B26.COM	Guest Book	Pages & Links

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Date:

12/31/2019

Time:

6:22 AM

 

To all of the Marauder Men and their families I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – 2020.
I continue to read the posts on this site and I am constantly intrigued, amazed, and inspired by the accomplishments of the Marauder Men both in WWII and in their life work after their time in the service to our country.
I just read a post about the November, 2019 98th birthday of Mr. Donald Wolfe of the 391st BG – 575th BS – Happy Birthday. My dad, Clarence V. Erickson, was a member of the 391st BG and the 575th BS - he would have been 101 this past September.
The title of the newsletter of the 391st BG was “Wings of Courage” – all of you Marauder Men truly had and demonstrated Wings of Courage.

Thank-you, Rich Erickson and family
Our father was Marauder Man - Clarence V. Erickson

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Date:

12/2/2019

Time:

10:53 AM

 

My Grandpa, TSgt. Hubert Dwain Allberry is kneeing in the row middle. He is from Omaha, Nebraska. He was in the hospital on the date the *plane was downed due to a flack/shrapnel injury to his left arm leaving him with a disability in that arm. He passed away on April 16, 1999 and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, NE. I get emotional when I look at all these pictures of common men who did and saw things not common to most of us. They did it with no hesitation. The bravery you read about on here like Darrel Lindsey of Fort Dodge, Iowa and others who let their crew bail out while they went down in the plane. May God continue to bless their souls in heaven and their families. - Matthew R. Dierks

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Date:

11/27/2019

Time:

5:30 PM

 

Happy 98th Thanksgiving Mr. Donald Wolfe, pilot 391st BG, 575 BS! You are the Boss!

https://fortwaynesnbc.com/news/2019/11/27/stories-to-spare-98-year-old-legally-blind-veteran-shares-his-love-for-bowling/

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Date:

11/11/2019

Time:

2:29 PM

 

Marauderman's Name: TSgt Frank Judge
Bomb Group: 397th
Bomb Squadron: 597th
Years in service: 1942-1945
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: Trying to find out any information on my father who served in Belgium. The only piece of history I have is his discharge papers. Wonder if any photos exist.

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Date:

11/11/2019

Time:

1:57 PM

 

Trevor Allen,

First I want to thank you and all the B-26 historians for your meaningful and generous work to inform the lives (and deaths) of “The Maraudermen” - for so many family members, and descendants of these WW II heros.

In your 1/5/17 email response to me re. Capt. Charles William Schober, Jr., you reference “Capt. William H. Schober”; I wonder if this is an error or if there was another B-26 Captain named (William H.) Schober ?

I also would like to understand how my uncle “Charlie” came to be flying the “Heavenly Body” when that aircraft was shot down on 08 June ‘44 ; and how “his” plane, “A Kay P’s Dream” (so named for his girlfriend at home, Miss Kay Pendergast ) came to be flown by another pilot when it went down in the English Channel on 15 June ’44 ?

I would also like to share a story with you about my uncle Charlie : after his flight training in Mississippi was completed, Charlie received orders to fly his B-26 to England along with a flight of fellow B-26 pilots. Their flight path took them up the east coast of the US, then east over the Atlantic, to England, presumably with refueling stops in between. This route took the flight of B-26s over Seacaucus and Hoboken, New Jersey where his family still lived. My father, Thomas E. Schober, Charlie’s younger brother, was standing at a nearby bus stop in Hoboken waiting for his ride to work – at the Curtis-Wright aircraft engine facility in Patterson, N.J. My father recognized the planes as the type that his brother flew, and as he watched that group, one plane peeled off and flew low over his house and then rejoined the flight. Only later did my Dad learn that it had been his brother Charlie that he saw – and that was the last time he ever saw his brother.

Thank you again for your help,
Peter Charles Schober, nephew

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Date:

10/24/2019

Time:

12:54 PM

 

Lt. Col. Ray A. Ragsdill, Marauder Man. Ray was born in Bogata, Texas on 22 Mar 1924. At the time of his enlistment on 3 Nov 1942, he was a sheet metal worker living in Tacoma, Washington. Ray was in the 387th Bomb Group of the 557th Bomb Squadron. He was a Lieutenant and the co-pilot of the B-26 Marauder named Baby Bumps II. He served in the 387th from late 1944 until the end of the war.

Ray received an honorable discharge on 10 Jan 1946. He re-enlisted on 1 May 1951 to serve in the Korean War. He first flew the P-51 Mustang, then the Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star, and then the F-86 Sabre. Ray remained in the Air Force and served during the Vietnam War. In the early 1960’s, Ray was stationed at Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan. From 1965 to his retirement in 1968, he was commander of Flight Training at Randolph AFB. He retired 31 May 1968 at rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Ray founded Associated Realty in 1969. He became President of the San Antonio Board of Realtors in 1977, and was named Realtor of the Year the following year. He was director of the Texas Association of Realtors from 1978 to 1985, and was director of the National Association of Realtors from 1980 to 1985. He was also a founding member of the S.A.B.O.R. Federal Credit Union. Ray died at the age of 61 on 5 Nov 1985. He was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. At graveside there wasn’t a dry eye as F-15 Eagles conducted the Missing Man flyover. He was a Great Patriot and Warrior for this country he loved so much!

Ray married Lillie Mae Boyd in 1944 while at Barksdale Field, just prior to him leaving for England. We laid her to rest next to Ray on 10 Oct 2019. She was just days from her 94th birthday.

Thank you B26.COM for the opportunity to tell Ray’s story.

Milton Dean Scott Jr. (Ray & Lillie Mae’s nephew)

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Date:

10/6/2019

Time:

8:22 AM

 

Hello,
I am looking for information about the crash of B26 Marauder dated 24-11-1944 in La Neuville Housset (France). The crew members were William Floyd Ray, Dennis Jones, Raul Pompa, Preston Prejean, James Dubois, James Padgett, Wetzel Kimball. I am interested in any information: origin of crew members, mission of the aircraft that day, etc.

I am a radio amateur (ham radio), living nearby, and I wish to make a commemorative issue (ham radio special call)  for the 75th anniversary of the death of these dead aviators for our freedom.

I intend to publish a QSL card that will be sent to confirm the contacts made by radio. To make this QSL card, any historical iconographic document (crew photos, etc.) would be welcome.

Thanking you in advance for your help, and with my best regards.

Nicolas Choin, F4HZS
(My house, about 1km from B26 monument)

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Date:

9/29/2019

Time:

1:09 PM

 

This is Mr. Guinther's first post to the site here. We touched base a couple of times a year talking mostly about the Sartrouville mission and the windows in Little Easton. I asked him about this comment in his last email to me "I regret that I am not included in your list of contributors to your remarkable site" and he never replied. I wondered what he meant. Did I not ask him for material the right way? He never send me anything. This is the only picture he send me.

