Down De Hatch Combat Record

24th Wimsatt St. Lo, - Assist our troops. Leonard Orleons/Brice & Belfort. 25th Wimsatt St. Lo, France - to Free our Leonard Tutow Airfield troops. Leonard Siracourt, France. 31st Wimsatt Ludwigshaven, . Leonard Brunswich Marshaling yards Hruby Siracourt, France. August Leonard Avord Airfield. 01st Wimsatt Target of Opportunity - Hruby Melun Airfield Corbie, France. Leonard Belfort Marshaling Yards. 03rd Wimsatt Mery Sur Oise, France. Hruby Saarbrucken M/Y 04th Wimsatt First mission of day - Kiel Hruby Zeitz Oil port facilities. Hruby Brussels, - no 05th Wimsatt Brunswick Aircraft factory bombs dropped. "AC" damages reed. 09th Wimsatt Saarbrucken, Germany. 12th Waters Juvincourt Airdrome. Leonard 1st mission on D-Day, France. 14th Waters Lyon/Brom Airdrome. Leonard Lisiex, France - support 18th Wimsatt Nancy/Essey Air Field. troops. 24th Mack Langenhagen/Hannover. 08th Leonard Angers M/Y, but recalled. No 26th ?? credit. 10th Leonard Orleans/Bricy Airfield. September 12th Leonard Illier LEveque Airfield. 01st Wimsatt Formation recalled. 14th Howe Chateaudun Airfield. 08th Wimsatt Karlsruhe M/Y 15th Howe Bridge near Tours, France. 09th Wimsatt Mainz/Worms 18th Leonard Target of Opportunity 11th Wynes Misburg, Germany 19th Leonard Brunswich, Germany. 12th Mack Target of Opportunity - 20th Leonard Politz, Germany - deep Lehrte. penetration, target oil. 18th Atkins Best, Holland - drop 21st Leonard Genshagen, outskirts of supplies to our troops. Berlin. 21st Beiber Koblenz, but scrubbed. 22nd Hruby Nucourt, France - 1st mission 22nd Beiber Kassel M/Y of the day. 25th Wimsatt Koblenz, Germany (M/Y). 23rd Westcott Laon Airfield. "AC" damages 26th Wimsatt Hamm M/Y, Germany. (heavy). 28th Mack Kassel Motor Works. 30th Wimsatt Aborted

Menzel Beaumont Le Roger October Airfield. 09th Wimsatt Koblenz M/Y (secondary ?? Kiel, Germany. target). ?? Munich, Germany - Airfield. 15th Habedank Kaiserslautern M/Y Menzel Munich, Germany - Same 17th Waters Nord M/Y Target. 18th Wimsatt Aborted. Dines Saarbrucken. 30th Lowe Harburg, Germany Target of Menzel Saarbrucken Opportunity Menzel Troarn - Assist allied troops. Menzel Koblenz, Germany Wimsatt Near Munich, Germany November March 05th Ciesielski Railways at Landau - 506th 03rd Chandler Plane did not take off... Squadron only. 10th Friedel Railway viaduct near 21st Hayden Harburg, Germany Oil. Bielefeld. 26th Wimsatt Railroad viaduct. 11th Wallace Kiel submarine pens & docks. 14th Whittle Gutersloh M/Y December 15th Friedel Military Headquarters at 11th Jarvis Karlsruhe Railway bridge. Zossen. 18th Confer Kyllburg - recalled - no 18th Friedel Berlin credit. 19th Cunningham Neuburg Jet aircraft 24th Smith Battle of Bulge targets - four factory. were hit. 21st Jacobson Aehmer Airfield (1st 27th Jarvis Homburg M/Y mission of day). 28th Rockman Kaiserlautern Railways. 22nd O'Brien Schwabisch/Hall Airfield (67th Squadron Pilot).

1945 April January 04 02nd Edkins Koblenz/Lutzel railway 05 bridge. 06 14th Scherzberg Hemmingstedt - Oil. 07 ???? All formation sketches 17th Ackerman Harburg - Oil. missing! 31st Jarvis Hallendorf Steel Works. 10th Bakanic Parohim A/F 11th Wallace Neumarket M/Y

February 03rd McKenna Magdeburg M/Y (Secondary) oil was primary. 06th Ackerman Magdeburg M/Y (Secondary) oil was primary. 09th Smith Magdeburg M/Y (Secondary) oil was primary. 21st Lindsay Numburg M/Y 22nd Crooks Gottinen M/Y 23rd Bielinski Weimar railway (44th's 300th mission!) 27th Chandler Balle M/Y was primary, but Bitterfield bombed.

3 /r HEADQUARTERS RAF MILDENHALL NAMED IN HONOR OF GENERAL LEON W. JOHNSON FIRST 3RD AF COMMANDER By Roy Owen

On 18 September 1996, Major General (Ret) Hoyt Vandenberg, Jr. and Mrs. Sue (Johnson) Vandenberg were honored guests of the U.S. Third Air Force Major General Tad Oelstrom and Sue Vandenberg beside the Historical Trail Commander, Major General Tad J. Oelstrom, at the Marker in front of Hq 3rd Air Force. dedication of his headquarters building 239, RAF Mildenhall as General Leon W. Johnson Hall, honoring her father, our combat leader, recipient of the Medal of Honor and the first Third Air Force Commander. Also attending by invitation was our Assistant Group Historian and English Representative Stephen P. Adams. Steve had furnished the Headquarters Public Relations and Historian staff with an array of photographs of General Johnson from the 44th FJG/14th CBW era. In his conversations with Sue Vandenberg relative to the Generals portrait, Tom Parsons learned of the forthcoming dedication and the invitation of the Vandenbergs to attend, and the fact that Sue Vandenberg had never visited Shipdham Airfield. He passed this on to me whereupon I immediately called Steve Adams to, once again, perform the duties of our Dr. Sligh, our friend Paul Wilson, Steve Adams and Sue Vandenberg during "get official representative and see that the Vandenbergs acquainted" time at the Arrow Air Pub. made it to Shipdham, and they were accorded every courtesy in touring as much of the Airfield as they pleased. Steve arranged to meet them at Arrow Air where they were hosted by Nigel and Jean Wright. After what Steve described as a great "get acquainted" visit, he gave the Vandenbergs his "Royal" tour. When the time came for farewells, he tells of the glisten of tears on both his and the cheeks of Sue Vandenberg. Once again, we owe our thanks to Steve Adams for his dedication to the 44th by representing and providing a 44th BGVA presence to such an historic occasion as the dedication, and a touching welcome for the Vandenbergs at our combat home base. The accompanying photos tell the story of both of these great events. ^ J Major General (Ret) and Mrs. Hoyt Vandenberg, Jr., along with Dr. Robert Sligh, 3rd AF Historian around the Medal of Honor display that will resident in General Leon W. Johnson Hall. 4 m A PmzEd PORTRAJT oF GENERAL JOIINSON IIAS REACNEC] IT'S NEW HOME iN ThE MiqhTy Eiqlrrh AiR FORCE MUSEUM IN SAVANNAN By Roy OWEN I & This past summer, the family home of General Leon W. Johnson in McLean, Vfi was closed and sold, fimong the furnishings hung over the living room fireplace mantle was a magnificent oil painted portrait of the General by the artist Joe King.

