index.php only the 322BG and 386BG flew missions on August 27.
Therefore, by elimination, we can deduce that the 322BG must have attacked Rouen on that date !
If the above information is correct and the Spitfire pilot Ron is referring to was escorting B-26s to Rouen on August 25, 1943, then it must have been the 387BG. If it was on August 27, it must have been the 322BG. Also, note the reference to a Spitfire being shot down in Chester's account of August 27. He also lists the Spitfire squadrons providing escort to the 386th on this day, so perhaps this will tie up with your Spitfire pilot's squadron !
Regards,
Steve Sharp
| I was the bombardier on B26's in the spring of 1945. Howard Carter, pilot and James Carter, co-pilot. Information; there is a B26 in flying condition at the Fanasy of Flight Museum, near Polk City, FL. Many other interesting things there also. Oscar Schricker |
Dear Emilio,
According to Missing Air Crew Report #9598, aircraft 43-34396 of the 320BG, 441BS was hit by enemy aircraft fire on November 5, 1944. It had taken off from Alto, Corsica on its way to bomb a rail target at Revereto, Italy, near Lake Garda.
Witnesses reported that it slid out of formation, the pilot evidently fighting for control. Three chutes emerged and one minute later the right wing came off, it then turned over on its back, and crashed into a mountain and exploded.
The crew were:
2/Lt. Truman C. Cole (Pilot)
2/Lt. Paul A. Louis (Co-pilot, )
2/Lt. John W. Pidcock (Bombardier)
T/Sgt. Samuel W. Brush, Jr. (Engineer Gunner)
S/Sgt. Wyatt B. Moore (Radio Gunner)
Cpl. Henry T. McMahon (Armorer Gunner)
S/Sgt. John A. Kramer (Photo Gunner)
Louis later stated that he was shot at during his descent by parachute, and that he was captured by the SS and told that four parachutes had been seen ! Pidcock was also captured and they both became prisoners of war. Cole evaded capture and fled towards Yugoslavia with three members of the British Army, but they were captured at Brazzacco on December 26, 1944. He too became a POW. All other crew members were killed.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
Ladue Missouri Bomber Pilot An Air Rescue Hero
Flyer Has Protected Damaged, Planes, Dropped Aid to Crews Shot Down.
A reputation as a one-man flying rescue squad for shell-ridden bomber planes and wavering fighter planes has been established by First Lt. Harry Deutman Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Deutmnn, an Army press dispatch repotted today, He is 20 years old.
On four occasions Lt. Deutman, pilot of a B-26 Marauder, has pulled out of formations to escort bombers damaged by fink or fighters with engine trouble, to drop life rafts and emergency equipment to occupants of planes that have been-shot down, or to add his plane's fire power to that of a straggling comrade being overpowered by the enemy.
The Army dispatch from a North African base reported that Lt. Deutman, who has flown 50 successful missions, recently completed a job of bombing an important railroad bridge on the Rome-Florence line and then finished up by helping the crew of another plane that encountered trouble. [Source: Ladue newspaper, read more ...]
John Otto Moench
Major General, USAF Retired
Age 91
Major General John O. Moench, an American patriot, passed away after a brave fight against Inclusion Body Myositis on April 3, 2013 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he lived after retiring from the United States Air Force and other endeavors in the civilian business world.
Born on August 4, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois to Laura May and Ferdinand Carl Moench, Sr., John was a product of the Great Depression. He was raised on the south side of Chicago and then on a rural Indiana farm. He graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1939.
As so many young men of the time, he was caught up in the throes of World War II, entered the Aviation Program from Indiana and was commissioned at Columbus, Mississippi in 1943. After serving briefly with the 479th Bombardment Squadron at Avon Park and MacDill Army Air Field, Florida and Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1944 he was assigned to the 323rd Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. There he served as Flight Commander and Assistant Group Operations Officer, flying out of England and France. He accumulated 62 combat missions in the B-26 Marauder. At the end of World War II, he elected to remain in the service. Following a brief period of occupation duty, he returned to the U.S. as Chief of Depot Operations at Air Materiel Command, Wright Field, Ohio to direct the return of war materiel from the European Theater.
Eventually he held post-war assignments in the field, in Air Force Headquarters, Air Force Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany and European Command in Frankfurt, Germany. While stationed in Germany, he met Mary Coppa, a civilian employee of the USAF. They were married on July 29, 1952, in Wiesbaden. They returned stateside with their newborn son Dale in 1953, where John attended the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He then spent one year as Commander of the 6175th ABG at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea and later as director of Plans and Programs, 314th Air Division, Osan Air Base. He went on toserve another two decades in Joint Commands both in the Pacific and with the Joint Staff in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He was a graduate of the Air War College and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Maryland. During his career he served a total of four tours of duty in the Pentagon. His final assignment was as Director, Plans, Policy and Program Formulation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Completing over 30 years of service to his country, he entered the civilian business community as an executive with a Fortune 500 company in New York. Later he established his own wholesale and retail import company in Central Florida.
In the final decades of his life, General Moench was a prolific author and avid historian who produced numerous published works on military history, most notably on the history of the Martin B-26 Marauder and the pilots that flew her.
General Moench was a command pilot. He was a member of numerous military organizations and archives. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Unit Citation Emblem.
He is survived by his devoted wife of over 60 years, Mary Coppa Moench, formerly of Alexandria, Virginia; their daughter, Michele Moench Kirby and her husband Rex Broughton Kirby, Jr.; their son Jon Jeffery Moench. He is also survived by four grand children, Rachel Kirby, Christina Kirby, Rex Kirby III and Madeleine Moench. He was predeceased by his infant son, Dale Webster Moench who is buried with him at Arlington National Cemetery.
Funeral services for General Moench will be held September 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel. Interment, with full military honors, will follow at Arlington National Cemetery with a reception to follow at Fort Myer Officer’s Club.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, (supportwwp.org) 877-768-6807.
Bomb Group:
Bomb Squadron:
Years in service: 43-62
Graduation Class: 43-B
Class Location: Victory Field, Vernon Texas
Comments: I am trying to find information about my uncle while he was a Marauderman in Europe. I only know that he flew 45 combat missions equal to 179 combat hours. I am trying to find out info about his Bomb group and Bomb squadron and any info about his aircraft. I have heard he was one of only two Maraudermen to safely return a heavily battle damaged B26 to her base and safely land her. My uncle was lost September 18, 1962 when his F101 B Voodoo interceptor went don 40 miles south of Montauk Point L. I. N. Y. He was, at that time, Commander of Suffolk County Air force Base.
Any information that can be provided would be most sincerely appreciated.
Charlie Stevens
Bomb Group: 322nd
Squadron: Unsure
Years in service: 2? 1943-45
Comments: My grandfather was a ball-turret gunner in ETO on B26's. He told me stories of occasionally getting to fly on Flak Bait as it was pretty famous and they let crews rotate through to kinda "get in on the action." This is why I assume he was a part of the 322nd. I am just wondering if any of you have any information or photographs with him in them. He passed away back in March 2007.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Philip Hendricks
My father, John P. Duffy (1909-1976), was a crew chief with a B-26 squadron of the 391st BG. I have a stars and stripes article which lists my father, along with four other crew chiefs, who were awarded the bronze star for maintaining their aircraft for 50 missions without mechanical failure during the period (March - Oct. 1944). The article is transcribed as follows:
"Five crew chiefs at the B26 base commanded by Col. Gerald E Williams, of Presque Isle, ME., have been awarded Bronze stars for maintaining their aircraft without mechanical failure from March - Oct 1944. They are: T/Sgt. Rodrick D. Seal, Huoma, LA; T/Sgt. Robert G. Unfried, Cleveland, OH; Sgt. John P Duffy, Wrenshall, MN; Sgt Jessie W. Green, Tulla, TN., Sgt. Winston S. ??, Fontaine, KS." I have the medal in my possession.
I have attached two period photo's for your archives. My mother's name was Bertha Duffy (1917 - 2008). One of the photos shows the right engine of the aircraft reflecting "Bertha", his lifetime love. He died in 1976 of severe COPD and was pretty sure he destroyed his lungs by cleaning the interior of aircraft fuel tanks without proper protection. He was discharged on 10/23/45. I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback on my fathers service and this information. Thanks. Dan Duffy
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[large]Bomb Group: 344th
Bomb Squadron:495th
Years in service: December 12, 1941 until June 1945
Graduation Class: UNKNOWN
Class Location: UNKNOWN
Comments: My grandfather, William E. Davis, flew on a B-26 named, "Invictus". I am sure he was on a couple other planes, but spoke mostly of "Invictus". He passed away in 2009 keeping most of his war stories to himself. He did speak about bombing "buzz rockets" and bridges in Europe. He also told me of a time he was flying from a bombing mission he completed and could see German Fighters above him in the clouds going the other way as they passed by each other. Not a shot was fired.
[large]I am not sure of the date, but my grandfather told me of a time they crash landed their plane and had to jump off the wings as he caught fire during the landing. I always thought that was a cool story to hear.
The attached photo was taken around June 8, 1944 at the sub depot, located at Stanstad Airbase in England. At the time the picture was taken, the airplane had been terribly damaged such that it had to be towed in for the picture. When it was coming in to land on the last flight, the folks in the area thought it was going to a hit a quonset hut and catch fire. However, the pilot was able to get it there with no problem. After the picture, the plane was sent for repair and was transferred to another unit.