 

My last email from Harry was Aug 18, 2017, he passed two months later without answering my question. "I'm doing well, Mike. Going to a D-day re-enactment today and will be speaking as part of the program, pre-activities on the beach. I'm 94 but still driving, living alone in a too big house, enjoy a great girl friend, play bridge and cribbage, and enjoy a very satisfying cooking hobby. I regret that I am not included in your list of contributors to your remarkable site, but I guess my contribution was minimal. Thanks for keeping in touch. I refer people to your site often. Mostly researchers and WW II hobbyists as well as history students to come to me to talk about WW II. All my years of speaking before groups in northern Ohio has resulted in a reputation as a source for first hand information about the air war in Europe. We have a nearly fully completed restoration of a B-26 at the MAPS (Military Air Preservation Society) at the Akron Canton airport. I'll send (separately) to you a picture of me addressing a group in front of the plane a couple of months ago. Thanks again for your remarkable site. Harry Guinther"

 

 

HARRY GUINTHER Obituary - Cleveland, OH | The Plain Dealer

Harry Guinther (first post to B26.com) of Chagrin Falls, died peacefully October 27. 2017. He was 94. Harry was preceded in death by Virginia (Kajawa), his wife of 69 years. He is survived by sons, David (Barbara); and John (Lisa); grandchildren, Sarah, Hannah, Andrews, and two great-grandchildren. An avid sailor, golfer, and bridge player, Harry also piloted his own plane in his earlier years. He played harmonica, wrote stories and poems, and was a tremendous cook. Harry and Virginia traveled to over 60 countries and every state in the U.S. He also served in the Arm Air Corps as a gunner during WWII. On his 56th bombing mission, his plane was shot down over France. He was captured spending a year as a German P.O.W. before escaping (Maisons Laffitte Railroad Bridge). Very active in Veteran affairs, Harry gave numerous presentations to schools and organizations on his WWII experiences. Harry's career began as a salesman for the Richman Brothers Co. retiring in 1986 as President and CEO. Harry was a loving husband, father, and friend to many. He will be missed. Harry will be interred at Western Reserve National Cemetery where he will receive military honors. A memorial service will be held Friday, December 1, at 4:30 p.m. at Federated Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

 

This is the oral history of World War II Veteran Harry P. Guinther

"There was other activity around and it was obviously the fact that my other two crew members were going through the same kind of experience I was but the two men who captured me put me in a Jeep and drove me away. And they drove me to, I found out later, the town that we had just bombed and drove me into a central square in the town and the air was filled with dust and smoke. There were houses burning around us. I found out also later that we had hit the bridge, however, unfortunately just before we hit the bridge a train had pulled into the station which was located directly on the edge of the river, and it also was hit and destroyed and more than 400 people were killed. And the people of the town, although they were our allies, they were French, some of them were collaborators with the Germans, and although I was handcuffed they stood me in the center of that square and a number of young Frenchmen begin to beat me up. And did a pretty good job of it until the Germans stepped in between them, between they and me, and finally turned their guns on the Frenchmen and told them to get away and then they put me in the back of the Jeep and I was bleeding pretty badly from being, you know, split lip and a bloody nose, and so forth. And put me in the Jeep and started to drive me in towards Paris. I will always look back on that beating that I took at the hands of the Frenchmen with some the degree of disappointment and sadness because I was risking my life to help these people free themselves from the occupying Germans and here they did this to me. However, I found out later, as a matter of fact, only a couple of years ago when I visited the town that the people were very, very grateful of what the American forces did in liberating their country and in fact, the -- one of the -- the town, one of the town's historians took me to their local museum where they have in the museum a picture of our crew and a model of our airplane and the story of the raid that day and surrounded by both American and French flags in a place of honor in the museum."

 

Serendipity - the American Chapel at St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton by Esmerelda Weatherwax
"Harry Guinther who flew with the 386th as a wireless operator and gunner was project director for the installation of the stained glass windows which were made by American artist Douglas Phillips and his team in Ohio."

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Date:

9/9/2019

Time:

7:38 AM

 

In the news: Essex field dug up as US military search for WW2 airman's remains

 

The aircraft crashed as stated on June 4th 1944 shortly after take-off - the aircraft was 42-95814 K9-T 'Susanne' of the 494th BS/344th BG based at Stansted.

The crew was:

1/Lt John V Pulka Pilot
2/Lt George E Lyons Co-Pilot
S/Sgt John A Strauss Togglier
S/Sgt G L Blosser Radio/Gunner
S/Sgt H G Mooney Engineer/Gunner
S/Sgt Boyd Pauling Gunner

Four crewman escaped whilst two were killed, one of whom was recovered at the time with one man who remained MIA.

Unlike the RAF the US has a unit based in Hawaii whose task is to locate missing personnel and try to recover remains, we have no such organisation and disturbing wreck sites that may contain human remains are not allowed. There was case, a few years ago, of a Battle of Britain Hurricane that was lost off a harbour wall in Kent, the site was to be redeveloped and the family of the pilot asked if the wreck could be recovered so they could retrieve any remains and give him a proper burial. Sadly even this case was denied! I think that it is unbelievably insensitive of the authorities.

Hope that helps,

Alan Crouchman

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Date:

9/5/2019

Time:

12:47 PM

 

It has been brought to my attention just now that Mr. Joseph D. Lazar passed away last month. I had the honor and privilege of chatting with Joe quite a few times over the years. I consider myself lucky and fortunate that he returned my email and phone calls. I talked with him about the Great Depression, WW2 and people who posted to the guestbook. Joe liked the b26 website and loved his family and grandchildren, great-grandchildren very much. My sincere condolences to the Lazar Family. -Mike

 

Obituary
Joseph D. Lazar, 97, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2019, at Eagle Valley Personal Care Home, in Milesburg. Joe was born in New York City, on July 19, 1922 a son of the late David and Rose Ann Hannon Lazar. Joe's family had then moved to Lynbrook, Oceanside and North Babylon, Long Island, New York and finally to Hopewell NJ in 1970, then in 2017, he and his wife Beatrice (Betty) moved to the Milesburg Area.
Joe earned degrees at NY University (BEE), and NY Law School (JD). He was a member of the honorary engineering societies, Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa NU. He was the founding Boy Scout Scoutmaster for 6 years in N. Babylon, L.I. NY. He was a founding Library Trustee in N. Babylon, L.I. as well as President and Founder of Handicapped Parent's groups in N. Babylon and Commack, L.I. NY and in Manville, Somerset County, NJ.
Joe was a veteran having served in the US Army Air Corps and then the US Air Force, Ninth Division during WWII in Europe flying 50 combat missions as Squadron Navigator Bombardier with the rank of Captain.
He was employed as an Engineer with Western Electric and the Bells Labs (1945-1955). He practiced law in NY City for about 15 years with several law firms, litigating and soliciting patents. He retired from RCA/GE as a Patent Attorney (1970- 1986) handling inventions related to satellites, radar, printed circuits, photo-optics, control systems and other miscellaneous inventions developed by RCA.
Joe loved playing golf, tennis, swimming, scuba diving (Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Maine lakes and in NJ), water and snow skiing and inexpensive poker (10 years at the end of a 30 year group), and especially music. He sang with Princeton Pro Music for several years, Princeton Barbershop Chapter Chorus for 30 years, in more than 150 performances with several Barbershop quartets from 1988 until 2001 and in Hopewell Valley Chorus for 20 years. He played the violin until 1940 ending as the concert master with the Oceanside High Orchestra.
Joe is survived by his children, JoAnne Lazar-Barndt, Lawrence Lazar, Roxanne Miller and Susanne Lazar Duntley, his 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and his brother, David W. Lazar.
In addition to his parents , he was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Beatrice R. Lazar on August 21, 2018, his daughter Luanne and his sister, Rachael.
There will be no public visitation. Services and burial will be at the convenience of the family in Hopewell, NJ.

https://deankwetzlerfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/3956947/Lazar-Joseph/

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Date:

8/24/2019

Time:

5:40 PM

 

42-95768, 320BG 441BS "BECKY"
24 Aug 44 engine failure leaving French coast, lost altitude, ditched into sea. MARC 7998
2.Lts Harry E Jenkins; Rea M Cinnamond; F/O James H McCall,Jr; S/Sgts Otto A Trap; Clarence J Zoglmann; Daniel Lieberman; Sgt John L Jensen. (All drowned at sea bodies not recovered)
Trevor Allen, Historian

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Date:

8/22/2019

Time:

12:32 PM

 

My name is Darryl Jones and as a part time genealogist I was researching my granddaughter-in-law's family when I noticed that both her grandfather and great grandfather served in WW II. Her grandfather was Wilford Russel Oney who piloted 65 missions in B-26 Marauders with the 597th BS, 397 BG.