General Johnson had conveyed to his daughter, and 44th BGVR member, that it was his wish to pass the painting to the Mighty Eighth Museum in the name of the 44th Bomb Group Veterans Association. We learned this by way of Col. Ed W. "Mike" Mikoloski after his being notified by Mrs. Vandenberg, an artist in her own right, that, after some cleaning and small restoration work, she would see that the painting was delivered to Savannah, fit that time I contacted Tom Parsons in Atlanta and asked that he, along with John McClane, act as our 44th BGVfi representatives assisting in the delivery and portrait unveiling ceremony at The Mighty Eighth Museum. The following photos showing Lt. Gen. "Buck" Shuler and Tom Parsons doing the unveiling with John McClane attending, along with a copy of the letter Tom sent to General Johnson telling what a wonderful job they did acting for the entire membership in this momentous event.

Lt. Gen. Shuler on the left and Tom Parsons unveil The Johnson portrait unveiled where it will hang the Johnson portrait as John McClane Observes. in the Hall of Fame. TOM PARSONS,,Presldenl & CK'I«MV« Georgia Chapter The Historical Society 2091 Black Fox Dr., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30345-4122 Tel.: (404) 634-5012 OA. lV* VT^KO

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-«£•». CZ ^$-A< The Close Call By: Forrest S. Clark

We were having a sort of reunion in the down somewhere very close to the officers officers club at Shipdham base. I had just club. I remember we ran outside and flung returned to the base from France and had ourselves flat on the damp English turf. We completed my missions and was awaiting lay there waiting. transfer back to the States. There was a tremendous explosion, or so I had been shot down and had escaped it sounded to us, and a flash of light. The from Switzerland into France in the closing Buzz bomb had landed in a farm field adjacent days of December, 1944. I got back to thet o the club, digging a considerable crater. In a base in the early days of January, 1945. second it was over. My companion was a Lt. Bill Partridge at We looked at each other and I remember the 44th, who was a friend from my high one of us said, "I guess we will make it after school days back in the . He had all." been assigned to the 44th and it was the first Another 100 feet and that Jerry bomb time we had seen each other since school would have landed directly on us and the club. days. I don't recall the date of this episode, but it We had some close calls in the skies over must have been in early January, 1945, Germany on missions and we were both perhaps during the period when Hitler was looking forward to completing our tours and sending the buzz bombs over England. making it back home. 1 believe Bill and I hadRecord s will show some fell near enough to been to Alconbury for a few days on leave. the vicinity of to scare many, including It was a happy reunion and he had invited some of us at the 44th. me to the officer s club for a celebration over We did make it despite a Jerry bomb that a few drinks and talk of home. tried very hard to spoil our reunion. I recall saying to him that we would both make it and we should plan to meet at a (This is a true story to the best of my favorite place in the United States. He pledged memory after 45 years. It's an untold story he would and said the only thing that could of the 44th Bomb Group. I am sure you stop him now was a stray piece of German remember Bill Partridge. He may not flak or a fighter. remember this or not this way as we all It was rather late at night by the time we have different memories of the same time. met after the long English twilight. There was Like the dense English fog that often the usual exchange of drinks and jokes. shrouded the then country of East Anglia, I remember somewhere during the evening our memories become vague with time.) that both of us decided to drink a toast to our homecoming. No sooner had we raised our RS. A number of bombs landed near the base, glasses than out of the darkness came the a few doing some damage. A few enemy sound of the steady putt-putt of a German planes came over and did considerable buzz bomb. bombing of the nearby city of Norwich. I saw I can still hear that sound, as all who heardsom e of those bombing raids. the buzz bombs will never forget. It sounded closer and closer with a frightful putt-putt, then it cut off and we knew it was coming

7 m England/Europe Trip Still Has Openings

Fill out and make a copy of this form. Send it with a check payable to 44th BGVA in the amount of $300 per person traveling and send it to our Treasurer as soon as possible.

Gerald W. Folsom, Treasurer 44th BGVA P.O. BOX 2367 Salt Lake City, UT 841 10-2367 (Position on list will be determined by postmark.)

information on cancellation policy and available trip insurance will be sent by mail after receipt of reservation. r 44th Bomb Group Veterans Association Return to England/France '97 Reservation

• Yes, I want to join the group for the May 26, 1997 England Tour ONLY.

• Yes, I want to join the group for the May 26, 1997 England Tour and continue on the entire trip.

I will be traveling • alone • with my. and (Names)

I am enclosing x $300 per person = $. total

Number of golfers: Pay your own Green Fees:

I Pat London I I at Norwich I I at Eastbourne I I at Paris

Signature and name printed: Signature-

Name Printed

Address City Zip

Phone: ( )

My Airline Gateway City will be: •San Francisco (Delta) OBoston (Virgin) •Miami (Virgin) •Seattle (British) ONew York (British) CJDallas (British) •Los Angeles (Delta) ncincinnati You will receive airline reservation information by mail. v There is still room for 42 people to go on the May 26 trip to England and the Europe extension to France and Belgium. We are going to have a great time. I just got the complete list of hotels and they are superior! For instance, in London it is the Kensington Hilton; in Norwich, the new Norwich Hotel and in Eastbourne, it is the Lansdowne, the finest in town. Lolly and I stayed at the Kensington Hilton this past June. It was great! THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER ^^^ The first thing I want to talk about is the GREATMajor Ogletree informed me that the 44th issue time we had in St. Louis. We just plain had wasa on the agenda for discussion with the new great time. The same spirit of friendliness, commandergood to ascertain his level of interest, if humor and esprit de corps as we experienced inany, on the reactivation. He promised to keep San Antonio was most evident. On the businessme informed, which, as always, I will do with end, we had a very productive Board meeting inyou. which the Board approved my 1996-1997 budget, after thorough review of our finances.I will close with saying we will soon be concluding Also approved were memorial markers and our second full calendar year of operation. We plaques to be placed at MacDill AFB and are in sound financial condition, our membership Barksdale AFB to commemorate the 44th Bomb growth is exceeding our attrition by about 150%, Group service at those two bases (see storyand aside from one minor complaint that the Air elsewhere in this issue). The Board also actedNational to Guard Band didn't play the Missouri vacate the seat of the 506th Bomb Squadron Waltz or any ballroom dance music at the representative to the Board due to non- Reunion (which is easy to correct), we had another participation by the member. By authority ofgreat one. In fact, for a first, we had one of our Article VI, Section 3 of our Constitution, I livinghave former Commanders, Brig General (Ret) appointed Richard R. Pedersen, 506th Squadron,Jack Gibson and former Commanders of all four to serve as the 506th representative for theBomb Squadrons, who incidentally were all remainder of the current term ending at the timeserving in their jobs at the same time at Shipdham: of the General Membership meeting at the 199766th Charlie Hughes, 67th Bill Cameron, 68th Reunion in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bob Lehnhausen, 506th Jim McAtee, present. And for those of you who couldn't make it, you A couple of issues ago, I discussed the missed a dance show by a St. Louis tap dance correspondence we had received from an officialgroup named "The Strutters" who brought down at Vandenberg AFB notifying us that there werethe house at our Sunday night Buffet. You had plans afoot to reactivate the 44th as a Missilebetter come to Salt Lake City October 2-6, 1997 Training at Vandenberg. We heard littleso you don't miss any of the keen things we put more except a phone call to the official who onhad at these reunions. little to add, except that the reactivation Lolly"had and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas been put on the back burner." On a short visitand a Happy and Prosperous New Year. last Friday with friends in Lompoc, California Roy Owen, President (the small coastal town where Vandenberg is located), I called the base and tracked down the official (Major Ogletree) who had signed the previous correspondence. He informed me that the outgoing Commander of 2nd Air Force had been the person backing this reactivation. He was recommending this in the face of Air Force policy that a deactivated combat wing being reactivated must be brought to active duty as a combat wing. Because of the far more illustrious combat and history of the 44th over the incumbent group, the then Air Force Chief of Staff, General McPeak was favoring a waiver of that policy. Both he and the former 2nd Air Force Commander have retired and the issue is in limbo. Ironically, when I called, the new 2nd Air Force Commander was on Vandenberg for his first command visit. Norway Remembers by Dorothy Gilbert Tinsley and Edward M. Dobson, ]r.

