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Beachbell Echo Published by 446Th Bomb Group Association, Inc

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Beachbell Echo Published by 446Th Bomb Group Association, Inc Beachbell Echo Published by 446th Bomb Group Association, Inc. ♦ 561 Muirfield Lane, West Haven, CT 06516 Organized under IRS Code 501 (C)(3) ID 33-0312046 September 2011 Vol. 26 No. 3 Station 125 APO 558, Flixton A.B. 1943-45 German Messerschmitt fighter Bf 109E7 of the 27th Fighter Squadron (JG-27) at the airport. April 1941, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter (top and left) was flown by many of the top scoring Luftwaffe fighter pilots during WW II. The prototype Messerschmitt Bf 109 first flew in 1935 After years of redesigns it was finally replaced in late 1944 with the Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (“Swallow”) which was the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. See the interview on page 8 with Luftwaffe Eagle Johannes Steinhoff who was a master of both aircaraft. 446th Website: http://www.446bg.com 1 446 BGA Administration President’s President: Message Walter Stelkovis By Walter Stelkovis 561 Muirfield Lane West Haven, CT 06516-7904 203-606-1616 here’s exciting news about plans for our 26th reunion in the [email protected] TWashington, DC area in the Spring of 2012. Beverly Tucker has been a busy bee working on numerous plans which not only Vice President: Louis Valenti, Jr include the World War II Memorial and the Air Space Museum 1353 Andre Street at Dulles, but also a tour of the White House. Baltimore, MD 21230 The White House visit requires specific action on your part. 410-727-7976 If we are to get government approval of our planned agenda, [email protected] and you expect to participate, we need to have your name, Membership Treasurer: address, place and date of birth plus your social security num- James Duckworth ber. If you are reluctant to reveal this info on line by sending 629 Mariposa Rd Beverly an email, then you have the option of notifying her by Stanley, NC 28164 US Postal service. Her home address is on the left side of this 704-263-8879 page. Remember, you cannot go on the guided tour without this [email protected] informaton and it must be provided to Beverly in advance — no Secretary: later than March 1st. Beverly Tucker Preliminary reunion plans include the WWII Memorial and 2210 Englewood Ave. a wreath laying at the Air Force Memorial. Other sites will be Durham, NC 27705 added later. We will post a flyer on the website with the final 919-280-1249 [email protected] price for the reunion before the December issue of the Beachbell comes out for those of you eager to send in your registration. Historian: Some of you have partaken of previous DC reunions, for me Bill Davenport it will be a first and I’m eager to be there. 13383 Wheeler Pl. If you have specific additional requests to add to the agenda Santa Ana, CA 92705 714-832-2829 please notify me ASAP. [email protected] It is time to renew your membership to the 44th Bomb Group. Enclosed in this issue of the Beachbell is the renewal card and Editor: mailing envelope. Please take this opportunity to send gift Susan Burrowbridge memberships for family, friends and loved ones. It makes a great 838 Childs Point Road Annapolis, MD 21401 gift, and Christmas is just around the corner. Let the December 727-599-4254 Beachbell be their first! [email protected] Co-Editor: “Gone But Erin Leonard Not Forgotten” 602 Tayman Drive Annapolis, MD 21403 Fred Richard Imboden (Dick) Sept 2011 913-660-5308 Wayne Jackson Dec 2010 [email protected] Paul W. Pifer July 2011 Frederick J. Shawcross Mar 2011 Bill Stevenson Mar 2011 Dale Story May 2011 2 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 3, September, 2011 446th BG 2012 Reunion May 2 - 6 Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner Hotel 1960 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22102 he recently updated hotel is located in the heart of Tysons Corner, adjacent to the Tysons TCorner Center and Tysons Galleria Malls. It is just 12 miles from downtown Washington D.C. The Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner will provide complimentary shuttle service to local busi- nesses, shopping, dining and scheduled shuttle runs to and from the Dunn Loring Metro. The hotel offers many amenities including the Tuscan Grille, O’Malley’s Sports Pub, an outdoor Garden Patio, 24–hour business center, Olympic size indoor pool, and a 24–hour fitness center. Complimentary high speed wireless connection is in all public areas and free parking. Hotel reservations can be made by phone Hotel rate (including tax and a hot breakfast): $105 single; $119 double Our block of Rooms is: 446 Bomb Group Association Reservations must be made by 17 March 2012. Phone: Call automated group reservations: 1-877-865-1877 Call Ms Luana Jang, the Executive Meetings Manager who will take reservations: 703-738-3120. Mail money and forms to: Beverly