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 June 2011 Vol. 26 No. 2 Station 125 APO 558, Flixton A.B. 1943-45

B-24s leaving Ploiești through flak and smoke Bombing of Ploiesti, was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces on nine oil refineries around Ploiești, Romania on 1 August 1943. It was a strategic bombing mission and part of the “oil campaign” to deny petroleum-based fuel to Hitler. The mission resulted in “no curtailment of overall product output”, and so was unsuccessful. This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrew men lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as “Black Sunday”. Five Medals of Honor and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members. Continued on page 10 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 203-397-2300 he 25th annual meeting of the 446th BG was held at the [email protected] THilton St Charles, New Orleans, LA April 13 to 17, 2011. Vice President: Twelve veterans were able to attend, two less than last year. Un- Louis Valenti, Jr fortunately this is a trend that will inevitably continue until we 10387 W. Bellewood PL are reduced to zero. Fortunately we have begun our own “repple Littleton, CO 80127 depple” (replacement depot) enrolling the younger generation 303-932-9932 who with their youth and new ideas will carry on and likely do [email protected] a better job. Membership Treasurer: At the Executive Council meeting it was decided that the James Duckworth Washington, DC area would be the site of our next reunion in the 629 Mariposa Rd spring of 2012. Margi Rodriguez and her sister Olga Villareal Stanley, NC 28164 will not be able to continue the preparations. They will turn 704-263-8879 [email protected] over their findings to Beverly Tucker, who is currently working with a North Carolina group planning for a DC area-meeting Secretary: site, so some parallel issues are already a part of her arsenal. Beverly Tucker Margi and her sister Olga deserve kudos for the great effort and 2210 Englewood Ave. wonderful job they did with the New Orleans Reunion. Durham, NC 27705 919-280-1249 I will also be forever grateful for all the help Beverly Tucker [email protected] provided during my tenure as President of the 446th. The meeting was not without problems. Vice President John Historian: Sampson was unable to attend because of a brutal work and travel Bill Davenport schedule, which led to a vacancy on the board. I had planned 13383 Wheeler Pl. Santa Ana, CA 92705 to retire but agreed to stay for one more year. The following 714-832-2829 slate of officers was presented and voted in unanimously for [email protected] 2012 and 2013: President: Walter Stelkovis Editor: Vice President: Louis Valenti, Jr Susan Burrowbridge 838 Childs Point Road Continued on next page bottom Annapolis, MD 21401 727-599-4254 “Gone But [email protected] Not Forgotten” Co-Editor: Erin Leonard William C. Buchanan Nov 2010 602 Tayman Drive Joseph F. Quirk Jr. Nov 2010 Annapolis, MD 21403 Harlan (Hal) Hickenbottem Feb 2011 913-660-5308 Andrew “Jack” Maynard Mar 2011 [email protected] Bill Stevenson Mar 2011 Frederick J. Shawcross Mar 2011 Ernest Dale Little Apr 2011 Dale Story May 2011 Joe Betterino Jun 2011

2 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 Top Photo, L to R: Walter Stelkovis, Antonio Rodrigues, John Barry, Kurt Kersten, Ray Barber. Bottom Photo, L to R: Bill Davenport, Robert Alexander, Steve Kralj, Keith Babcock, Carl Albright, George Mazzaferro.

Treasurer: James Duckworth Invitees to the Board: year they expect to be able to Secretary: Beverly Tucker John Sampson serve as officers on the board. Wayne Albright Margie and Olga expressed Non-elected Members: Neither was able to serve this concern about our dwindling Bill Davenport, Historian year. As President, I am autho- membership and agreed to pro- Susan Burrowbridge, Editor rized to select two people as non- vide details of a proposed mem- officers on the board now. Next Continued on page 15 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 3 Survivor’s account of Lowry crash Sgt. William A Baker Source: Microfilm created from the wear them. The following crew- a spin. It seemed to me that the record copy of the unit histories and members were in the waist: the other crewmembers in the waist related historical material of the tail gunner, the assistant radio had all slid back into the cam- United States Air Force stored in operator, the co-pilot and the era bay and were unable to get the Archives Branch of The Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center ball gunner. I did not see the out of that position to get their at Maxwell, AFB, Alabama. co-pilot’s parachute. The extra parachutes. co-pilot had allowed the passen- The co-pilot had been on a ger (Corporal John P. Emery) to walk-around oxygen bottle and , Sgt. William A. Baker ride in his position on the flight had started back to the tail. The ASN 34393107, aerial gun- “I deck because the passenger had tail gunner had been at the left ner, crew #302-7-8, 707th Bom- no heavy flying clothes. waist gunner’s oxygen station. bardment Squadron was the ball The pilot gave the crew in- The assistant radio operator gunner on B-24, 41-29162 on structions to put on oxygen had been at the station behind a routine training mission from masks at presumably 10,000 feet the left waist gunner’s position. Lowry Field to March Field. altitude. The passenger had dif- But all three slid into the camera The pilot was Lt. M. Bookmiller. ficulty with his oxygen mask as it bay and were apparently unable Take off was made at approxi- was a modified A-10 mask built to move. I finally was able to mately 0841 on runway 16 in to use with a helmet, and he had reach over from a seated position a southerly direction. Shortly no helmet. He tied on the mask and snapped on my parachute. after take off, the plane circled with a piece of string after a few While seated I tried to open the to pick up the rest of the four- minutes. No instructions were right waist window, but had ship formation. I saw them soon given the crew and no checks great difficulty in remaining at a after take off, the airplane gained were made on the crew after the standing position because of the altitude very slowly and was at order was given to put on oxygen motion of the plane. I looked an approximate altitude of 500 masks by the pilot. The plane around and saw that the left waist feet six or seven minutes after continued to climb for 10 to 15 window had become open and takeoff. The climb seemed much minutes and I noticed that the was open about six inches. I got slower than on other flights. We nose dropped twice. I heard a my left leg out the left window, were over the Municipal Airport tearing sound like the ripping of but noticed that the plane had at an apparently low altitude. metal, a sound loud enough to be stopped turning and had started Take off was to the south, and the noticed by all the crewmembers to lose altitude less rapidly. At Municipal Airport is due north of in the waist. The plane imme- first I thought that the pilot had Lowry Field. diately peeled off to the right in regained control, and hesitated Climb was started immediate- a very steep bank and started to to jump, but saw that the plane ly after picking up the formation. descend nose down. I was seated was still losing altitude, and I did not know which position on the right side of the plane by jumped. the plane took in the formation. I the waist window. I reached for My last glimpse of the other was occupied in putting on heavy my parachute, which was lying in crewmembers showed me that flight clothing. I was wearing my front of me on the widow ledge. they were still unable to get out parachute harness over my heavy Both windows were closed and of the camera bay. As I paused flying jacket. My parachute is locked. I knocked the parachute in the waist window for a sec- the detachable type. All other to the floor. During this time I ond or two, I glanced at the left members of the crew in the waist felt as though I was glued to the side of the empennage [The tail had seat type chutes and did not floor of the plane and turning in Continued center of next page