Joe Gilbert was one of many young LaFayette, was suffering terrible losses. Of about 300 men originally Alabama men who answered the call to fight in World assigned in 1942 as combat crew with the 44th, only War II. Like too many others, ]oe never came home. about 10% finished the 25 sorties or missions required Trained as an aerial gunner, Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt.) Joe at that time. Gilbert served and gave his life in the 44th Bomb Group. While Lt. Smith's crew was behind schedule, the Joe, bom in LaFayette on September 30, 1917, 44th began low-level flight training and received orders graduated from LaFayette High School in 1936. Joe to move to Africa. Co-pilot Lt. Joe Milliner of Louisville, and Dorothy "Dot" Callahan were married July 6, Kentucky, remembers there was no B-24 available for 1938. Lt. Smith's crew. The 44th left for Africa without them. Joe owned and operated Sunshine Cleaners, which Finally they flew as passengers to Africa in a C-54 still operates in LaFayette. Later he went to Childersburg transport. and opened another Sunshine Cleaners, also still By mid-July, 1943, when Lt. Smith's crew arrived operating. Childersburg, chosen site for a powder plant, at the 44th's base near Benghazi, Libya, all airworthy became a "boom" town when people came from all B-24s already had been assigned. For the next two weeks over to work in plant constructions and operation. the 44th stayed busy preparing for the low-level mission. From Childersburg, Joe went into service in On July 31st, General Lewis Brereton announced September, 1942. On December 16, 1942, daughter that the next day, Sunday, August 1 st, the 44th would Dorothy Dean was bom to Dot and Joe. fly with four other groups to bomb the oil refinery Joe was overseas six months when on November complex at Ploesti, , from an altitude of 50 30, 1943, Dot received a telegram from the War feet above the stacks. The 44th was ordered to put 37 Department informing her that Joe was missing in action aircraft over the target. Col. Leon Johnson, commander November 18th over Norway. Joe was MIA until after of the 44th, ordered that each crew leave one gunner the war. In August, 1945 he was presumed dead. Next- behind to reduce weight, and a belly gunner was little to-kin of the crew stayed in contact for a while, but not help against enemy fighters on a low-level mission. until the 1990's was information received as to what When dysentery and other maladies grounded many probably happened to the crew. men on August 1 st, some of Lt. Smith's crew flew with On November 18, 1993, the 50th Anniversary of other crews, but not S/Sgt. Gilbert and not Lt. Smith. the Norway Mission, several men who flew it gathered Despite heavy losses suffered by the 44th at Ploesti, all in Norway as guests of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. from Lt. Smith's crew returned safely. However, Lt. Over 400 Norwegians filled a church at Lillestrom for Smith's crew was destined never to fly a mission together, a commemorative service. In May, 1995, the 50th and S/Sgt. Gilbert never flew a mission with either of Anniversary of War's end in Europe, Norwegians and his original pilots. American dedicated a stone monument with bronze After Ploesti, Lt. Smith's crew continued to fill plaque to S/Sgt. Gilbert and 62 other American airmen positions on other crews. S/Sgt. Gilbert was awarded lost on a mission beginning the liberation of Norway. an Air Medal for his first five sorties. On August 16, S/Sgt. Gilbert, a gunner on the 10-man crew of Lt. 1943, Lt. Smith and Lt. Milliner were reunited and Leighton Smith of San Antonio, Texas, was nicknamed flew BUZZIN' BEAR on a mission to Foggia, . The "Alabam." During training at Clovis, New Mexico, this two pilots survived being shot down and were held crew expected assignment to the Pacific or to the China- prisoner in Germany for the duration. Burma-India theater of the war. Then Lt. Smith's and After more missions from North Africa, the 44th 24 other crews received orders to train in B-17s and returned permanently to its English base at Shipdham. ferry them to England. Anxious to finish the required 25 missions, S/Sgt. Gilbert Headed overseas, mechanical problems caused Lt. volunteered to join a new crew under a former co­ Smith's crew a delay in Gander, Newfoundland. Arriving pilot, Lt. Ed Dobson, recently promoted to aircraft at Prestwick, Scotland, June, 1943, their B-17 was commander. Lt. Dobson's first crew had been at Clovis assigned to one bomb group and they were reassigned with S/Sgt. Gilbert's crew. On two missions which S/ to B-24s in a different group. Sgt. Gilbert had to sit out, August 16th (Foggia) and Lt. Smith's crew was assigned to the 67th Squadron, October 1st (Wiener-Neustadt), co-pilot Lt. Dobson's 44th Bomb Group, as a replacement crew. The 44th 10 ship was the only 67th Squadron aircraft that got to m the target and returned to base. By mid-October, 1943, On November 18, when the map revealed Norway the 67th Squadron was considered mathematically wiped again, men were concerned more about the long flight out twice. over cold water than about enemy opposition. Now The men knew their jobs, and they knew the odds. the target was a German fighter repair base outside Top brass adopted the 25-sortie requirement based on Osio. Stalin was demanding that the Allies open a an expected 4% loss rate per mission. There was talk of western front to divert Hitler's attention from Russia. lowering the requirement to 15 sorties, but that never D-Day was still half a year away. Germany's fighter happened. Men figured their life expectancy at eight repair base outside Osio serviced their fighters from the missions. After eight, they figured they were living on Russian front. Our bombers would help answer Stalin's borrowed time. demands. On November 13th, S/Sgt. Gilbert sat in the tall One Hundred and seven B-24s of the same four turret and plugged in his electric flight suit for protection bomb groups took off in the dark of that icy fog-bound against the howling 30 below zero wind that rushed morning. Ominously, the 44th was unable to accomplish through openings in the B-24. He worked his gloved its formation assembly. Tail-end bombers hustled to catch hands to keep them warm. up, assembling with whomever they met on the way. The target was Bremen, Germany. The Germans So, when German fighters came, it was difficult for put up 50 fighters and intense opposition. Our P-38 American airmen to identify our own damaged aircraft. fighters gave excellent support, but a few bombers were German fighters based in Denmark intercepted the damaged. The formation approached the bomb run at stragglers going in, and more bombers returning, but 24,000 feet. especially the "tail-end Charlies." S/SgL Gilbert occupied On the intercom, S/Sgt. Gilbert heard radioman the left waist gun position for Lt. Dobson, assigned to Tech/Sgt. Bob Knoll complain about his oxygen mask. lead a "tail-end Charlie" element that day. Lt. Dobson sent the co-pilot, Lt. C. E. Arnold, to help. Of the 107 crews from the four groups, three landed Lt. Arnold looked for a "walk-around" oxygen bottle in neutral Sweden without loss of life, including the on the light deck. There was none. Lt. Arnold command ship of the 44th. Six crews were lost. Of disconnected his oxygen at the co-pilot's position and those, four were 44th crews. Three were 67th Squadron went to help T/Sgt. Knoll. Lt. Arnold reported that T/ crews, and the fourth pilot, Capt. Ed Mitchell, was an Sgt. Knoll had passed out. Lt. Arnold worked to restore original 67th Squadron pilot just transferred to the 68th. oxygen at the radio position, nearly passing out himself. The 67th's bad luck had struck again. The bombardier, Lt. Sid Burroughs, reported that A report shows that Lt. Dobson made the bomb the bomb racks had frozen and would not release. S/ run and dropped on target, but no one knows what Sgt. Gilbert reported that the tail turret drive motor happened after that. Two returning B-24s identified had burned out. Having lost the assistance of his co­ going down in the North Sea were piloted by Capt. pilot, Lt. Dobson dropped out of the flight formation. Mitchell and Lt. Joe Houle. That left two 67th planes Two P-38s formed up as escort, and Lt. Dobson's crew unaccounted for and declared missing in action. One returned to Shipdham. was piloted by Lt. Earl Johnson and the other by Lt. Until November 16, when the mission officer Dobson. A 67th crew was reported shot down in the revealed the map to a target in Norway, no B-24 crews Skagerrak, the sea south of Osio, before the bomb run, in England expected to go there. The mission required which had to be Lt. Johnson's. Not until after the war flying most of the 1,400 miles over the frigid North were both crews reclassified presumed dead. Sea. A parachute was short-term help and rescue The mission was termed a success, as over 80% of virtually impossible. But the Germans had a heavy water all bombs fell within 2,000 feet of the briefed aiming plant in Norway, a key to their effort to develop the point. Working with the Norwegian government-in-exile, atomic bomb. the Air Force picked a day when the Norwegian work Four bomb groups, the 44th, 93rd, 389th and force was on holiday. Only three Norwegians died in 392nd, were assigned to the heavy water target. The the raid. Two half-sisters attending the 50th Anniversary weather did not cooperate. Most crews, including Lt. in 1993 had lost their father, and one lost her mother. Dobson's, were recalled. Bombers arriving in Norway The two sisters were teens that day, school girls huddled could not find the heavy water plant, but a vital chemical in a bomb shelter. plant was destroyed. There was little flak, no enemy Later, both women explained that they never blamed aircraft, and no American losses. Later, the heavy water the Americans for their personal losses. Always they plant and its product were disabled and destroyed by thought the Nazis were ultimately responsiblefo r those Norwegians on the ground, led by the late Knut events. Haukelid and remembered as the Heroes of Telemark. ® During the mission's commemoration on November 18, 1993, one of the sisters, Lil Nyheim, invited the The Crash of RAF Mosquito Americans to her house the next day for waffles, a traditional Norwegian hospitality meal. On the wall of TA446 her living room was a large beautiful painting with a Our Assistant Group Historian, Steve Adams is looking hole in it. She said the hole was made by a bomb for information on the RAF Mosquito, pictured in the photo fragment, probably the bomb that killed her parents. below, which crashed landed on Shipdham Airfield 17 Apparently her parents ran from their house near the January 1 945. The aircraft, numbered NF. XIX TA446 was airfield expecting to be safer in the woods. They suffered from RAF No. 157 Squadron. The aircraft was on an a direct hit and died instantly. engine test flight from nearby RAF Swannington when its As the small party of Americans gathered in their left engine caught fire and began to burn into the wing. large van after expressing thanks and love to Lil Nyheim, The pilot made for the nearest airfield, which happened to she waved her good-bye with a four-foot Norwegian be Shipdham. flag. Lil and other Norwegians are serious about The aircraft had been on an anti-Diver (VI) mission remembering American airmen who helped liberate on the night of 16-17 January, when the pilot F/L A. Norway over 50 years ago, especially those who gave MacKinnon and F/O Waddell shot down a JU-188. their lives. During this combat the Mosquito sustained some form of The permanent stone and bronze memorial was damage from the wreckage of the JU-188. The action dedicated May 8, 1995, at the airfield that was their took place over the small German town of Fritzler. TA446 target on 11/18/43. It is a monument to Norwegian- made it back to Swannington, which is about 8 miles east American friendship, as well as to 63 American fliers of Norwich. and three Norwegians lost that day. In towns like TA446 was repaired and was on a test flight in preparation for another mission that night. The photograph LaFayette, stones and other monuments remind us of shows TA446 with a 44th man alongside the nose. A the courage and commitment of men like S/Sgt. Joe second photo Steve has, which was taken on the day of Gilbert. the crash, shows a heavy coating of snow on the plane. Dorothy "Dot" Gilbert Tinsley now lives with her The plane came to rest in the 66th Squadron area of the daughter, Dean, and son-in-law in Homewood, airfield. Alabama. Steve is looking for information and pictures from Edward M. Dobson, Jr., attended the ceremonies in anyone who observed the crashed airplane and its removal Norway on the 50th Anniversary of his father's last from Shipdham. mission. He organized a reunion in Texas in February, Send anything you have to: 1994 for veterans of the 67th Squadron, attended by Will Lundy, Historian members of other squadrons as well. He is active in the 3295 North H Street 44th Bomb Group Veterans Association and lives in San Bernardino, CA 92405-2809 Montana. RAF Mosquito TA446 after crash landing on Shipdham A/F 17 January 1945. Unidentified 44th man (probably 66th Sq.) leaning on nose.

