May 2018 GREETINGS TO EVERYONE

Here we are once again preparing for another Reunion. This will be our 43rd Annual Reunion which will be held in Savannah, Georgia. Our last reunion held in Savannah was in 1999. We have invited various members from within the 323rd BG. Our Directory has some more changes and additions (see pages 7 & 8), thank you to everyone with your input. With your assistance we can keep our directory current and we will continue to pass along all up-dates for our directory in the next newsletter. So, if you know of any information, in our current directory that’s not correct please contact me preferably by email at [email protected] or you can call me at 480-984-3676 and leave a voice message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Our Mail Bag News

Mary Moench – Sends everyone her love and a big hello, enjoys the newsletters.

Tom Adbouch – Sent contribution and note - Thanks for keeping the memories alive!

Page 1 of 16 454th B.S. 43rd Annual Reunion at Savannah, GA.

Here is the information and facts about our Reunion location, the Hotel we will be staying at this year is the Country Inn & Suites Savannah Airport. We will have complimentary shuttle service available to and from the airport. There will also be limited complimentary shuttle service when available.

Our room rates this year are $79.00 plus taxes currently 13% and Georgia Hotel/Motel fee of $5.00 per night. The breakfast is a hot buffet and is included. Arrival – check-in time 3:00PM and our check-out time is 12:00PM.

Schedule of Events

TOURS and EVENTS – Savannah, Georgia Reunion

Once again this year there will be no scheduled tours. Our only scheduled event is our annual business meeting.

Tuesday Sep 25 2:00pm Hospitality Room Opens

Thursday Sep 27 10:00am Annual Business Meeting 11:30am Hospitality Room Opens or after meeting 12:00am Close the Hospitality Room or when vacant

Page 2 of 16 454th Reunion Registration 2018– Savannah, GA. Mail to: 8250 E. Obispo Avenue Mesa, AZ 85212 Inquiries, George Cornett (480)-984-3676

Name ______Group ______Unit ______Address ______Name Tag Names (if needed) Phone ______Wife’s Name ______Guest Name(s)

Arrival Date ______Departure Date ______

Registration Fee $10.00 (Complimentary Hospitality Room)

Total Enclosed # _____ x $_____ = _____ Make Checks to 454th BSA (Can be paid at reunion)

Person Contact, Emergency

Name ______Phone ______

Free Airport Shuttle Service (call hotel after luggage pick-up, 912-966-1717) American, Delta, United, and other airlines offer service to Savannah International Airport

Hotel Accommodation Reservation – Savannah, GA 31408 454th Airforce Reunion (Code 454th AFR), 1-912-966-1717 Hotel Reservation Cut Off Date (to secure discounted rate) is Aug 10, 2018_

Main Dates, Sept 25 Tues – Sept 27 Thur. Country Inn & Suites Savannah Airport 454th Air Force Reunion (3 nights) 21 Yvette Johnson Hagins Drive Savannah, GA. 31408 Room Rate Avail, Sept 23rd - Sept 29th Hotel Direct 912-966-1717

The following information needed to make a reservation: Name ______Address ______# of persons in Room __ # beds, Rooms __ Phone ______Check in, at 3pm Check Out, Noon Name, if shared room ______Rate – $79.00 per night plus applicable taxes Arrival Date ______Depart Date ______A First Night’s Deposit Is Required

Hotel Parking Free of Charge Complimentary Hot Buffet Complimentary Airport Shuttle Hotel Shuttle, nearby Eateries When Available Can call hotel front desk, 912-966-1717 9/5pm (EDT) M-F, if you have a special request issue.

Page 3 of 16 Final Flights & Obituaries

It is always a sad time when we lose loved ones. These are some more of our finest that we have the disappointing news to pass along to you. They will not be with us at our future reunions physically, but will be with us in spirit and their special stories they have shared with all of us. GOD BLESS!