My grandfather said Captain Burris was one of the best pilots in the squadron. He was from Texas. He ended up with President Johnson as part of the Air Force Staff.
Their plane, "Invictus" was named my Captain Burris. He chose the name Invictus, which is Latin for Invincible. My grandfather had a leather flight jacket with his name located on the top left breast. The hand painted picture of the Invictus is on the back of the jacket. The artist's name is, Hougland (Hogi). He wore his jacket on every mission that he flew. It has two pockets. In one pocket he carried sunglasses and in the other he carried a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a quarter and a dime. To check the clearances on the gun, he used the same quarter and dime to make adjustments throughout his tour.
The crew in the photo was in the 495th Squadron, 344th Bomb Group, 9th Aire Force based in England. My grandfather was an Engineer, but also worked the top turret of the plane when in action.
The crew in the photos is as follows:
Top from Left to Right: Genefke-Navigator, Capt. Burris-Pilot, Unknown-Bombadier
Front from Left to Right: Triplehorn-Radio, Smokey Hildebrand-Tail Gunner, and my Grandfather, William E. Davis- Flight Engineer.
I am not sure of the plane serial number or what other planes he was on, but would love to find out more if anyone else knows.
Thanks again for your website, I love it.
Respectfully,
Bret S. Cortright Jr.
Grandson
Bomb Group: 397th
Bomb Squadron: 599th
Years in service: 42 - 45
Graduation Class: Airplane Engine Mechanic, 747
Class Location: Sheppard Field, TX
Comments: My dad, Harry Littleton, was the top gunner and crew chief on "Lily from Picadilly" (Martinez); 42-96283. Dad is still living although he is 91, and is still very reluctant to talk about his AAF days; but once in a while, I can get him to open up about his WWII experience. Dad like many of these brave young men was in every major European Air Battle of WWII (Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe, Air Offensive Europe) and according to one of the other gentlemen that was in his squadron, Floyd West, Dad flew quite a few sorties or missions and became crew chief over three aircraft toward the end of the war. Unfortunately Floyd has passed on, but Dad has a couple of pages of names of the crewmen of different planes and until a few years ago kept up with them as much as he could. He can still go through the list and tell a little about each squadron member, if he was shot down, KIA, WIA, RTD, and maybe even survived the war. I recently spoke with Mom who has found boxes of many many pictures of the 397th Bomber Grp., 599th Bomber Sqdn.; of the planes and crews, some pretty shot up. Please get back in touch with me and I will get you in touch with her. Dad recently told me, that after VE Day even though he had an ASR of 83 on 2Sep45, he was being trained to go to the Pacific Theater for the invasion of Japan as a crewman on a B-29; another time my Dad and I were talking, he told me that they went thru hours of boredom interspersed with seconds of abject terror. Dad left the small town in Oklahoma where he grew up (Copan, OK – pop approx.. 800) and traveled to fight a war halfway around the world. He had never ventured more than 20-miles from home and in a few short months of training was thrown into the greatest conflict this world had ever seen. Dad’s health is fading fast now, and I am sadden to say that he will probably not be with us much longer, but these young men were and still are truly heroes in every sense of the word.
Regards,
Joe Littleton
N: Alois J. Hudachko
B: 01 NOV 1918
P: Rock Springs Wyoming
M: Zelma Burlech / Hudachko
D: 22 Aug 2004 R S WYO
Enlisted 1 Nov 1942
Great web site! Thanks in advance for all you do to remember our Marauder Heroes!
Thank you! Rod
Any help you can give me in locating more details would be great. Thanks.
Steve Franklin
Thank you.
William Moffatt
Has anyone seen this or know where it came from?
Thank you, Eric
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[large]Michele
My grandmother's nephew was William Flinn II, he flew the B26 Marauder "THE YANKEE GUERRILLA" 134946 YA-L" on the mission on October 5, 1944 that crashed in Rethondes, France that is noted on your website.
I have enclosed a picture of his grave, he is buried in Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pa.
I am writing a book about the Flinn family and would like to include the photos of the plane and photo of the nurses that is noted on your website. Please let me know if I have permission to use those photos in my book.
Please post the attached photo to your website.
Regards,
Jeffrey Lawrence
[large]FIRST TAF HQ., Dec. 29 - Fighter bombers and mediums of the 12th TAG, dropping their bombs through holes in a heavy overcast today continued their assault on enemy communications ahead of the 7th Army. Thunderbolts of the 12th TAG concentrated on rail targets in the Karls-ruhe-Offenburg-Stuttgart area, while B-26 Marauders attacked targets near Annweiler, ten miles north of Wissembourg. The fighter-bombers slugged four rail yards during the day, reporting two locomotives damaged; 39 railroad cars destroyed and 134 damaged; 32 buildings destroyed and eight damaged, and one ammo dump destroyed. Hitting a German storage dump at Achern, 25 miles northeast of Strasbourg, the Thunderbolts scored 30 direct hits on a cluster of seven buildings and a nearby oil dump. Completing the first full week of good flying weather since its formation, 12th TAC flew 434 missions in which 52 locomotives were destroyed and 186 damaged; 875 railroad cars destroyed and another 1,788 damaged; 32 motor transports destroyed and 93 damaged and rail lines cut in 50 places. Though often outnumbered, its Thunderbolts, Spitfires and Beau-fighters shot down 34 enemy planes during the week, probably destroyed another five and damaged 21 more. The 12th TAC lost 12 planes to enemy action."
Hope to hear from you soon!
-FACTS-
322nd BS / 451st BG
http://www.b26.com/marauderman/albert_hands.htm
Plane: B-26G-15-MA (#44-67813 | SS-P)
That plane was shot down by flak over Stadtkyll, Germany on 1 January 1945 . Killing all crew (5) except my grandfather. Whom has been said to have landed on an AA gun, at which point he was taken prisoner until Mothers day 1945 (I think the camp was liberated by allied forces at that point).
I know that he piloted "Clark's Little Pill" for some time but other than that I know nothing of the birds he flew.
Regards,
Justin Michael
Beautiful story, thanks for posting to the guest book.
Crew:- 2.Lt Nowak pilot;1.Lt Smith co-pilot; Sgt Betenjany toggler; S/Sgt Hendrick engineer/gunner; S/Sgt Ferguson radio gunner; S/Sgt Humphrey armourer gunner; S/Sgt Coney extra.
Cheers, Trevor Allen
Bomb Group: 344
Bomb Squadron:
Years in service: 1941 - ?
Comments: I've been looking into my family history quite a bit lately and have found that my Grand Uncle Marion Kasprzykowski was part of the 344 Bomb Group. Sadly I can not find any pictures of him, his group etc. anywhere, and being that there is not any other family left that I am currently aware of I'm on my own to discover any information that I can. I am writing this email in hopes to discover anything that I can. It would truly mean the world to me to find out more about him. I have found a pretty amazing story that was written by Lieutenant Joseph R. Chiozza, about his last mission in the B26 Marauder which mentions Marion a few times. Although it's a lot of text I am attaching it below. I look forward to hopefully hearing back from you.
Regards, George Waitword
552nd Bomb Sq.
386th Bomb Group (M)
He served from May 21-1942 until September 23, 1945
Service Schools Attended: Chanute Fld AM 1942 AAFTTCD G L Martin R 26 1942
Military occupation specialty and No: airplane and engine mechanic 747.
Hello, I am trying to find some information on my Grandpa, Sgt. James Yep, he was Chinese and from Chicago. I have written above much of the information I have on him. I am looking for information, stories, pictures, and if anyone served with him. My Dad says he remembers James telling him that there plane was named the “Silver Dragon”. I don’t have a serial Number for the plane, but there was a dragon painted along the front of the plane.
Does anyone have anything that might be able to help me in my search?
Thanks so much for your help!
Mary Yep
BombGp: ?
Squadron: ?
Years: 43-46
Class: Pilot
Location: Frederick Army Air Field, Oklahoma
Comments: He was commissioned 2nd Lt and received his pilots wings on or about December 1944. Researching my father’s military history, and I’m hoping anyone can help filling in all the blanks. He did not talk much about it except for his fondness for flying, specifically the B-26.
Regards,
William Ziminski
Birth: Dec 26, 1906 Temple, TX
Death: Mar 15, 1957
Inscription:
S Sgt 559 Bomb Sq A A F/World War II/D F C & O L C-A M & 11 O L C
Burial: Mission Burial Park South
San Antonio
Bexar County
Texas
Thank you. Best wishes,
Hanoch Ben Keshet
| My dad, Frank Johnson, is turning 90 on July 30, 2013. He was part of the 323rd Bomb Group 454th Bomb Squadron and the pilot for his B-26 crew.
Please see attached photo. Not sure how you provide postings / contributions. Please let me know as I would like him to be included in your website. He is a
great guy and married to my mom, Dolores, for 62 years! Judy Piszczek (Johnson) |
Thanks,
Donna
[large]AT3 Benjamin J Johnson USN
Statements endorsed by
Bill Morton and Robert Harwell, 344th BG pilots
Past Presidents of a Marauder Man organization
319th BG
440th
I have a "silver certificate" ($1 bill) my Dad brought home with him with various signatures on it. The only one I'm sure of is a "John Kelly" although others are probably readable by someone more adept at this than I. I know there was a 'ritual' around these bills - anyone have information on this?
