R and R Pages:  EGYPT   ROME  plus family pics.  Alexandria oil change

 

DEC. 10  MISSION UPDATE  see mission sheets  Hetzel.xls

 

Anecdotes:  Cook flying under the beach;  kicking bombs out the bomb bay;  -

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Your 487th Website is excellent!!          Hank Del Percio 487th

henryjdelp@cs.com

Doug,

put Alesan instead of Corsica concerning the airfield.

The River Alesani was flowing nearby the field that 's why the Americans called the field Alesan without the I

Dominique

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doug, you have done a very good job on the site.  I appreciate all your work. My dad was with the 488th (crew chief) and you have a picture of his plane:  Lil Critter from the Moon.  The original name was Milk Run, but the CO had a fit because of the implications, so he changed the name to go with the Andy Cap character.  This plane actually went down and the next one he named after my mom: Arlene.  Thanks for the good work!

 

Sincerely,

Gordon R. Ainsworth (son of S/Sgt Gordon Ainsworth)

drgordo@att.net

 

edit from unknown

Doug, I flew 16 missions on Briefing Time as Navigator.  Almost all with Bus Taylor; all in lead.  489th Squadron

Paul R. Gale

BDXYZ@aol.com

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Mike Laney [mlaney1@cox.net]

 

LIL’ BED “WOOM” II

is Lil’ Bea Hind II, 6U 43-27647

edit from unknown

 

 

 

SECTION 8 – IDIOTS DELIGHT

I believe is 6W, not sure of serial since all 6W’s had this name

edit from unknown

 

 

DEVIL’S  HELPER

6B 43-27487

edit from unknown

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been to my best friend i got all the photos, great job! never saw some photos, in one of them i recognized the east coast of Corsica.

Dominique

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Herman Voss site http://home.bellsouth.net/P/PWP-486BombSquadron 

6 - W S/N#43-27505 A.W.O.L., "After Women or Liquor". First mission 07-04-1944, Shot down Feb. 13, 1945 on mission #735 to Ambrogio in the Brenner Pass. The mission was called "Operation Glassknob"
Crew:
P: M.W. Knighton, CP: J.C. Smith
B: E. C. Reseburg, RG" R. R. Chappius
G: J. R. Long, TG: A. A. Kropp
Photo courtesy of Dominique Taddei

 

6-X "THE ALICE L B-25-J" S/N 43-27491 This plane made it to the end of the war in Europe and was flown home. Last mission 04-20-1945

 

 

B-25J-1 "Devil"s Helper" 6B (B25J #327487) at Alesan, Corsica. Insignia is the 486th BS insignia of Bugs Bunny throwing a bomb. On March 20, 1945 on a mission to Campo, near the Austrian border, 6B received a direct hit by an 88MM shell and went down. Crew included Mack Coneglio, Granger McKinnan, Racetlo and Zawestowski. Mack (pilot) was the sole survivor and spent the remainder of the war in Mooseburg Prison Camp. (Photo & text by John Sutay)

 


I wanted to write and congratulate you on your 487th web site.  It looks very good and complete for a new site.  My name is Herman Voss, I have a small site dedicated to the 486th and my brother-in-law John W (Jack) Sterett.  Jack was a tail gunner who flew 60 plus missions from May 44 through April 45.  http://home.bellsouth.net/P/PWP-486BombSquadron  I hope to improve my site with a new one, I just bought books on Microsoft front Page, and hope to start after the first of the year.

I have several pictures of 487th planes you might be interested in seeing.  I have attached a list of same, and would be happy to share these with you.  If you are interested, please send me your address and I will send a C/D.  Last October my wife and I visited the National Archives in College Park MD and made copies of about 250 Mission Sheets, and about 80 Bomb Strike photos of missions.  You may be interested in the Bomb Strike photos as they show all squadrons on the mission.

Best Regards
Herman Voss

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doug,

Great site.  Also thanks for listing my dad's name with 7Z "Shirley Ann".  He was KIA on October 19, 1944, so I am sure your Dad and mine flew on some of the same mission.  If you interested I have a picture of 7Z right after that mission. I could scan it and email it to you.

 

Again thanks.

 

Bob Meek

Colonel AUS(RET)

Vice President American World War II Orphans Network

Proud son and only child of 2LT Robert H. Meek 487th BS 340th BG

KIA over the Magenta Bridge October 19, 1944

At eternal rest in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery 

 

Transmitted via the '57th Bomb Wing Research List'
******************************************************

Great site Doug and I hope it will be linked to the Official 57th Bomb Wing Association that Vinny White is working on.  Also hope you and all the other folk on Erich's list server will join too, if you have not done so already. You're the guys and gals that can keep the Wing going.

Victor Hancock,  Editor, Men of the 57th.