Kenneth B. Buffaloe, 101 years of age from Huntsville, AL passed away on October, 4, 2017. Mr. Buffaloe is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Alta Tuck Buffaloe. He is survived by two daughters, Alice Sue Buffaloe and Rebecca Ann Buffaloe. He was a WWII veteran and proudly served in the Army Air Corp with the 454th Bomb Squadron under the 323rd Bombardier Group (an original member). He served in Austria, England and France. After the war, he re-enlisted with United States Air Force and served for 23 years. In his second career, he was a Supervisor for Sanitation Maintenance in the State of Florida Civil Service for 20+ years. He worked in several municipalities including: Winter Park, FL; Lauderdale Lakes, FL; and Dunedin, FL, where he retired. In his third career, he and his wife bought, remodeled and sold homes. In 2007, he came home to Huntsville. He was a proud member of the Whitesburg Baptist Church and really enjoyed attending Sunday school. His interests included playing the stock market, NASCAR races, classic cars, politics and loved apple pie and vanilla ice cream. Memorials can be made to The Salvation Army, 2114 Oakwood Ave. NW, Huntsville, AL 35810.

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James Avery, the founder of James Avery Artisan Jewelry, died April 30, 2018. He was 96. James Avery was born December 7, 1921 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served his country in the U.S. Air Corps and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. James Avery completed training and commanded a B-26 bomber, surviving 44 missions over Germany. After World War II, he attended the University of Illinois and received a B.F.A. in Industrial Design. He pursued college level teaching, and while at the University of Colorado, he explored jewelry-making techniques. James Avery spent the summer of 1954 in Kerrville along with his wife, visiting his in-laws. He once remarked, “It was during this time that I decided to go into business. I worked alone for three years. Ideas, plenty of hard work and prayers (not necessarily in that order) were the rule of each day.” Customers came from near and far to seek out the craftsman in the Texas Hill Country. In 1957 he hired his first employee and began an artistic legacy of craftsmanship that would gain national recognition under his leadership. James Avery designed with purpose and meaning with the hopes of creating a piece of jewelry that would have a lasting and timeless connection for the wearer. His passion for design, craftsmanship and his artistic vision will continue to be a source of inspiration for many years to come. James Avery retired in 2007 turning the reins over to two of his sons, Chris and Paul. For the next several years, he continued to pursue his passion of designing jewelry and also served as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors. His caring and generous support of the communities where he lived and worked is reflected on a banner displayed in the Visitor Center at the Avery campus that says, “Giving is what it is all about!” The inspiring life of James Avery will live on forever in the hearts of his family, friends, Customers and Associates. James Avery was a dynamic, creative and generous man who touched the lives of many people during his lifetime through his work, his art and his giving spirit. The 64-year success of James Avery Artisan Jewelry is a testament to his early leadership. What began as a one-man endeavor in a garage has since grown into a family of over 3,500 Associates. The company operates 80 stores in 5 states: Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Our jewelry is also available in over 200 Dillard’s stores in 28 states and nationwide through. His contributions will always be remembered as the company continues to build upon his artistic legacy.

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In lieu of sending flowers or other gifts, and in recognition of Mr. Avery’s generous and giving spirit, we welcome you to give to the charity of your choice.