Marauderman's Name: Wilford Russel Oney
Bomb Group: 397th
Bomb Squadron: 597th
Years in service:1941-42; 1942-45
Graduation Class: WC 43-F
Class Location: Stockton/Santa Ana CA
Comments: He enlisted as US Army Private 23 Jul 1941 @ Kansas City, MO; went to 4th Weather Squadron; accepted Aviation Cadet rank 15 Sep 1942; honorably discharged and accepted a commission as 2nd Lt on 22 Jun 1943, following his graduation with WC 43-F class at Santa Ana, CA; went thru Student Officer-B 26 Transition Training @ Del Rio, TX; joined 478th BS, 336th BG, Marauder RTU training Avon Park, FL & Lake Charles, LA; arrived @ Rivenhall, England 22 Apr 1944; promoted to 1st Lt, 17 Jul 1944; flew 65 combat missions and departed for US 28 Feb 1945; received Air Medal w/12 Oak Leaf Clusters; ended active duty 14 Jul 1945 at Fort Leavenworth, KS; graduated from MIT with a BS degree in Electric Power; died 7 Aug 2010 at Schenectady, New York.

I requested and received archive records covering his training and discharge (128 pages, only slightly burned), but would like to know the aircraft number(s) and name(s); crew members names; particulars regarding the aircraft accident occurring on or about 13 Aug 1944; any particularly successful bombing runs in which he participated.

Wilford's father, Fred Lee Oney was a railway telegrapher and I presume did that type of work for the Army during the war. I have requested his archive records but haven't yet received them. Does anyone know how many father and son combinations served in WWII? I am awaiting family photos of both.

 

42-96052
397BS, 597BS
9 Aug 44 crash landed at Hurn, salvaged by 6th Tactical Air Depot 9 Aug 44
Lt. Wilfred R. Oney

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Date:

8/1/2019

Time:

1:09 PM

 

Hello, I just found your great website for the first time. My father was Corp. Leonard G. Robinson crew member of the "Dixie". They were part of the first mission flown by the B26 on April 5, 1942 from Garbutt Field. The Dixie had to land on the main street of Townsville when arriving for the first time in March, 1942. I have more information that I found years ago on a website called Pacific Wrecks, along with photos of the crew, planes etc at the airfield. Their team went to the wreckage site of the Dixie and posted more photos. I have also uncovered an actual video of the Dixie taxiing at Garbutt with my father on the fuselage. -Mark Robinson

40-1496, 22BG, 19BS "DIXIE"
Feb 42 to 7 Aug 42 overflew Port Moresby and ran out of fuel in a storm over Owen Stanley mountains bellylanded in swampy area inland from Salamaua New Guinea.
2.Lt Robert W Hatch; F/O Daniels RAAF; Lt Bevan; Sgt's Maye; Slater; Shemberger; Robinson. (Crew returned) (Source: Trevor Allen, B26 Historian)

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Date:

7/30/2019

Time:

9:34 AM

 

My uncle, George Beaman, was a crew chief on the B-26 named "Sweet Sue". He began in N. Africa, went to Sicily, through Europe, and ended in England. The plane had flown 99 missions, but crashed on takeoff in England on the 100th mission. All aboard were killed. Uncle George happened to be on the ground that day and survived. He was awarded a Purple Heart. -Dan Beaman

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Date:

6/29/2019

Time:

6:30 PM

 

Marauderman's Name: Emmett Eugene "Gene" Curran
Bomb Group: 386
Bomb Squadron: 554
Years in service: 42-45
Comments: Thanks so much for the great website. Gene Curran was my father’s cousin. My father was lot from much of his family, so as I research my family’s genealogy, your site was invaluable for me to discover Gene’s Service. LT Curran was a B26 pilot, and went on to serve life-long in the USAF, retiring as Colonel.

Thanks again,

Bill Curran

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Date:

6/25/2019

Time:

11:42 PM

 

323rd BG, Bomb Squad 456
I see my nephew wrote you in 2009. I am the youngest son of Allen McSherry and wonder if anyone is going to the 323nds reunion in Reno in September?

Best Regards,

Stewart McSherry

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Date:

6/24/2019

Time:

1:17 PM

 

Mr. Allen,

Thanks for all that you are doing to preserve the history of the men and machines of the B-26. My father, Vincent Galvin, from Boston, Massachusetts was a turret gunner in one over Europe, I believe in the 323 bomb group, 453 squadron, 9th AF.

For your files I thought the attached information may be useful for others conducting research. It is a list of his missions - the target city, date, comments, plane number and name and the last name of the pilot.

I hope this is helpful. Thank you.

 

Matthew and Kathy Galvin

 

Mathew,
 

Your father T/Sgt Vincent Galvin flew those 11 combat mission out of A-83, Denain/Prouvy in northern France. Below is a list of his crewmembers.

Pilot 1st Lt. Charles R. Dawson
Copilot 2nd Lt. William J. Curnane
Bombardier 2nd Lt. R J. Schuenke
Flight Engineer S/Sgt. George E. Waddell Jr.
Radioman Sgt. Harold M. Devlin
Tail Gunner T/Sgt. Vincent Galvin

Although the mission loading lists show your father as being the tail gunner it, was not unusual for the gunners to sometimes swap positions for different reasons. The 323rd BG flew its last combat mission on April 25, 1945. After that it was tasked with disarming different factions of the German military. That would probably account for your dad’s stationing in Holland. The later replacement crews would remain in Europe until they accrued enough points to be rotated back to the States and be discharged

Roy Bozych - Historian 323rd BG

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Date:

6/24/2019

Time:

9:31 AM

 

Hello,

I am looking for information concerning TSGT James J. Moulder. Does anyone have a picture of the plane? Nose art/name of the plane? Picture of the crew? Does anyone have information concerning his fiancé in England?

Thank you for your help.

Tonia Duncan

T Sgt James Jessie Moulder
DOB: 12/30/1923 Chicago, IL

DOD: KIA 8/9/1944 Brest, France
Based: Stansted Mountfitchet England
Conflict: WWII
Position: Radio Operator/Gunner
Service: Army Air Corp, 9th Army
Dates of Service: ?-8/9/1944
Bomb Grp: 344th
Bomb Sq: 495th
Service #: XXXX6929
Location: Illinois
MACR: 7848
Plane Serial#: 42-107686
Production block number: B-26C-45-MO Marauder
Manufacturer: Martin

Buried in a common grave with crew members. Not all remains were found.