4 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 assembly of an aircraft, including the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, el- evators, and rudder.] and it seemed to me that the left elevator was in shreds. The elevator seemed torn into long thin yellow strips. As I leaped, I reached for my ripcord, and my parachute opened immediately. I did not see the airplane again until I hit the ground. I felt that I hit the ground almost immediately. I judged that I was at about 500 – 1,000 feet above the ground when I left the airplane. I hit the ground hard on both feet and fell on my face, injuring my knee slightly with the jolt. When I stood up again, I removed my parachute and saw the smoke of the airplane about two miles away. I had landed by para- chute about 50 yards from a house. I was taken to the crashed airplane by one of the cars standing by the house. The plane was burning furiously when I got there. Ammunition was explod- ing. There was a crowd of people about the ship, but they were moved back by Military Police when I told them that there was live ammunition in the plane. There were also two parachute flares in the plane. The plane seemed crushed to pieces. I was taken to Camp Carson for medical inspection. Inspection showed contusion of the left knee. #

Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 5 Staggering losses suffered during war his is amazing. Notice that 14,000 aircraft B-17 production (12,731) wingtip to wingtip Twere lost in the US? That is one third of the would extend 250 miles. 1,000 B-17s carried 2.5 airplanes lost outside of the US. And how about million gallons of high octane fuel. the most produced aircraft - the first two are Soviet Lifting 10,000 airmen to deliver 2,000 tons of aircraft with their country invaded and fighting for bombs. their lives. The Numbers Game Most Americans who were not adults during 9.7 billion gallons of gasoline consumed, WWII have no understanding of the magnitude of 1942-1945. it. This listing of some of the aircraft facts gives a 107.8 million hours flown, 1943-1945. bit of insight to it. 276,000 aircraft manufactured 459.7 billion rounds of aircraft ammo fired in the US. 43,000 planes lost overseas, including overseas, 1942-1945. 23,000 in combat. 14,000 lost in the continen- 7.9 million bombs dropped overseas, 1943- tal US. The US civilian population maintained 1945. a dedicated effort for four years, many working 2.3 million combat sorties, 1941-1945 (one long hours seven days per week and often also sortie = one takeoff). 299,230 aircraft accepted, volunteering for other work. WWII was the larg- 1940-1945. est human effort in history. 808,471 aircraft engines accepted, 1940- Statistics from Flight Journal magazine. 1945. The Cost of Doing Business. The staggering 799,972 propellers accepted, 1940-1945. cost of war. WWII Most Produced Combat Aircraft The Price of Victory: II-2 Stumovik 36,183 B-17 $204,370. P-40 $44,892. Yak 1, 3, 7, 9 31,000+ B-24 $215,516. P-47 $85,578. Bf 109 30,480 B-25 $142,194. P-51 $51,572. Fw 190 29,001 B-26 $192,426. C-47 $88,574. Spitfire/Seafire 20,351 B-29 $605,360. PT-17 $15,052. B-24/PB4Y 18,482 P-38 $97,147. AT-6 $22,952. Thunderbolt 15,686 On Average Mustang 15,875 6600 American service men died per MONTH, Ju 88 15,000 during WWII (about 220 a day). Hurricane 14,533 P-40 13,738 Planes a Day Worldwide B-17 12,731 From Germany’s invasion of Poland Sept. 1, Corsair 12,571 1939 and ending with Japan’s surrender Sept. 2, Hellcat 12,275 1945 --- 2,433 days. Pe-2 11,400 From 1942 onward, America averaged 170 P-38 10,037 planes lost a day. Zero 10,449 Nation Aircraft Average B-25 9,984 USA 276,400 113 LaGG-5 9,920 S Union 137,200 56 Avenger 9,837 G Britain 108,500 45 P39 9,584 Germany 109,000 45 Oscar 5,919 Japan 76,300 31 Mosquito 7,780 How Many is 1,000 planes? Lancaster 7,377