1921-2018 NATCHEZ — Services for Robert Percy Mims Jr., who died at his residence in Natchez on January 22nd, were held on Monday January 29th at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Ken Ritter and Steve Paschall officiating. He was 96. Burial was at the Natchez National Cemetery and full military honors were rendered including two U.S. Air Force planes flying overhead. Robert P Mims Jr., “Bob” as he was called by all that knew him, was born on Feb. 19, 1921, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was raised in Jackson by his loving mother, Mignon Tye Kennington. He attended Jackson Public Schools and transferred to Gulf Coast Military Academy in Gulfport, where he graduated with the class of 1938. After high school, he attended Mississippi State University where he was a member of the KA Fraternity and he lettered in track. He studied aeronautical engineering until WWII. Mr. Mims joined the Army Air Corps in 1941, and left for basic training at Camp Shelby. He received his pilot’s wings at Columbus Air Force Base in Meridian in 1942. Following transition training in the B-26 Marauder at Barksdale Field, Shreveport, Louisiana in 1943, Lt. Mims was assigned to the 323rd Bomb Group, 455th Bomb Squadron at Earls Colne, England. Lt. Mims flew 26 combat missions with the “Whitetail Marauders”. On Feb. 5, 1944 he was shot down over Northern France. Captured by the Germans he became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth Germany on the Baltic Sea near Poland. For his service and heroism, he earned the following: The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Purple Heart, Four Air Medals, The Prisoner of War Medal, and The European Theater Medal with Battle Star, Additional Campaign Medals and the French Legion of Honor In April of 1945, after returning home after the war, he married the love of his life, Price of Canton. After retirement from the military, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., where he graduated with honors in horology, hand engraving, jewelry design, jewelry repairs, jewelry manufacturing and business. Moving his family to Natchez in 1952 he managed several jewelry stores, eventually opening up his own business on Main Street in Natchez. Bob had many awards including Jeweler of the Year. He was also president of the Mississippi Jewelers Association as well as the Dixie Guild, Lions Club, Downtown Merchants Association and a member of the 455th Bomb Squadron Association. In 1978/1979, Mr. Mims was chosen from 300 entries as one of 26 jewelers in North to create a “one of a kind” pair of cufflinks for the American Gemstones Jewelry Collection through the American Gem Society in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute in , D.C., where it is on display. He was preceded in death were his mother and wife, Virginia Price Mims.

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Survivors include six children, Robert Price Mims and wife, Diane, of Oxford, Nancy Mims McLeod and husband, Robby, of Fannin, Virginia Mignon Mims of Jackson, James Buford “Boo” Mims and Vicki Barlow, Tye Phillips Mims and Virginia Little “Ginger” Mims, all of Natchez; special family, Julia Mae Johnson; ve grandchildren, Robert David Mims and wife, Teri, of Clearwater, Fla., Katherine Tye McLeod Smith and husband, Jason, of Fannin, Whitney Mims Dollar and husband, Justin, and Fletcher Price Mims, all of Natchez, James Mims McLeod and wife, Meagan, of Londonderry, N.H., and “Katie” who never left his side; six great-grandchildren, Avery Tye Smith, Hadley Clare Mims, Sawyer Kate Dollar, Lane Katherine Smith, Braden Robert Mims and Robert Parker Dollar; and brother Robert Brady Mims of Jackson.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Home with Heroes Foundation Helping Local Veterans at homewithheros.org., Trinity Episcopal Church, 305 S. Commerce St., or Cathedral School.

The Natchez Democrat

John R. Miles, Sr. 68 John died Wednesday, February 21, 2018. Born in , SC, he was the son of the late Bob and Kitty Miles. He served in the U.S. Marines and was employed by Bell South. John was the son-in-law of Jake Barnett who was a member of the 323rd Bomb Group, 454th Bomb Squadron of WW II. Memorial services will be held at 12 noon at Cayce United Methodist Church, 1600 Twelfth Street, Cayce 29033, Saturday, February 24, 2018. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. He is survived by his wife, Sue B. Miles; and two children, Kelsey (Eric) Robertson of Ipswich, MA. and Richard (Samantha) Miles of Spartanburg, SC. He is also survived by his step mother, Patricia Miles; brother, Bob (Betty) Miles of Lexington, SC.