----------------------------------------------------

Doug’s Reply

 

I love the detailed photos of the plane in Van Nuys.  About ten years ago, I was able to see a B-25J from the Confederate Air Force land at a show in Texas.  I was able to enter and tour the plane.  I did take pictures but they are somewhere in storage back in Colorado. The thing that struck me was actually how small the cockpit is and how small the tunnel to the bombadiers nose is!  I have also seen a static display of a B-25C in Mobile, AL but that one you can't enter.  Herman Voss' site mentions a B-25 that is supposed to go on display at the new Smithsonian Museum near Dulles.  I was there last summer and did not see a B-25.  The Enola Gay is quite impressive.  I work with Tom Ferebee' Jr.  His father was the Enola Gay Bombardier.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Willy [ehetzel@northrock.bm]  I was always in awe of the men who flew in these planes before visiting a real aircraft and after that, well, even more so.  The space is incredibility cramped, as someone noted the other day with reference to getting into the bombardier’s space.  The guys at the back of the plane, the Radio/Gunner (my father’s position) and Tail Gunner must have felt very isolated back there… the only way to the forward part of the aircraft is over the bomb compartment which leaves just squeezable room to get through.  After actually being inside one of these birds, I came away with even more appreciation of what they did.  It amazes me that they went out and crawled into those cramped confines day after day, flew hundreds of miles in freezing conditions, with people on the ground and the air trying their hardest to kill them. 

 

 

Real Heroes!  

 

Go for a visit… you will really gain an entirely new perspective.

 

Best Regards;

 

Erich

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Doug

I'm the co-author  of the McAllister Case, the book about Lt. McAllister (310th BG) al his aircraft Donna Marie, shot down on December 10, 1944.

Also I'm member of the research list of the 57th Bomb Wing.

Something about me , you can see in my web site www.giuseppeversolato.it in Italian and also english language where you can see also somethiung about the Squadron in which was your father.

The 487th was involved , in one of his last missions (20 april 1945), on a great operation, the bombing of the German Army Headquarters in Italy at Recoaro Terme in the territory of my town Vicenza, North East Italy. Here there was the commander of Germans , Gen. Von Vietinghoff-Schell. A few day after this raid German signed the surrender of German Army in Italy.

With other two friends I wrote also a book about this mission, "Recoaro 1945, The surrender of German Army in Italy "where is detailed written the mission  performed by 12 aircraft of the 486th and 6 of the 487th.

I think you can agree some photos of the bombing in which the 487th was a protagonist

 

In the photos:

Some 1/48 models of B-25s of the 487th and 487th involved in the mission.

The crew list of the 487th in the mission One photo of the bombardment.

The box score of the mission.

I have more other about the 487th.

 

Best compliments for your wonderful web site.

All the best

Giuseppe

Versolato [gversola@tin.it]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: DTaddei@aol.com [mailto:DTaddei@aol.com]
Sent:
Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:25 PM
To:
franck.allegrini@ct-corse.fr; douglas.cook@aramco.com
Subject: (sans sujet)

Doug and Frank,

the 8Y was the 327630. My friend  Frank thinks that the landscape seems to be the background of Calvi Ile Rousse, Lozari Beach. Frank will confirm me in going to the place.

Frank told me the right tale about the belly Landing, the pilot was Lt Charles Horton from the 488th BS 340th BG , he was carrying the 340th BG musicians band Orchestra to the Napoleon Bonaparte Hotel for a ball at ïle Rousse North West coast of Corsica. He made a mistake and was thinking that the field was the Calvi landing strip, so when he realized that it was only a plowed field, he put the wheels up and unfortunately the speed was not enough to climb, he had to belly land.

Frank's Father recalls very well the crash.

I think that it happened the 15th of January 1945.

Doug did you get the 8Y photo ? As i read in one of your message that it was difficult to get some photos i was wondering if  a belly Landing might be sent in your mail.

 

Frank j'ai reçu la feuille du Certificat de remerciement du 57th BW, donne moi ton adresse exacte et je te l'envoie par la poste.

Dominique  

 

Doug !

Whoooooaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh !!!!!?????? Where did you get such beautiful treasures, sure your Father Album is one of the best i ever seen about the 340th BG, this last photo confirms that i was right it was the 8Y not far from the beach of Lozari nearby Calvi. Congratulations, in 10 years of research, bit by bit we have more details about certain events; do you imagine to get such photo in the field. Fantastic, we do not drill oïl as you are doing and my son too with his horizontal drill but we are drilling in History and this my friend is the best well i ever dig.

As Frank Dean was telling me 10 years ago " Dig my friend" and you will learn something.

Thank you Doug. You made my day.

Dominique

 

I forgot to tell you, no problem Doug about your photos, the medium bomber book is finished and printed but as we hope to open a museum in Corsica, be sure that we will mention your name and your Father name too.

As i know that you live in Saudi Arabia, i guess that i can't send you my book, just give me an adress and i 'll send you my book.

Dominique

 

Doug,

from my archive this photo. A pilot of the 487th.