6 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 He 111 6,508 Halifax 6,176 Bf 110 6,150 LaGG-7 5,753 B-29 3,970 Stirling 2,383 Sources: Rene Francillon, Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific war; Cajus Bekker, The Luftwaffe Diaries; Ray Wagner, American Combat Planes; Wikipedia. Ball Park Average: Chief of Staff to General, “Hmmm; 331 men killed and 308 aircraft de- stroyed. That’s 11 people and 10 planes per day.” “Uh, yes, sir. It’s still the ballpark average.” “I’d like to see an Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber which crashed because of improvement in bomber losses, those re- braking during take-off. 6 crew members died. ally add up.” “Were working on it, Gen- eral. But it’s sad to think that 10 young men alive mitted. The worst B-29 mission, against Tokyo on today will be dead tomorrow.” “You know that’s May 25, 1945, cost 26 Superfortress, 5.6 percent the price of doing business. Now then, what about of the 464 dispatched from the Marianas. the overseas and combat losses?” On average, 6,600 American servicemen died According to the AAF Statistical Digest, in less per month during WWII, about 220 a day. By the than four years (December 1941- August 1945), the end of the war, over 40,000 airmen were killed US Army Air Forces lost 14,903 pilots, aircrew in combat theatres and another 18,000 wounded. and assorted personnel plus 13,873 airplanes --- in- Some 12,000 missing men were declared dead, side the continental United States. They were the including a number “liberated” by the Soviets but result of 52,651 aircraft accidents (6,039 involv- never returned. More than 41,000 were captured, ing fatalities) in 45 months. Think about those half of the 5,400 held by the Japanese died in cap- numbers. They average 1,170 aircraft accidents tivity, compared with one-tenth in German hands. per month---- nearly 40 a day. (Less than one ac- Total combat casualties were pegged at 121,867. cident in four resulted in totaled aircraft, however.) US manpower made up the deficit. The AAF’s Those colossal losses cost the Axis powers nothing; peak strength was reached in 1944 with 2,372,000 not as much as one 7.7 mm bullet. personnel, nearly twice the previous year’s fig- It gets worse..... ure. The losses were huge---but so were production Almost 1,000 Army planes disappeared en totals. From 1941 through 1945, American indus- route from the US to foreign climes. But an eye- try delivered more than 276,000 military aircraft. watering 43,581 aircraft were lost overseas includ- That number was enough not only for US Army, ing 22,948 on combat missions (18,418 against Navy and Marine Corps, but for allies as diverse the Western Axis) and 20,633 attributed to non- as Britain, Australia, China and Russia. In fact, combat causes overseas. In August 1943, 60 B- from 1943 onward, America produced more planes 17s were shot down among 376 losses. That was than Britain and Russia combined. And more than a 16 percent loss rate and meant 600 empty bunks Germany and Japan together 1941-45. in England. In 1942-43 it was statistically impos- However, our enemies took massive losses. sible for bomber crews to complete a 25-mission Through much of 1944, the Luftwaffe sustained tour in Europe. Pacific theatre losses were far less uncontrolled hemorrhaging, reaching 25 percent (4,530 in combat) owing to smaller forces com- Continued on next page Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 7 of aircrews and 40 planes a month. And in late 1944 into 1945, nearly half the pilots in Japanese squadrons had flown fewer than 200 hours. The disparity of two years before had been completely reversed. Experience Level: Uncle Sam sent many of his sons to war with absolute minimums of training. Some fighter pilots entered combat in 1942 with less than one hour in their assigned aircraft. Bomb site training Lowry Field, Colorado The 357th Fighter Group (often known as The into it in ‘42] and the newer groups coming over Yoxford Boys) went to England in late 1943 hav- from the US all had P-51s. Blakeslee finally con- ing trained on P-39s. The group never saw a Mus- vinced AF to let him convert by standing down tang until shortly before its first combat mission. A just one day. An interesting side note...... Brewster high-time P-51 pilot had 30 hours in type. Many was shot down over France in ‘44 and became a had fewer than five hours. Some had one hour. POW...... his roommate?...... Douglas Bader...... With arrival of new aircraft, many combat units top English ace with two wooden legs...Bader transitioned in combat. The attitude was, “They all lost one of his legs when he bailed out and was have a stick and a throttle. Go fly ‘em’.” When captured...... the Germans asked the Brits to send the famed 4th Fighter Group converted from P-47s him another leg...... which they did....BD). to P-51s in February 1944, there was no time to A future P-47 ace said, “I was sent to England stand down for an orderly transition. The Group to die.” He was not alone. Some fighter pilots commander, Col. Donald Blakeslee, said, “You tucked their wheels in the well on their first com- can learn to fly `51s on the way to the target. (Note: bat mission with one previous flight in the aircraft. Gone West HNL QB Brewster Morgan (Morgan’s Meanwhile, many bomber crews were still learn- Corner up in Nuuanu off of Old Pali Road), a ing their trade: of Jimmy Doolittle’s 15 pilots on Honolulu boy and a member of the 4th Fighter the April 1942 Tokyo raid, only five had won their Group, told me that they actually did stand down wings before 1941. All but one of the 16 copilots one day to transition from the P-47 to the P-51. were less than a year out of flight school. In They were pissed that the old groups still had the WWII flying safety took a back seat to combat. P-47 [Brewster was with the Eagle Squadron in The AAF’s worst accident rate was recorded by the Spitfire...... later in the P-47 when the US got the A-36 Invader version of the P-51: a stagger- Sherm B-24 pilot training ing 274 accidents per 100,000 flying hours. Next worst were the P-39 at 245, the P-40 at 188, and the P-38 at 139. All were Allison powered. Bomber wrecks were fewer but more expensive. The B-17 and B-24 averaged 30 and 35 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, respectively----a horrific figure considering that from 1980 to 2000 the Air Force’s major mishap rate was less than 2. The B-29 was even worse at 40; the world’s most sophisticated, most capable and most expensive bomber was too urgently needed to stand down for mere safety reasons. The AAF set a reasonably high standard for B-29 pilots, but the desired figures were seldom attained. The original cadre of the 58th Bomb Wing was to have 400 hours of multi-

8 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 engine time, but there were not enough experienced never flown out of sight of land before leaving pilots to meet the criterion. Only ten percent had “Uncle Sugar” for a war zone. Yet the huge major- overseas experience. Conversely, when a $2.1 bil- ity found their way across oceans and continents lion B-2 crashed in 2008, the Air Force initiated without getting lost or running out of fuel --- a a two-month “safety pause” rather than declare a stirring tribute to the AAF’s educational estab- “stand down”, let alone grounding. lishments. The B-29 was no better for maintenance. Cadet To Colonel: Though the R3350 was known as a complicated, It was possible for a flying cadet at the time of troublesome power-plant, no more than half Pearl Harbor to finish the war with eagles on his the mechanics had previous experience with the shoulders. That was the record of John D. Land- Duplex Cyclone. But they made it work. ers, a 21-year-old Texan, who was commissioned Navigators: a second lieutenant on December 12, 1941. He Perhaps the greatest unsung success story of joined his combat squadron with 209 hours total AAF training was Navigators. The Army gradu- flight time, including 2 ½ in P-40s. He finished ated some 50,000 during the War. And many had the war as a full colonel, commanding an 8th Air Aeroal school navigator training Force Group --- at age 24. As the training pipe- line filled up, however those low figures became exceptions. By early 1944, the average AAF fighter pilot entering combat had logged at least 450 hours, usually including 250 hours in training. At the same time, many captains and first lieuten- ants claimed over 600 hours. Fact: At its height in mid-1944, the Army Air Forces had 2.6 million people and nearly 80,000 air- craft of all types. Today the US Air Force em- ploys 327,000 active personnel (plus 170,000 civilians) with 5,500+ manned and perhaps 200 unmanned aircraft. The 2009 figures represent about 12 percent of the manpower and 7 percent of the airplanes of the WWII peak. In Summation: Whether there will ever be another air war is doubtful, as fighters and bombers have given way to helicopters and remotely-controlled drones over Afghanistan and Iraq. But within living memory, men left the earth in 1,000-plane formations and fought ma- jor battles five miles high, leaving a legacy that remains timeless. #

Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 9 Bombing of Ploiesti, Romania Continued from page 1 ers). Gerstenberg also counted Early on the morning of 1 German air defenses on warnings from the Luftwaffe August 1943, the five groups signals intelligence station in In 1943, crude and refined oil comprising the strike force began Athens, which monitored Allied from the Ploiești fields provided lifting off from their home air preparations as far away as North about 35% of all Axis oil sup- fields around Benghazi. Large Africa. plies. amounts of dust kicked up during In June 1942, 13 B-24 Libera- Mission plan take-off caused limited visibility tors of the “Halverson project” The (98th and and strained engines already car- (HALPRO) attacked Ploiești. 376th Bombardment Groups) rying the burden of large bomb Though damage was small, Ger- was responsible for the overall loads and additional fuel. These many responded by putting strong conduct of the raid, and the par- conditions contributed to the anti-aircraft defenses around tially formed loss of one aircraft during take- Ploiești. Luftwaffe General Al- provided three additional bomb off, but 177 of the planned 178 fred Gerstenberg built one of groups (44th, 93rd, and 389th). aircraft departed safely. the heaviest and best-integrated All the bombers employed were The formation reached the air defense networks in Europe. B-24 Liberators. Adriatic Sea without further The defenses included several Colonel Jacob E. Smart incident, however aircraft #28 hundred large-caliber—88 mm planned the operation, based on “Wongo Wongo” belonging to (3.46 in) and 105 mm (4.1 in)— HALPRO’s experiences. HAL- the 376th Bombardment Group anti-aircraft guns, and many PRO had encountered minimal (the lead group, about 40 B- more small-caliber guns. The lat- air defenses in its raid; so the 24s)and piloted by Lt. Brian ter were concealed in haystacks, planners decided Tidal Wave Flavelle began to fly erratically railroad cars, and mock build- would be executed by day, and before plunging into the sea due ings. A Luftwaffe air command that the attacking bombers would to unknown causes. Lt. Guy center in Lipesk controlled three approach at low altitude to avoid Iovine—a personal friend of fighter groups within flight range detection by German radar. Flavelle and piloting aircraft #23 of Ploiești (52 Bf 109 fighters Training included extensive re- Desert Lilly—descended from and Bf 110 night fighters, and view of detailed sand table mod- the formation in order to look some Romanian IAR-80 fight- els, practice raids over a mock-up for survivors, narrowly missing of the target in aircraft Brewery Wagon piloted the Libyan des- by Lt. John Palm. No apparent ert and prac- survivors were seen, and due tical exercises to the additional weight of fuel, over a number Iovine was unable to regain alti- of secondary tude to rejoin the formation and targets in July resume course to Ploiești. to prove the vi- The resulting confusion was ability of such compounded by the inability a low level to regain cohesion due to strict s t r i k e . T h e radio silence maintained as per bombers to be mission guidance. Ten other air- used were re- crews opted to return to friendly equipped with air fields following the incident bomb bay fuel. and those aircraft which re-

