Eugene P. Roberts
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The Luftwaffe Wasn't Alone
PIONEER JETS OF WORLD WAR II THE LUFTWAFFE WASN’T ALONE BY BARRETT TILLMAN he history of technology is replete with Heinkel, which absorbed some Junkers engineers. Each fac tory a concept called “multiple independent opted for axial compressors. Ohain and Whittle, however, discovery.” Examples are the incandes- independently pursued centrifugal designs, and both encoun- cent lightbulb by the American inventor tered problems, even though both were ultimately successful. Thomas Edison and the British inventor Ohain's design powered the Heinkel He 178, the world's first Joseph Swan in 1879, and the computer by jet airplane, flown in August 1939. Whittle, less successful in Briton Alan Turing and Polish-American finding industrial support, did not fly his own engine until Emil Post in 1936. May 1941, when it powered Britain's first jet airplane: the TDuring the 1930s, on opposite sides of the English Chan- Gloster E.28/39. Even so, he could not manufacture his sub- nel, two gifted aviation designers worked toward the same sequent designs, which the Air Ministry handed off to Rover, goal. Royal Air Force (RAF) Pilot Officer Frank Whittle, a a car company, and subsequently to another auto and piston 23-year-old prodigy, envisioned a gas-turbine engine that aero-engine manufacturer: Rolls-Royce. might surpass the most powerful piston designs, and patented Ohain’s work detoured in 1942 with a dead-end diagonal his idea in 1930. centrifugal compressor. As Dr. Hallion notes, however, “Whit- Slightly later, after flying gliders and tle’s designs greatly influenced American savoring their smooth, vibration-free “Axial-flow engines turbojet development—a General Electric– flight, German physicist Hans von Ohain— were more difficult built derivative of a Whittle design powered who had earned a doctorate in 1935— to perfect but America's first jet airplane, the Bell XP-59A became intrigued with a propeller-less gas- produced more Airacomet, in October 1942. -
86'- ' Its Departure for Overseas Duty in Great Britain
CHAa IV *I 'THE STORY OP VIII FIGHT CM " began The formation of a long-range fighter organization VIII Interceptor early in 1942 with the activation of the Fighter Comnand, at Coand, which later was renamed the VIII 1, 1942. The Comanding Selfridge Field, Michigan on February who had been in oamand Officer was Colonel Laurence P. Hiokey, VIII Interceptor of the Sixth Pursuit Wing, from which the to Charleston, South Command was developed. The Command moved to be close to the Carolina on the 11th of February in. order located at Savannah, headquarters of the 8th Air Force, then The 8th Air Georgia, where it was preparing for embarkation. be prepared to carry Force was organised in such a way aa to invasion of North Afrioa out the "Torch Plan' for the eventual General Frank O'D. which oame in November, 1942. Brigadier shortly before Hunter assumed oommand of the organisation Officer Richard The author is indebted to Chief Warrant (*1 - at VIII Fighter A. Bates of the A-2 Section (Intelligence) history of the Comnand. Comand for the facts about the early whn it _as activated in Febru- Mr. Bates was its lst Stergeant of the became Teohnical Sergeant ana Chief Olerk ary, 1942, hiatorian until July IntelligenCe Section and was its official data was not otherwise available. The Sta- 1943. Much of this later, has Control Office which was establiahed muoh tistical but these facts proided-invaluable data on later operations, from his own records, from his friends "'oaptured for posterity" are based on his and from a most retentive memory. -
United States Air Force and Its Antecedents Published and Printed Unit Histories
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND ITS ANTECEDENTS PUBLISHED AND PRINTED UNIT HISTORIES A BIBLIOGRAPHY EXPANDED & REVISED EDITION compiled by James T. Controvich January 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS User's Guide................................................................................................................................1 I. Named Commands .......................................................................................................................4 II. Numbered Air Forces ................................................................................................................ 20 III. Numbered Commands .............................................................................................................. 41 IV. Air Divisions ............................................................................................................................. 45 V. Wings ........................................................................................................................................ 49 VI. Groups ..................................................................................................................................... 69 VII. Squadrons..............................................................................................................................122 VIII. Aviation Engineers................................................................................................................ 179 IX. Womens Army Corps............................................................................................................ -
There Is a Map of Sawston Is HERE to Assist with Locations Mentioned.)