Additional Notifications without Obituaries received:

Page 7 of 16 Name: Date Received: Date of Passing: Listug, George R. 3-29-18 8-5-17

Listug, June 3-29-18 3-19-18

Directory Updates:

We have received the following changes since the publishing of our December 2013 Newsletter; please update your directory as follows:

Section 1 page 1 of 9 – Replace Old Address Old New CASPER, Joseph CASPER, Joseph 504 First Street N. 850 Campers Lane Inwood, WV. 25428-4308 Ruther Glen, VA. 22546-1431

Section 1 page 7 of 9- New Address Old New PRATT, Donald PRATT, Donald 711 Susan Lane 9426 Creek Summit Circle Martinsville, VA. 24112-4419 Richmond, VA. 23235-4277 540-632-4941

Missing Members

This is a section where we will list the names and addresses for newsletters mailed out and returned. If you know someone on this list please contact me with an updated address or have them contact me direct if they wish. Their name will only appear in one newsletter after that if they have not been updated then they will be removed from our mailing list.

Mr. Albert H. Resnick Ms. Pattie Gray 2 Summer Hill Road 67 Forrest Place Wayne, NJ 07470-8430 Atlanta, GA 30328-4869

Ms. Bee Lindeberg Mr. David Tycott 1407 W. 68th Street 9 Summit Avenue Apt. 401 N.

Page 8 of 16 Minneapolis, MN. 55423-2271 Spring Valley, NY. 10977-5384

Mr. Bruce Zweig 3850 N. Oaks Clubhouse Drive Apt. 104 Pompano Beach, FL. 33069-3628 Financial Report

Here is our financial report to date for 2018. We would like to thank everyone for their past contributions because that’s what keeps us going strong with our organization. I’m sure our next report will be much longer because as the year continues so will our contributions and expenses.

Contributions Jan 1, 2018 – May 31, 2018

Name Amount

Urey, Dottie $300.00 Harwell, Robert & Helen $25.00 Adbouch, Tom $100.00

Swartzberg, Barbara $85.00 Calabrese, Roy $25.00

If there were contributions from January1, 2018 to May 31, 2018 sent that are not posted please contact me (George Cornett) at below address or call me at 480-984- 3676.

If you wish to make a contribution to the 454th Bomb Squadron Association please send to 454th BSA c/o George Cornett 8250 E. Obispo Ave. Mesa AZ 85212-1618.

The below balance does not include the cost printing for this Newsletter and mailing.

Balance as of Jan. 1, 2018 $10,671.30

Contributions $535.00

Reunion Monies Rcvd. $0.00

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Total Received $535.00

Expenses $346.72

Balance $10,859.58

Our Elected Board Members

Current BoardMembers: Previous Board Members:

President______Vacant President______Frank Johnson 1st Vice-President___ Howard Cross 1st Vice-President____ Howard Cross 2nd Vice-President___Frankie Mancuso 2nd Vice-President__ Frankie Mancuso 3rd Vice-President ___Robert “Bob” Johnson 3rd Vice-President____ Bob Johnson Secretay/Treasurer___George Cornett Secretary/Treasurer___George Cornett Historian______Roy Bozych Historian______Roy Bozych Sergeant-at-Arms ___Merlin McDonald Sergeant-at-Arms ____ David Garvin

George Cornett 8250 E Obispo Avenue Mesa, AZ 85212-1618 480-984-3676 [email protected]

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We all look forward to seeing everyone in Savannah, GA for another great reunion.

Take Care and Best Wishes !

Page 11 of 16 Spring 2018

Our WWII Veterans Still Serve This past June 6th marked the 74th anniversary on the D-Day landings. While it took the Allies a little longer than they expected to break out of the beach head areas and defeat Germany, eventually on May 8th, 1945 the war came to an end in Europe. And finally on August 15th the Japanese announced their surrender. The Japanese formally signed their surrender documents on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 bringing to a close the hostilities of WWII.

With the end of the war most of our “Citizen Soldiers” returned home to their families and their lives. While others continued their careers in the military. With the passing of time now, only a hand full of our Veterans are still with us. As anniversaries pass inevitably there will be stories in the papers and television about those momentous events that passed years ago. I want to tell you now about one such story about a different type of WWII Veterans that I recently saw on the news.