10 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 mained faced the 9,000 ft (2,700 93rd Bomb m) climb over the Pindus moun- Group on a tains, which were shrouded in course for cloud cover. Although all five Bucharest. groups made the climb around In the pro- 11,000 ft (3,400 m), the 376th cess, Ent and and 93rd, using high power set- C o m p t o n tings, began to lose the trailing went against formations, causing variations in the advice speed and time which disrupted of their air- the careful synchronization of the plane’s nav- group attacks deemed so impor- igator and tant by Smart. the Halver- The possible threat to suc- son Project cessful execution was deemed (HALPRO) to be of secondary concern to v e t e r a n the operational security of the Cpt. Harold mission by senior leadership. Wicklund. The American leaders were un- Now in the face of an impend- Ploieşti, alone and with German aware that while their intentions ing disaster, many crews chose and Romanian defenses well- were not precisely known, their to break radio silence and draw prepared for their arrival. presence had been duly noted attention to the navigational Attacks by the Germans. Although the error. Meanwhile, both groups Baker and his co-pilot Maj. need to rebuild their formations flew headlong into Gerstenberg’s John L. Jerstad, who had already was clear and well within the extensive air defenses around flown a full tour of duty while contingency for breaking radio the Bucharest area, which they stationed in England, would now silence, the strike would proceed would now face in addition to bear witness to the extensive air without correction, a judgment those still awaiting them around defense array prepared for them that would later prove costly. Ploiești. by Gen. Gerstenberg. Continuing Although now well strung out Despite Compton and Ent’s through the withering maelstrom, on approach to Piteşti, all five lead, Baker in his aircraft “Hell’s the damage to “Hell’s Wench” groups would make the naviga- Wench” realized the navigational forced Baker and Jerstad to tional check point 65 mi (105 mistake and quickly made ap- lose their bomb load in order to km) from Ploiești. At Campina, propriate course adjustments, maintain lead of the formation the 389th Bomb Group departed resuming a proper heading to- over their target at the Columbia as planned for its separate but ward Ploiești. This decision Aquila refinery. Despite heavy synchronous approach to the would place Baker and the 93rd losses by the 93rd, Baker and mission target. Continuing from well off of the original route Jerstad maintained course and, Piteşti, Col. Keith K. Compton now maintained by the three trail once clear, began to climb away. and Gen. Ent made a naviga- groups and now placed his group Realizing the aircraft was a loss, tional judgment that would prove both on a different heading on both men maintained the climb especially costly. At Târgovişte, approach and time into the target in order to permit the crew to halfway to the next check point at area. Compton would continue abandon the aircraft. Although Floreşti, Compton followed the farther toward Bucharest, before none survived, both Baker and incorrect railway line for his turn finally admitting his error and Jerstad would be posthumously toward Ploiești, setting his group also resuming course for Ploiești. awarded the for and Lt. Col. Addison Baker’s The 93rd now led the attack into Continued on next page Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 11 maintaining their successful ap- conflagration over the Concordia tiple air defense crews. proach to Columbia Aquila and Vega refinery. At Campina, air With the effects of the 93rd their efforts to save the crew of defenses on overlooking hills and 376th’s runs causing difficul- “Hell’s Wench.” were able to fire down into the ties locating and bombing their Maj. Ramsay D. Potts flying formation, and IAR 80 aircraft primary targets, both Kane and “The Duchess” and Maj. George downed 376th aircraft. Johnson did not deviate from their S. Brown aboard “Queenie,” Astra Romana and Columbia intended targets, taking heavy encountering heavy smoke over Aquila attacks losses in the process. Their low Columbia Aquila, would take With the 93rd and 376th en- approach even enabled gunners two additional elements of the gaged over the target area, Col. to engage in continued ground 93rd and successfully drop their John R. Kane of the 98th Bomb suppression of air defense crews payloads over the Astra Romana, Group and Col. Leon W. Johnson from directly above their targets. Unirea Orion, and Columbia of the 44th Bomb Group made For their leadership and heroism, Aquila refineries. In all, the 93rd their prescribed turn at Floresti both were awarded the Medal of lost 11 aircraft over their targets and proceeded to their respec- Honor. Lt. Col. James T. Posey in Ploiești. tive targets at the Asta Romana took 21 of the 44th’s aircraft on Concordia Vega and first and Columbia Aquila refineries. a separate assigned attack run Steaua Română attacks Both groups would find Ger- on the Creditul Minier refinery Air defenses were heavy man and Romanian defenses just south of Ploiești. Although over the 376th’s target (Romana on full alert and faced the full air defense batteries had already Americana), and Gen. Ent in- effects of now raging oil fires, heavily engaged the 93rd, Posey structed Compton to attack “tar- heavy smoke, secondary explo- was fully received by the same gets of opportunity.” Most of the sions, and delayed-fuse bombs emplacements. Maintaining a 376th B-24s bombed the Steaua dropped by Baker’s 93rd Bomb continued low-level approach Română refinery at Campina Group on their earlier run. Both into the target area took some from the east, and five headed di- Kane and Johnson’s approach, of the still heavily laden aircraft rectly into the already smoldering parallel to the Floresti-to-Ploiești through tall grass and damage railway had the un- was caused by low-level obstruc- fortunate distinc- tions. Posey and his aircraft— tion of encounter- equipped with heavier 1,000 lb ing Gerstenberg’s (450 kg) bombs—managed to disguised flak train. successfully find their marks at At tree-top level, Creditul Minier, without loss to around 50 ft (15 m) the formation. above the ground, Second Steaua Română the 98th would find attack themselves to the The last TIDAL WAVE attack left and the 44th bombed the Steaua Română re- on the right. The finery (8 mi (13 km) northwest of advantage, howev- Ploiești) at Câmpina. The 389th er, would rest with attack led by Col. Jack Wood the 98th and 44th, was as rehearsed at Benghazi. w h o s e g u n n e r s The damage caused by the 376th quickly responded and 389th attacks heavily dam- to the threat, dis- aged the refinery, which did not abling the locomo- resume production for the dura- tive and killing mul- tion of the war. The 389th lost

12 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 four aircraft over the target area, greater than before the raid. Circa ment of overall product output” including B-24 “Ole Kickapoo” September, the Enemy Oil Com- as many of the refineries had flown by 2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert mittee appraisal of Ploiești bomb been operating previously below Hughes. After hits to the “Ole damage indicated “no curtail- maximum capacity. # Kickapoo” only 30 feet over the target area, the detonation of previously dropped bombs had Ninth Air Force order of battle ignited fuel leaking from the B-24. Hughes maintained course Ninth Air Force groups for bombardier 2nd Lt. John A. 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Pyramiders), Col. McLoughlin to bomb, and the John R. Kane° B-24 subsequently crash-landed 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Liberandos), Col. in a river bed. Hughes (who post- Keith K. Compton°° humously received the Medal of Eighth Air Force groups Honor) and five crewmembers 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Flying Eight Balls), were killed, four survived the Col. Leon W. Johnson° crash but died of injuries, and 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Ted’s Timberlake’s two gunners became prisoners Travelling Circus), Lt.Col. Addison E. Baker°, Maj. John of war. L. Jerstad° 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Sky Scorpions), Return flight Col. Jack W. Wood°°, 2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert Hughes° Only 88 B-24s returned to °Awarded Medal of Honor Libya, of which 55 had battle °°Awarded Distinguished Service Cross damage. Losses included 44 to air defenses and additional B-24s that ditched in the Mediterranean Sea or were interned (e.g. a few landed in the neutral country Tur- key). Some were diverted (e.g. to the RAF airfield on Cyprus, and one B-24 with 365 shell holes in LIFE Magazine photo of a mission briefing. it landed in Libya 14 hours after departing. Result 310 aircrew men were killed, 108 were captured by the Axis, and 78 were interned in Turkey. Three of the five Medals of Honor (the most for any single air action in history) were awarded posthumously. Allied assessment of the attack estimated a loss of 40% of the refining capacity at the Ploiești refineries, although some refineries were largely untouched. Most of the damage was repaired within weeks, after which the net output of fuel was Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 13 ‘Flight of Honor’ brings Vets to D.C. By Beverly Tucker ued to other relevant and important sites and ended n 2010, the North Carolina Triangle Flight of the day at the Arlington National Cemetery where IHonor began flying World War II veterans to we observed the changing of the guard. Washington, D.C. for a daylong tour of remem- We arrived back to RDU at 2000 hours where brance and recognition. I had the privilege of the Veterans were greeted by more than 1,500 fam- volunteering at the Raleigh-Durham International ily members, friends and others who came to pay Airport (RDU) to help at the gate when the veterans a too-long awaited tribute. Not surprisingly, when departed and again when they returned home. This we landed, the enthusiasm and energy of ‘my three year, I was able to participate in a Flight of Honor veterans’ was high and were filled with memories as a ‘guardian’ for three WWII army veterans. The of their day of being recognized for their WWII veterans visited the WWII Memorial, the Air Force sacrifices and service. I was honored to participate Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Arlington in their experience that day. # National Cemetery and the Marine Corps Barracks where we saw a 20-minute performance of the Silent Drill Team. Weeks before the pre-flight briefing, I met with each of ‘my three veterans’ and talked with them about their experiences and life after the war. At the pre-flight briefing, when I saw them as a group, I knew I had a big task to be able to match their enthusiasm and energy. On the day of our flight, I arrived at RDU at 0600 hours and was already greeted by some of the 100 veterans who would be traveling on the flight. After ‘my three veterans’ arrived, we began the rigorous process of get- ting through security, which for most travelers is unpleasant, aggravating and stressful, but the 100 Paul Plymate and Beverly Tucker on their way home.. Veterans on our flight, they took the process in stride and ‘followed orders’. In Washington, D.C., we loaded onto three ‘coaches’ staffed with good drivers and very knowled- gable tour guides and headed immediately to the WWII Memorial, which is strategically positioned between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monu- ment. We then contin- Paul Plymate, Bud Rogers, Beverly Tucker, John Cotton, gather at pre-flight meeting