~^\

12 ® ^Beating the Bushes By Art Hand & Will Lundy Thanks to the persistence of Art Hand, some of the names listed below are those that have been lost, but again "found" by Art and his great equipment.

PERCY J. GAUDIN: P.O. Box 125, Kiln, MS KENNETH E. BECKWITH: 620 21st Street, 39556. Percy was a gunner on Lt. James Woodward, OK 73801. 506th Squadron. T/Sgt. McKenna's crew. 506th Squadron. Beckwith was the radio operator for Lt. John Milliken. Crew was shot down on 13 August 1944. ROBERT R. SNYDER: 11414 228th Street NE, Nine men POW, but Milliken managed to escape, Arlington, WA 98223. Phone (360) 435-5343. evaded and returned to base. Robert was a co-pilot for Worden Weaver, crash landed about 40 miles back from Ploesti. Was a FREDA. NANSON: 1310 North Parkinson POW. 67th Squadron. Wagoner, OK 74457.68th Squadron. Fred was with the ground echelon, made the cruise over on the W. V. TOLBERT: Box 164, King Salmon, AK Queen Mary in September, 1942 and returned again 99613. Lt. Tolbert was a bombardier for Lt. Ed on the Queen Mary June, 1945. Taylor; became Group bombardier in June, 1944. He flew the second mission to Weiner-Neustadt on DR. ALLENN. WILLIAMS: 1237 Hollywood 1 October 1943. Drive, Jackson, TN 38301. Phone (901) 424- 7449. Lt. Williams was navigator in the 506th JAMES W. VANKOTEN: 1029Mauldin Street, Squadron, flying different crews - David Saylor's Helena, MT 59601. 1 st Lt. Van Koten was acting and McCaslin's, to name but two of them. Time mess officer for the 67th Squadron. April, 1944. period was early 1944 and later.

STANLEY WIRTH: 1304 Carriage Drive, HARRY J. BESARICK: 54 Nobby Lane, West Valparaiso, IN 46383. 67th Squadron. Phone (219) Yarmouth, MA 02673.67th Squadron. Phone (508) 531-1286. Stanley was a gunner on R.W. Bethel's 755-6601. Harry was a Sgt. ground crewman, went crew. over on the Queen Mary in September, 1942. He was assistant crew chief for Marion Bagley; WARRENH. BARRY: 1938 Peabody, Memphis, eventually became a crew chief. TN 38104. Phone (901) 272-1004. Warren was a 1st pilot in the 68th Squadron, was shot down on 8 EARNEST C. ROBINSON: 4745 16th Street D, April 1944 along with 10 other 44th crew - worst Hickory, NC 28601. 68th Squadron. S/Sgt. day for the 44th BG. Warren and 8 other crewmen Robinson was a gunner for Lt. R.G. Eriksen's crew; became POWs. flew first mission on 5 November 1944. Crew assigned 25 October 1944. EDWIN J. SURAVAGE: 6144 17th Street, Zephyrhillis, FL 33540. 67th Squadron. T/Sgt. Suravage was one of the EM who went over to England on 5 September 1942 aboard the Queen Mary.