Her name is the MV Cape Henlopen. Like our Veterans who returned to their jobs after the war, she sails every day back and forth between Long Island, and Connecticut doing her job of carrying cars and passengers as a car ferry. Quite an unassuming looking as far as ships go, watching go about her daily sailings you would never guess the important part she played in WWII. Buried in an obscure corner of the ship is a plaque that reads “USS LST-510 D Day June 6, 1944 Omaha Beach”

Page 12 of 16 Like most of our WWII Veterans who never talked about their war experiences, the MV Cape Henlopen too had a distinguished WWII story to tell. She was a LST – Landing Ship Tank. She served during the war with the US Navy and was known as LST-510. But not only did she do her part to win the war she also took part in the D-Day landings carrying troops and ammunition to Omaha Beach. Having discharged her initial precious goods she would return to England many times carrying the wounded and the dead. And in doing so, saving many of the lives of our troops who would have otherwise died on Omaha Beach. She is pictured here on Omaha Beach.

For her service during the war LST-510 was awarded “One Battle Star” With her service completed after the war, she was decommissioned and declared surplus and sat in Florida for the next 10 years awaiting the next chapter in her live. Eventually she was purchased by the Chesapeake Bay Ferry District. In 1983 she was sold to the Cross Town Ferry Services of New London, Connecticut, undergoing a complete refurbishment and becoming the MV Cape Henlopen. She is probably the last D-day ship to still be in service! The CBS Sunday Morning Today show did a nice little story on her. It can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgdDJDQA0Ek

No One Left Behind His name is Staff Sargent John H. Canty and he has been missing for seventy four years. He departed Boxted Airfield, Easton Lodge-Essex England on June 22, 1944 and was never seen again. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery.

S/Sgt. Canty was a Flight Engineer and Gunner with the 386th BG 555th BS. His plane was 42-96087 coded YA-O. There was no known name given to this B-26. The targets assigned to the 386th Bomb Group on June 22, 1944 where strong points in the Cherbourg Peninsula in support Allied attack on the Port of Cherbourg. That day 42- 96087 took a direct FLAK hit in the bomb bay bringing down his aircraft. See MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) 6283. All eight crewmembers were killed that day. Because the plane crashed behind German lines a thorough investigation of the crash site could not be done at that time. In 1995 remains of five of the crewmembers were

Page 13 of 16 found. They were all reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery. On January 22, 2018 the DDPA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) with the help of the French Government, Mr. Michael Jurd and the American Battle Monuments Commission were able to positively identify the remains of S/Sgt. John H. Canty. No announcement has been made yet as to the final interment and resting place of this Marauder man.

Preserving our Veterans Legacy This coming September the 454th Squadron will hold its 43rd Squadron reunion in Savannah, Georgia. The 454th Squadron in conjunction with the other Squadrons of the 323rd Bomb Group is one of the very last B-26 Squadrons and Groups still holding its own reunions. That is primarily because of all the dedicated hard work put in early on by Joe Havrilla and his family. Joe took over the responsibilities of Squadron Secretary during the early years of our reunions. With the help of his wife Helen, Bob Perez and the rest of his family he established a comradery amongst our reunion attendees that made our Squadron reunions seem more like family gatherings. It is because of their hard work and this strong sense of family that our reunions continue on where others have fallen by the wayside.

Joe Havrilla passed in 2008. His son Bob, who lives in Pittsburgh, PA inherited all of Joe’s Squadron records and books. It was the families wish that those records and books go to the 454th Squadron Archives located with the majority of the MHS records at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. So this past April I took a drive out to Pittsburgh and met with Bob and picked up the collection. In all there about four large boxes of records which I now have in my posession. Next we will index the collection and digitize records that we need to conduct Squadron business and do future research. The records will then go on to our archives. Once completed we will insure that the legacy of our Veterans and Joe are preserved for future generations giving them a very detailed view of our history.