He is Lt. W.M. Hartman and was in mission in the 7Y.

It may be that this photo has been taken  after the end of war in the States.

It is well visible his personal baggage with the badge of the Squadron.

 

Giuseppe

Nice image with the Black Knight!

 

I was thinking last night that you experienced the bombs the 340th BG was dropping from the other end.  I remember as a young boy asking my father what he thought about innocent people on the ground getting one of his bombs.  I don't remember his exact reply but I know he was proud to have done a job for his country and to have an effect on the outcome.

 

Thanks

 

Doug

 

Yes Doug,

many people were involved and killed in the bombardments... but it was the" price" of  the Freedom of Italy.

People paid the  terrific alliance of Mussolini and his gouvernment with the nazism.

Have you a

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Giuseppe

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Doug

 

If you ever make it to Detroit I'll let you crawl around in the Yankee Warrior as much as you like!

 

Robert Ball - Crewmember

YAF B-25 D Yankee Warrior

 

GraveRobber [Graverob@toledointernet.net]

 

Hi Doug

 

  It's too early yet in the year. We haven't got any dates set yet. We usually post them on the web site but that can get out of date real quick sometimes. Check back in about April.

WWW.Yankeeairmuseum.org Our B-25 was in W.W.II with the 340th, 489th.

 

Rob Ball

 

Hi Doug

 

 She is 9-C, 43-3634. We think she was named Ellen E. & Son. Unfortunately,We don't have a photo that shows Ellen E. with the tail number at the same time. She was a replacement for the aircraft that were destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius  , but she was replaced by the new J models about 2 months later. She left right before the German raid that destroyed her replacement on the ground! She is a VERY late model D (B-25D-35), and has a lot of the J modifications.

I think the first 9-C was "Talking for Joe" The 3rd was the one destroyed on the ground. The 4th 9-C was "Ruthie". The last (5th) 9-C was "Wabbit Twacks".

 

Rob Ball

 

 

Doug I have like many of us been researching my Dad's time in a B-25.  I have many pictures.  He was a tailgunner in the 486th.  flew 51 missions . I have his missing crew members reports etc. Mike Laney helped me with that.  Dad's plane was shot down in 1943 on the way to a target.  the crew survived and he spent 2 days in the water before being rescued.  As a kid I remember him talking about the plane and the name on the nose was the Royal Flush.  I have pictures of it , not real good, but i have searched for more and any history on the plane.  This afternoon sitting at the computer and browsing through the 57th e-mails I came across yours and I was viewing your site with your fathers photos.  These are great.  I happened to click on the unknown bomber site and I could not believe that you had a picture of the Royal Flush.  Kinda gave me the goose bumps!  If this was the plane that was shot down do you have any suggestions on identifying tail numbers  or how to find which plane they were assigned to after the crash.  This is a 486th plane so it is not unknown any more.  Doug I am down in South Louisiana and work in the oil field with the big offshore supply vessels.  Thanks for adding another piece of the puzzle.

Ron Holman                   [holman506@charter.net]

Son of Ralph L. Holman

2/5/06

 

Hello Doug,

 

Would I be out of line to ask for the pictures of your 486th planes.  There are so many on your site that I don't have, and would love to show them on my 486th site that I am redoing.  At the risk of being greedy I could use all of the 486th planes.

 

I like the changes you made to your site, keep up the good work.

 

Thank you Herman Voss  Herman Voss [hvoss216@bellsouth.net]

 

Hi Herman,

 

Yes you are welcome to them just give credit to my father, Capt. Charles Cook- Pilot 487th Squadron.

 

You can right click, save as, to copy them.

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

 

Apr 3, 2006

 

Hi Mike,

 

I'm very glad to hear from you.  Its very possible that our fathers knew one another.  Since  I have found that my father flew the 7F on Dec. 14, 1944 and assuming your father was the crew chief at that time, they must have crossed paths.  As near as I can tell, at that time crews  assigned ad hoc and were on different planes and with different crew members on each mission.  Earlier, it seems that it was set as one crew, one plane.  My father did not talk a lot about the war and tended to down play the danger he faced on each mission.  It was only through the research i did on this project that I was able to understand what he went through.

 

Do you know what dates your father was stationed where?  Dominic Taddei DTaddei@aol.com may be able to help you with some information especially if he can link you to Dave Mershon who wrote the 7F story. 

 

I appreciate the photo search for my father.  And to go a step further, if you can get photos scanned, I would be happy to expand my website to include your father's photos with full credit.  This would be a great addition to the 487th site.

 

Looking forward to hearing more from you,

 

Doug Cook
Northwest Arabia Team Leader
Central Area Exploration Division
Saudi Aramco

 

 

 


From: mrtarkany@comcast.net [mailto:mrtarkany@comcast.net]
Sent:
Monday, April 03, 2006 1:37 AM
To: douglas.cook@aramco.com; douglas.cook@aramco.com
Subject: 487th Bomb Group website - 7F Story - Please read...

