I THE RJAGGED IRREGULAR 2007 DUES ARE 323'd BS Supporting units 324h Bs DUE ) Vol. 40 No. 2 91"t Bombardment Group (H) April 2007 MAJOR GENERAL STANLEY T. WRAY Our first Commanding Officer coined the term of endearment for The 91"1 Bomb Group -THE RAGGED IRREGULARS'' He named it after his platoon at West Point-US Military Academy Paqe 2 The Raqqed lrreqular April2007 Presidents Corner-Jim ShePherd 91"1 BGMA For those whom have access to computers, the web page is on its Officers way to being fixed. u44ry9lslbg4bgqup4sm, You never know the importance of something until it's broken. I was always interested in President the stories offered by the veterans that are on the web page. We Jim Shepherd even tell some of the stories to friends or acquaintances of what it 20670 Ma Auguslo really was like in England and Europe frcm 1942 to '1945. Some of Yorba Linda,CA 92887 lhe stories are humorous and some are very sad Jshe09l@ear$link.nel My favorites are'The Million Dollar Seat" by Edwin Ehret and the 1st Vice President "Unauthorized D-Day Mission" by Jim McPartlin. Edwin writes how Michiel Hanou seat to see the invasion, and Jim Tells how 2398 Sandpiper Way he had a miltion dollar Pleasanton, CA 94566 he was ordered to fly a general over the invasion and almost lost his mhanou@comcast-nei seat. Secretarv/Treasurer John "Jake" Howland our 'Historian" is really doing a tenific job He Asav B. Johnson is working with Lonna McKinley at National Museum of the United 590 Aloha Drive States Air Force, Wright-Paterson AFB and they have accepted his Lake Havasu CiV AZ They on CD's and offer the following 86406-4559 historic offerings. are Tet: (928) 453-3114 information: Cell (928) 715-1053 [email protected] 85 veteran stories from the web "Stories from the 91st ". The Daily Reports for the 4 Squadrons Hislsds4 Casualties Report (which is on the web page) Jake Howland '191 Parker Lane We must be careful not to send memorabilia to the National Carthage, TX 75633 the United States Air Force, Wright-Paterson AFB. Jake Museum of Editor. Steve Perri you might to offer because he and Ed should clear anything want 12750 Kelly Greens Blvd Gates is our liaison with the museum. If we send too many items, Ft. N4yers FL 33908 they might just be stored away and never seen. However' some Tel: (239) 454-5838 items might be directed to the Planes of Fame Museum because we de'[email protected] do have a Memorial there and their plans include a research center. My wife Suzi and I are making sure the Memorial is well done and just we are working on getting a display case, for the 91st items. Please send all obituaries To ACE JOHNSON The 91^st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Association is holding a (wiih photo ilpossible) Rally Round Minot AFB in North Dakota from September 5 to 10, at publication has been invited because we are the 1^st Material for 2007. The 91^st BGMA should be sent to Generation of the 91st". The 91^st Space Wing (third generation) will STEVE PERRI- EDITOR have a "Northern Neighbors Day" that includes the'Air Force Deadline for the Rl is the lsth Thunderbirds". lf you wish for more information, call or write me and of the previous month lwill mail the application to you. 91"tBomb croup Ring Jim Shepherd [email protected] 20670 Via Augusto Yorba Linda, Ca. 92887 714-970-5540 e-mailaddress: jqbepqt@CgdhU[kJg! Aoril 2007 The Raqoed lrreqular Paoe 3 tetters to the Editor and More: VEEPS VIEWS-from Vice President. Mick Hanou Preserving your legacy through stories and memorabilia. I was watching a C|UI War program a few weeks ago and was impressed with the history being told. lt came from stories handed down through generations and from artifacts, especially letters, preserved from that period. Amazingly, there are people alive today that were told firslhand about their grandfathefs Civil War experiences. ln this way, 140 years later, their history is preserved and not forgotten by today's generations. At Ellis lsland, I was amazed by the display cases of luggage, passports, and other items collected from immigrants. But what amazed me more were the displays devoted to particular families that kept their history intact. Context is very important. Memorabilia without context are not nearly as valuable in relating history as when the memorabilia are kept intact. My view is that you should assure that your stories and memorabilia are first passed down through your Jamily. Find that grandkid with interest and relate your stories to him or her. Tell them the meaning behind the letters or artifacts you have from WWll so the