One of the most irreplaceable bits of Joe’s archived collection was a large box of photographs that cover just about all the 454th Squadron reunions. In fact, not only does Joe have pictures from all of our reunions but he also has the names of the individuals on the backs of those pictures! That is very rare!

One of the most common requests that come into our website, besides requests for pictures of aircraft, are for pictures of our Veterans. We have been given a very unique opportunity here to have the largest, most complete collection of Veterans pictures of not just the B-26 Bomb Groups but of any WWII bomb group. However I am going

Page 14 of 16 to need some help to complete this project. If you have a photo scanner and are interested in working on this project please contact me at [email protected].

A Visit from Across the Pond Those of you who attended last year’s reunion in Kansas City got to meet a very special individual, Ian Sparks from Earls Colne, England. Ian is the Vice chairman of the Earls Colne Parish council. He oversees projects to insure the maintenance of the local roads, paths and open spaces around Earls Colne. This was his first trip to the US. Ian is pictured here on our way into the WWI museum and Memorial in Kansas City. A great spot for a visit by the way!

In 2016 he was kind enough to show David, Sally and Tess Garvin around Earls Colne when they visited. To reciprocate David invited him to our next reunion and to everyone’s great enjoyment Ian came.

While here, Ian gave us a lecture on Earls Colne. Did you know that Earls Colne dates back to pre-Roman times in England? Talk about history!

The airfield at Earls Colne was first constructed in 1941by the RAF. In 1943 the USAAF took over the field and enlarged it. It’s first used by a B-17 group, but only for a couple of weeks. The 323rd BG became its longest inhabitant, dropping in so to speak in June of 1943. Then finally moving on to Beaulieu, England in July of 1944. One of Earl’s Colne’s finest hours was in March of 1945 when 60 aircraft towing gliders and 30 aircraft full of parachutists departed Earls Colne as part of “Operation Varsity” which helped bring WWII to a quicker end.

Sadly our time with Ian was much too short! We were all having such a great time visiting! However before you knew it, the reunion was over and it was time for all of us to go back home.

The Creakbaums Visit Boxted, Earls Colne and Marks Hall Last year must have been visitor exchange year. While Ian came to visit us, Gary and Ellen Creakbaum flew to England to see the Boxted Air Museum, Earls Colne and the

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Marks Hall Garden and Arboretum. That is the site where the tutor mansion called Marks Hall once stood. It was used as a headquarters by both the 8th and 9th Air Forces. Gary’s dad was S/Sgt. Ronald Creakbaum. He was a tail gunner with the 455th Squadron. One of the planes Ronald flew was “Mission Belle” 41-34955 coded YU-T. That’s Gary and Ellen standing in front of the picture of “Mission Belle” at the Boxted Air museum.

S/Sgt. Creakbaum was also a member of the infamous “Caterpillar Club”. What is the Caterpillar Club you ask? In those days the parachutes were made of silk spun by silk worms. If you had to bail out of your airplane for any reason and successfully used you parachute you could apply for membership in the “Caterpillar Club” As part of your membership you received an id card acknowledging that you and accomplished said feat and also a little caterpillar lapel pin.

While training at Myrtle Beach in 1943 his B-26 caught fire and the crew was unable to extinguish the flames. Ronald was lucky. He was able to bail out and use his chute. Three of his crew weren’t able to do so and died in the crash. S/Sgt. Creakbaum went on to fly 64 combat missions including the groups 1st mission on July 16, 1943 to the Abbeville Marshalling yards were he was severely injured by FLAK.

S/Sgt. Creakbaum returned to the US in November of 1944 to serve as a gunnery instructor until wars end.

Until next Time… Keep ‘em Flying

Roy R. Bozych 49 E Lucas Dr. Palos Hills. IL 60465-3100 708-870-6605 [email protected] http://www.323bg.org

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