Hi Doug

 

I was looking on the web for my dad's bomb group and came across your website.  My dad was part of the 487th bomb group - 7f. 

 

I saw a picture of the crew listed under the "willie saga" and saw that my dad's name was listed as unknown.  Well, :)

The name of the man holding the ladder all the way to the left is Michael F. Tarkany, who was the crew chief T/Sgt.

He did live in New Brunswick, and then moved to Spotswood afterwards.  He died on November 8th, 1983 after a fight with cancer. 

 

I'm curious to know.. did your dad ever tell you any stories, any information regarding his missions.. or do you remember him mentioning my dad?  These stories are hard to come by, and we have pics with some facts but of course no stories. 

 

Any information would be appreciated.  We have a few photo albums my dad took during the war, and I will try to look for your dad's name on the back of pictures. 

 

Best regards,

Mike Tarkany

 

Hope to hear from you. 

-----       

 Hello Douglas,

            I am glad that the photographs were of use, I try now to send you the Accident Report sheet after sheet (6 in total). I think that your father is cited in the page 6 of the report! A.R. provide also 6 photographs pages with aerial views of the landing strip (the B25 is badly visible). The photographs are of poor quality, if you want, I send you it tomorrow.      

 

           After disarmament and disassembling of instrumentation, Lil Scooper stayed several days on the beach without guard. A friend, aged of 75years, tell me that a day, he go to Losari beach, (about 3miles SW from l’Ile-Rousse), with an old man who need a piece of metal to repair a motorcycle or a car, I don’t remember well.

 

            In addition, a sister of my grandmother remembered the day when she saw that plane dismounted on a truck, which passed on the road in front of a family house. It was probably in February 1945, Lil scooper returned to her home base. The report tells us that she could be repaired, perhaps she flied again?!

 

Best regards                                                    FranckFranck Allegrini [franck.allegrini@ct-corse.fr]

 

 

Douglas,

 

Attached are the pictures and additional data regarding my late father in law Sgt. Don Kenney for your website on the 487th.  Let me know if this transmission is too much & I can resend them piecemeal.  There should be one pdf, one Word doc & 41 jpgs.

 

Most of the titles to the pictures are taken directly from the handwritten notes Don made on the back.  A few were blank so I added a title.  I am certain that the Thanksgiving picture was from 1944 & not

1945 as noted.

 

There are also a couple of pictures he got from other flyers including his Navy buddy Eddie with what appears to be a B-24.  I love the "Dirty Dozen" reference circa 1944!  Also some family pictures with his Mom, Brother Frank & Sister Anne.  I do not know who the person in the B-29 picture is: I assume he obtained this from a fellow flyer later. 

 

The pdf appears to come from a unit reunion but I do not believe that Don attended. 

 

The Word doc is a narrative that I prepared based on what we know about his experiences.

 

Please credit all materials to his widow Marilyn Kenney & her children.

 

 

If we dig up more materials I will send them to you.  Thanks much for maintaining this website; it means a lot to his family that folks still remember & honor the sacrifices men like Don Kenney & the rest of the 487th made. 

 

Terry McGill

Martinez, CA  tmcgill@insdra.com 

 


Dec. 12, 2006

 

I signed the Guest book on your website.  Thank you for putting together such a great piece of history.  I was just looking through a family photo album last night and came across the picture attached…hopefully your computer doesn’t choke on the size.  It is my Great Uncle Albert William Schang…Crew Chief for the 487th 7J aircraft.  I only knew it was my Great Uncle before I found your website.  It’s amazing what history you find when you look.

 

Thanks again for spending the time to put together such a great website.  If you have any contact with other people in my Great Uncles crew, let me know.

 

Dennis Schang [Dennis.Schang@toyoda-na.com]

Dennis Schang

Manufacturing Engineer

Phone (423) 585-2933

Fax    (423) 585-2502

 

 

Hi David,

 

Thanks for writing.  I appreciate the kind word about my Uncle Orrin.  He was fortunate to have had good friends.

 

If you can suggest any changes or additions to the website,  I would be glad to accommodate.

 

If you have a digital copy of the Arizona Harris article,  I would love to see it.