David Dickason
I was interested to know when the scanning of the following book may be completed.
http://www.b26.com/book/02/the-marauder-a-book-of-the-22nd-bomb-group.htm
I have a keen interest in the 22nd Bomb Group.
Regards Peter Dunn
I am a Frenchman living in the United States, I have managed to track down one of the surviving airmen of a B26 that was shot down on or about Jul. 13, 1944 around Signes in the Provence Region of Southern France while on a bombing run just before operation Anvil.
I originally had his name as Ostermeller (spelling mistake) and another of his crew (who also survived) as a Lt. Burg - I was unable to find (I believe there must also be a spelling mistake).
In any case, I am sure Mr. Ostermueller is one of the two I was looking for (here is a link to his obituary - http://www.costello-runyon.com/obituary?id=778715 - and he was indeed in the 320th Bomb Group, 441st Squadron and was helped by the local resistance.
I have a picture of my uncle (a French Navy commando who had been parachuted) along with an American airman (either Ostermueller or Burg). I would love to provide the family of either with a copy of the picture and the information I have as to their escape and rescue. Any information you may have on their flight would be highly appreciated or any advice you could give me to pursue this endeavor.
Thank you in advance,
Philippe d'Ayral
Bonjour M d'Ayral,
13 August 1944 B-26 42-43297 BN.20 "Lady Eve III" was hit by flak at 07.08hours 2/3 miles E of Signes, France. The flak struck the B-26 in the right wing just out board of the engine and set the wing on fire. The plane dropped out of formation and three parachutes emerged from the waist window, the plane continued on course for 15/20 seconds when two more parachutes were seen to leave the plane, then the wing fell off, the B-26 went into a spin, crashed and exploded at 43 degrees 06 minutes N,05 degrees 55 minutes E. Parachutes landed in the water. the crew were 1.Lt James H J Hipple;2.Lt's Rudolph Ostermueller; Vincent T Burg; Cpl Harold T Waldrop; T/Sgt Jesse W Largent; Sgt Robert L Allen. (Hiple was killed, Ostermueller, Burg, Waldrop and Allen evaded capture and returned to Allied lines, Largent became a POW.)
Trevor Allen historian b26.com
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image]
[large
image]No photo received but try here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Bomb Group: 320th
Bomb Squadron: 441
Years in service: 1944-?
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: If anyone has any information about my late husband and his service, I would appreciate hearing from you. I know he was a pilot, but I have lost contact with his remaining crew since his death in 2001.
I remember his stories about being in France, and being hungry. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if his stories were real, but I enjoyed them all the same. I regret now not recording them because no one could tell a story like Gray. I remember him telling me he and a buddy were chasing a chicken for their dinner but has to compete with a dog who also wanted that chicken. He never mention any of the bombing raids, just that they, the entire original crew, were blessed to come back home alive.
Thank you and God Bless America!
Sylvia Jones Spearman
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[large
image]Thank you,
Patrick Wills
CWO3, U S Coast Guard (Retired)
Bomb Group: 320th
Bomb Squadron: 443rd
Comments: My Grandfather was Festus D. Hunter. He was an accomplished and competent B-26 pilot and one of my personal heroes. I am trying to find out more information and verify the names of the planes that he flew. Hopefully if anyone flew with him or remembers him, they could possibly help me out. I know that he flew the Boomerang, The Old Vet, and Tiger Lady. However, I found a mention of him in a book that talks about him flying Hot Garters, but the serial number that they have for Hot Garters is 41-31575 which is actually for Gotta Match. The excerpt from the book can be found her in Mark Styling's "B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO".
I would also like to find out the name of the plane he is flying in this radio wire photograph: http://previewitaly.com/italy-italy-photos-7/
Any help would be appreciated.
Eric Briggs
Esther McNaull Queneau
"Count this day as lost, whose low descending sun,
Sees from thy idle hands, no worthy labor done."
McNaull Philosophy
(Written by Michael McNaull on rafter in attic of 1880 house.)
Esther McNaull Queneau (formerly Esther Oyster) and John Moench wrote the Bibliography of Research Sources for the Martin B-26 Marauder
My father Paul Suway served there as a tail gunner on Miss Fortune II with the 386 in squadron 553. If you ever get the chance to visit I truly recommend it. They also would love any stories or mementoes of men who served to help them tell the history of Boxted. They have a website http://www.boxted-airfield.com
David Suway
322nd.Bomb Group | Ouistreham 69 | 0345 hrs | 0520 hrs
1st Pathfinder Sqdn | Bennerville | 0345 hrs | 0526 hrs
391st Bomb Group | Bennerville PFF B26 | 0345 hrs | 0517 hrs *
* did not drop its bombs
1st Pathfinder Sqdn | Ouistreham 74 | 0400 hrs | 0555 hrs
322nd Bomb Group | Ouistreham 74 | 0400 hrs | 0555 hrs
344th Bomb Group | Beau Guillot 20 | 0405 hrs | 0605 hrs
344th Bomb Group | La Madeleine 22 | 0355 hrs | 0608 hrs
344th Bomb Group | St Martin de Varreville 19 | 0410 hrs | 0609 hrs
387th Bomb Group | La Madeleine 36 | 0442 hrs | 0614 hrs
387th Bomb Group | Beau Guillot 23 | 0442 hrs | 0614 hrs
387th Bomb Group | Les Dunes de Varreville 104 | 0449 hrs | 0614 hrs
394th Bomb Group | St Martin de Varreville 19 | 0427 hrs | 0616 hrs
323rd Bomb Group | Beau Guillot 20 | 0400 hrs | 0616.5 hrs
323rd Bomb Group | La Madeleine 36 | 0425 hrs | 0617 hrs
323rd Bomb Group | St Martin de Varreville 101 | 0435 hrs | 0617.5 hrs
394th Bomb Group | La Madeleine 22 | 0427 hrs | 0617.5 hrs
394th Bomb Group | St Martin de Varreville 101 | 0427 hrs | 0618 hrs
397th Bomb Group | Les Dunes de Varreville 104 | 0407 hrs | 0619 hrs
397th Bomb Group | La Madeleine 36 | 0407 hrs | 0620 hrs
397th Bomb Group | Beau Guillot 23 | 0407 hrs | 0622 hrs
386th Bomb Group | Les Dunes de Varreville 104 | 0439 hrs | 0623 hrs
386th Bomb Group | La Madeleine | 0441 hrs | 0624 hrs
386th Bomb Group | St Martin de Varreville 101 | 0445 hrs | 0624 hrs
391st Bomb Group | Maisy 7 | 0445 hrs | 0625 hrs
391st Bomb Group | St Pierre du Mont | 0430 hrs | 0626 hrs
322nd Bomb Group | Montfarville 308 | 0500 hrs | 0627 hrs
B26.COM
His crew on July 7th was: 1.Lt G H Gibbens;2.Lt's R L Towne; R B Miller; Sgt J R Keyes; S/Sgt's J F Farry; N C Oper. and it appears from study of several missions that this was his regular crew.
Trevor Allen
historian b26.com
Richard L. Allen
323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron "Mission Belle" 41-34995 YU-T. Plane flew 158 missions from 16 July 1943 until 26 December 1944 when it received a direct flak hit between the engine and fuselage over the target, no chutes were seen all crew listed as killed in action.
Regards,
Trevor Allen
historian b26.com
Thank you,
SPC Bonnie Huschka, US Army Retired
Bonnie, I am sorry to tell you that 41-31954 was never named.
Regards,
Trevor Allen
historian b26.com
I actually have many pictures of his service in Germany .
Ron Gann
Bomb Group: 323rd
Bomb Squadron: 454th
Years in service: ? - 1945
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: "Herbert L. Little could be classed as one of the "old guard" as he had enlisted in 1934, eventually serving in Battery B of the 16th Field Artillery Battalion at Ft. Myer, Virginia- the famous black horse unit. Trouble, however, dogged Herb and the Army eventually gave him a noxious discharge. The the Japanese attacked and he pulled every string he could find to get back into military service. Eventually cleared to join in the Nation's defense, he would work his way into the 323rd Group. It was a big step, moving from horses to aircraft, but he would prove to everyone his true grit. Advancing to Engineer, he would fly 65 tough combat missions and take a piece of flak in the process. When the chips were down, Herb proved that he was indeed a Marauder Man." -- from The Marauder Men: An Account of the Martin B-26 Marauder by John O. Moench, Major General USAF (Ret.)"
Herb was my Dad. He passed away in Dec. 2003 at the age of 87. I send this to you today, Memorial Day, as I think of him and all of the others who sacrificed for our great company.
Sincerely,
Lora Little Blankenship
PS. Are you still doing the dedication pages? If so, I'd like to email a few pictures and start a page in Dad's memory.
Thanks for keeping the B26 alive.
Sherry Royer Affleck
My brother, William T. Beaulieu "Bill", was a tail gunner with the 319th Bomb Group, 438th Squadron with missions in Italy and France in 1943.