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Many times in the past I have requested that you Additional Orders and data were donated to us by Howard E. Walker covering events at both MacDill and send me stories, diaries, orders, etc; but I failed to relate the experiences when you've been so at Barksdale field, . Again, these are firsts for our archives. Great! cooperative and sent material to me. So this time, I'd Earlier this year Tom Shepherd advised me that one like to tell you a bit about who sent me items and of his good Tennessee buddies had a shoe box of events that followed. photos that he thought belonged with the 44th's About two months ago, Bud Chamberlain from the archives. So he and this buddy, William C. Stewart of sent me a box of memorabilia from Alamo, Tennessee, got together, reviewed this box of the estate of Capt. John King following his death. prints, had a few copied and then sent the entire lot to Among these items were books, photos, navigating me. What a gold mine! Bill Stewart went on to explain equipment, a stop watch and Orders. Bud had taken his how he happened to be in possession of it all. After opportunity to obtain copies of the Orders and mailed returning home after V-E Day in England, and then them to the American Library of Norwich. I filed them returning to Sioux Falls, and re-deployment, Bill went to after reading and browsing through them. One item Great Bend, where the 44th was to continue the was a lengthy listing of awards from the 2nd Division war against Japan. However, plans were changed and office and within which several 44thers were officially Bill appeared to be the last of the 44thers at hand awarded various medals for their actions - quite there. He was called in to take charge of this box of interesting to me. photos. Not knowing what else to do with them, he Later, at the St. Louis Reunion in October, I noticed took them home and has cared for them ever since. the name Ivan Stepnich on one of our members, a Amazing! gentleman whom I had met before. The name rang a Back to Art Hand...this invaluable man can never bell, so I mentioned to Ivan that I had recently seen his get the credit for all of the work he does to locate our name on a medal awards listing, but he seemed long "lost" members. As usual, he has a fine listing of mystified. I told him that I was sure of it and would recent successes (see Beating the Bushes). On this list check it when I returned home. At home I found the is Harry Besarick, a 67th Squadron crew chief whom I Orders, copied the section and mailed it to Ivan. searched for, long and hard, many years ago after I had A few days later an answer arrived in the mail learned about the 2nd Air Division Association and telling me that Ivan had lost his copy of his award over wanted to tell all of my 67th buddies about it to get 30 years ago, and due to the fire at the St. Louis them to join. I failed badly with Harry. records center, could never get it replaced, nor his So I telephoned Art to learn how he had other military records. succeeded; what led him to make the search in the Ivan wrote, "My navigator, George Henriet, was first place. Art's son, also a younger computer whiz, also very happy and surprised when I phoned him the located a message, e-mail I believe he called it, put on information contained in your contribution. George has the Internet by another younger man, Harry Besarick's his ORIGINAL flight log of the Furth mission, as our son. He was searching the 'Net' for data about the 67th emergency landing was in Southern England, and he Squadron! Science and technology is wonderful and had not been subjected to any debriefing. Your was used by our sons to reunite their fathers! supplementary information which shows the exact Now, how about more of us getting our off-spring plane formation and pertinent mission data makes a to join us in the 44th BGVA to help us carry on? complete addition to his flight log. I am mailing him copies of it." The point is, quite often just one bit of information Will Lundy HI enclosed in old Orders can unlock very valuable information for others, as well as a bonus for our 44th BG record archives. Cleo Aldridge, bless her, handed me many fine photos of Bill's crew mates now that he has folded his wings. Art Hand obtained and gave me a very large photo of the 67th Squadron personnel at MacDill Field, 16 August 1941. This is the first squadron photo that I've seen taken at the base of our 44th BG's activation. m PLOESTI ON THE DECK By: T/Sgt. Delores R. Brumagin, Radioman, Lt. Ed Mitchell's Crew There was training in the Desert, The minutes grew to hours We saw many things distinctly, there were Twenty-Fours Galore; and we crossed the mountains high as swiftly on we flew. and Flying o'er the sand dunes, where the Yugoslav Guerillas We saw the German gunners. had sometimes proved a bore. were watching us go by. We could see them dying too.

Now we had a practice target, Then we streaked across the valley The battle was nightmare, built to scale and bombed for fun; rousing peaceful peasants there; unreal in every thought but we knew the day was coming, and the roaring of the engines but we needn't be reminded, When we'd use it on the "Hun." seemed like thunder cracked the air. how fiercely it was fought.

We'd been assigned a target, There was Rumania's golden wheat Of the tempest o'er the target, Ploesti was the name, fields, no man can tell. General Brereton was commanding but their beauty soon was lost, There was shooting, burning, dying the raid that came to fame. with oil wells in the distance It was sure a living Hell. and the "Blue Danube" as we crossed. He called his group commanders. Though the action lasted seconds, All the leaders for the "Day." The Creek will be remembered. 'twas a lifetime to us all. And with words that has since made The loveliest in the land. As we watched the big guns blasting, history. But we used it for a landmark and our planes and comrades fall. So proudly did he say. to know the target was at hand. As the target flew behind us "It's the most important mission, Then every heart was heavy. and through the thickest of the fight any force has been assigned; Every eye was open wide every plane of ours was damaged and with quick, complete destruction, as we asked the Lord, our Maker and their holes a ghastly sight. a victory we will find." to be our strength and guide. There were many started homeward, "They need that oil so badly, Our minds eyes saw a picture but failing to return. the problem here is clear; of loved ones we hold dear. They had crashed up in the mountains we'll bomb it from existence, God placed it there to aid us and were left up there to burn. though the price we pay is dear." through all our strife and fear. Some fell out with engine trouble "This task will be accomplished, In the distance the target, to the "cause" their lives they gave; with an 'on the deck' attack, and to us a gruesome sight. when their fuel had been exhausted with every Lib around Benghasi We lost our thoughts of reverence, and crashed beneath the waves. that'll fly to there and back." in preparing for the fight. There were several airmen wounded, The night before the mission We could see the flaming debris. but their will surpassed the cost. the Chaplains blessings gave Some Group had marked it so. But they knew they had the vengeance and the message made things brighter By mistake they'd left their bombs for the blood that they had lost. for the soul that God can save. there. Why? No man will ever know. Now in tribute to those heroes It was early in the morning. who died but not in vain, August first was then the date. The time bombs were exploding there deeds will be remembered, Every man and plane was ready and oil firesragin g high. nor forgotten be their names. just to shake the hand of fate. We could see "their" guns a blazin'. It was us to do or die. They had answered duty bravely. The sun was shining brightly Yes, every loving mother's son. as we flew across the Med; Our leader knew his duty, We thank God for all our airmen with the words of General Brereton disregarding fear and life, and the victory that they won. still droning through each head. with no sign of hesitation, led his "boys" through fire and strife. is m FOLDED WINGS 1 JULY, 1996