BURIED AT: SECTION I SITE 41
ZACHARY TAYLOR NATIONAL CEMETERY
4701 BROWNSBORO ROAD LOUISVILLE, KY 40207

Members of the downed crew, all members lost:

S Sgt. Alvin G Beeker
2nd Lt. James R. Elliott
Sgt. William C. Lastinger
1st Lt. Raymond H. Phillips
S Sgt. Harold J. Whisenant

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Date:

6/21/2019

Time:

3:53 PM

 

Marauder Man: Walter “Dub” Mill
Bomb Group: 320th
Squadron: 443rd
Position: Radio Operator/ Gunner

I am trying to find information of any kind about my grandfather. His name was Walter C. Mills, but went by Dub.  He did not speak of his wartime experience until the end the last 10(ish) years of his life. He was so proud to be a Marauder Man. I know he trained/ served with Maurice O’Reilly (Pilot). I would love any information or guidance in finding information.

Proud Granddaughter of my Marauder Man, Dub Mills
Thank you, Tammy Domangue

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Date:

6/18/2019

Time:

3:37 PM

 

Good Day, I hope this e-mail finds you well, my name is Bob Driscoll. I am President of Aero Arces Civic Improvement Association, a small community in Middle River Md. 21220. We are about 2 -3rds of a mile from The Martins Co. of Middle River. Our small but proud community of Aero Acres was built to house Martin aircraft workers during W.W. 2 , We have a community "Gateway" sign with a B26 on it and would like (if you will ) to contact us with any info you may have on the plane the tail number is : 334396 . We are having the sign replaced with a new more modern one of the same exact features, and we were just wondering about the "Heroes " that flew this plane. Many Thanks for any info you can provide. Bob Driscoll

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Date:

6/17/2019

Time:

10:58 PM

 

Marauderman's Name: Neil C. Davis
Bomb Group: 386th
Bomb Squadron: 554th

 

While we flew many missions, I have only described a few significant ones. We as a crew worked diligently to strike our targets with a minimum loss of personnel. While the lead plane was the aiming point for the German gun crews on the ground we made it through without a wounded crew member or critical damage to the plane. We did however get many, many flak holes. "Little Butch" did her job and we were grateful. -NEIL C. DAVIS

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Date:

6/13/2019

Time:

5:11 PM

 

Marauderman's Name: Robert F. Birch
Bomb Group: 386th
Bomb Squadron: 554th
Years in service: August 11, 1943 to Sept. 15, 1945
Comments: He was a tail gunner on a plane title the "Buzzin Half Dozen" - he spelled the name various ways on the backs of photos and I believe the serial number to be 43-34350, 386BG 554BS, RU-V. They also flew some missions on "The Liberty Run" and "Texas Tarantula". He flew missions over Central Europe, Northern France, Rhineland Ardennes and Normandy. EMAE Service Ribbon with One Silver Service Star, One Bronze Service Star, Air Medal and Four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters as well as a Good Conduct medal. Others in his crew were Robert Scherslinger of Appleton, WI, Co Pilot Arthur Blackett of Boston, Pilot George LeFever of Brooklyn, Crew Chief Arnold Keith of Chickasha, OK and Bombardier Ray Keifer of Missouri.

Do you know a way to look up the general orders for the the 554th? Would like to tie back his medals to those.

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Date:

6/10/2019

Time:

1:26 PM

 

D-Day 75th anniversary: Whatlington man honours American airmen who died 750ft from his house

 

A Whatlington has man built a display outside his house to honour five American airmen and six crew members who died in a plane crash that landed in Ashburnham Park on D-Day, June 6, 1944.



John Gerken, who is 84, said he designed the one-day display to let local people – who may not be aware of what happened there on D-Day morning – know how dreadful it must have been in the field behind the houses on the east side of Whatlington Road.

His sign reads: “On this day 75 years ago five American airmen lost their lives within 750 ft of this spot. Their Martin Marauder B26 Bomber iced up and collided with another B26 which crashed in Ashburnham Park with the loss of all six crew. Please remember them all.

“The Battle Marauder Crew that died were all put into body bags and brought through the side way of ‘Longbranch’ (opposite here) where they lay on the verge waiting to be taken away by the military. It must have been a devastating scene.”

Mr Gerken’s sign also includes the names of all those who lost their lives at that spot 75 years ago today (June 6).

He added: “My own thoughts with this anniversary coming soon was to make a one-day display to try and let local people, who may not be aware of what happened here on D-Day morning, know how dreadful it must have been in the field behind the houses on the east side of Whatlington Road (between Virgins Lane and Oakhurst Road. This stretch was known as ‘The Levels’).

“The British Legion (Battle branch) had a very nice wooden memorial to both crews, which was consecrated by the Dean of Battle in 2007. “However, this is now located elsewhere – I was told in the American Embassy.

“A lot of people have recorded details in the past about this and some aircraft parts recovered from both sites can be seen at the Robertsbridge Aviation Society’s Museum at Bush Barn on the A21, but there is no memorial to the American airmen that died here in Battle now.”

 

42-96249 394BG 587BS 6 Jun 44 collided with 42-107592 in mid air, crashed near Battle, Sussex, exploded on impact. MARC 15750
2.Lts. Thomas F. Jenkins; Walter S Winter; S/Sgts William C Hoeb; Ralph D Parker; Sgts George S Rogers; Edward F Bailey. (all killed)

 

42-107592 394BG 584BS "STINKY"
12 May 44 to 6 Jun 44 collided in mid air with 42-96249, crashed near Battle, Sussex, exploded
1.Lts. Tommie J Potts, Jr.; Leroy A Dyer; Christian D Burger; S/Sgts James M Long; George J Kyle; George W Williams. (Only Potts survived)
Trevor Allen, Historian

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Date:

6/6/2019

Time:

9:10 AM

 

42-95902
344BG, 497BS "THE BAD PENNY"
Original to 6 Jun 44 hit by flak, exploded in mid air
2.Lt. James B. McKamey; F/O John F Kechley; Sgt Jesse M Scott; S/Sgts Salvadore J Zuniga; Manuel H Larini; Howard L Finn.
(Zuniga, Larini, Finn KIA; rest of crew POW)
MARC 5656

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Date:

6/5/2019

Time:

6:15 AM

 

Good Morning,
I am including some information about my father who was a Marauder man in WWII. I thought that I would share it as a remembrance of him on this 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Thank-you, Rich Erickson

Thank-you to the Marauder Men who are still with us for your incredible bravery, skill, and determination while flying your missions over Europe – especially on this seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day. God bless the memories of those Marauder Men who have passed away over these past seventy-five years.

My father, Clarence V. Erickson, was one of you. He passed away in 1972 and never really said much about his time in the service. Brokaw’s book, the Greatest Generation, started the conversations that helped to enlighten future generations about the unselfish service you, The Marauder Men, provided to the country.

We have found various items stored away in his storage box that record his bombing runs on June 6, 1944. There are two entries for 6/6/44. The first one lists the Make of aircraft as a B-26/B45 at 2000HP. The from location is listed as C which I am guessing is Matching Green. In the To column of his log are the words Sortie#39 and he has Co-Pilot flight time 2hrs 50mns. The second entry for 6/6/44 lists the same plane, same from location – C, and Sortie#40, with Co-Pilot 3hrs 25mns. There is also a small Penworthy Note Book in the locker and there are only two pages with anything on them. The top line on the first page has the penciled words – Bombing Missions. He then has drawn bomb representations on that and the second page. The last two bomb sketches on the first page have D-Day penciled under them.