The crew on the "Lakanookie":
PILOT - Lt. Paul Blanton
C0-PILOT - W. H. Johnson
NAVIGATOR - Lt. C. A. Kozelski
RADIO GUNNER - Tech Sgt. C. E. Loeber
TURRET GUNNER - Tech Sgt. W. Ziegler
TAIL GUNNER - Tech Sgt. Bill Beaulieu
I found this information in a Newspaper article that was published when Bill was home on leave after his 38th mission. Attached are pictures of the plane and its crew.
Wish Bill was alive to see this site.
Thanks, Joe Beaulieu
Je recherche tous documents sur les soldats et aviateurs qui avaient été inhumés dans le cimetière temporaire de Solers, Seine et Marne, FRANCE. I sent you the link to the club below!
I'm looking for information on the soldiers and airmen who were buried in the cemetery of temporary Sollers before being buried in Epinal in France!
Merci de m'aider !
Sincères salutations !
Mr Chatriot
Club Histoire de Solers
je me nomme HOULLIER Gilles. j'habite en France sur la commune de GONDRECOURT LE CHATEAU (Meuse) et je cherche tous renseignements concernant un crash d'avion durant le deuxième guerre mondiale. d'après les renseignments recueillis il s'agirait d'un B26 - 43-34146.PNG. date du crash 09/11/1944 en foret de GONDRECOURT LE CHATEAU. avion appartenant au squadron 322 basé à BEAUVAIS/TILLE.
noms des occupants :
capitaine HALL pilote (cimetière Amériain de ST AVOLD FRANCE).
Lt ROSENOW Georges de siu city.
Lt LEPSKY Bernard bombardier
sergent HELL SURRATT radio
sergent PERRY STEELE mécano
sergent Robert W Ryan (Indianapolis).
si il est possible d'obtenir tous renseignements concernant cet équipage, le vol, la mission, la confirmation du lieu du crash, des photos ou documents. si confirmation est faite, une stèle en hommage à ces soldats sera dressée sur le lieu des faits pour ne pas oublier ceux venus nous libérer. je reste à votre disposition, amicalement.
Betty's mother remarried when her daughter was two-to a wonderful man who took over the "Father" duties. He died this April. Betty's mother wouldn't talk about Art because it hurt her second husband's feelings, so Betty knows nothing about her father. Please help if you can.
There are no photographs of him as far as I know. Betty's son and my daughter are married. Betty does not know much about her father, other than his name and that he was killed a few months before her birth. She has not been to Epinal. I am pulling as much information together as I can as a Christmas gift to her from the father she never knew. It's a surprise. Please don't post anything on the site about Betty unless and until we have her permission.
SQUADRONS: 450th & 452nd BS
DATE OF INCIDENT: 17 May 1943
TARGETS: IJmuiden and Haarlem
I would like to ask the following question concerning the ill-fated 322nd BG mission on 17 May 1943 – is there any documentary evidence that provides the height at which the surviving B-26s dropped their bombs (on what I believe was the Zuidergasfabriek, in Amstel)? My understanding is that delayed-action bombs were not used on this mission so the bomb release would have to have been done at a minimum safe altitude.
My interest in this particular mission is two-fold –
1. it bears general similarity with an RAF mission flown exactly two weeks previously to the day in which 10 out of 12 Ventura aircraft were lost attacking a power station on the outskirts of Amsterdam (in this case, one aircraft returned early while over the North Sea, another returned to base after being shot up by fighters just off the Dutch coast, and the other ten were all shot down by a combination of fighters and flak. The mission was flown at medium attitude with fighter escort, but an earlier mis-timed mission had been picked up by German radar and had alerted the defenses so that fighters were in position to intercept just before the Dutch coast was reached).
2. Anne Frank, in her diary entry of 18 May 1943, describes witnessing an air battle between German and Allied aircraft and also relates a second- or third-hand story about the milkman who encountered the crew of an Allied aircraft that had crash-landed. I believe that she witnessed the air battle between German fighters and the RAF Venturas on 3 May, while the milkman encountered one of the 322nd crews (probably that of Lt. Wurst) on 17 May.
I have read the account of the mission from your website, and have read the narrative from the book “B-26 at War” along with the MACRs and the 1987 paper by Maj James Openshaw. In digesting the information available so far there are several questions that remain unanswered, including the bombing height question that I posed.
Thanks in advance,
Rod Mackenzie
I am looking for Information on a raid that took place on the 13 June 1944 carried out by the 397 BG on the Foret d’Andaine. Specifically I have a copy of the photographic report (Form No. 105a) from the Boyd collection and am interested in in the first box , and the 3rd group of six aircraft, of which there were two aircraft Se No s 122 and 152.
What I would like to do is identify the other 4 aircraft and all six aircrafts crew lists. It’s a long shot but if you can help it would be of great interest as I live close to the raid site in France.
Regards,
David Capps Tunwell
We are a factual drama television production company based in London called Darlow Smithson. We are currently making a programme about German engineering feats of World War Two and one episode in particular looks at the Messerchmitt 262. The reason I am getting in touch with you is that we trying to find out more information about a particular raid on the 16th April 1945, where B26s of the 322 BG encountered the Me 262 jets of Adolf Galland’s JV44 squadron. We would love to know more about this raid;
1) In particular were there any accounts of this encounter by B26 crew?
2) What was the target?
3) How many B26s would have been involved in that particular mission?
Any help would be much appreciated, if any of the crew who faced that plane are still alive, we would love to talk to them about their experiences. I look forward to hearing from! In the meantime I will delve more into your website.
Regards,
Woody Ledeboer
Specifically, the Italian AF v. French AF mentioned another encounter on 11 July 1944, a sortie over the Piancenza fuel depot performed by MATAF bombers (RAF+FR AF) intercepted by a dozen of Bf 109 Gs of the Aeronautica Nazionale Reppublicana's 2° Gruppo Caccia. During this sortie the French Marauder gunners — GB 1/22 and GB 1/20 — replied with their 0.5in guns claiming one "Hun”. Italian ANR report shooting down 2 B-26s… but none were lost by the French that day, and the British report is incomplete. I would advise looking into 42nd BW mission reports for July 11th, 1944, to clear that out.
The B-26 v. Bf 109 G incident is related in this book : The Messerschmitt 109 in Italian Service, 1943-1945 by Ferdinando D'Amico Permalink: http://amzn.com/0914144308
Here is a Match, March 1965 issue from 4 decades ago. I had an original copy of that Paris-Match in France, but somehow it disappeared. Copies exist of this issue both at the Musée de l'Air (Le Bourget) and at the Fort de Vincennes (SHD).
A total of 4 FR Marauders were cut open by Flak this way, starting with "77” of GBM 2/52 over Toulon in Aug. 1944. All the crew survived on this one. Other FR B-26 'misreps' are documented and I will follow up.
Jean-Michel Guhl
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I live in the area where that picture was taken and I build models of aircraft that are somehow connected to this area - either stationed, lost attacking things in the north of The Netherlands. I was hoping perhaps you knew more about that mission and the circumstances of that photo.
Thanks Alan Crouchman! That's exactly what I needed to know. What a great effort. Made my day!
Kind regards,
Elger Abbink
Ah this is an easy one, the aircraft is 41-31694 ["694"] FW-F "Hangover Hut" flown by Lt Sanders and crew. Sadly the 387th records do not contain crew rosters which is thoroughly frustrating, however Lt Sanders was part of the original compliment coming overseas and we do have his "normal" crew listing but there is no guarantee they were all on board on this day.
[large]As you see on the formation chart "694" was scheduled as the No4 ship in the lead flight but with "811" as a No Take Off then I assume that they all moved up making "694" the No3 ship. If this is the case the photo was taken from the lead ship 41-31705 TQ-K "King Size" which was being used by Major Glenn Grau (C.O. of the 556th) on this day.
Hope this is of use.
Regards,
Alan
James S. Gleinser, Pilot
Bomb Group 344th
Bomb Squadron 496th
Hometown, Goliad TX
Not sure on service dates, as he stayed in as a pilot instructor, and retired, I believe in 60’s and then spent about 3-6 more years in Civil Service at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX.
Carolyn Meegan
Therefore I would like to ask you where you have found the aerial pictures of the Evreux airfield as shown here http://www.b26.com/marauderman/ah/everaux_fauville_airfield.htm and would it be possible to get better scans of these pictures?
Kind regards,
Rudi Stessens
Belgium.
Squadron 553rd Bombardment Squadron
Mission #238 Ecouché railroad bridge – France
Date 28 July 1944
Combat photographer Staff Sergeant William Scanlan
Aboard aircraft #41-31577 (AN-Y “Elmer”)
Film 16mm
Subject Air battle and collision between bomber # 41-31805 (AN-D)
With a German fighter (Focke-Wulf)
No survivors in the American craft: 6 crew members
Pilot of #41-31805 1st Lt. Briggs, Frederick Olson O-813311
Message: Does anybody :
- Have information about this mission?