Charles Harmeyer 67th BT Gunner - Wahler Crew 06/06/96 David T. Collie 67th Asst. Radio - Mitchell Crew 12/26/89 Intern Turkey after Ploesti James E. Hill 67th Pilot of "Calaban" on Ploesti 1994 Howard L. McCrea 67th 07/96 B. Clayton McCrae 67th 07/96 Ernie R. Clevenger 67th 10/19/94 Harley Zippe 67th 1973 George Janson Unk Unknown Anthony J. Piccolo 68th Navigator - Jones Crew, POW Unknown Reginald Carpenter 67th Pilot "Bewitching Witch" 08/14/96 Ploesti, POW 01/10/43, Weiner-Neustadt Chs. J. "Jim" Selasky 67th Lead Navigator, "Suzy Q" 08/31/96 Ploesti, Nav. Carpenter Crew, POW 01/10/43, Weiner-Neustadt. Felix Dunagin 66th Crew Chief Unknown Leo F. Grethen 66th Unknown Claude D. Horner 506th "Little Joe" LW Gunner Unknown Clements Crew. Frederick A. Kenyon 68th/506th Gunner - Stahler Crew Unknown Alfred A. Mash 67th Asst. Engineer - Reinhart Crew Unknown POW, Ploesti. Seymour Ohlstein 67th Henreit Crew 12/19/95 Jack Svane 67th Co-Pilot - Markle Crew 08/09/96 William GVieth 68th 44ther in the Bomb Wing era 1996 Thomas E. Kramer 68th 1995 Patrick C.Conlin 68th Erickson Crew 1981 Raymond Rydz 68th Erickson Crew 1995

Editor: You will notice Jim Selasky folded his wings 17 days after his pilot Reggie Carpenter went West. There's a story around that has it...Reggie Carpenter was up there off course flying around searing for the Pearly Gates and finally had to call for his Navigator. We can be sure, together, they made it. Mission completed.

Jim & hntzie Selasky

19 44TH BOMB GROUP VETERANS ASSOCIATION BOARD

President: Roy W. Owen (506) 6304 Meadowridge Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95409 Listen Up... Phone: (707) 538-4726 Fax: (707) 538-1212 Vice President: James H. Clements (506) Rbout Your 8-Ball Tails 4124 Calculus Avenue Dallas, TX 75244 UJe keep harping on you over keeping your address current Phone/Fax: (972) 243-4657 uuith us so you will get your "Tails" on the first pass. On Secretary: Edward M. Dobson (67th) our last issue, we had 2M copies come back "Rddress 118 South 15th Avenue #1 Correction Reouested." This means, depending upon the Bozeman, MT 59715-4130 local Post Office, we get a cut-out or a Xerox copy of the Phone/Fax: (406) 587-2490 address label of the 8-Ball Tails with a new address or a Treasurer: Gerald (Jerry) Folsom (506) "Temporarily flway" message stamped on it and sent back 954 Lowell Avenue to us. The rest of it they throw away. Usually the piece Salt Lake City, UT 84102-3620 they send back costs us $.50 postage. So with the cost Phone: (801) 359-6159 Fax: (801) 533-8747 of the single copy, costing us $2.20 mailed non-profit, Historian: C.W. "Will" Lundy the $.50 return, another $2.00 for a replacement copy 3295 North "H" Street and $1.10 to mail it First Class, we're looking at $5.80 San Bernardino, CA 92405-2809 from your Treasury to get your 8-Ball Tails to you. This Phone/Fax: (909) 882-2441 cost could all be avoided with a $.20 postcard telling us 44th Group Vice President to 2nd ADA where you will be. Richard D. Butler 16494 Wagon Wheel Drive One of the biggest problems is you "Snowbirds" that don't Riverside, CA 92506 tell us when you move North or South and we end up Phone: (909) 780-7421 Fax: (909) 780-1459 sending a copy to each of your residences. Director: Edw. K. "Mike" Mikoloski (66th) 626 Smithfield Road #702 Tom Shepherd keeps the address roster. Please keep him N. Providence, Rl 02904 posted. Phone/Fax: (401) 353-0144 Tom Shepherd Director: Robert I. "Bob" Brown (67th) 10597 Cambrooke Cove #8 Metarie Court Collierville, TN 38017 San Ramon, CA 94583-3824 Phone: (901) 85M-5558 Phone: (518) 828-4529 Fax: (518) 828-1551 Fax: (901) 853-4229 Director: Robert I. Lehnhausen (68th) 789 West Meadows Place It cost us almost $m0 last issue to get 24 of you a copy. Peoria, IL 61684-3447 Phone/Fax: (389) 685-2498 October 28, 1996 Director: Richard R. Pedersen (506th) 751 10th Street E. Lot 32 Dear Jerry: Palmetto, FL 34221 Phone/Fax: (813) 723-2038 Sorry about the failure to notify you of my change of address. I was making my way through a long list and got lost when I Director: Melvin G. Trager (HQ Squadron) forgot to cross off some that I had already notified. 2522 Red Oak Trail Since Vm sure you won't be getting a check from everyone Crest Hill, IL 60435-3197 Phone/Fax: (815) 725-3439 who makes the same mistake, here's mine for $10. That should cover mine and 1-1/2 others. Thanks for the remail. Most Archivist: Anthony Mastradone organizations would have shrugged and done nothing. 9111 Tuckerman Street Lanham, MD 20706-2709 Phone: (301) 577-1487 Art Harvey, Jr. 20 FINALLY, WE WILL HAVE MEMORIALS AT MacDILL AFB & BARKSDALE AFB By: Roy Owen

As previously reported, the Executive Board, Will Lundy will be working with Harry Snead after review of our finances versus our current on the MacDill memorial and with Clem Haulman commitments at the St. Louis Board meeting, took on the Barksdale memorial. Jim Clements is up the study of requests for funding of three new coordinating some Spring '97 dedication dates in projects. order that we can organize a regional dinner/mini- The first was a request from the Air Force reunion for the evening following the dedication Heritage Association of Utah, located at Hill AFB,ceremony. The target date for the MacDill Ogden. The request was for the 44th BGVA to dedication is the weekend of April 5, 1997, when pledge $100,000 toward restoration of a B-24D the they have their annual AirFest. Jim and Clem Association had salvaged from a WWII crash Haulman have set May 3, 1997, for the Barksdale landing in the Aleutians. The return for this Memorial to be in place; a dedication ceremony support was to be, arranged; and a when restored and 44th BGVA regional placed on display in dinner/mini- their museum, it reunion would bear the programmed for numbers, markings, that evening at the Eight Ball logo and Barksdale Officers nose art of any of Club. We will be our aircraft we sending a mailer in selected. While this February to all was a very 44thers residing in interesting project, the regions of MacDill and Barksdale with all the the Board, by majority vote, disapproved specifics...but, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR undertaking the project as too expensive. We will,THE 44TH MEMORIAL DEDICATION AND however, have the opportunity to see the progressREGIONAL REUNION AND DINNER THE on the project next October WEEKEND OF APRIL 5 AT when we visit their museum MacDILL AFB FOR THOSE IN at Hill AFB as part of our 1997 THE FLORIDA AREA, AND Reunion program. You can MAY 3, 1997, AT BARKSDALE make an Individual donation AFB, SHREVEPORT FOR to the B-24 restoration at that THOSE IN THAT AREA. time. If there are any members The next two projects outside of a reasonable driving reviewed and approved were distance (say 200 miles) who the placement of granite and would like to attend either of bronze memorials at MacDill the events, please call or drop AFB, FL and Barksdale AFB, a line to Jim Clements after the Shreveport, LA. These holidays. (See previous page.) markers will commemorate You will be sent a flyer. We are the activation of the 44th at MacDill on 15 January specially interested in having those attend who 1941 and Its training and service there until 15 were with the 44th during its service at MacDill or February 1942 when it was transferred to Barksdale. Barksdale. There it acted as a B-24 Training unit for the 98th, 93rd and 90th Bomb Groups until 26 Top Photo: The 68th Bomb Squadron Ordinance Section at Barksdale July 1942. The Group was then transferred to Will Field, LA, early 1943, from Howard Landers, sitting on the Tug lyes, he Rogers Field, Okla. to prepare for overseas has all the names) 709 Martha St. SW, Decatur, AL 35601 -5633. deployment. During its service at Barksdale, the Bottom Photo: An existing granite marker with bronze plaque at 44th also took part in anti-submarine patrols over Barksdale AFB Memorial Park. the Gulf of Mexico and was credited with destruction of one Cl-Boat. 21 44th Bomb Group Veterans Association 1997 Budget