Thank-you to all of the Marauder Men and to all of the men and women who so honorably served in the Armed Services in WWII.

Rich Erickson son of Marauder Man Clarence V. Erickson – 391st BG the 575th BS

---

Date:

6/2/2019

Time:

11:00 AM

 

Martin B-26 Marauder Operations on 6th June 1944, D-Day

 

Unit | Target | Take Off Time | Bomb Release Time

1st Pathfinder Sqdn | Ouistreham 69 | 0345 hrs | 0520 hrs
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

 

Trevor Allen, Historian
B26.COM

---

Date:

5/31/2019

Time:

7:11 AM

 

The details have dimmed with time, so it is impossible to know what altitude the Marauder crews were told to fly over Utah Beach on the northern coast of France. Cornelius Ryan of the London Daily Telegraph was sitting in the prefabricated metal hut where the officers of the 386th Bomb Group were briefed. “You may have to bomb as high as 12,000 feet or lower than 1,000 feet,” he quoted the group commander as saying. “The cloud height will determine this.” By Daniel Ford
Read more at https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/mission-utah-beach

---

Date:

5/27/2019

Time:

9:55 PM

 

Marauderman’s Name: Clarence Falke
Bomb Group: 319
Squadron: 440
Years In Service: 1944
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: I am looking for any further information regarding this man. I know his aircraft (42-95785) was shot down on September 26, 1944.

Thank you,

Kevin Dodge

 

42-95785 319BG, 440BS, "LITTLE SUE"
26 Sep 44 flak at 10,000' lost altitude rapidly, pilot & navigator wounded, copilot took over controls, crashlanded.
Capt. James L. Burson; 2.Lt Walter J Hirsch, Jr; 1.Lt's Stanley J Hagen; Clarence G Falke; T/Sgt George L Schuetz; S/Sgt John G Peerson. (Hagen killed trapped under wing, rest of crew safe)
MARC 8941

---

Date:

5/27/2019

Time:

12:51 PM

 

Hello,
It's cool that you guys still maintain this site. I have been trying to get more information about my Mom's cousin that went down in 1942.
His name PFC Langham Sammons, 22nd bomber group, 2nd bomb squad (Med).
He is missing assumed dead date is 1 April 1942.

Any information on the flight he was on would be greatly appreciated.
 

Steve Sunday

40-1490 22BG 2BS
1 Apr 42 lost in storm over Pacific near Palmyra Atoll, one of the Northern Line Islands.
2.Lts.Horace Palmer, Jr; Melvin L Anderson; Kenneth H Bozell; Pfc Langham N Sammons; Sgt Clarence L Goodman, Jr; Pfc Walter P Karwoski. (All reported dead at sea)

---

Date:

5/27/2019

Time:

12:01 AM

 

Memorial Day

 

On this Day:

40-1536 22BG 19BS "BOOMERANG"
27 May 42: 2.Lt Wyatt F Hundley, bombardier, killed by cannon fire over Lae.

41-1772 335BG 474BS 27 May 43 21.50hrs pilot failed to run up engines prior to take off, began take off run when one or both engines lost power as aircraft reached end of 5,000ft runway, retracted wheels and flaps without sufficient sufficient airspeed about 1,000ft after leaving end of runway, mushed back into the ground, both engines knocked off, continued for another 1,000ft,hit telephone line, crossed railroad right of way landing on highway where it burned 1 mile SE of the Field
1.Lt Glynn E Stephens; 2.Lt's Norman F Brown; Raymond L Knott; S/Sgt's Percy J Hamilton; Gerald F George; Richard F Benders. (Benders seriously injured, rest of crew killed)

 

41-31788 322BG 449BS TRUEMAN COMMITTEE
27 May 44 flak damaged, emergency landing at Manston, England. Brakes failed, gear raised, hit pillbox, ground looped, came to rest at cliff edge, repaired
Lt. Frank W. Remmele P; 1.Lt Harry H Heath B/N both hit by flak Remmele wounded, Heath killed.

 

42-43288 322BG 449BS VEE PACK IT & KITTY
27 May 44 flak over Paris damaged fuel lines in bomb bay, two crew bailed out over target, pilots managed to regain control and returned to England. One leg of McWilliams was practically blown off and he parachuted out over England, but died of his wounds the same day. It was impossible to land the a/c and the four remaining crew members bailed out over England.
Capt Donald W Allen P; 1.Lt's Allen F Minich C/P; Joseph C Dick B; Capt John Littwin N; T/Sgt's Edward V McWilliams E/G; Raymond G Baum R/G; Sgt Robert L Sylvester A/G. Littwin; Baum, bailed out over target. McWilliams his leg practically shot away by flak stayed at his guns until he was bailed out by the remaining crew over England unfortunately died shortly after landing. The rest of the crew: Allen, Minich, Sylvester bailed out over Gravesend, England)

 

42-96100 386BG 555BS SWAMP ANGEL
27 May 44 flak burst just after bombs away blew fabric off elevator, pulled up, banked out of formation both engines on fire, two chutes out of tail section, after a short delay one more chute from rear. A/C went into a steep dive covered in flames, crashed near St Germaine-en-Laye 10 miles NE of Paris.
1.Lts. Robert E. Kingsley P; Richard A Hart C/P; William H Harmon B/N; T/Sgt Harry P Guinther R/G; S/Sgts Henry J Kurecka E/G; Jerome S Pokrzywinski A/G. (Kingsley killed in crash, rest of crew POW's)

 

41-34707 323BG 455BS

27 May 43 crashed into a mountain in Glenn Carron, Scotland, in cloud.
1.Lt. Merrit E.Young P; 2.Lt Robert A Anderson B; S/Sgt's Vincenzo Bravo E/G; Marshall R Miller Jr R/G; M/Sgt Lewis M Cross A/G. (All killed)

 

41-34898 319BG 438BS MARTINS MISSCARRIAGE
27 May 44 crashed on take off, wheels raised too soon, caught fire, exploded.
Lt's. Harry E.Pence; Lynn Walch;Otto Schumacher; S/Sgt's Jesse Tankersley; Bob Schreiber; Bill Goode. (All killed)

---

Date:

5/20/2019

Time:

2:12 PM

 

In commemoration of the upcoming 75th anniversary of D-Day, and in recognition of the contributions made by Marauder Men in support of the Allied invasion, attached are two photos taken over the Normandy beaches by Lt. Bill Rose, B26 bombardier, 573rd Bomb Squadron, 391st Bomb Group, 9th AF, based at RAF Matching northeast of London. Like many members of the “greatest generation”, he never spoke of any of this. We found these photos after his passing several years ago. More of his photos are posted on his dedication page on this website. Thanks for keeping these memories alive! Mac

 

(large) (large)

---

Date:

5/10/2019

Time:

11:05 AM

 

I would like to set up a dedication page for my father, Paul V. Parkosewich, who was a Bombardier/Navigator on a B-26 during WW2. He finished 40 missions and returned for a full life until he passed away in 2014. I have several photos and a brief history that I would like to email to you if that would be OK.