- Know where could be preserved:
- Strike photographs of this mission #238
- Film by Staff Sergeant Scanlan
In June 2011 a memorial was erected in the smalle village of Lessard-et-le-Chêne (appriximatly 12km SW of Lisieux-Normandie-France) to honor crew members of B-26 #41-31805/AN-D which crashed there on 28 July 1944. At the time I was a 8 years young boy and a witness of this tragic event. Since September 2011 I am in contact with the "young" brother of this B-26's engineer (S/Sgt Charley Manford JOHNS) who is the initiator for this memorial. I try to collect documentation concerning the last mission ot these six airmen. Through your site I make a general request to anyone who could help in my researches. In particular I should be very interested to know where are preserved Mr. Scanlan Film- see enclosure (I have no contact with this gentleman), and also strike photographs and other information concerning this #238 mission (Ecouché railroad bridges). Until now I did not succeed to get information from French side (photographs, reports, etc). On site www.b26.com/guetbook... the following messages are dealing with the subject: 1/15/2009-11.20AM, 10/10/2010-12.09PM, 6/11/2011-5.42PM, 7/11/2011-12.41PM, 7/21/2011-8.59AM. Also you can find something in the web by typing: B26 Lessard-et-le-Chene.
Thanks for any information.
Regards,
J. Tariel.
Thank you in advance for any help rendered!
Sincerely,
Michael Cushing
The book will be available only by early 2014 as we are adding a full English section as well as some color profiles. The lay-out is being finalized. I'm presently reviewing all texts and recovering most of the original pictures which had been stored for 30 years in Paris while I was working overseas. Most of (if not all) the FAF Marauder witnesses I interviewed between 1975 and 1988 unfortunately passed away. I have more research to do, especially in the USA. The book is to be published in 2014.
The axis of my B-26 book is built on US-French aviator relation, from Algeria in 1943 to Germany in 1945.
For this reason it tries to include as much as possible historical stuff on the 42nd BW and its personnel and aircraft (17th, 319th and 320th BGs).
Here is short-list of the VIP pictures I would need at this stage (ideally in 10in width, JPEG 300 dpi) for the historical opening part.
— Brig. Gen. Gordon Saville, USAAF
— Brig. Gen. Robert M. Webster, USAAF
— Lt. Gen. Mark Wayne Clark, USA
— Maj. Gen. Ralph G. Royce, USAAF
— Maj. Charles G. Robinson, USAAF
I am also in need of some large size digital repros from the Jack D. Canary Special Collection Photo which are original Kodak Kodachrome I slides deposited at the San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive.
They have some color views of French Marauder in there (taken in 1945). [Read more]
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[large]Michael,
The two photographs are
41-34895 Twin Engine Queenie 440BS 319BG
41-43938 BN.35 The Big Ass Bird 438.BS 319BG
Trevor Allen
I’m the historian for the Dyersburg Army Air Field, TN. This was a B-17 training base, but did have a couple B-26’s here in 1943-44. They were: 41-35813 which was lost in a crash here on 4-30-44 and 42-43355. Later on in late 1944 and early 45 at least three others were here, all later natural metal models, serials unknown. At least two were named: “Silvery Sue Hot But True” and “Miss Virginity Never Forced Down”. If anyone has any info or photos of these Marauders or any fellows who flew and maintained them here at DAAF, TN. I would like to hear from them. I have the accident report on 813, all 6 on board bailed out safely. I have two ground shots of 355. Have no idea if those other two had nose art with the names or not. Here is scan of one of DAAF’s B-26’s, 42-43355
[large]The crew of B-26 41-35813 that crashed near Trenton, TN. on 4-30-44 was:
2nd Lt. Paul G. Osborne-Pilot
2nd Lt. John R. Carney-Co-pilot
Sgt. Matthew Feinstein-Flight engineer
M/Sgt. Johnnie B. Connel
S/Sgt. George J. Bateman, Jr.
Cpl. Maurice L. Trout
None were injured and bailed out safely and if any are still living, I’d sure like to contact them.
Thanks,
Tim Bivens
Tim, the other three Dyersburg AT-23's were 42-95629; 42-95631 and 42-95634. 42-95631 was named "Slick Chick". -Cheers, Trevor Allen
Dear all,
I am looking for information about a B-26 Marauder from 17th Bomb group which made an emergency landing near the village of Vincelottes ( France ) on December 23, 1944 after a bombing mission at the Siegelsbach ammunition dump in Germany. I only know names of 3 crew members ( Paul COSTA, Frank CROOKS and Louis HARY ). On board the aircraft was also a combat photographer , whose name was W.H. VAN DUSEN. All the crew was safe, and stayed in the village of Vincelottes at Mr & Mrs Vaillant's restaurant. It seems the aircraft was transferred 17 days later to Dijon Air Base by pilot named Philip ESCBACH. It will be great if someone can help me to find names of the other crew members, the aircraft serial , photos , etc...etc ...and more about this event.
Regards from France
Jean-Luc
Bomb Group: 322nd
Bomb Squadron: 451st
Years in service: 41-45
Graduation Class: ?
Class Location: ?
Comments: Happy Birthday, Bud. Remembrance of you, Uncle Bud, comes in the form of this post today, what would have been your 95th Birthday. Although lost at 24+ yrs. Of age, you’re never to be forgotten. You paid the ultimate price for my freedom with your death over the overcast skies of Stadtkyll, Germany on New Year’s Day 1945 at 2:45 P local time, when a German 88 exploded eight feet outside your radio compartment, taking with it the entire crew except for the pilot in the resulting “turning in” and crash. An empty enlisted men’s tent at #27 “Duffy’s Tavern” at A-63 was vacated and filled with others.
With Love,
James Albert Hands
Dear Leo,
Fortunately, Lt. Church has a dedication page which contains his detailed account of the events of that day and of his time as a POW at http://www.b26.com/marauderman/curtis_church.htm . This is just one of many examples of where these dedication pages on B26.COM not only serve as tributes to the Marauder Men, they are also a valuable resource to relatives, friends, and the wider Marauder community.
I feel that this supports the comments from the B26 Team in a recent post asking for more people to create dedication pages.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
I am seeking information about an ex-POW member of the 391st Bomb Group; SGT JAY N. MILLER.
I do know that he was liberated on 10 May 1945 and returned to the USA on board the SS SANTA MARGARITA. I am looking for details on the loss of his aircraft.
I found his name on a set of movement orders filed with the ships’ records as compiled by the Immigration Service. Apparently, INS met all incoming ships and checked crew and passenger lists. The records came from a website in partnership with the National Archives. A NARA archivist in the New York branch recommended that I use online resource. I am very interested in both his recollection of the trip home and the loss of his aircraft. I am especially anxious to hear about the trip home, but any details he is willing to share about the mission itself would add detail to the story. I would also like to obtain a crew photo if there is one.
The trip itself was from LaHavre, France to New York Harbor. He was one of 61 ex-POW’s on board the SANTA MARGARITA …and the ship was one of four that were the first to carry returning ex-POW’s home. They landed in New York Harbor on June 3rd, 1945. According to one account, many of the men on the SANTA MARGARITA were sent to an Army Hospital on Staten Island, though I do not have confirmation of that. The movement orders were dated 19 May 1945 and issued by Normandy Base Section.
I do not have additional information except for his ASN. The movement orders do show him as being from AZ, and he was liberated on 10 March 1945. No indication of what camp.
I am actually writing a history of the SS SANTA MARGARITA and would like the details to add to the story of this voyage. The SANTA MARGARITA was one for the first four ships to bring back recovered POW’s (RAMP) to the USA. The four ships landed in New York Harbor with much fanfare according to a New York Times story.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Theron P. Snell, Ph.D
Dear Theron,
According to MACR #12606, on February 24, 1945, the 391st Bomb Group were attacking a Flak Battery at Irlich, Germany. Aboard B-26 44-67820 4L-O were: 1/Lt. William M. Huskey (Pilot), 2/Lt. Richard N. Whippy (Co-Pilot), 2/Lt. Ted A. Reiser (Bombardier/Navigator), Sgt. Jay N. Miller (Radio Operator/Gunner), Sgt. Arthur M. Sunday (Engineer/Gunner), Sgt. Fred J. Siegfried (Armorer/Gunner). All crew were members of the 574st Bomb Squadron.
According to witnesses aboard other aircraft in the formation, Lt. Huskey's aircraft sustained flak damage to one of his aircraft's engines over the target. The aircraft began to lose altitude and dropped behind and below the formation. A fire was then seen coming from the bomb bay which also spread to both engines. Three parachutes were seen and the bombs were salvoed. About 3 or 4 minutes later, the aircraft was seen to go into a dive and exploded in mid-air.
It later became clear that only the three gunners in the aft section of the aircraft had bailed out and survived, all being captured after landing in Germany and all became POWs. Sgt. Miller later recalled that Siegfried, Sunday, and then he had bailed out of the aircraft which he later saw explode "with full load of bombs", although he may not have seen them being salvoed as stated by 2 other witnesses.
Although the National Archive database of POW records [ http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-description.jsp?s=644&cat=WR26&bc=,sl ] has records for all three surviving crew members, the POW camp to which each survivor was interned is not specified.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
Mr. Freiburger passed away in November 2004 and have been trying to contact anyone who knew of his experiences while a B-26 pilot. I have a model of the type of plane he flew and would like to know the squadron colors his plane would have been painted in. Eventually, I plan to assemble the model with his name on it.
Thank You.