Income Life Memberships • 150 Amortized (15 yr. S/D) $1,524 Annual Memberships -919 @ $15 13,785 Reunion Income (Net) 3,500 Donations 1,000 Interest Income 2,400 Miscellaneous Income Cap Sales 400 Roster Sales 100 8 Ball Tails (Back Issue sales) 100 Total Income $22,809

The 8-Ball Tails Liabilities 8 Ball Tails - 3 Issues @ $3,000 $9,000 Official Journal of The 44th Bomb Group 1,000 Historian (Lundy) Veterans Association, Inc. Unit Historians 400 Archive Research (Mastradone) 600 Compiled, written and published tri-yearly at 6304 Membership Search (Hand) 600 Meadowridge Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95409, Roy W. Owen, President and Editor. Printed and mailed Membership Roster (Shepherd) 300 Bulk Rate at Salt Lake City, UT under USPS Permit Treasurer (Folsom) 800 #6923. Generally, the material herein is non- Directors (Meetings & Travel) 9 § $600 5,400 copyright except when so noted. The text and President (Administrative & Travel) 1,000 photos are otherwise reproduced from personal Secretary (Dobson) 200 photographs, diaries, memoirs or official USAAF and USAF documents and photos which have been U.K. Representative (Adams) 300 released for publication. Except for copyright Miscellaneous 1,000 material, permission is granted for the contents of Total Liabilities $20,600 this journal to be reproduced for personal archives or the journal of other incorporated non-profit Income $22,809 Veterans organizations so long as this publication is Liabilities 20,600 properly credited. Those submitting letters, stories and photos Surplus to Savings $2,209 to the Editor or Historian must do so with the understanding that this material will most likely be published as a matter of interest to the members/ subscribers of the Association and this journal. While every attempt will be made to answer all of the material received, there is no explicit or implied guarantee that an answer will be provided or published. Except for specific requests for the return of original documents and photos, all material submitted will become the property of The 44th Bomb Group Veterans Association, Inc. Due to space limitations and to ensure the clarity and brevity of submitted material, the Publisher/Editor reserves the editorial license to add, cut or otherwise modify all submitted material so long as the original context of the material is maintained.

22 This comes from: 0^ MAIL CALL Nancy (Lr>ce) Van Epps 13922 River Road Pensacola, FL 32507 9/9/96 ^4/ Dear Dick Butler,

This comes from: Received your letter about Pete Henry and that you are now succeeding him as 2nd Air Division Martha & Dave Sayler Association vice-president for the 44th Bomb Group. 31462 Waltham Birmingham, MI 48025 A book endowment fund for the Norwich Memorial 10/29/96 Room in Pete's honor seems an excellent idea and I Dear Lolly & Roy: am enclosing a check. Just a note to tell how much we enjoyed the reunion. It was a great success thanks to you and I was sorry to read that Marilyn Fritz had died. The your crew. The food was great, the entertainment last time I saw her was at the reunion of the B-24 in tops and the side sorties were different. Fort Worth. "Fritzie" and I were in the same overseas Got a note off to Jim Clements thanking him. group and we were in the same cryptography school He and I had a number of missions together. I in Oxford. She was assigned to 2nd Division and I recently received my copy of the 506th Squadron was assigned to General Johnson's staff at the 14th history from Kiefer—have a lot of it memorized! CBW, but I worked in the code room down at the Thanks again, 44th headquarters and then later as a Watch Officer at Wing. I did know about you, as Walter, my ex- husband, spoke about you and the crew. Dave& Martha Sayler I decided to give my uniform, pictures and memorabilia to the Mighty Eighth Heritage Museum in Savannah and have been in contact with Mary Beth Barnard the curator. My husband and I were at the dedication and I am glad that plans are being made to Editor: Our thanks to you Martha and Dave. You justdispla y the various units on a rotating schedule. We signed all of our paychecks. It s these kind of letterscertainl y need more displays for the B-24.1 still have that make one feel like you are driving out of the stationsome pictures and memorabilia for the 44th and the with the tank full of Ethyl. Most of the thanks belongs14th if they are needed. Whatever happened to the with our Vice President/Reunion Chairman, Jimmy thecontro l tower project? I sent some things for that, Clem. but again, that was a few years ago.

^ We can truly appreciate all the work, effort and money it takes to build and maintain a military Editor: This letter comes to us via Dick Butler. The museum, as my husband has been a charter member Marilyn Fritz referred to in this letter was the wife of and supporter of the Naval Aviation Museum here in Col. Charlie Hughes. "Fritzie " was one of the founders Pensacola. of 2nd Air Division. After a short break in service after WWII, she came back on active duty and retired in the grade of It. Col. in 1973. Marilyn Fritz Hughes passed Sincerely, away earlier this year after a four year struggle with Alzheimers disease. 23 (Nancy (Luce) Van Epps Letter Continued:) Now, thanks to Mary Beth Barnard, archivist at the This is an after thought. You may be wondering why I Mighty 8AF Heritage Museum at Savannah, she has am enclosing this newspaper from the 392nd BG been identified. She is the former Lt. Nancy Luce, a (page 5). cryptographic officer at 14th Combat Wing. She was in charge of the cryptography of all three 14th CW Prior to the dedication of the museum, Mary Bath bases, and on account of that, a frequent visitor to Barnard had been talking with Jim Goar, Editor of Wendling. Now Mrs. Hugh Van Epps, she is the wife the 392nd newsletter and he had commented that he a retired Navy flier, living in Pensacola, FL. had a photo of the Glenn Miller Band that was taken Nancy related to the NEWS that she was in the in Wendling August 25, 1994, but was unable to audience that day, and Glenn Miller asked her to come identify the woman officer that was on stage. forward to draw names in a War Bond promotion. The announcer in the picture is Capt. Emmett Fore, Mary Beth put us in contact at the dedication and39 2 Special Services Officer. Between Capt. Fore hence this story. and Lt. Luce can be seen (the NEWS thinks) the face of the late Johnny Desmond, the famous singer." • **** "RUDE WELCOME TO ETO: Editor: We plagiarized these stories from our SHOT DOWN BEFORE 1ST MISSION neighbors the 392nd Bomb Group Memorial Arnold Dovey, 579th navigator, has the dubious Association News, August, 1996 issue. Our thanks distinction of being shot down before ever being to them and to Nancy Van Epps. Being on the 14th assigned to a combat mission. CBW staff, she belonged to all of us. And as to our Master Mickey Man Arnold Dovey, we had to have It happened on May 8, 1944, Dovey, not yet his story, he still calls the 44th "home." How comeassigne d to the 392nd, was with a group of Mickey we didn 't get Glenn Miller? navigators on a training mission out of the 44th BG. The only gunners aboard were the flight engineer and the radio operator; the rest of the crew was the pilot and co-pilot, with no bombardier. Dovey recounts that it was about noon, and they were at about 23,000 feet, doing their thing with the Mickey equipment. No one expected enemy action, and no look-outs had been posted. Suddenly they were under fire, taking hits in the tail. The a/c went out of control, and the bail-out was sounded. The pilot did not survive the jump, and the radio operator was killed, but the rest of the occupants of the plane reached the ground safely. They landed near Acle, between Great Yarmouth and Norwich. Dovey left the a/c by the bomb bay, but was injured "GLENN MILLER MYSTERY WOMAN by the premature opening of his chute. He spent about IDENTIFIED a month in the hospital recovering. He went to duty with the 44th, but was transferred This photo, taken at the Glenn Miller concert at to the 392nd on July 29, 1944, and flew with the Wendling on Aug. 25, 1944, has been in Ernie Cassell lead crew in the 579th. He finished his tour Barber's collection for some time, but the lady on March 23, 1945." lieutenant in the picture was not named. 24 This comes from: net during the previous 11 year sunspot cycle. Nine Second Air Division Association years ago I just happened to hear Bill Holmes, 8th Air Force ^ G4TWT and a friend of the 2nd AD Earl Nissen, John B. Conrad ^A^ # WOMKY, of Waverly, Iowa talking together about the 2981 Four Pines Unit Jf^^y 2nd AD Association. I waited until they were through Lexington, KY 40502 "&^F and tried to reach Bill. Earl heard me and alerted Bill 5/29/96 \ tj\ that I was calling. Bill told me about the 2nd ADA (I Dear Editor: v \*r was one of the lost 8-Balls) and Evelyn Cohen. What Reference is made to the Spring, 1996, issue of a wonderful world that chance meeting on the air 8 Ball Tails recently received. Your partial listing of opened up for me. Particularly rewarding was to deceased 44th BG comrades under "Folded Wings" renew my friendship with Connie Menzel, with whom on page 17 includes the name of Charles Holbrook, I roomed and flew many times. Our oldest son is even date of death unknown. named Stephen Conrad Schwarm after him. Connie, The Charles Holbrook I knew, a pilot, survived Janice, Earl and I had some great times for the 7 years the war years, including injury and internment in he lived after we got reacquainted. We visited them Turkey following the Ploesti raid. He died of a heart in Waterville, KS just four weeks before he died. attack on September 30, 1964. Despite of knowing how limited his time was, we Charles and I were born within a year of each other lived those few days visiting to the best. But, "I in the same small town of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, grew digress." up together and stayed in close contact after the war. Will, the letters from John Chatel don't xerox We did not serve in the 44th BG at the same time. well, so I am sending you the original of the second My first overseas assignment was to the 482nd BG one which is important to you. I have a copy of it. I (PFF) in the winter of 1944 followed by transfer into would like to hear from you sooner or later as to the the 44th (66th BS) in May, 1944. I flew three usefulness of it, so I can get back to Chatel with the missions before being assigned to the 392nd BG. comments. Best wishes for the continued success of the reorganized 44th BG Veterans Association. We are off to Southern France and Northern Italy Sincerely, for a few weeks. Be back 30 April. Hope to see you in St. Louis in October. Give our best to Irene.