 

Sincerely,

 

Doug Cook
Northwest Arabia Team Leader
Central Area Exploration Division
Saudi Aramco 
Dhahran
, Saudi Arabia

 


From: David & Jennifer [mailto:sunpir8@cox.net]
Sent:
Tuesday, March 06, 2007 6:14 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Orrin

Hi,

I knew Orrin in the last years of his life. I met him here in Arizona in 1990 through my wife who was a therapist at the hospital where Orrin received treatment. We developed a friendship over lunches along with Jack Smith, who was another WWII pilot. Although I was much younger (48 now) we hit it off due to my interest in WWII aviation and that I was a musician. I interviewed him often about his experiences and just before he passed away he recorded a tape for me about his life including his war service. After I found out that Orrin passed away I mailed a copy to his son Ed. I just could imagine him not having that personal record of his fathers’ life. I just have to say, he was a great guy, and a hero to me. I loved the time I got to spend with him. He liked my wife a lot and always told me I better take care of her. He copied for me some great vhs tapes of the 345th, and a ton of music videos he loved including Marty Robbins. I learned a few of those songs for him and he enjoyed it.  We went down to Florence a time or two to see him. But I was so busy in those days just starting my teaching career that I didn’t get down there as much as I’d have liked. I regret that now. I know he was heart broken when his vision started to give out and he had to leave that little place and go to Colorado. Although I also know he appreciated being closer to his kids.  He was very proud of his Air Corps service and I know he would be proud of this web site. I was doing some research on the web about WWII turret gunners. I recently wrote an article that Arizona Highways is looking at about a B-17 top turret gunner named Arizona Harris who was born and raised in my hometown of Tempe, Az. Anyway, I think of Orrin often and was wondering if there was anything about him on the Web. It’s a great site, including the info about his brother. Your family must be very proud of these two heroes. Please forward this note to Ed. There are a few questions I have about the site and Orrin. Thanks

 

Sincerely,

David Vitagliano

Center for Success

At-Risk Coordinator

Mesquite High School

Gilbert, AZ

 

480-444-6382

 

Hello Douglas Cook,

 

My daughter found all of the picture's on the computer.  My, how familiar most of them are!

 

I am Iris Hyland, wife of Harvey Hyland.  He is standing next to your father in the picture of the McKinley Jr. High picture.  The little short one.  He was only 5' tall and they stretched him so he would be 5'1".   The McKinley Jr. High is a plane from the "kids"  from Muncie, Indiana.  It is about an hours drive from my home here in Culver,  IN.

 

I will tell you a little about him.  I have his "Log Book".  He completed "71" complete missions while he was in Italy.  He went overseas in March of 1944 and came home in February of 1945.  His log book tells of all his missions, what they were, the time and their Pilot.

 

He had a baby daughter, Sandra Harlynn while he was there.  She was born on November 20, 1944.  We also had Harvey Alan born on March 20, 1946 and Debra Rae born on October 6, 1949.  He was never the same after he came home and finally broke.  He was in Hines Veteran's Hospital in Chicago for several months in 1959 and on December 17, 1959 he committed suicide.  I don't think he ever got over what happened over there.  He talked very little about it.  Only once in a while something would slip out.  It was very hard on the children (and me).

 

I will be 83 years old on April 6th.  I have the three children, two in-law children (Deb's husband passed away 11 years ago), nine

Grand children and 10 Great Grand children.  I have often wondered about Mac, Sy and Bob.  I know after George's ship went down and he finally got back, he was sent home.   I was in Columbia, S.C. And went to Savannah, GA but never met your Dad.  I think he got with them over in Corsica.

 

It was wonderful looking at the pictures and will check on buying the book.

 

God Bless you and your family.

 

Iris M. Hyland

816 S. Main St.

Culver,   IN   46511-1847

iris@mchsi.com

 

 

ca  June 9, 2007

 

I knew your father in Corsica and would appreciate hearing from you. I was also a pilot in the 487th squadron during the same time your father served.

As a matter of fact, we were on the same boat that carried us to Casablanca in 1944.

My phone is: 310-271-5644.

Hoping to hear from you.

David Konigsberg

310-217-5644

 

rose [snoopy100@adelphia.net]

 

 

Hi David,

 

It's certainly a pleasure to hear from you.  I live in Saudi Arabia and I see you live in Gardena, CA.   I am about 11 hours ahead of you.   It is possible to call if I tried around 7 PM here, it would be 8 AM there.  Would that be too early?

 

I take it that you got this contact from my website.  http://www.reddog1944.com/

 

 

 If you have any suggestions or corrections, I would be glad to hear them.  More importantly, I would be honored to put a web section about your WWII experiences and a bio about you.  Do have photos that can be scanned?  I could put them up with credit and rights reserved to you.  Pictures on my web pages cannot be copied (e.g. right mouse click copy is disabled).

 

If you remember my father, do you have any stories to tell about him?

 

Did you know Mac McLaughlin, Harvey Hyland, Bloomberg, or Sarengelli?  They appeared in my father's Egypt or Rome R&R pictures.

 

I look forward to hearing more from you.

 

Doug Cook

 

 

--------------------------------------------------

Hi again David,

 

I see your name appearing on the roster for the Dec. 10, 1944 mission to Brenner Pass:  7H Pilot 1st. Lt. D. Konigsberg   7E Pilot 1st. Lt. C.M. Cook

 

Do you recall that mission?  I posted this reference on my website:

 

http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/aboutdec1044.html

 

MISSIONS   DECEMBER 10, 1944  THE ENTIRE 310th, 319th , 321st , and 340th BOMB GROUPS WERE SENT TO BOMB RR BRIDGES in BRENNER PASS at CALLIANO, OSSENIGA, ROVERETTO, and DOLCE. 