Respectfully Yours,
John W Goerger
Dear John,
The aircraft that 1/Lt. Alfred Freiburger (344BG 495BS) is most associated with is 42-95924 Y5-D "Rum Buggy". You state that you are planning to build a model of his aircraft, and you are lucky that there are a number of model aircraft kits available that feature decals for this aircraft.
There is a photograph of Lt. Freiburger and crew standing in front of "Rum Buggy" (his name is painted below the pilot's window) at http://www.fold3.com/image/#39054480.
By the way, the movie "The Big Lift" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Lift)which was based on the events surrounding the Berlin Airlift, featured USAF pilots of the 14th Troop Carrier Squadron, one of whom was 1/Lt. Alfred Freiburger !
I wonder if Alfred was the only Marauder Man to feature in a movie, although the Hollywood actor Captain Robert Preston became an S-2 Officer with the 386BG http://www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/395.htm .
Regards,
Steve Sharp
Bomb Group: 391st
Bomb Squadron: 573rd ??
In service 42-45
Graduation Class:
Class Location: Wichita Falls, TX
Comments: My dad passed away in 1976 and he did not talk at all about his war experience. I have a stars and stripes article dated June 1944, which identifies Lt Col Gerald Williams as his CO on a B26 base. He was a staff sergeant and earned the bronze star as a crew chief, with his “ship” finishing 50 missions without a mechanical failure. Williams was the CO of the 391st bombardment group. I’ve looked over the many known available websites for any additional information about him but have had little success. Can you give me some research suggestions.
Thank you very much. Dan Duffy
| John Moench, August 4, 1921- April 3, 2013. He signed his name "John".
Our correspondence started in 1999, like any other site contact, with an
email asking questions. Something wasn't quite right because he seemed to
know everything relating to the Martin B-26 but I went along with it. On
one occasion, he asked "Who's answering guest book posts, who's helping
you?" I replied that I answer everybody best as I can and other visitors
also reply to questions posted in the guest book - people help people! He
told me that was no way to run website as significant as b26.com. A lot of
people are writing you! Wanting to put an end to a week's worth of
grilling, I told him that since he knew so much about the plane and crew,
he should help! This time "John" replied back with a long email and signed
it Major General John O. Moench, USAF (Ret). I re-read the email and name
again and replied that he set me up! I hope he is laughing now as I tell
this story for the first time. John worked tirelessly behind the scenes
assisting posters to the guest book, even sending autographed copies of
his book gratis. John was a proud champion of all things relating to
Marauder men, the plane, aircrews and support personnel. I will miss his vigor, energy and conversation. General Moench will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery sometime in the future and notice will be posted here. I would hope that all our Marauder friends and extended family would be there to honor a good man and his family. |
I’m attaching the two pictures I have. In the 1940 one, taken before he entered the service, he was 21. The later picture must have been taken shortly after he returned to Seattle from imprisonment.
[large
image]
[large
image]I tried to search AAF records, thinking that his silver star might help me to find him there, but I gather that a fire destroyed a huge number of records.
Leo Damrosch
Dear Leo,
According to Missing Air Crew Report #443, your uncle Thomas G. Hammond (320BG 441BS), was co-pilot on B-26 Marauder 41-18001 on a mission to bomb a railroad yard at Villa Literno (near Naples), Italy on August 21, 1943. The crew were:1/Lt. Curtis S. Church (Pilot), 1/Lt. Thomas G Hammond Jr. (Co-Pilot), 1/Lt. Max Rickless (Bombardier/Navigator), S/Sgt. Robert L. Orr Jr. (Engineer/Gunner), S/Sgt. Fred O. Gearing (Radio Operator/Gunner). Sgt. Martin T. Carson (Aerial Gunner).
Fortunately, Lt. Church has a dedication page which contains his detailed account of the events of that day and of his time as a POW at http://www.b26.com/marauderman/curtis_church.htm . This is just one of many examples of where these dedication pages on B26.COM not only serve as tributes to the Marauder Men, they are also a valuable resource to relatives, friends, and the wider Marauder community.
I feel that this supports the comments from the B26 Team in a recent post asking for more people to create dedication pages.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
see Attachments of his docs. for reference. The fire in St. Louis records dept. destroyed and further docs of my father's that were available.
I am the oldest son of Dalton C. Kruse SN#16 004 300, researching my father's 9th AAF history.
I would really appreciate any help to track down his unit and specifics of his England/EUR tour. He never said much about any of his time spent across the Atlantic.
Having served in the USAF myself as a EC121D + (C47D / A1E-F-G-H's (RVN 1969) + C141A Crew Chief I am very interested in his years as a Mech. + Crew Chf + Instructor. He flew on the B26 as a Crew Chf and also worked on the P47+P51 aircraft as well as an Instructor on Aircraft and Engines.
He was from Chicago, IL (Des Plaines, IL). He enlisted Mar. 24, 1941 in Chicago, IL and discharged Jun. 03, 1946 at Camp McCoy, WI. as MSgt., Mobile Repair Unit Chief.
He was initially at Chanute AFB, IL; Goldsboro, NC; MacDill AFB, FL.; England and then Signey, FR.(sp?), 7 days after D-Day. B-26 Crew Chf/Mech.( SSgt). During this duty he was aboard a B26 that was shot down and bailed out - broke his wrist (LH/RH ?) during jump and landing. On another mission his aircraft crash landed with a KIA tail gunner. On another occasion a German ME109 was shot down/crashed near the airfield recovered pilot remains and belongings. Instr. Aircraft + Engine Mech. (SSgt) Unit Chief-Mobile Repair Unit. (MSgt)
I was in contact with a gentleman who said he could research my father's history, but I had a computer failure and lost all info ref. his contacts. I have been looking ever since (10+yrs). I know time is slipping away so I would appreciate any assistance anyone could provide.
Once again Thank you in advance for any leads, help or info you may provide.
Regards,
Capt. Dalton C. Kruse, Jr. (Ret.)
American Airlines
AF 1968-1972 (RVN)
Missing Air Crew Report #7875 provides details of how your father's (Joseph D. Weaver) aircraft was shot down and how he subsequently became a POW.
On the evening of August 6, 1944, B-26 42-96184 was returning from a mission to bomb a fuel dump at the Foret de Andaine, France. When it passed over the coast of France near Touville, it was hit by flak and a fire developed in its right engine. Unable to extinguish it, the fire took hold and grew larger. The pilot gave the order to bail out and the 3 gunners in the rear of the aircraft exited from the waist hatch, followed by the pilots and bombardier from the bomb bay. Sgt. Leonard J. Zuckerman later reported that after the crew had bailed out, the right engine and wing broke away from the aircraft causing it to spiral into the English Channel causing a huge splash.
Before bailing out, top turret gunner Sgt. Swanson, had reported over the intercom that he had been hit by flak but said that he would not leave his guns. The other gunners later reported that they had seen blood on his clothing near his groin, but that he did not seem to be badly wounded. After bailing out, Sgt. Swanson's parachute came out of the pack but failed to inflate, so perhaps a piece of flak had also cut through some of his parachute's shroud lines. The other gunners saw him struggling with the parachute until he hit the ground below. Sgt. Swanson's body was later found by Gerrman troops in a wood. All surviving crew members were captured and became prisoners of war.
The crew were: Captain Walter E. Payne, pilot; Lieutenant Hubert M. Altvater, co-pilot; Lieutenant Edward W. Roggenkamp, bombardier; Tech Sergeant Joseph D. Weaver, radio operator/gunner; Sergeant Franklin E. Swanson, flight engineer/gunner; Corporal William L. Salyer, armorer/tail gunner.
Further details of the events that day are also viewable at http://www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/245.htm
According to NARA records here, Sergeant Weaver was interned at Stalag Luft 4. The conditions at this Stalag were not good, and on February 6, 1945, its already malnourished prisoners were forced by their captors to leave the camp on the so-called "Black March" (or "Death March") in order to avoid the advancing Allied forces. With temperatures below freezing and a severe lack of food, the conditions during the march were dreadful and many men died as a result. There are some extraordinary accounts of life in Stalag Luft 4 and the "Black March" on the b24.net site.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
Dear Patricia,
The only survivor of Capt. Brown's aircraft was Cpl. Gene W. Brillhart (Armorer/Gunner) who, in his statement included in the MACR, stated that Sgt. Vidler, Sgt. Courtenay, and he left the aircraft in close order from the waist window approximately 3 minutes after being hit. He was then taken prisoner and became a POW. He did not know whether the Pilot, Co-Pilot, or Bombardier managed to bail out or not. The MACR states that Courtenay died of wounds and that Vidler was killed in action, although there is no supporting evidence within the report. There are no records of Vidler or Courtenay in the American Battle Monuments Commission records or the Records of World War II Prisoners of War in the National Archives. Sgt. Vidler is buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA. Sgt. Vidler had completed approximately 21 missions at the time of his death.
[large
image]Apart from Brillhart, only the Engineer/Gunner and Radio Operator/Gunner of Lt. Detjens' aircraft survived, and all became prisoners of war. All other crew members of the 3 aircraft mentioned above were killed. Of the 6 aircraft in Lt. Chism's flight, 5 were shot down and only Lt. Chism's aircraft returned to base.