(A Streetfull of Sad Sacks has been published on this site, without the authority of the author or publisher, after extensive enquiry to discover their identity and permission. Searches have been made in the USA, to seek this authority, via the Air Force Historical Research Agency http://www.afhra.af.mil/ and the Muir S. Fairchild Research Information Center without any trace. ) (There is a map of Sawston is HERE to assist with locations mentioned.) (Examine this location in Google Street View.) DURING THE SUMMER OF 1943 UNITS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND ITS EIGHTH AIR FORCE MOVED INTO SAWSTON, WHEN THEY LEFT IN OCTOBER 1945, LIFE IN THE VILLAGE WAS NEVER QUITE THE SAME AGAIN Page 1 of 75 www.family.nigellane.com The Sad Sack An embodiment of the Army's lowest-rated born loser, George Baker's cartoon character made his name in World War Two as the hapless draftee who lost out in every conceivable military situation. Sergeant Baker's comic strip in the service magazine Yank, published on Sundays price 3d, depicted the Sack's confrontations with the perils and perplexities of wartime service life. In all his dealings - with fellow soldiers, top brass, foreign nationals, prostitutes and the rest of the world in general - the little private always came off second best. But he remained the Army's hero, a trusting soul whose own little world of dreamy optimism was constantly devastated by unforeseen disaster. His name derived from the drill sergeant’s parade-square name for all new doughboys. To that redoubtable NCO all recruits were "sad -
Cold War Scrapbook Compiled by Frances Mckenney, Assistant Managing Editor
Cold War Scrapbook Compiled by Frances McKenney, Assistant Managing Editor The peace following World War II was short- lived. Soviet forces never went home, kept occupied areas under domination, and threatened free nations worldwide. By 1946, Winston Churchill had declared, “An iron curtain has descended across the conti- nent.” Thus began a 45-year struggle between the diametrically opposed worldviews of the US and the Soviet Union. In 1948, the USSR cut off land access to free West Berlin, launch- ing the first major “battle” of the Cold War: the Berlin Airlift. Through decades of changes in strategy, tactics, locations, and technology, the Air Force was at the forefront. The Soviet Union was contained, and eventually, freedom won out. Bentwaters. Bitburg. Clark. Loring. Soes- terberg. Suwon. Wurtsmith—That so many Cold War bases are no longer USAF instal- lations is a tribute to how the airmen there did their jobs. While with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., in 1975, Capt. Thomas McKee asked a friend to take this “hero shot” of him with an A-7. McKee flew the Corsair II as part of Tactical Air Command, at Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C. He was AFA National President and Chairman of the Board (1998-2002). Assigned to the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif., RSO Maj. Thomas Veltri (right) and Maj. Duane Noll prepare for an SR-71 mission from RAF Mildenhall, UK, in the mid- 1980s. Veltri’s most memora- ble Blackbird sortie: “We lost an engine in the Baltic, north of Gotland Island, and ended up at 25,000 feet, with a dozen MiGs chasing us.” Retired Lt. -
1945-12-11 GO-116 728 ROB Central Europe Campaign Award
