Perry and the Black Cat
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Summer 2020 Illustration: “Home At Last” by Bill Curtis, 466th BGA 75 Years April 21, 1945 Perry and the Black Cat This USPS stamp featuring the Black Cat was issued in 2005. Sgt. Perry Kerr, 1945 For more information, see Page 4. Aviator Perry Kerr scrunched into his nose gunner’s compartment on Earthquake McGoon, the B-24 heavy bomber flown by the Richard Koch crew. Or maybe it was The Joker, one of the other ships that Perry and the others had flown on combat missions from Attlebridge, England, to Germany starting on March 30, 1945. McGoon was the “world's dirtiest rassler,” a creation of cartoonist Al Capp. The Joker was a villain in the Dick Tracy comic strip. Whichever aircraft the Koch crew flew on April 21, 1945, it was part of the 466th Bomb Group sent to destroy a railway bridge near Salzburg, Austria. But they had to abandon the mission because of thunderstorms. The formation was returning to home base near Norwich. Perry had a front-row seat in the compartment below the B-24’s cockpit. As the togglier, tasked with releasing bombs, he had to have a view of the aircraft ahead to know when to drop the bombs. On this return flight, Perry watched in horror as an anti-aircraft shell struck the left wing of the B-24 just ahead of him. It was the Black Cat, decorated with a menacing panther painted on its fuselage. The aircraft fell to the earth, killing 10 crew members. Two others survived and were taken to a German POW camp, only to be released a few weeks later. The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945. - Continued on Page 10 Official Newsletter of the 466th Bomb Group Association From the Editors / Vice President This issue of “Attlebridge Notes” comes with some uncertainty. Namely, at press time it wasn’t certain that the 2020 reunion of the 8th Air Force Historical Society would take place in Memphis, Tennessee, this October 21-25 as planned. The coronavirus and resulting caution about large gatherings of people raises questions about having the reunion. The Society’s officers are in touch with Memphis officials and will let us know as soon as decisions are made. Of course, if the reunion goes ahead as scheduled, it’s still up to every individual whether to attend. We would all like the virus to go away, but it doesn’t look like that will happen. We both will be 74 by then, and Helen has multiple pre- existing conditions that call for extra caution. We have cancelled three trips already since March. We are certainly looking forward to the 2021 8th AFHS Reunion in Savannah, including the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Please check our website and the website of the 8th Air Force Historical Society for updates. Helen & Steve Jordon In the meantime, please enjoy the stories and information in our summer edition. We have wonderful correspondents from around the country and abroad, and it’s a joy to send this newsletter to the dozens of remaining 466th veterans and their families and descendants — in all, a mailing list of 500 addresses. Whatever happens with your travel plans this year, please know that the 466th Bomb Group Association is alive and well and will keep you informed and enlightened. If the reunion does not take place, the Board of Directors will meet remotely to handle the business of the BGA. Among the agenda items will be electing a new president to succeed Frank Youngquist, who, for six years, served in that capacity with dignity and resolve. This newsletter cannot be published without your help. As always, we appreciate your financial support for the mission of keeping alive the memory and history of the bomber base at Attlebridge, England, and the Americans there who fought and helped win World War II. In the meantime, remember the words of a theme song of that period, made famous by Dame Vera Lynn, who, at age 103, died this June 18, 2020: We’ll meet again, Don’t know where, Don’t know when. Brian, David & But I know we’ll meet again Steven Jordon Some sunny day! at Attlebridge, 2014 Steve Jordon, vice president and co-editor Helen Jordon, co-editor and publisher Helen’s sister Karen Caldwell is the director of a Barbershop Chorus in the Seattle area. Watch what her chorus is doing to celebrate July 4, and Google this: Harmony Kings Virtual Chorus - “America the Beautiful Medley” Inside this issue... Elmo Maiden and more. .4 The Smallest Army in Norfolk . 6 Ann Reeve . .9 Perry Kerr & Black Cat . 10 Across the Pond . .12 “Lefty” Savory . .14 Korea, & Jordons at Attlebridge . 