Tucker, 2210 Englewood Ave. Durham, NC 27705, 919-280-1249 * [email protected] Reunion 2011 Registration Form Name: _______________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________ Unit or Squadron ____________________ Spouse & Guest Names: _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Please complete form, select your option and enclose check for each person attending. Option A - Complete package (Wednesday thru Sunday) $192 Option B - Reunion Activities (Thursday thru Sunday) $177 Option C - Banquet only Saturday evening, $65 for each person attending Total Amount Enclosed $___________ Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 3, September, 2011 3 Likely Agenda Transportation options Wednesday Airports — Afternoon: Holocaust Museum (Optional) • Dulles International Airport Dinner on your own Taxi about $35 one way Super shuttle about $22 round trip, Thursday contact Beverly for possible coupons Morning: Tour of the White House* • Reagan National Airport Lunch – Boxed lunch Taxi about $45 one way Afternoon: WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial Super shuttle about $22 if round trip Driving tour of D.C., Air Force Memorial • Baltimore Washington International with laying of wreath ceremony Taxi about $140 one way Dinner on your own Super shuttle about $51 if round trip Train Friday • Washington, DC Union station Morning: Smithsonian National Air and Space • Lorton, VA – auto train only Museum at Dulles Lunch – Likely a boxed lunch *Details about the White House Tour Afternoon: Dodona Manor, home of George C. 1. The White House can cancel tours on very Marshall short due to unforeseen national or international Dinner on your own emergencies Saturday 2. The White House requires that any and all visitors Morning: Business meeting undergo a security clearance before a “visitors pass” Afternoon: Oral History is issued. Evening: Banquet 3. The security process can take 3 to 6 weeks Sunday 4. There can be no substitutions of a security pass Morning: Chapel 5. All information for the security clearance – FOR EACH PERSON - must be received by Beverly by 1 March 2012. All information for the security clearance – FOR EACH PERSON - must be received by Beverly by 1 March 2012. Name as it appears on your passport or drivers license – which you MUST bring with you. Name: ___________________________________________ Date of birth (day - month - year) – spell out the month: __________________________ Social Security Number: __________________ Gender: ____________ Are you a US Citizen: __________ If no, what is your passport number: ____________________ City of Current residence: _____________________ State of current residence: _____________________ In summary: • Deadline for submitting information to Beverly for security clearance is 1 March 2012 • If you are currently uncertain if you will be attending the reunion or the tour, we encourage you to submit your information to Beverly - it is easier to remove your name from the guest list than add it. 4 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 3, September, 2011 Our bombs exploded while we waited to take off By Harlie Glen Turner I left the U.S. by sea on the of war and I didn’t see much English Queen Mary with part glory in it. The skirmish luckily of my crew while the rest of the didn’t last long. We continued crew flew overseas. We would our travel to the base by bus. all team up again in England. Once assigned to the bar- We arrived in Glasgow, Scot- racks, crews began return- land, and from there we boarded ing from the ordeal we had a train and headed for England just witnessed. The German to a staging area where our crew fighter-bombers had flown into reunited and we received orders England and were attacking our Harlie Glen Turner to proceed to Northern Ireland. planes as they were in the land- crew was back together, and now In Northern Ireland we received ing pattern. The airman next to it was our turn to make a name briefings by seasoned crews on me in the barrack received credit for ourselves. what to expect in combat. The for shooting down a German ME On May 9, 1944, our crew stories and movies shown of 109 aircraft that day and was one was assigned to fly a B-24 air- the real thing were quite hairy happy fellow. It was very hard craft by the name of “Piccadilly -- nothing like the Hollywood to get credit for shooting down Commando.” version. After a couple of weeks an enemy aircraft because usu- This was a maximum effort in Ireland we were on our way ally more than one gunner was mission meaning every flyable back to England. shooting at it. aircraft was scheduled to fly. Our orders were to report to The first couple of missions We were still in our parking the 446th Bomb Group, 707th for my training crew were flown area, preparing to taxi out for Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force, with seasoned crews. We were take-off, when one of the in- at Flixton Air Base, England.
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