14 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 Calvin Casteel Crew names: Front Row L-R: Ist Lt Richard D Hale N, Ist Lt Cal Casteel P, 1st Lt Jean Couget CP, 1st Lt Pete Kartovsky B. Back Row L-R: T/Sgt David Otte E, S/Sgt Melvin Porter TG, S/Sgt Stanley Gardner WG, T/Sgt Steven Vicinski RO, S/Sgt Daniel Moriarty BTG, S/Sgt Raymond Singer WG

President’s message ­—Continued from page 3 bership drive to be included in this issue of the Burrowbridge, and Mary Nell Roos. While the Beachbell. latter two could not attend, their presence was Also at the same meeting Bill Davenport sorely missed. They are always helpful when I reported that the Pima Museum has the right to seek their advice. keep whatever materials relatives, members and There were two unique differences in this friends donate. {the same applies to the Savannah years’ banquet. Antonio Rodriguez explained, Museum}. He suggested that the 2013 reunion from the podium, each step of the candle lighting site be in Tucson, AZ in the Spring. Bill and Jean ceremony, which was led by his daughter, Margi volunteered to arrange all the details for our 26th and included others who participated in the candle reunion there. lighting ceremony Other issues followed. James Duckworth Our daughter Robin O’Herin, a professional confirmed that John Hill, our designated Chaplain guitarist and gospel and blues soloist led the en- is to be reimbursed $100 to cover stationery and tertainment. She led a sing-along filled with songs postage for condolence letters to those who report from our world war II era and concluded with the folded wings. Army Air Corps song. That ended the banquet and I am fortunate to be supported by trusted advi- the reunion for the evening. # sors, James Duckworth, Beverly Tucker, Susan Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 15 When the music stopped...

For those who are unaware: course, that is, only if they had proof through the night that our At all military base theaters, the stood for The National Anthem in flag was still there. Oh, say, does National Anthem is played before the first place. Here in Iraq 1,000 that Star Spangled Banner yet the movie begins. soldiers continued to stand at at- wave, o’er the land of the free, tention, eyes fixed forward. The and the home of the brave.” It his is written from a Chaplain music started again, and the sol- was the most inspiring moment Tin Iraq: I recently attended a diers continued to quietly stand I have had in Iraq, and I wanted showing of ‘Superman 3’ here at at attention. Again, though, at the you to know what kind of U.S. LSA Anaconda. We have a large same point, the music stopped. Soldiers are serving you! Re- auditorium that we use for movies What would you expect 1,000 member them as they fight for as well as memorial services and soldiers standing at attention to us! other large gatherings. As is the do? Frankly, I expected some Pass this along as a reminder custom at all military bases, we laughter, and everyone would to others to be ever in prayer stood to attention when The Na- eventually sit down and wait for for all our soldiers serving us tional Anthem began before the the movie to start. No!!. . . You here at home and abroad. Many main feature. All was going well could have heard a pin drop while have already paid the ultimate until three-quarters of the way every soldier continued to stand price. Written by Chaplain Jim through The National Anthem, at attention. Suddenly, there was Higgins, LSA Anaconda is at the the music stopped. Now, what a lone voice from the front of the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north of would happen if this occurred auditorium, then a dozen voices, Baghdad. God Bless America with 1,000 18 to 22-year-olds and soon the room was filled with and all of our troops serving back in the States? I imagine that the voices of a thousand soldiers, throughout the world. there would be hoots, catcalls, finishing where the recording laughter, a few rude comments, left off: Submitted by Beverly Tucker and everyone would sit down and “And the rockets’ red glare, yell for the movie to begin. Of the bombs bursting in air, gave

16 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 17 2012 Reunion Washington, D. C.

No Date Yet - We will publish in the September Beachbell TENTATIVE Agenda Monday Early hotel check-in Tuesday Early hotel check-in and Meeting registration Wednesday Meeting registration and Optional Tour (destination TBD) Thursday Tour: WWII Monument, Korean Monument, Vietnam Monument, Arlington Cemetery and driving tour of the city Friday Tour: Dulles Air and Space Museum, Air Force/Corp Monument and Museum Saturday Business Meeting – Oral History – Banquet Sunday Chapel Services

Beverly Tucker is our event Planner for this exciting Reunion 919-280-1249 [email protected]

18 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 Historian’s Report By Bill Davenport

Here we go again with the queries, etc. received May 12, 1944 Mission, Historian, Gerhard recently for you to help with. Most of these folks Kaschuba, Carl-von-Linde-StraBe 7, 85716 Un- are learning about their relatives for the first terschleiBheim, Germany. time. With each KIA I say a prayer to the Good Lord Other items to note: for looking after me and bringing me home to the life I have. Copies of Casten’s, “The Sky was Their Battle- field” were left at the National D-Day Museum in S/Sgt. Ernest B. Lanier, KIA, Nephew, Charles New Orleans during our recent reunion. Lanier, 916 Old Louisville Road, Millen, GA 30442. 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Activation of the 446th Bombardment Group (H) will take Clell Mc Mullin, 704 BS, Grand daughter, place May 15-20, 2013 in Tucson, AZ where it all Hope Mc Mullin, 3811 W. Bingham Creek Drive, started for the soon to be “Buckaroos” West Jordan, UT 84088. Mark your Calendars Now. December 24, 1944 Mission, Dutch A F Mem- ber, SGT. J.A.(Joost) de Raaf, Vakersdonk220A., 7326LN Apeldoom, The Netherlands.