GO 116 SWAR DEPARTMENT No. 116. WASHINGTON 25, D. C.,11 December- 1945 UNITS ENTITLED TO BATTLE CREDITS' CENTRAL EUROPE.-I. Announcement is made of: units awarded battle par- ticipation credit under the provisions of paragraph 21b(2), AR 260-10, 25 October 1944, in the.Central Europe campaign. a. Combat zone.-The.areas occupied by troops assigned to the European Theater of" Operations, United States Army, which lie. beyond a line 10 miles west of the Rhine River between Switzerland and the Waal River until 28 March '1945 (inclusive), and thereafter beyond ..the east bank of the Rhine.. b. Time imitation.--22TMarch:,to11-May 1945. 2. When'entering individual credit on officers' !qualiflcation cards. (WD AGO Forms 66-1 and 66-2),or In-the service record of enlisted personnel. :(WD AGO 9 :Form 24),.: this g!neial Orders may be ited as: authority forsuch. entries for personnel who were present for duty ".asa member of orattached' to a unit listed&at, some time-during the'limiting dates of the Central Europe campaign. CENTRAL EUROPE ....irst Airborne Army, Headquarters aMd 1st Photographic Technical Unit. Headquarters Company. 1st Prisoner of War Interrogation Team. First Airborne Army, Military Po1ie,e 1st Quartermaster Battalion, Headquar- Platoon. ters and Headquarters Detachment. 1st Air Division, 'Headquarters an 1 1st Replacementand Training Squad- Headquarters Squadron. ron. 1st Air Service Squadron. 1st Signal Battalion. 1st Armored Group, Headquarters and1 1st Signal Center Team. Headquarters 3attery. 1st Signal Radar Maintenance Unit. 19t Auxiliary Surgical Group, Genera]1 1st Special Service Company. Surgical Team 10. 1st Tank DestroyerBrigade, Headquar- 1st Combat Bombardment Wing, Head- ters and Headquarters Battery.: quarters and Headquarters Squadron. -
ADC and Antibomber Defense, 1946-1972
Obtained and posted by AltGov2: www.altgov2.org ADC HISTORICAL STUDY NO. 39 THE AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND AND ANTIBOMBER DEFENSE 194& -1972 ADCHO 73-8-17 FOREWORD" The resources made available to the Aerospace Defense Command (and the predecessor Air Defense Command) for defense against the manned bomber have ebbed and flowed with changes in national military policy. It is often difficult to outline the shape of national policy, however, in a dynamic society like that of the United States. Who makes national policy? Nobody, really. The armed forces make recommenda tions, but these are rarely accepted, in total, by the political administration that makes the final pbrposals to Congress. The changes introduced at the top executive level are variously motivated. The world political climate must be considered, as must various political realities within the country. Cost is always a factor and a determination must be made as to the allocation of funds for defense as opposed to allocations to other government concerns. The personalities, prejudices and predilections of the men who occupy high political office invariably affect proposals to Congress. The disposition of these proposals, of course, is in the hands of Congress. While the executive branch of the government is pushect' and pulled in various directions, Congress is probably subject to heavier pressures. Here, again, the nature of the men who occupy responsible positions within the Congress often affect the decisions of Congress. ·National policy, then, is the product of many minds and is shaped by many diverse interests. The present work is a recapitulation and summarization of three earlier monographs on this subject covering the periods 1946-1950 (ADC Historical Study No. -
Historical Brief Installations and Usaaf Combat Units In
HISTORICAL BRIEF INSTALLATIONS AND USAAF COMBAT UNITS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1942 - 1945 REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION OFFICE OF HISTORY HEADQUARTERS THIRD AIR FORCE UNITED STATES AIR FORCES IN EUROPE OCTOBER 1980 REPRINTED: FEBRUARY 1985 FORE~ORD to the 1967 Edition Between June 1942 ~nd Oecemhcr 1945, 165 installations in the United Kingdom were used by combat units of the United States Army Air I"orce~. ;\ tota) of three numbered .,lr forl'es, ninc comllklnds, frJur ;jfr divi'iions, )} w1.l\~H, Illi j(r,IUpl', <lnd 449 squadron!'