 

Mission # 645 Three bridges and a long fill on the Brenner Pass Railroad were today's targets. Two boxes of planes from the 487th Sqdn. attacked the Calliano Railraod Bridge #3 at A-746089. The first bombed just north of the bridge and the second south of it, both probably cratering the track. At Calliano RR Bridge #2 at A-744087, the 487th box bombed across the tracks 500 yards south of the bridge and the 486th box hit the bridge and its north approach.  Four aircraft were lost. Two from the 310th BG. Theses were the "Donna Marie" and "El Lobo III".  One lost from the 319th BG. B-25 #43-36216, the pilot was Lt.Herbert Herman. The aircraft was lost between Lake Garda and Lake Iseo, North East Italy. The aircraft was shot down by Me 109s of the 2nd F.G of Italian Republican Air Force (Fascist Air Force allied to Luftwaffe). The first to attack the ship was Capt. Bellagambi, an Italian ace.  One lost from the 321st BG. B-25J #43-27895.  Credits  Giuseppe Versolato see his account!

http://www.giuseppeversolato.it/News/dettaglio.asp?IdNews=35

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27570 - 7H WHITE LITENIN  (see attached- know anyone in that photo?)

 

I hope I am not being too demanding of your memories and perhaps sensitivities to them.  You are the first contact I have had from the 487th who recalls my father.

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

June 10, 2007   Doug Cook (Saudi Arabia) called David Konigsberg (Hollywood, CA).  Doug learned some things about his father Charles “Charlie” Cook.  The first clue that David remembered him from Alesan, Corsica in 1944 is that he called him Charlie- the nickname friends and family knew him by. David knew the other pilots that Charlie was pals with:  Bloomberg, Mac McLaughlin, and Sarengelli.

 

David recalled that Charlie was one hell of a poker player.  David bet big on a hand he was sure to win but lost to Charlie who had four kings.   David explained that gambling was big in the 340th Bomb Group in Alesan, Corsica.  He remembered the craps table having perhaps fifty thousand dollars worth of Lyra and French currency in play.

 

David vividly recalled the deadly German bombing and strafing raid on the Alesan base in May 1944.  He realized how vulnerable they were intheir tents at night.  After that, each tent had a foxhole or trench dug next to it to dive into for cover.

 

He began as a copilot for 20 missions with Buck Parish as his pilot.  When he became proficient at landing, he became pilot.  David flew 65 B-25 combat missions plus six weeks flying C-47 transport before shipping back home. 

 

 


From: Bob Knox [mailto:rknox@sc.rr.com]
Sent:
Thursday, July 26, 2007 6:44 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 486th Bomb Squadron Photos

 

Dear Mr. Cook,

 

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Robert Knox (most folks call me Bob) and I am a teacher of World War II history.  In the 1960's while in school, I worked part time for TV repair shop here in Columbia, SC.  The owner of the shop was one Mr. John Pulos.  One day while speaking with him, he related that he was a radio operator in B-25's with the 486th Bomb Squadron serving in North Africa, Sicily and Italy

 

He leaned over a counter and withdrew a large photo album filled with photos of B-25's, wrecked German aircraft and other views. Many of the photos were of nose art from the 486th Bomb Squadron.  I borrowed the book and had many --but not all -- of the photos photographically copied by one of the local Columbia photographers -- it was expensive to have this done back then and really ate into  my college tuition fees.  Nonetheless, I filed the photos away and still have them. Mr. Pulos, by the way passed away sometime in the late 1960's or early 70's. 

 

Anyway, I have different photos from the ones on your web site (which is terrific, by the way) and include the following:  6J - Ladies Delight; 6E - 43-28080; 6C which I think is the "The Kewanee Kid II" (hard to read the name);  San Antonio Rose;

Briefing Time; Queen Mary, Sweat and Pray; 6N; 6U; 6Y and a great shot of 6E -43-28080 tail markings centered in the flak damaged outer starboard wing.  Also a photo of Mr. Pulos in uniform with his hand grasping a bullet or flak hole in the tail of a wrecked Ju-88 Bomber.  Also included in this collection is a 3/4 left-rear view of a damaged Me-109F-4/Tropical Version fighter in a wicker-like revetment with a black (maybe red) 15 outlined in white on the fuselage just aft the cockpit.

 

Are you interested in having copies of these photos (for free, of course).  I just want to share them with you to promote and expand the history of this B-25 unit.  E-mail me back if you are interested.  If you could also tell me how to get a crew list of the men of the 486th, I'd like to know which aircraft Mr. Pulos few one.  I suspect he flew some missions in 6J - Ladies Delight, as there are several photos of this particular aircraft. 