Another member of his crew -Paul Ellzey- also has a dedication page on the site and stands with him in front of their B-26-SKEETER. My father is the first man on left top row. -Paul R. Parkosewich

---

Date:

5/9/2019

Time:

9:16 AM

 

Hello,

I am trying to find a navigator who served in Vietnam with my father, Edward S. Bridges. My mother believes he retired as a full Colonel. If there are any known whereabouts of C/C SSGT Enoch Hayes, we’d like to know how to connect with him also.

My father was Capt. Richard D. Goss, USAF. He was KIA in an A-1E on August 29, 1964 at Bien Hoa from hostile action. He was a member of the 1ST AIR COMMANDO SQDN, 34TH TAC GROUP at the time.

In early 1964, my father and Capt. Bridges with SSGT Hayes flew the last B-26 out of Vietnam to Clarke AFB (I believe that was the destination.) I’ve attached a couple photos documenting this fact.

A third photo is of the 1st Air Commando Sqdn that a friend provided – his father, Major William Cordero, was KIA soon after my father in B-52. Major is in the front row, 5th from the right. My father is absent, probably off flying.

If you can put me in touch with anyone who may know the whereabouts of Col. Bridges or SSGT Hayes. And anyone else who may have served with my father. He was also based at Hamilton AFB where my little brother was born. My mother returned home to Seattle when he volunteered for the last time to return to Vietnam, after training on the A-1E.

Thank you so much, and thank you for your service. I’m grateful for this link and opportunity to connect with our country’s heroes.

Best,
Laura Goss McCloud Mathers
Proud Army Mom and Air Force Brat

 

large image (See: Martin B-26 Marauder vs. Douglas A-26 Invader)

---

Date:

4/22/2019

Time:

9:42 PM

 

My name is Philippe Vernimmen, from Belgium.
I discovered the B26 website recently, making research on an original WWII painted leather flying jacket that I came across lately.
One of the post on the website matches the name and some details written/painted on that jacket.
It is from Joe Salomon, grandson of a pilot named Lt Leo Savage "Gene".
That post is dated from 12/9/07.
If anyone can pass my message to Joe Salomon, maybe, 10 years later, I can answer some of that person's questions.

Regards,
Philippe Vernimmen

---

Date:

4/17/2019

Time:

1:42 PM

41-35118 16 Jun 43 Lakeland, Fla
332RTU Lake Charles AAF, LA to 24 Jul 44 at an unknown time after 13.40hrs disappeared and presumed lost at sea on over water flight. L13
2.Lt's Paul E Gowey,Jr; Anthony L Gerlach; Alfred G Flower; Cpl's Alfred E Kraus; Clement P Libby; Sgt Paul I Gauthier. (All crew listed as drowning at sea)

Large image

---

Date:

4/15/2019

Time:

8:34 AM

 

Max Petrisek, 94, of Millersville, took his final flight on Thursday morning, April 11, 2019 at LGH. He was married to the late Margaret R. (Letavic) Petrisek for 65 years prior to her death in 2011.

 

This one sentence sums up what a great person Max was "He never met a person who couldn't teach him something." ... that's Max! Max's last post 1/5/19; and his obituary. RIP buddy.

Max's first contact to the site in 2005:

To who asked the question & requested a response to 2/9/05 entry. "Why so many early B26 accidents & should it be called the "flying Prostitute?". What the B26 should be called will not change by more careful evaluation- the name will and should "stick" as it was as stated. As a copilot, pilot, flight leader & combat command pilot I might contribute to reasons for accidents or the reputation. The question partly answers itself as it was "questions of the early days of the planes history. The B26 was put into service at a faster than normal pace, few instructor pilots thus all learned as we went along. The modifications were helpful especially adding wingspan and engine power. As of about the beginning of '44 the supposed pilot apprehension, the modifications, learning curve and the integration of machine & man progressed at a fast rate. Sure there was a need and effort to quickly get crews & new planes into combat posture. There were few problems with pilots or B26 after this period. Those of us that flew the B26 as well as those that maintained or had any "part of the chain" were confident and delighted to have such a reliable plane. This feeling of exceptional performance became reinforced for anyone that came back safely with a shot up plane. No complaints, no mysteries, not one specific "FAULT" about the progression of the B26 or anyone who had a part in it's excellent performance. Just a commitment and a job well done. This is about 60 years later but the conviction remains. Just remembered that before going overseas I flew B26 pulling tow targets for B26 gunners practice over Tampa Bay. Didn't see any prostitutes or anyone going into the Bay in late '43. Nobody was even complaining, it was part of some serious preparation for what was to be done. No more."

---

Date:

4/11/2019

Time:

11:24 AM

 

I’m trying to get a hold of Alan Crouchman, the email contact I have for him no longer works. Do you have a way to reach him? A friend would like to tour the old airfield at Chipping Ongar. -Brendan Blair

---

Date:

4/6/2019

Time:

12:11 PM

 

I am looking for Jay Lee Abbott
Engineer-Gunner
I think 332 BG 451 BS
Stationed at Andrews Field Great Saling, England
1943-1945 in service. Overseas 44/45
Flew on "Idiots Delight" and "Dorphy Ann" for sure
Trained in Shreveport, Tyndall field, Roosevelt field.
Discharged March 1945
Thank you Marsha Carlevaro, daughter

---

Date:

3/14/2019

Time:

7:35 AM

 

Hello everybody,

I am also German researcher of airwar during WW II around my hometown Legden. Legden is located in the northwestern part of Germany approx. 20km east off the Dutch border. On 22 Feb 1945 Marauder 43-34410 crashed in the vicinity after being hit by Me 109's. All baled out safely. We know the area where the plane went down and we'll search the site in this summer. Is there any crew picture or one of the plane?

Kind regards,
Martin

---

Date:

3/12/2019

Time:

1:31 PM

 

Hello!

I am on the Board of Directors of a Marauder organization. I was given a project last winter to identify all B-26 crew members who were POWs and escape and evaders. I spent over 600 hrs wading through 145,000 American POWs to find them. I also found B-26 POWs from the British, French, and South African Air forces.

I wanted to seek your permission to link your website to my searchable B26pows.com website.

I wanted to see how we might be able to help each other get the word out there about the Marauder men. My dad Stanley S Bolesta was a bombardier navigator on "Duchess of Barksdale" 322nd 449th.He was shot down on Nov 3 1943 and was taken prisoner. He evaded 5 weeks before he was caught. You can find out about him by just typing Bolesta in the search field and you will find info about my dad

He flew a mission in Flak- Bait on Sept 5, 1943. I built a RC model airplane - hope to maiden it within the next month ... weather depending. See video

I also built a B-26 of my dad's plane. See video

Hope we can connect with each other. You can either email me or call my cell 484-678-8505

Ron Bolesta

---

Date:

3/12/2019

Time:

6:02 AM

 

Hi, this message is for Alan, I hope you receive this.

Alan, my name is Jon Kamp. I'm a journalist with the Wall Street Journal in Boston, Massachusetts. I'm writing for both personal and professional reasons, as I was thinking about writing an article about a B-26 mission on June 8, 1944. You have written about the same, a mission piloted by Rollin Childress two days after D-day, to hit a German fuel dump in France. Only four planes made it to target in terrible weather, one of which was shot down, and the men on the lead plane were awarded for the successful mission.

My Grandfather, Howard Weingrow, was the radio operator/gunner on that flight, his third of 65 missions on Marauders in the war. He flew out of Chipping Ongar before they moved to forward bases in France. I recall him telling me there were English kids near the base who loved to watch the planes coming and going, and whom he and other American airmen befriended. I'm wondering if you ever touched base with my grandfather later in his life.