! were at onE' time or another stationed in ',r'!;rt r.rftaIn. Mnny of tlal~ airrll'lds hnvc been returned to fann land, others havl' houses st.lnding wh~rr:: t'lying Fortr~ss~s and 1.lbcratorR nllce were prepared for their mis.'ilons over the Continent, Only;l few rcm:l.1n ;IS <Jpcr.Jt 11)11., 1 ;'\frfll'ldH. This study has been initl;ltcd by the Third Air Force Historical Division to meet a continuin~ need for accurate information on the location of these bases and the units which they served. During the pas t several years, requests for such information from authors, news media (press and TV), and private individuals has increased. A second study coverin~ t~e bases and units in the United Kingdom from 1948 to the present is programmed. Sources for this compilation included the records on file in the Third Air Force historical archives: Maurer, Maurer, Combat Units of World War II, United States Government Printing Office, 1960 (which also has a brief history of each unit listed); and a British map, "Security Released Airfields 1n the United Kingdom, December 1944" showing the locations of Royal Air Force airfields as of December 1944. -
Me 262 P-51 MUSTANG Europe 1944–45
Me 262 P-51 MUSTANG Europe 1944–45 ROBERT FORSYTH Me 262 P-51 Mustang Europe 1944–45 ROBERT FORSYTH CONTENTS Introduction 4 Chronology 8 Design and Development 10 Technical Specifications 25 The Strategic Situation 35 The Combatants 42 Combat 55 Statistics and Analysis 74 Aftermath 76 Further Reading 79 Index 80 INTRODUCTION In the unseasonably stormy summer skies of July 28, 1943, the USAAF’s Eighth Air Force despatched 302 B‑17 Flying Fortresses to bomb the Fieseler aircraft works at Kassel‑Batteshausen and the AGO aircraft plant at Oschersleben, both in Germany. This was the “Mighty Eighth’s” 78th such mission to Europe since the start of its strategic bombing operations from bases in England in August of the previous year. On this occasion, for the first time, and at least for a part of their journey into the airspace of the Reich, the bombers would enjoy the security and protection of P‑47 Thunderbolt escort fighters. The latter had been fitted with bulky and unpressurized auxiliary fuel tanks that were normally used for ferry flights, but which greatly extended their usual range. Yet even with this extra fuel, the P‑47s could only stay with the bombers for part of their journey. Herein lay a dichotomy. Despite warnings to the contrary from their Royal Air Force (RAF) counterparts, senior staff officers in the USAAF believed in the viability of undertaking future unescorted daylight missions to key targets within Germany. In January 1943 Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt met in Casablanca to determine a plan for Allied victory. -
In Search of Stephen: the Wartime Death of an American Airman in World War II
A Thesis In Search Of Stephen The Wartime Death of An American Airman In World War II By Thomas G. Toth Sr. Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Masters of Liberal Studies ____________________________________ Advisor: Dr. Larry Wilcox Ph.D. ______________________________ College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo December 2006 An Abstract Of In Search Of Stephen The Wartime Death of An American Airman In World War II Thomas G. Toth Sr. Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Masters of Liberal Studies The University of Toledo December 2006 A thesis presented on the manner and cause of the wartime death of Staff Sergeant Stephen Toth and the members of his crew August 19th 1943, in the skies of occupied Holland. The aim of the thesis is to reconstruct, and investigate from secondary sources and primary records: the deaths of an American aircrew, the manner and treatment of the survivors held captive as POWs in war time Germany, and the cause and manner of the return of the dead, and the repatriation of the living. ii Acknowledgments The author wishes to express sincere appreciation to Professor Larry Wilcox for his assistance in the preparation of this manuscript. In addition, special thanks to all those who aided me in my research: Ivo de Jong, Daniel Singer (National Archives), and the veterans of the 388th Bomb Group Association. This is dedicated to: my parents William and Ruth Toth, my family, my best friend Mary and especially Stephen. Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iii Table Of Contents iv I. -