 

Thanks, Bob K.  

 

 

Dear Bob,

 

I am sorry to have taken so long to get to your email.  I was traveling in the States and have just returned to my desk in Saudi Arabia.

 

I would be very interested in getting copies of the photos.  Have you scanned them?  If so you could send as email attachments.  I would like to put them up on the website with credit to John Pulos and to you.  It would also honor John if you have any more information or anecdotes he may have shared with you.

 

I will see if I have any mission sheets from the 486th that may help.  Dominique Taddei may be able to help and is copied on this.   He will be interested in the photos also since he is the curator of a museum in Corsica.

 

Hope to hear back from you,

 

Doug Cook

Saudi Aramco

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

From: Bob Knox [mailto:rknox@sc.rr.com]
Sent:
Thursday, August 23, 2007 6:15 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 486th Bomb Squadron Photos

 

Hi Doug,

 

Sure good to hear from you.  I, myself have been "out of the country" for most of August.  Took a tour of the Canadian Rockies -- What great scenery.  Anyway, It's been a while since I tried to attach photos to my e-mail, So, what I going to do is attempt to send three or four at a time until I get the hang of it. 

 

 

 

 

Dear Bob,

 

All three sets of photos came through and I have them saved.   I will be glad to include them with the photos I have for the 486th Squadron with credits to you and John Pulos.   I looked at the 486th mission sheets I have from Herman Voss but they only go from May 24, 1944 to April, 1945.  Since you say John Pulos was in N. Africa, Sicily, and then Italy he may have already shipped back home before May, 1944.  The 340th BG reached Corsica in March, 1944 after Sicily and Gaudo, Italy.

 

Thanks again,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Butterbaugh, Todd [mailto:butterbaught@ReadingRock.com]
Sent:
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 7:00 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: research for any of my grandfathers records / memories

 

Doug,

 

I am in search of any information about my grandfather.  From some old photos that I have gathered from his basement, I know that he was in the 340th BG 487th BS.  Here are a couple of the images that I have put onto a contact sheet.  His name was Telmo Suarez.  He also went by Ted.  If you have any information, please let me know.  If you can identify anyone, please let me know also.

 

Thanks

 

TODD M. BUTTERBAUGH

PROJECT ESTIMATOR

 

READING ROCK, INC.

4600 DEVITT DRIVE

CINCINNATI, OHIO 45246

 

513.874.2345    fax: 513.874.2361

direct: 513.454.0046

 

Todd,

 

Thanks for the email and pictures.  Ted was definitely in the 487th given the plaque with the “black knight” emblem.   I’m guessing the time frame was in 1945 near the end of the war since the quonset hut picture does not look like the base in Alesan, Corsica.  Do you know what he did in the squadron?  I would be glad to make a section with these pictures if we can get some more basic information.   I can look in my father’s album to see if he’s listed but it only goes to May, 1944.

 

If you know his SSN or military ID number you can try to get his service records:

 

http://www.archives.gov/

 

I have copied this to a historian in Corsica.   Dominique Taddei-  perhaps he can recognize something more from the photos.

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

Northwest Arabia Team Leader

Central Area Exploration Division

Saudi Aramco

Phone  966-3-873-7724

 

 

9/25/07

 

Todd,

 

I have begun a web page for Telmo (Ted) Suarez.   I will update it when we can find out more about his service record or the photos.   Your grandfather did proudly serve in the 487th squadron and I’m glad to have the submission to post.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Sq_Telmo_Suarez.htm

 

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doug,

 

Thank you so much for your help.  The web page looks great!  You don’t know how much this means to me.  Once again I thank you.

 

Todd M. Butterbaugh

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

9/25/07

 

Hello Dominique and Doug,

 

I found these pictures among my many and thought you'd be interested.  I was 4' 11" so you can see how short he was.  These were taken in 1943. 

 

My son and daughter-in-law said they cannot find the album of the planes, etc.  But, I do believe they have them and don't want to give them to me in case I don't give them back. 

 

If I find any more I will send them to you.

 

More later,

 

Iris 

 

Hi Iris,

 

You made a very attractive couple.  I will gladly add these to the web page.   If your son and daughter in-law don’t want to part with the original pictures perhaps they can get them scanned.  If they don’t have the equipment ( a computer scanner is inexpensive) it can be done at someplace like a Kinkos or even a Walgreens photo shop.  I would be glad to reimburse the expense.  I feel connected because Harvey knew my father.

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Cristina McCoy [mailto:ccgm@satx.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 3:28 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: corsica

 

Hello,

Thank you for your website.  It has helped fill in some pieces of my 

Dad's experience.

during WWII.