He died two years ago at age 94. Several years before he died he gave me his detailed journals from the war, including a mission log with information on every flight, his crews, targets, etc. Up until then I didn't know he had so carefully recorded everything.

I would love to speak with you sometime soon to compare notes, and to see if you happen to know who the other men were on that June 8th flight. I have the nicknames or last names for that entire crew so I bet we can figure it out. I'd like to track down what happened to each and every one of them.

You can email me here at your convenience. Thanks so much.

Jon Kamp

---

Date:

3/15/2019

Time:

5:30 PM

 

Looking for more info on my uncle Bud Batty’s service on B-26 with 391 St. Bud was very quiet about his service, where, with who he flew and where. Bud past away 2014 his obituary states he was Bombardier / Navigator with 53 missions. His DOB 12/09/16, died 01/15/14. Thanks in advance - James Pointer

---

Date:

3/5/2019

Time:

3:28 PM

 

Seeking info. about 1LT Richard A. Borrell, B-26 bombardier with US AAF, KIA 13 Oct 1944. He was assigned to 555th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Squadron. I am a researcher from Cranford, NJ, U.S.A where Borrell grew up, and gathering biographical info. on Borrell as part of Cranford86.com memorial project where we profile our local fallen service members.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Stu Rosenthal

---

Date:

3/3/2019

Time:

10:39 AM

 

Hello,
I am trying to reach and find/gather/provide information that may allow me to gain more I sight on what to do with some of my grandfathers belongings. He was a Lt. Col in the Air Force. I have been going through a lot of things this weekend and don’t really know where to “start”.
He flew B-26 on WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars. One plane spoken about with quite a few pictures is Pops Wagon. 1941ish - not sure. I have these dates in the material i have, I just need to go through them more throughly.
I want to reach out and see if anyone has thoughts/suggestions/insight on how I can go further with gaining or sharing information about my grandfathers military career.

Please, reach out to me! I would love to go further with this journey I am on...information and knowledge.
I will be going through stuff during the week, and writing more precise information down ...and would love to be able to share further.

Thank you in advance,

Jennifer Hollis

 

Jennifer,
Your father served with the 574th Bomb Squadron 391st Bomb Group stationed initially at Matching Green, Essex, England.

Trevor Allen
historian b26.com

---

Date:

2/25/2019

Time:

10:39 AM

 

Hi Trevor,

I hope you can help me. I will be in Essex, England and will be visiting Normandy in 30 days.

I would like to visit where my Dad flew out of England, but I'm not sure where he was stationed.

The B-26 is numbered 1829 and the crew consisted of :

"Pappy" Crims - Pilot
"Bink" - Co-Pilot
Bob "Rollike" "Rolantz - Bombardier
Harold "Mac" McFeeters - Radio Operator and Waist Gunner
Tail Gunner - unknown

Mac was my father.
Bob Rolantz ended up being an executive at Atlantic Record company and he wrote a memoir of which I have a copy. I would like to publish it and send it to families of the crew members, but I don't know how to reach them.

Any information you can provide would be very much appreciated. Photos of the crew would be awesome.

Thanks for your help.

Jerry McFeeters

---

Date:

2/25/2019

Time:

10:39 AM

 

Hello.... I have a 2009 copy of a photo of my dad from your B26.com page, but now as I look through your site, I can't seem to find it. Can you guide me to where I should look for it?
 

Dawson Kershaw, 391st, 574th.
Thank you very much! -Betsy

Be Who You Are.

---

Date:

2/14/2019

Time:

6:20 AM

 

Dear Sir/Madame,
I have been on a project offshore recently and have found a piece of B26 wreckage. Please treat this report as confidential as the project has strict guidelines on information transfer. I have forwarded the piece of wreckage to the USAF in Holland and they thanked us for our efforts to identify the piece. I attach a file I compiled which will explain everything I hope. The piece I have been told is to be repatriated to the USA. I trust this will be done. Some of the information I found to enable an identification came from your site. I hope there is still someone out there who knows these brave men.

Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely
Ryan Shern

 

Ryan,
We have 4 B-26's attacked at map reference 51 degrees 05 minutes N & 03 degrees 05 minutes E unfortunately this does not give us the map reference where each B-26 crashed into the sea. Knowing the forward speed is essential and the sequence each aircraft was actually falling. The spread of sea bed debris would b e considerable and this presents a formidable problem. Unless you have more detailed information we can not determine the exact B-26 the debris you have is from. Additionally the only way a positive identification could be arrived at is if human remains have been found with dog tags.

I am sorry that my reply is un-conclusive but is there is any evidence to take this search further I would be delighted to assist your efforts

Trevor Allen historian b26.com

---

Date:

2/11/2019

Time:

10:58 PM

 

I’m looking for some information regarding my Dad, T/SGT Thomas G Harmes (Harmes, Thomas E. (armorer-tail gunner, 35 missions, Stud Duck) 34BS, 17BG – 7/25/03.

He was severely wounded on Dec 24, 1944 on a mission to Singen Railroad Bridge, Germany. He was 19. He was not with his regular crew having volunteered to be the tail gunner for the run. I’m looking for any information on this mission and hope that there may be a mission report available. I do not know the name of the plane he was on when wounded. However I recently found a letter that suggest the plane tail number was 35.

Any information or sources you could provide regarding the mission or #35 would be most appreciated. Dad spoke fondly of the Stud Duck (Lasly) crew but he provided little information of the mission or the crew he flew with when wounded.

Thank you, Tom Harmes

The Thunderbird Goes to War on page 163 provides the following information….

 

Tom,
The 17th Bomb Group records are to say the least incomplete and not every incident is listed.
On December 24th 1944 three B-26'a were shot down by flak and fighters and Thomas was not on any one of those planes. I have no record of which planes crash landed on that date, hence no record of your father.

Regards
Trevor Allen
Historian b26.com

 

Well please know that I really appreciate the efforts that you all have expended on my behalf. I’m afraid I may not be able complete my goal to document the circumstances of my Dad’s last mission. I have just a couple more leads that I would like to share with you…. I have a few (3) specific questions below:

I do know that the plane he volunteered to fly on returned to the Dijon airfield with damage it did not crash. His left leg was amputated at the base field hospital on Christmas Day 1944. He eventually ended up at the hosp in Battle Creek MI for several months.

---

Vic Tannehill in his book The Daddy of Them All, story of the 17th Bomb Group in WWII, advises page 62:

On December 24 (1944) the mission was FUBAR. Very aggressive Me-109s jumped the 17th’s formation of 32 Marauders on their way to bomb Singen railroad bridge. Three 37th Squadron B26s were lost to the fighters. One was seen to crash after two chutes were observed (#35 This Is It); the second was last seen in a spin and smoking, no chutes (#42 Teton Special); and the third (#45 Ramblin’ Wreck) was going down under attack by four of the Messerschmitts.

The Thunderbird Goes to War (page 163) provides a similar account of the mission (snafued), noting that the 34th BS provided 10 aircraft to the mission. There is no mention of any lost B26s from the 34th.

As an aside Dad told me that the mission was led by CO Maj. Magdich he was blamed for the failure of the mission and the loss of life and injury. He advised there were threats made to Maj. Magdich.