This comes from: From one Eight Ball to another, Edward G. Schwarm 251 Regency Drive Marstons Mills, Massachusetts 02648 (508) 428-0556 Dear Will: It took me a long time to get around to sending these letters from my newly found French friend. He has listened to our 2nd AD ham net with considerable interest for some time. It certainly is a small world when one thinks that he actually saw your plane come down, and we became acquainted merely by chance. Actually, this chapter of the 2nd AD ham net also started by chance. Charley Weiss, W5SEH, 1^1 Communications Officer in the 93rd ran a similar (?) propagation will be with us. No, Ed, I will remain the way I am. TKS to the This comes from: French - I have operated VE and 9K2 without John C. Chatel problems, only here things are political. Difficulties 3 Rue C. Duguesclin came with my 9K2 membership. I have fun that ways o 14450 Grandcamp, Maisy anyhow. 8th AF Association #31.104 As I told you, I am making researches for U.S. 2/15/96 downed airplanes in my area - the area I was in during the war. I have two B-24s from your Group on which Dear Ed (Schwarm): I have most of the details, but maybe someone could First of all, many thanks for your QSL and nice help me with the following: letter, which both were much appreciated. Two B-24s came down in my sector near Rouen Each Tuesday I am listening to your net and radio - same date, same place, same time! But, as years wave. Seems to be a little better now, as you are 56 went by, several planes came down in this same sector, to 58 in light ASB with my indoor antenna. Cannot so it is hard to see which was which. Maybe one of hear G4TWT, but pass along my best 73 s; also to the your Group will be able to confirm the LOCATION other names from your net. and/or position of the crash site when looking at this How interesting your job was with the Lunal log? Project and Apollo. I have seen the space control Group Concerned: 44th BG, 67th Squadron both room several years back, and was lucky enough to aircraft. drink a Coke with ?? Gruistrong in Texas. Also met Date: 8 March 1943 his wife, and saw him the year afterwards at Le Target: Rouen Marshalling Yards Bourget Airshow with the F-16. Time Off: 1203 Hours I have, myself, been in aviation all my life since Time Returned: 1510 Hours the age of 17 1/2. Pilot until the age of 32, but then A/C: B-24-D's having no jet experience, but only 4-engined planes, One of them, for sure, still had their bombs on board it was too expensive for me to convert, so became a - so close to target. They were shot down by FW dispatcher and then a station manager. 190s, frontal attack. I am glad to read that you had a chance to fly in a A/C #: 41-23784 Miss Dianne Bombs on board. good airplane (B-17) - (Just a joke). I nearly had a Pilot: Clyde E. Price, Captain. chance to get a ride in a B-24 at Harlington, TX on A/C #: 41-23988 Emmy Lou (?) "Diamond Lil," the CAF's B-24. I have been a Pilot: Robert W Blaine 1st Lt.. member of the C AF for 11 years and was going there (Note: Will Lundy has furnished him with details of every year for awhile on active duty. Now, having both aircraft and crew member, pages from his ROH bought this house, we cannot afford trips anymore, book.) and there is always a time to stop. I had 3 or 3 warnings I had never realized that so many planes went down while flying, so...this is it. so close to me - i.e., 14 of them in four square miles. Nice to hear about your war experiences with the To my knowledge, about 5 or 6 of them were B-24s, B-24s - maybe you flew over my head in the area of others are mainly B-17s and B-26s. Must say that Rouen during one of your missions. Rouen's flak was very good, or I should say, they were Concerning your trips to Europe, whenever you too good. come that way, please let me know. Provence in April Thanks again for everything, and will be listening is not quite the direction of Normandie... when you return from your trip around 12 March Many thanks, Ed, for the details on the (?j 9RG's 1996. 73s Ed, and kindest regards to your YL. net and QTR. I'll be there listening for you whenever Signed,

26 m 1997 Reunion Plans have begun... Salt Lake City, Utah

Mark your calendar for October 2nd through 6th, 1997. We're going to the beautiful city at the western foot of the Wasatch Range. We will be staying at the Salt Lake Hilton right downtown. A short walk will take you to Temple Square where you can experience the Morman Tabernacle Choir doing the Sunday morning national broadcast; visit the Family Research Center where you can make a free assisted computer search of your family tree; and visit the Salt Lake Art Center. Shop 'till you drop at the Historic ZCMI (Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institute) the first department store in the U.S., or Crossroads Plaza with 140 stores, including Nordstroms, specialty shops and restaurants. We will take a tour of Hill Air Force Base and their Air Force Museum and Memorial Park, with a luncheon planned. We will have our free hospitality room on the ground floor overlooking the swimming pool. You don't want to miss this one. There's plenty to do and see and the air is beautiful and clear so you can! More information in the next issue; but, mark your calendar now...October 2-6, 1997.

27 m