15 TAPS . 16 This sweet photo didn’t make it into our January issue, and it’s too good to miss! Jim Melnyk took this at the banquet in October in St. Louis. Left Book Reviews . 22 to right: Marcia Melnyk, Beverly Tomb, Earl Wassom, Cindy Wassom 8th AFHS Reunion, etc.. 23 and Bill & Martha Curtis. - 2 - 466th Bomb Group Board Members, Summer 2020 Vice-President “TAPS” Editor Steve Jordon Martha Horney Curtis 2719 N. 48th Street 515 W. Ariel Ave. Omaha, NE 68104 Foley, AL 36535-1617 402-639-6834 785-331-6177 [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Tom Maiden & Rebecca Beverly Baynes Tomb & Douglas 292 Japonica Ave. 2122 Grayson Place Falls Church, VA 22043 Camarillo, CA 93012 703-241-4152 817-308-0587 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Marcia Yannizze Melnyk, & Jim Bill Curtis 515 W. Ariel Ave. 47 Harrison Circle Foley, AL 36535-1617 Rowley, MA 01969 785-766-3351 978-948-7278 [email protected] [email protected] Archivist Chris Brassfield & April David Smith 316 Foxglove Lane P.O. Box 795 Winchester, KY 40391 Leakey, TX 78873-0795 859-314-1936 830-448-9218 [email protected] Newsletter Editors Earl Wassom, Veteran, & Cynthia Helen & Steve Jordon 548 Brentmoor Ave. 2719 N. 48th Street Bowling Green, KY 42101-3772 Omaha, NE 68104 270-842-0412 402-639-6197 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer’s Update Get “Attlebridge Notes” by e-mail! Bill Curtis To ALL Members of the 466th Bomb 1-1-2020 to 6/1/2020 Income Group Association: “Non” Dues. $663.00 The biggest expense of the 466th BGA Book Sales. 541.70 is the printing and mailing of our bi-annual Video Sales. 125.00 newsletter, “Attlebridge Notes.” Total . $1,329.70 Many organizations are moving from printed mailings to delivery by e-mail. Expenses If you would like to help pare down our costs Newsletter . $1,695.69 or would not mind having less paper come into Flowers. 48.59 your home, please let us know and send us “Arsenal” book storage . 303.60 your e-mail address so that we can be sure Total . ..$2,047.88 that you receive the digital file. Contact Bank Balance . $7,515.97 secretary Beverly Tomb: [email protected] -3 - 466TH BG BLACK CAT STAMP! by Marcia Melnyk Did you know that the person responsible for the issuance of that 2005 stamp is still living? He is Fred Gerritz, R/O on the John Suchiu Crew #725. They were shot down in the “Lady Lightning” on August 15, 1944. Suchiu, Jerome Samburg, Bob Abbott and Lowell Stiles were KIA. My dear friend, Arthur Palladino, (bombardier) was taken as a POW. Fred was one of the three evaders in the four crews that were shot down that day. It was Fred who finally, after bugging the Post Office for several years, managed to get the stamp made to honor the planes from the WWII era. He is quite proud of that achievement. He lives in Anaheim, CA. So, it was a 466th BG soldier who got the stamp produced! Fred in 2017 with his daughter, He has a framed first edition signed by the U.S. Postmaster. Martha Fox, in his 'War Room.” Fred Gerritz Rhoda Leopold By Beverly Tomb Rhoda Leopold, the lovely wife of 466th BG Bombardier Herb Leopold, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep in late April. Herb and Rhoda organized the last 466th BG stand-alone reunion, held in San Diego, and attended every 8th AFHS reunion I attended. Rhoda and her daughter Cathy also attended the Heritage League Reunion in Washington, D.C., in 2016. Those who knew her and would like to send a card to their daughter can use this address: Ms. Cathy Rhoda and daughter Cathy Leopold, 8th AFHS Reunion, New Orleans, 2017. At the 8th AFHS Gala Banquet in 2013. Leopold, 15565 Walton Heath Row, San Diego, CA 92128 “The Madame” In the Summer 2019 issue of Attlebridge Notes, we included an article by Carlo Kuit about the Kessenger Crew, who crashed on April 8, 1944, near Mensinghausen, Germany. The B-24 out of Attlebridge was “The Madame.” Carlo sends this follow-up: This drawing depicts B-24H “The Madame.” The drawing is by Dutch artist Anneke Helleman. On April 8, 1944, during the return of a mission to Brunswick, “The Madame” was struck by anti-aircraft fire. Pilot Kenneth “Bob” Kessenger was able to keep the aircraft in the air to allow some crew members to escape. The aircraft crashed near Mensinghausen, Germany. 1st Lt. Kessenger, 2nd Lt. Roland Boulter (navigator) and Sgt. Albert English (gunner) were not able to get out. They are buried As a resident of the Netherlands, at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. The fourth I joined the grave adoption member killed in action, Sgt.