On page 163 it is noted that on December 26 1944: Major Magdich has been relieved of his command and transferred to XII Tactical Air Command.

So here are a couple of questions:

1) Regarding tail numbers; were the numbers unique to the Bomb Group or were they unique to a Bomb Squad? As I’ve noted I had some information that Dad was on #35 on the mission. So if there was a #35 37th BS could there have also been a #35 34th BS?
2) Were any field hospital records saved? I plan to start looking for any info regarding his 7 month stay the hosp in Battle Creek. Would there have been records from the field hosp in Dijon?
3) Is there any paperwork trail related to Maj Magdich that might advise the reason for his abrupt transfer after the failed mission?

As noted previously sincere thanks to everyone helping me with this…..

Best Regards Tom

---

Date:

2/8/2019

Time:

9:33 AM

 

Afternoon Trevor,
Is there any way of getting contact with Arthur EW Thornton, son of Arthur Edmund Thornton who posted 5.03pm on 1/8/09. The father was a navigator on a C47 in 1944 before joining a bombing unit. His C47 served on D-Day and is being restored to fly and due to fly this summer for the 75th Anniversary.
Please let me know.
Regards
Mark Sheppard

---

Date:

2/7/2019

Time:

3:13 AM

 

Hello Trevor,

First of all, thank you for this beautiful site that allows us to find a lot of information to help us to commemorate American airmen who fought in France and died for some.

Currently, I am in the process of searching for additional documents and photo for the B26 (42-96113 4T-J) and its crew who fell near my home on August 7, 1944. (Maj Clinton M.lee; 2 Lt Richard H Parsons, Capt Bjarne C Tangen, Lt. Arthur E Thornton, S / Sgt Albert H Kahler, Sgt Frank J Drapola, S / Sgt Donald W Short, Sgt John Waite, Jr.

We started prospecting in the field and we found pieces of aircraft including a plate owned by John Waite Jr. We would also like to find the family to John Waite to give this plate.

I'm also looking for information on the two B26 planes and their crews that fell on the same day (42-96221 IHLE Donald Driver and 42-96224 LOWELL Benjamin Pilot)

For our historic center, I wish to write an article not paid. You give me permission to use your information to complete those I have. If you want, I could also give you all the information on the place of the fall, the local history by the people who saw the plane fall, the pieces found ...

Thank you

Best regards,
Patrick Bossard

---

Date:

2/4/2019

Time:

2:23 PM

 

Good Afternoon,
I am Raymond M. Vargo Jr., son of Raymond M. Vargo. I see that you have some information on my father on your B26.com website, but I would like to add some additional information.

My father was a member of 574th BS, 391 BG
He was a Radio Operator/Gunner
He flew 24 combat missions
He passed away on February 12, 2011

Thank you very much for remembering and documenting our loved ones and heroes.

Raymond M. Vargo Jr.

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Date:

2/1/2019

Time:

6:00 AM

 

I found two pictures which might be in your interest. Both pictures were taken around march 25 1945 at Venlo Airport The Netherlands. In the house where my mother ( then 18 years old )lived were several American soldiers. One of them was b26 pilot Westley E. Shook (last address 1850 Sierra Madre drive Atwater Ca.) We visited him in 1998. I don’t know the name of the pilot in front of his plane “Round Too”. My mother mentioned a name Bill Quinliven or something like that. Perhaps it is the pilot on the picture???

Greetings,
Ruud Engels

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Date:

1/30/2019

Time:

9:32 AM

 

New Memorial Bricklayers Arms Whitehill Road Crowborough East Sussex - Unveiled 26th January 2019 - 75th Anniversary.

 

Please see the attached photograph for details. Further details can be found on the Crowborough British Legion Facebook page.
Regards
John Bailey

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Date:

1/23/2019

Time:

1:34 PM

 

My deceased uncle, George Frederick Moser, was a B-26 pilot during WWII in Europe. My mother, also deceased, who was his sister once told me that his squadron insignia was a "Thumbs Up." Based on that information I came to the conclusion that he served with the 453rd Squadron of the 323rd Bomb Group. However, when I obtained ten CD from the AFHRA with data on that group my uncle's name does not appear despite many detailed crew lists for various missions. It is possible that I misunderstood the reference to "Thumbs Up" and I searched the wrong group. It is also possible that he was with the unit during the period that statistical mission data is recorded, but the full crew lists are missing.

I did discover from other sources online that B-26 41-31621 with the 554th Squadron of the 386th Bomb Group was named "Thumbs Up". This aircraft, however, was assigned to Lt. Arthur M. Lien and nothing has turned up that would connect my uncle with it. Could there have been other aircraft in other B-26 groups named "Thumbs Up" ? Not sure how to proceed with tracking down the correct bomb group. The search is complicated by the fact that his service number is not known to me and I do not know if any living members related to my mother's side of the family have it. The fire in St. Louis does not help. I do know that George Frederick Moser was in the Air Force during the Korean War period and later flew F-84's for the Ohio Air National Guard. I actually knew him as Uncle Fred while other people knew him as George.

It might be necessary for me to search through every B-26 group starting with the 8 in the European Theatre and then expanding to the 3 in the MTO if nothing found before then.

Patrick Stinson

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Date:

1/15/2019

Time:

9:44 AM

 

Has an index of names for Accident Reports and Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) been compiled?

I am looking for a Sergeant Spangler who was my first cousin

The roster does not list any named Spangler http://320thbg.org/320th_roster.html

However, I found three listings in the monthly reports “War Diary” for Sgt Spangler in the 442nd Bomb Squadron of the 320th Bomb Group.

Therefore the roster is not complete.

If everyone visiting the Accident Reports and Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR), filled in a standard template listing name, rank, Sqdn Number, report number, etc. it would not take long to create an index with just a little computer work to combine the templates. That index could then be added to the roster file mentioned above.

I would like to discuss this with your computer resource contact.

Dave Kuhl

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Date:

1/5/2019

Time:

10:38 AM

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Date:

1/1/2019

Time:

4:15 PM

 

42-95954 17BG 34BS 30 Jan 44 to 14 Jun 44 lost at sea ferrying nurses to 17th.BG base for a party. BN.05 MARC 5824
1Lts. John E. Lee; Chas W Zimmerly; Edmund J Fitzgerald; Maj Shelton Past; Capt Thomas P Edgar Jr.; Mt Burt Harris; Sara E Ranson; Jean A Thomas; Mary H Hilch; Thera Scallan; Dorothy E White; Margaret Gillum all Red Cross who were to be guests at officers dance. (All presumed drowned at sea.)

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Date:

1/1/2019

Time:

7:30 AM

 

Good morning,

Do you have any more information on the plane "Mitch's Bitch"? Pardon the expletive. This was my great uncle's B-26 that he was assigned to. I know that it crashed, and that he survived, but is there any more information you have access to? Thanks!

2/Lt Theodore J Faber, navigator/bombardier

-Andy Shaw

 

41-31715, 387BG 557BS, "MITCH'S BITCH", Code KS-P, Missions 64
26 May 44 flak damaged, crashlanded, salvaged by 743rd Air Service Group 27 May 44

Pilot: Lt. Charles E. Rowe

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Date:

1/1/2019

Time:

12:01 AM

 

Happy New Year!

Marauder Men, family and friends are invited to add content to the web site. Send scanned pictures 300dpi or mail pictures via post. Tell a story about your Marauderman and include as much information as you can.

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