S/Sgt. Gerald J. Miller, KIA, Grand daughter, Samantha Hylton, 136 Lyttleton Lane, Madison Heights, VA 24572.

Sgt. John J. Jaffe, 704 BS, KIA, Nephew, John Jaffee, 52574 Jackie Lane, South Bend, IN 46637.

This is a repeat: FO Martin Rubin, 706 BS, KIA, Nephew, Martin Rubin, 9400 NW 16th St., Plantation, FL 33322.

Sgt. Robert L. Carpenter, WG, Son, Chris- topher R. Carpenter, P O Box 143,Norwich, NY 13815.

Lt. Richard J. Paquette, 704 BS CP, Grand- nephew, Trevor De Roche, 1005 W. Morgan St, Duluth, MN 55811.

Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 19 Many of you will already have read or have knowledge of the titles we will share in the com- ing issues but others (especially our second gen- eration members) may not know the references available. The September issue of this column will feature the titles of some out of print books which feature, in part, 446 history, men and planes. Bill Gaddie is the guest reviewer for this issue. Wings of Words Bill’s brother, Laurence Gaddie was killed in a By Mary Nell Roos 446th training accident in Denver 26 September 1943. # “Read any good books lately?” Have you asked or been asked that question? Usually, the “UNBROKEN” questioning party is motivated by the desire to by Laura Hillenbrand make conversation. A good friend of ours when A WWII Story of Survival, Resilience, and in a social situation with persons just met will ask, Redemption. “What are your two all time favorite books?” He Unbroken is a biography of asked that of Jack and me on our first meeting Louie Zamperini who was a world almost twenty years ago and I must admit, I was class track star at the University stumped as to what books I have read which were of Southern California. His coach my two all time favorites, but his question opened compared him to Seabiscuit. He up a personal venue for me to discover just what was that good. He competed in mine were. My favorites are usually about WWII. the 1938 Olympics in Berlin and Particularly, anything on the OSS and of course, the was training for the 1940 games 8th Air Force and its men. By the way, our friend’s to be held in Tokyo. The games were – “Bodyguard of Lies” by Anthony Cave were canceled and Zamperini would three years Brown and “The Making of the Atomic Bomb” later wind up in Japan, not as a track star, but by Richard Rhodes. “Bodyguard ---“ is about as a brutally abused prisoner of war. Although the deception and secrets surrounding D-Day and “Unbroken” is a biography, it reads more like a Rhodes book on the atomic bomb certainly touches mystery novel. on WWII. August 19, 1942 begins his odyssey to Japan. The above comments are an entre to this new He becomes an Air Force Lieutenant Navigator on a feature in the Beachbell – “Book Corner”. Its B-24 Liberator bomber. On May 27, 1943 the B-24 purpose is to inform you of books written either “Green Hornet” crashed into the Pacific Ocean. At new or in the past with subject matter relating to high speed, the nose and left wing hit first and the WWII. There will be Book Reviews, comments plane blew apart. Only three survived – the pilot, on books available now and those that are out of Zamperini and an enlisted man who later dies. print but still available (sometimes) on Amazon and Thus begins a 48 day test of survival on a vast E Bay. I want to hear about your favorite WWII ocean with no food, water or protection from the books and, of course, any reviews of those titles. elements. Sharks were with them the whole time. They must be related to WWII or had WWII the At night the sharks would rub their backs on the causative factor in the subject matter of the book. bottom of the raft, as if to say we are still here. Contact info for this column is Mary Nell Roos, In 48 days the raft with its cargo of two nearly 5491 Tyshire Parkway, Providence Forge, VA dead men had drifted 2000 miles in to the area 23140. Email is [email protected] and phone of the Marshall Islands. At that time this area of is 804-966-1445. Continued on page 23

20 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 Crew from the Dinky Duck display their messages to Hitler. Remembering My War Lt. Col. Paul E Armentrout USAF Ret.

“Remembering My War” is the story of Lt. Col Armentrout’s service and experiences dur- ing WWII, beginning with his training as an AAC cadet through his 30 missions as a B-24 Liberator Pilot. Paul and his crew were members of the 8th AF 446 Group, 706th Sq. The last 15 missions were flown as a Lead Crew. After the war, he was a member of the Air Force Reserve from 1946 to 1980. Oliver North, upon receiving this book and then reading it, invited Paul and the remaining crew members to be part of his War Stories documentary, “B-24 Bomber Boys”. The hour program was filmed in Nov 2005 at the Air Force Museum in Dayton. It was shown on the Fox News chan- nel Feb. 2006 as part of the War Stories series. This 131 page 8 by 11 soft cover book can be ordered for $20 plus $5 shipping and handling from the following: Lt. Col. Paul Armentrout 375 NW Jasper #16 Dallas, OR 97338 Phone no. 503-831-1132, email: armtrout5@msn

Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 21 lan Hague of the Norfolk Suffolk museum at Flixton has, through the years, been given many pictures by Aour members. He has made a small 60 page book of this photographic collection. In his words, “I have attempted to portray a day to day existence of all serving at Flixton”. The cost is $15 and includes postage. Checks should be made to Adam Smith, the American distributor. The book titled “The 446th Bomb Group in Suffolk” will be available in October. The American distributor is: Adam Smith 2398 S. Cannon Drive, Apt 303 Mount Prospect, IL 60056 847-357-8821, [email protected] I have received a copy from Alan and am impressed with the job he has done. The pictures and text flow in story fashion. It would be a good addition to your 446th library. Mary Nell