The 391st Bomb Group flew without fighter escort whilst they attacked the Ahrweiler railroad bridge on the morning of December 23, 1944 during the "Battle of the Bulge". They were led by pathfinder aircraft and, after being subjected to intense and accurate flak, were jumped by about seventy-five German fighters. This savage attack resulted in the loss of 16 of the 30 aircraft in the formation. However, the results of their bombing was judged to be between good and excellent, and the bridge was knocked out.
Regards,
Steve Sharp
One ongoing project I have been working on is stateside training, hence the data I sent over regarding the fatal USA accidents to assist with answering questions posted. One quest has been trying to fathom the markings of the training ships, and the so called "BUZZ" numbers applied to these aircraft. I pretty much understand the format of the system, but can find little information regarding the allocation of the large aircraft ID letters applied to these aircraft. The only tying up of these numbers that I have managed to find is through the accident reports and the crew training photographs, of which there are many around.
I have noticed a lot of these images the website, contributed by the vets and their families. I would love to get larger scans of some of these if possible, principally the ones where you can make a positive ID of the serial number from the tail, or the data stencil on the nose to tie up with a visible BUZZ or training code ID. Is this something you may be able to help with?
My main focus of research has been the operational use of the aircraft and units they served with. Of all the B-26's manufactured, there are just 17 individual a/c for which I have little information on, and/or, the units which those aircraft served with. From the aircraft data cards, those aircraft were assigned to combat units in either the 9thAF (European theatre), and 12th AF (Italy and Mediterranean theatre), but I don't know which Bomb Groups, or support units used them.
The 17 aircraft for which I have limited information on are just serial numbers, no photos. The only information I have on them are from the aircraft record cards. They do not appear on any bomb group records that I can find. These are as follows:
B-26C-30-MO, 41-35536, No information on this one yet
AT-23B-40-MO, 41-35852, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 20/3/46
AT-23B-40-MO, 41-35857, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 26/3/46
AT-23B-45-MO, 42-107481, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 18/4/46
AT-23B-45-MO, 42-107483, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 10/6/45
AT-23B-45-MO, 42-107486, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 1/2/46
AT-23B-45-MO, 42-107488, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 25/3/46
AT-23B-45-MO, 42-107492, Came to UK, assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 20/2/46
B-26G-10-MA, 43-34556, Went to the 12th AF in Italy. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 11/6/46
B-26G-10-MA, 43-34577, Went to the 12th AF in Italy. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 19/12/44
B-26G-15-MA, 44-67919, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 6/5/45
B-26G-20-MA, 44-68104, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 30/3/46
B-26G-25-MA, 44-68123, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 28/3/46
B-26G-25-MA, 44-68128, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 1/5/46
B-26G-25-MA, 44-68145, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 22/3/46
B-26G-25-MA, 44-68151, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 21/5/46
B-26G-25-MA, 44-68159, Assigned to 9th AF. Use after that unknown. Salvaged on 6/6/45
Paul C.
Kindest regards, Pete Clark.
My father was the chief line mechanic for the 19th. I've posted a page for him, Raymond Fuller, Capt. Finklestein may recognize someone in the pictures that are posted there. There are also some pictures of the unit patches for both the 22nd and 19th. I had other information about the 22nd, that I am happy to share with you - please consider adding a a dedication page to the b26.com. The host of the site might send you the book of the 22nd, mine is on hard copy. There is also a page for Merrill S. Matthews who was also in the 19th. I had contact for a while with his daughter. I believe he was in admin. Click here for more 22nd Bomb Group info on the b26 site.
Eric Fuller
Do you have any records of how many pilots are left alive with combat experience from the second world war?
I attach a couple of pictures from his log book at the time. I have more if you are interested.
Regards,
Jeremy Draper
Son of Jim Draper
-Bob Schwartz
I need details on the mission 261, the bombing of fuel dumps at Bois de Mont, August 26th 1944. The 386 had a big part in it. Was the whole group involved or was it just the squadron.
Any little piece of information would be gratefully appreciated.
Mr. René Psarolis
Rene,
You will need to go the website for the AFHRA, Air Force Historical Research Agency and request the mission records for the 386th BG of August 26, 1944 for the Bois de Mont mission http://www.afhra.af.mil/main/contactus.asp. The mission records will have all the pertinent details from the 386th BG USAAF archives for this mission. It will also show all the other bomb groups that participated in this mission. Provided there were others. Plus give a general overview of their part in the mission. However if you want more detailed information on each bomb group, then you will have to request the records for each bomb group on that day.
Roy Bozych – Historian 323rd BG
| A special "Thanks" to everybody who has taken the time to create fabulous dedication pages on the site. I often feel that it's a shame more people don't create dedication pages for their relatives. Many times we are contacted with a query about someone's relative, and although a dedication page has been promised, we hear nothing further! Dedication pages can be as short or as long as you wish, just send us scans of any photographs and/or text about your Marauder Man relative, regardless of whether they're alive or deceased, and we are happy to create the page for you. -The B26 Team |
I became interested in investigating my brother's past after attending the funeral of a friend's father, SGT Harold James Dunlevy, an air crew radioman on a B-26 Mitchell bomber, and had a discussion with the deceased's son. After comparing notes, it seemed SGT Dunlevy and CPL Trautmann had served in the same places at the same times. Also, my deceased father-in-law, CPT Thomas M. Perkins, USAAC seems also to have been in the same places and times (and so were thousands of others, I realize).
After conducting a search on the Internet and reviewing the history of the 34th, it seems consistent with the stories I heard from my brother.
I suppose my purpose in writing this is to simply inquire if any records or memories of any of these names might serve to shed any light on their personal histories and confirm any of the information I recall from family stories.
I am a retired Army Major who served two Viet Nam tours so I can imagine and embellish what conditions were really like for the WW II veterans, having seen the WW II history movies and documentaries. Also, it's cathartic to recall the past glory of this great nation in light of the pathetic depths to which it has sunk since our last clear victory in a war. -Gene Trautmann
I need details on the mission 261, the bombing of fuel dumps at Bois de Mont, August 26th 1944. The 386 had a big part in it. Was the whole group involved or was it just the squadron.
I have a friend in L’Oise, France and he was 12 years old at the time (August 26th 1944) and saw the bombing at a distance and through the years tried to find out as much as possible about the raid. With some difficulty I was able to find the famous 386 BG was over Fournival Bois de Mont on that date, mission 261 but could not find any details on how many squadrons took part on the raid. Any further information would be appreciated and make an old man very grateful because as he remembers the raid was right on target with no civilian casualties.
Any little piece of information would be gratefully appreciated. Take care and keep up your marvelous work.
Mr. René Psarolis
Thomas P. Duffy served with the 344th Bomb Group, 497th Bomb Squadron. He was transferred to the 21 Bomb Group later in the war.
Thank you! Liz Stryjewsk
"Lt. Stuart H. Perrin's B-26 Marauder Take Off Prayer 558th Bomb Squadron Squadron 387th Bomb Group--1943-44 (60 missions) (Tiger Tails, yellow & black diagonal stripes on rudder)
"Lord, My life is yours today.
You can do anything with me you want to.
If You've got a job for me to do in the United States
or anywhere in the world,
there is nothing here in combat that can keep me from it.
If You've got a new assignment for me with You in Headquarters,
this is a good day to begin it."
The B-26 Marauder Pilot's Prayer Background. Lt. Stuart Perrin prayed this prayer with Sgt. Oley Olsen, the radio operator who sat directly behind him in their various B-26 Marauders with names like "Gremlin" and "Pugnacious Peggy".
They knew they shared a common faith, and worked out this prayer to be synchronized with the take off checklist. They began it together on the takeoff roll, and finished together when they got airborne, got the flaps and wheels up and locked.
"Lord, My life is yours today. You can do anything with me you want to. If You've got a job for me to do in the United States or anywhere in the world, there is nothing here in combat that can keep me from it. If You've got a new assignment for me with You in Headquarters, this is a good day to begin it."
Oley died from a piece of flak that stopped his watch at noon and then slipped through a small gap in his flak vest, on their 50th mission together, May 1944 as they did the softening up bombing in preparation for D-Day. (The backpack chute caused the flak vest to fit differently, leaving a gap. The crews were being encouraged to wear the new chutes because it gave better results if they had to bail out. The Ninth Air Force B-26s typically bombed from about 10,000 feet to miss the worst of the flak, lower than the Eighth Air Force heavy bombers B-17, B-24 ... being able to bail out quickly was important.)
What is transcribed above came from a phone call 6/4/94. I phoned Stuart H. Perrin on Saturday June 4, 1994 to chat. He had frequently used his flying experiences to illustrate his Sunday sermons, and as a teenager decades ago, I always listened intently. I mentioned remembering that he had a crewman that he prayed with on takeoff. I did not know any of the details. He shared the prayer and the story with me over the phone. As I listened, I understood that I had phoned him 50 years to the very week that he and Oley Olsen flew their last mission together. The precision of it all leaves me silent, awestruck and humbled. I could not have planned the timing of that call if I had wanted to. It moved me to grasp that these two men prayed the same prayer together, over and over for 50 missions. God had two completely different plans for each of their lives. He answered the prayer perfectly for each of them. Oley Olsen went Home to Headquarters on May 29, 1944. Perrin came home and became a pastor in a church in my hometown during my high school years. My life would not have been the same without him. He trusted his life to the Son of God, and lived a simple life in a small town. His words reached a boy who showed up mostly to hear the airplane stories. "God has no random events in His plan. Who are you trusting with your future?"