Viii Fc, 11.43
Headquarters U.S. VIII th Fighter Command Narratives of Operations November 1943 (Combats & Casualties) Intelligence Summary No. 68 U.S. VIIIth Fighter Command F.O. 168 VIIIth Bomber Command F.O. 285 66th Fighter Wing F.O. 26 3rd November 1943 Statistics - U.S. Fighter Groups. Heavy Bomber Attack on Wilhelmshaven. Field Order 168 on 3.11.43. Date Parent Fighter Group Mission Order Airborne Effective ñ Claim ò Claim Lost Major Support Type First Task Force (1st Bomb. Division): Wilhelmshaven . 03.11.43 VIII FC 55th Group 1st Mission 53 P-47 45 Sorties 3-5-5 nil - 1 Cat. B Penetration 03.11.43 VIII FC 4th Group 1st Mission 50 P-47 43 Sorties 2-0-0 nil 1 P-47 1 Cat. E Penetration 03.11.43 VIII FC 78th Group 1st Mission 76 P-47 57 Sorties 1-0-0 nil - - Penetration 03.11.43 VIII FC 355th Group 1st Mission 50 P-47 46 Sorties nil nil - - Penetration Second Task Force (2nd Bomb. Division): Wilhelmshaven. 03.11.43 VIII FC 352nd Group 1st Mission 50 P-47 48 Sorties nil nil - - Penetration 03.11.43 VIII FC 56th Group 1st Mission 54 P-47 47 Sorties 3-0-1 nil - - Withdrawal Third Task Force (3rd Bomb. Division): Wilhelmshaven. 03.11.43 VIII FC 356th Group 1st Mission 51 P-47 48 Sorties nil nil - - Penetration 03.11.43 VIII FC 353rd Group 1st Mission 51 P-47 45 Sorties 5-0-1 nil - - General U.S. VIIIth Fighter Command Results: Claims on 14-5-7 enemy aircraft in the air. -
84Th FLYING TRAINING SQUADRON
84th FLYING TRAINING SQUADRON MISSION LINEAGE 84th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) constituted, 13 Jan 1942 Activated, 9 Feb 1942 Redesignated 84th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin-Engine), 22 Apr 1942 Redesignated 84th Fighter Squadron (Twin-Engine), 15 May 1942 Redesignated 84th Fighter Squadron, 1 Mar 1943 Redesignated 84th Fighter Squadron, Single-Engine, 21 Aug 1944 Inactivated, 18 Oct 1945 Activated, 20 Aug 1946 Redesignated 84th Fighter Squadron, Jet, 24 Sep 1948 Redesignated 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 20 Jan 1950 Redesignated 84th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron, 1 Jul 1981 Inactivated, 27 Feb 1987 Redesignated 84th Flying Training Squadron, 9 Feb 1990 Activated, 2 Apr 1990 Inactivated, 1 Oct 1992 Activated, 1 Oct 1998 STATIONS Baer Field, IN, 9 Feb 1942 Muroc, CA, 30 Apr 1942 Oakland, CA, 11 May 1942 Hamilton Field, CA, 4-10 Nov 1942 Goxhill, England, 1 Dec 1942 Duxford, England, 1 Apr 1943-11 Oct 1945 Camp Kilmer, NJ, 16-18 Oct 1945 Straubing, Germany, 20 Aug 1946-25 Jun 1947 Mitchel Field, NY, 25 Jun 1947 Hamilton AFB, CA, 24 Nov 1948 Castle AFB, CA, 1 Sep 1973-27 Feb 1987 Laughlin AFB, TX, 2 Apr 1990-1 Oct 1992 Laughlin AFB, TX, 1 Oct 1998 ASSIGNMENTS 78th Pursuit (later, 78th Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-18 Oct 1945 78th Fighter (later, 78th Fighter Interceptor) Group, 20 Aug 1946 4702nd Defense Wing, 6 Feb 1952 28th Air Division, 7 Nov 1952 566th Air Defense Group, 16 Feb 1953 78th Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955 78th Fighter Wing, 1 Feb 1961 1st Fighter Wing, 31 Dec 1969 26th Air Division, 1 Oct 1970-27 Feb 1987 47th Flying Training Wing, 2 Apr 1990 47th Operations Group, 15 Dec 1991-1 Oct 1992 47th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1998 WEAPON SYSTEMS P-38, 1942-1943 P-47, 1943-1944 P-51, 1944-1945 F-51, 1949-1951 F-84, 1949-1951 F-89, 1951-1952 F-86, 1952-1958 F-89, 1958-1959 F-101, 1959-1968 F-106, 1968-1981 F-106A F-106B T-33, 1981-1987 T-37, 1990-1992 P-47C P-47D P-51B P-51D P-51K F-84D F-89B F-94B P-38E P-38F F-101B F-101F COMMANDERS Maj Eugene P.