context is preserved. lf you don't have family, please make some anangement so that your memorabilia, so impo ant in passing on the legacy of the 91"1, doesn't end up in a garage sale or with a dealer where the context will be lost forever. We are working with the Tower Museum in England and the Planes of Fame in Chino to preserve your history, and with the USAF Museum to preserve the 91"1's archives. ln future newsletters, we'll advise of progress. For historians - the important aspect is to keep the context. Please record your stories and document your memorabilia and tell your grandkids. Perhaps, in 2080, one of them can say "l remember granddad telling me about the 91"t". Regards, l\.4ick Hanou. This is the second part of a letter that was sent to the "RAGGED IRREGULAR" by Harry Friedman, and was previously omitted regarding the "Memphis Belle"i ln 1983, the USAFM sent a large block of equipment to be used in the restoration. ln addition, several companies, and indivlduals donated parts and some were loaned over the years. Thus, about 60 to 70 percent or more of the onboard equipment had been obtained to replace the missing items. Not only did these items accompany the'Memphis Belle" to Dayton but a large number of the parts belonging to the IVIBMA also went with the airplane. We all look forward to the fine work that the National Museum of the Air Force is noted for in picking up where the MBMA left off to restore the most important airplane of World War ll. l\ilr. Andy Pouncey, President, Memphis Belle Memorial Association, lnc. Harry Friedman, lVlD, Vice PresidenUArchivist, Memphis Belle Memorial Association, lnc. THE FRIEDMAN CLINIC, P.C. 50 HUMPHREYS CENTER. SUITE 32 MEMPHIS. TENNESSEE 38120 Phone (90'1) 747-4320 Fax (901) 747-4324 More "letters to the Editor and More" and Paul'la Allen: From Jack RALLY ROUND MINOT AFB It was a great reunion and Paul'la and I - enjoyed the whole event. lt was quite a NORTH DAKOTA shock to see how Colorado Springs has September 5 to 10 2007 grown since I was stationed at Ft. Carson back in the early 60's. The 91"i Strategic Remnnaissance Wing We are returning the check you sent us, as is holding a Rally Round and the we enjoyed taking people with us. we Association we are were driving there anyway. 91"1 BGMA has been invited because May you and yours have a wonderful the 1"t Generation of the 91"1. The 91"1 Space Christmas and we will look forward to Wing (3d generation) will have a "Northern seeing you at the next event. Neighbors Day" that includes the "Air Force Thunderbirds", a Hanger Party and many Letter from Phillip Collins: other tours that include Wine Testing, Casino Received the check for transportation. lf Trip and a memorial service for all generations this procedure was practical, maybe it of the 91". should be done at the next convention. Quite a project of dedication, knowing that Northwest Airlines flies into Minot or you can 2008 reunion you have started on the take Amtrak from Chicago or Seattle to Minot. lf you wish more information, call or write me Letter from Bob Stevens: and lwill mail you the application. Thank you for the nice letter and reimbursement check. transportation Shepherd-20670 Via Augusto-Yorba You people certainly put in a lot of effort to Jim make the reunion a success, which is Linda CA 92887 greaily appreciated by the members and 7'1 4-970-5540 e-mail isheegl @earthlink.net guests. We were only too happy to assist in the transportation and certainly enjoyed the tours- As a token of personal appreciation and as Editor: The reason for the first would a Life Member of the association, I page is the following prefer to contribute the $40 to the of this issue Treasury. letter: From James Scudder. 401st Squadron From David Fodroci: Dear Sirs: Please llnd enclosed, the remains of your All these years, every time I see the title check. However, I can t accept it. There is "Ragged lrregulai', it sends a rush of no amounl you can pay me lor any service irritation through me and I now have to get I might render for these fine veterans. it off my chest. To what or whom does this Please understand, it is just such a little title refer - The Dublication - or the thing I can do for them considering the membership - or the 91"r Bomb Group that irreparable debt we all owe to them for the flew in World War ll? sacrifices they made for us so that we - t spent my military career as a pilot and , in a future where we can might live free in hindsight, I recall nothing either ragged should enjoy their sto.ies and and or irregular about the "91"t Bomb Group.