I am the grandson of 1st Lt. Curtis S. Church, of the 320th BG, 441st BS, shot down on August 21st, 1943 over Italy, and taken prisoner. The aircraft he was flying on that mission was serial number 41-18001, which my research shows had no nose art.
As a child, I remember asking my grandfather if he had nose-art on his airplane, and he explained that he flew many different airplane, but he specifically remembers flying one particular plane several times that had a picture of Snuffy Smith riding a machine-gun. I've gone through all of the mission reports, and discovered he flew B-26 serial number 41-18034 on four separate occasions. The nose-art was supposedly "Shootin' Arn", which is the term Snuffy Smith used to describe his rifle... so I assume this must be the particular B-26 my grandfather remembered.
I have a box of belongings he gave to me, including his flight school graduation program, his military ID, his dog tags and pilot's wings, and the italian army cup he acquired as a prisoner (and mentions in his account). I will look through it to see if there are any documents you might like a copy of.
Thanks again for all the effort you have put into this webpage... it's been a tremendous help in my research, and has fed my "B-26 addiction" for years now.
Unfortunately, I can't find any photos of the nose art on this B-26. Would you happen to know where I might be able to find it?
Sincerely,
John Jones
Thanks,
Jack Moore
I can only find small bits of info., but I know 5 men were lost in the crash of his medium bomber that day in a Florida lake. Can you point me in the right direction to learn more about this incident? I'd like to find the names of the crew, which unit they were in, the type of plane etc...
Thanks in advance for any help,
Jason Overby
Thank-you,
Rich Erickson
Son of Clarence V. Erickson
391st BG - 575th BS
Richard L. Allen
[large]
[large]One of the planes made a belly landing at De Meije. This plane had the registration DR-W (41-17999) and belonged to the 452 Sq of the 322 Bombardment group. The crew consisted of L. David Wurst, 2Lt. Robert Starr, 2Lt. A. Speer, Cpl. George Heski, S/Sgt. Robert J Dempsey and Sgt. Reginald Foster. The complete crew survived and became POW's. Mr. Helski was wounded and my father saw how they helped him out of the plane.
I'm writing an article about this plane for the magazine of the History Club of Bodegraven and would like to ask you if there are any pics of this plane. I now know that this plane had a nickname; Chickasaw Chief that was painted on the nose. I don't know if there was any nose art, but I suspect so. Can you tell me if the plane had any nose art representing the "Chickasaw Chief"? I would like to include that info in my article. I would really appreciate any pictures of this plane.
Please contact me if you have any information.
Thank you kindly in advance for your help.
Jan Voorbij
I have had a look through my photographs, and can’t find one for “Chickasaw Chief”, 41-17999. The only shot I’ve seen of this aircraft is a poor shot of it in flight in Roger Freeman’s book “Marauder at War”.
With regard to expanding the B-26 team, I certainly don’t mind helping where I can. Whereas I can’t claim to have the knowledge or resources of Trevor, I do have quite a bit of B-26 material. You’ve certainly got a great thing going at B26.com.
Best regards
Paul Clouting
Here are two pictures of “Chickasaw Chief”, 41-17999 [1] [2] -Trevor Allen
Bomb Group: 453rd
Bomb Squadron: 453rd
Years in service: 31
Graduation Class: UNK
Class Location: UNK
Comments: This is LT COL Russell Schuenke's Grandson Russell Smith. My Mother sent me his files and I am going through them now. Especially his Military Records. He spoke very highly of the Martin Marauder's and the Men he flew with. Does anyone have any stories they would like to share? As I read through his files I will take note of the names on his OER's and see if they are still around. He past last year and I Presided over his service at the VFW in Fort Eustis. Please feel free to contact me.
V/R
Russell Smith
Bomb Group:
Bomb Squadron: 12 Sqdn
Years in service: 1943/45
Comments: This was my grandfather whom died just before my birth 1973. He did 291.05 hours as a gunner in the SAAF but was actually in the RAF and was FSgt #900547. So dearly love to know what his aircraft was named and the names of his crew and their history as it has been a dead end mostly. This site is a truly special dedication to these great men and their wonderful flying machines. -Steve Dickson, Perth Australia
Name: Walter L Mosher Jr.
Bomb Group: 391st
Bomb Squadron: 572nd
Years: Dec 1942 thru June 1945
Grade: T/Sgt.
Military Occupation: Radio Operator Mechanic Gunner 757
Missions: 65
Campaigns: Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland
School Attended: Sioux Falls South Dakota
Name of B-26: Calamity Lu’
Comment: I do have information on my father while in the military. He never spoke of it when my brothers and sisters were growing up. It was only after my father died and mother when we were finally were able to look at his military records he kept in a leather case. I was hoping to find out if anyone might still be alive that was a member of this group, squadron and plane.
Thanks, Walter Mosher III
Bomb Group: Unk
Bomb Squadron: Unk
Years in service: 1940-1946
Graduation Class: ?
Class Location: ?
Comments: R.G. was my father in law. He was a B26 flight instructor after many months of training in progressively more complex single and multi-engined trainers the USAAC used at the time in Texas, California, Florida, and perhaps elsewhere. He knew engines and planes and told me he eventually qualified in all USAAC heavies up to the B29 Superfortress.
RG did not fly often after the war, eventually raising two girls and a boy with his strikingly lovely wife Alicia. Meeting his eldest daughter was the luckiest day of my life.
Anybody out there remember a tall Texan with a gift for flying, poker, quail shooting, and blarney?
Michael Gorman
Sincerely,
George A. Thompson Jr.
17 June 1944 ran out of gas on its landing approach, crashlanded in gardens of houses at Coggeshall, Essex two miles from airfield
Capt John J Ambrister;2.Lt's Vernon V Vessels; Robert C Hesser; C J Dizialo; J H Jones; T/Sgt Clinton B Mathews; S/Sgt's James V Galati; J Benedick; F W Pinetz. All crew escaped safely.
43-34434 6B-C Draggin' Lady No.3 397th Bomb Group 599th Bomb Squadron
23 December 1944 shot down by enemy fighters, crashed near Demerath, Germany
Capt Mont F Stephenson; 2.Lt John L Grapes; 1.Lt's Robert J Kinney; Elmer R Borden; Laverne F Grundman; S/Sgt Lynn E Rose,Jr; T/Sgt William E Bower; S/Sgt's Harry W Watson ; James V Galati. All crew killed in crash.
Trevor Allen historian b26.com
Thanks for your group picture. My Dad was 7th from the left in the very back row. It is the first time I ever saw a WW II photo with him in it. It meant so much to me and our family. I will post more info. later.
Christina Stigliano
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks!
Mike Mozingo
Do either of these names ring a bell?
Thomas F. Wilson, 320th Bomb Group
Thomas S. Wilson, 391st Bomb Group, 573 Bomb Squadron
Thomas W. Wilson, 335th Bomb Group
Bomb Group: 22nd
Bomb Squadron: 19th
Years in service: 1941-1946(?)
Graduation Class: ?
Class Location: ?
Comment: Aircraft nickname = Hells Angels
Sincerely,
Richard Mahone
LCDR, USN (Ret.)
Robert L Vidler
S Sergeant
391 AAF Bomb Group
World war 11
Feb 12th 1923
December 23 1944
I kept looking and found his number XXXX9473 and a reference to a mission which I cut a pasted below, its from 391st bomb crew lists 574th squadron which I found on google. It doesn't say anything else so I am not sure what they mean from this or how he was killed in December and I wonder if anyone knew what happened on this day to Sergeant Vidler. Any help would be very much appreciated. His mother was Adelia May Triplett a relative of mine. Sincerely Patricia S Triplett, England
P BROWN, CLYDE G., CAPT, XXXX095
CP BISHOP, GEORGE M., 2LT, XXXX127
B ESTREM, PAUL J., 2LT, XXXX475
N
FE BENDICKSON, WARREN E., CPL, XXXX120
RG GAGNE, JOSEPH N., SGT, XXXX335
AG BRILLHART, GENE W., CPL, XXXX496
SOURCE: SO-121, Hqs, 391st Bomb Group 9/13/1944 Par. 10
Capt Brown was shot down on 12/23/44 in 42-95865 (Sky Hag). Lts Bishop and Estrem are buried in the Luxembourg Cemetery. Apparently, Sgt Rudyard L. Courtenay and Sgt Robert L. Vidler replaced Gagne and Bendickson on this mission (hardback history). According to the soft back history, a Lt Brown hit a power line on takeoff on 10/05/44. As the squadrons are the same, I assume that these are one individual.
Bomb Group: 17th
Bomb Squadron: 37th
Years in service: Nov 1942-30 Nov 1945
Was a PFC clerk typist for unit. Any additional info/photo appreciated
-Tim Sutherland
- Gentlemen…Thought you might like to know that a former B-26 pilot, 50 missions European Theatre, Lt Colonel Edward Tyre, has just been awarded the French Legion of Honor medal for gallantry while supporting the French liberation in WWII.
Respectfully,
CAPT Tim Tyre, USN(ret)
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