“Me, Mom and WWII”

l Pishioneri’s book titled, “Me, Mom and this unique histori- AWWII” has been published by Author- cal remembrance of th House. His service was as a 707 ball turret one soldier’s tour of gunner and armourer on the Robert Powell crew. duty in WWII.” The following is about the book: A r e v i e w o f “Hanging beneath a B-24 Liberator in flight, Al’s book states - in – 40 to 60 degrees below zero weather, bring- “MR. PISHIONERI ing his own oxygen and heat with him in this WEAVES A GREAT hostile environment; a moving target for enemy STORY THAT BRINGS fighters, gives one a unique perspective from YOU THROUGH THE TIMES WHEN ‘LOVE which to ponder who and what it’s all about. OF FAMILY’ AND The author, a veteran of 35 bombing mis- ‘LOVE OF COUNTRY’ MEANT THE WORLD TO sions over occupied Europe during World War THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.” II, recalls his experiences illuminated by the The book can be ordered from the Author- insight of a Bachelor of Science in American House Bookstore. The Book Order Hotline History and 37 ½ years of teaching Social Stud- number is 1-888-280-7715. The email address ies. A veteran storyteller and talented artist, he is [email protected]. It can also be weaves his story by chronicling the historical special ordered from Amazon.com, Barnes & events and personal experiences of his service Noble, Borders and other book stores. A further life between the actual letters he wrote home note from AuthorHouse is to state the book is that were preserved for him by his mother. His Print-On-Demand. The Beachbell editors do original sketches further enrich the tapestry of not have a price.

22 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 “UNBROKEN” — Continued from page 20 by Laura Hillenbrand the Pacific belonged to the Japanese. A Japanese be hard to put down as the B-24 is really one of the bomber discovers the men and strafes them twice, principal parts. You will see that the good and bad missing both times. A short time later, a Japanese parts of the Liberator as documented follows the patrol boat picks them up and delivers them to a same path as those of the 446th Bomb Group. POW camp on Kwajalein Island. Bill Gaddie, 8500 Colony Creek Ct. Tigard, OR This was the beginning of the brutality and 97224-8176, 503-639-1930. Email is bill.gaddie inhumane treatment forced on the prisoners. For @gmail.com. # approximately two years Louie Zamperini endured beatings. The extremely short rations of food and putrid water made the chances of survival that much worse. The camp commander who was nick named “the bird” by the inmates, had a knack of finding Zamperini in a crowd of about 600 to de- liver special torment. Mostly it was being punched in the face and caned until bloody. Eventually, Zamperini was sent to Tokyo and unfortunately, his tormentor was transferred to the same camp. The beatings continued until the end of the war. What became of all the characters will be re- vealed only by reading the book? The book will Transporting a bomb out for loading in a B-24

Item Size Comments Caps, Shirts Cap Adjustable $15 T-Shirt Small $15 & Patches Medium “ Large “ X Large “ XXL “ XXXL $20 Special Order Polo Shirt Small $35 (plain navy Medium $35 To order: shirt with sm Large $35 Pay by check or money order made out to: pocket 446 X Large $35 446th Bomb Group patch) XXL, XXXL $35 Send payment and order details to: Patches 446th $10 Beverly Tucker 704th Sq $10 2210 Englewood Avenue 705th Sq Durham, NC 27705 706th Sq $10 If questions: call: 919-280-1249 or 707th Sq $10 email: [email protected] Window Decals $5

Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011 23 Deceased Notification Program

State/Zip Area Coordinator Phone State/Zip Area Coordinator Phone

Alabama Tim Taylor 251-267-3879 New Jersey Herbert Gold 201-569-3079 Alaska Jerry Ganopole 907-277-7887 07228-08853 Al Pishioneri 732-462-8032 Arizona New Mexico Arkansas New York ...... California ...... 10021-11590 90045-91780 11714-13057 92014-92383 Keith L. Babcock 619-444-4714 13114-14895 92388-93433 Bill Davenport 714-832-2829 North Carolina James Duckworth 704-263-8879 93446-95223 North Dakota Colorado John Sampson 303-932-9932 Ohio ...... Connecticut Walter Stelkovis 203-397-2464 43040-44111 Delaware 44119-45873 Florida ...... Oklahoma David Weldon 918-914-0943 32008-32725 Oregon 32726-33138 Max Minear 386-775-3516 Pennsylvania ...... 33301-33853 John W. Hill 727-522-2412 15003-16063 Jim Thomas 717-677-0287 Bruno L. Barbi 813-465-5075 17921-19464 Steve Roat 215-990-3993 33904-34982 Betty McMahon 941-625-0370 Rhode Island Russ Lundstrom 401-253-9097 Georgia Link Veazey 770-972-5883 South Carolina James Duckworth 704-263-8879 Hawaii John T. Goss 808-732-3653 South Dakota Idaho Paul Kelly 208-432-5265 Tennessee Illinois...... Texas ...... 60004-60558 Cal Chany 847-255-7325 75007-75771 Charles Lee 972-239-9836 60611-62946 76021-77080 Indiana 77339-78552 Joe Hays 817-293-0439 Iowa 77001-77489 Alan Senior 281-494-2445 Kansas 77901-78965 Kentucky Utah Wayne Jackson 435-586-1019 Louisiana Vermont Maine Virginia Mary Nell Roos 804-966-1445 Maryland Ted Tate 301-775-2291 W.Virginia Massachusetts Washington Michigan ...... Wisconsin James Pederson 715-878-4921 40834-48829 Kurt Kersten 734-676-5988 Wyoming Minnesota Puerto Rico Mississippi Wm. G. Barlow 601-582-3972 Washington DC Missouri England Montana Netherlands Nebraska Nevada Stephen Kralj 775-348-7070 New Hampshire Colin C Drown 603-447-2106

If you would consider becoming a co-ordinator for your zip code area (or any other) please contact Charlie Lee. 972-239-9836. Place the name and telephone number of your Area co-ordinator in the family Bible and/ or the Group’s Roster’ (space provided inside back cover). This will assure timely notification and 446th BG representation at the services.

24 Beachbell Echo, Vol 26, No 2, June, 2011