My Dad was assigned to a support unit (324th) for your Dad's 

squadron.  His name is

Juventino Guerra, a South Texas fella who was in charge of keeping 

records for his

unit.   Thank you for explaining the reason for the bombing Alesan 

base.  My Dad did

not share much information about his experiences during WWII.  It was 

only after I

married and had children, that Dad began to tell a few stories,  the 

bombing of the

Alesan base among them.

Dad is 90 years and suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, so obtaining 

any new/more

information about his time in Corsica is impossible.

My brother visited today, and mentioned that the Ken Burns' "War" 

episode which aired

last night was about the bombing at the Alesan base. I missed it, but 

will try to purchase

the episode to better understand that day.

We have many pictures from Dad's assignment in Corsica.  In the next 

few months, I'll

check to see if I can find any of your Dad.

Thank you again for sharing your Dad's story and history.  May God 

bless all those

who fought, and those who gave their lives during WWII.

Sincerely,

Cristina Guerra McCoy

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for writing.  My father rarely talked about the war either and conspicuously never mentioned the Alesan raid.  How can I get a copy of the TV piece on that incident?

 

Thanks,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran,

Saudi Arabia

 

 

From: Roger Juglair [mailto:rogerju@libero.it]
Sent:
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:47 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Courtesy for pictures on your site

 

Good Morning Mr Doug,

 I am  Roger Juglair. may be you find my name in Don Kaiser site, I am preparing a book on my town bombing raid on 23rd august 1944, fot illustrate him I need some picture of planes  of 340th Bg so I ask to you to be autorized to use them.

Waiting for your wishes.

Your's faithfully.

Juglair Roger

Italy.

NB: Escuse me for my pityfull english

 

 

Roger,

 

I would be glad to help.  I need more information on what you need.  What is your town?

 

I find this data from Herman Voss- the 340th BG (486, 487,488, 489) raids that date were in France following after the S. France D-Day Aug 15, 1944:

 

 

I have no information of specific planes that flew these missions.  If you want some representative photos from these squadrons, let me know which ones and I can provide them with assurances that they will be properly credited.

 

I am very interested in the story of the raid on your town.  If you can provide me with details, stories, and / or photos, I would be glad to put up a web page documenting it.

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

BARBARA CONNOLLY [princessbarbi_b25@msn.com]  Oct. 30, 2007

 

 

Wow, Doug. . .Saudi ?  Now-a-days, anyone can be anyone, are you the Ambassador ?  I have a really cool photo of 321st BG,445th BS, Dick Krause, all decked-out in robes with a beard (i'd say in his 60 's) NO way could I have recognized him !
   No, I am one of the New-kids on the block, in fact, in every way.  My Dad/Ed Ennis, 321st BG, 447th BS, passed Jan. 25th, '05, at over 90 ( today would have been his 93rd birthday) and like "everyone else" never spoke much of "his War".   End of May, '05, I got my 1st computer (Hum ?  I am a War-baby of 62 now), soon threw that stupid used notebook away, and bought a Value Computer, works great !  After printing the 321st & 447th War Diary, I met Don Kaiser 2 years ago exactly, 1st vet I found was my Dad/Ed's other "best friend" (One came home, one did not).  OK, this is a rolling snowball, and you can see the rest.....
  Last Nov 1st, Vinnie gave me permission to add "a few photo's" into the 57th Wing Albums.... after I passed 2000, (In the 321st BG) he gave me permission to go into all Groups, at Easter, someone broke into the 57th Gallery and left some inappropriate remarks, Vinnie changed to a NEW Gallery (Nice !) but ALL photo's lost their Text... mine had names, dates, serial #, nose-art, etc.  so after crying like a baby for a week, I got my "get-up-and-go OUT and got going !  I am now also almost finished re-naming ALL of the other photo's too, in all Groups. I speak with George Underwood a lot, Fred Lawrence, and many of the men, I love those guys !
    As the ball rolls  downhill, not always fair, I am now in the 340th BG at last, I placed and re-did the rest of Clair Clark's yesterday. 
http://57thbombwing.com/gallery2/v/MenOf57th/321stBG/  My Dad/Ed's 321stBG
My Dad's Album http://57thbombwing.com/gallery2/v/MenOf57th/321stBG/447thSquadron/Edward_C_Ennis_T_Sgt/
I have more than 500 photo's of other men/groups, and now over 800 in the "fun" general Categories 
http://57thbombwing.com/gallery2/v/Aircraft/
  
I would like to represent YOUR Dad now, To say that your site (s) are marvelous, is an understatement !  I would like to start on his album, but will need you to forward me the actual photo's, now I can run 2 programs, and look up the info as I go, but I need the photo's, Please.  After that, I need all other's you can send, or direct me to (Todd Butterbaugh got me first, and his album went in before you placed his site in yours)... also, Dave Koenigsburg is going to be sending scans, while I have placed a small, not very good album on him to get started.  I even got something out of Jerry Rosenthal, a grumpy-wonderful man, I ma the one who got him the "Little Bell" last Spring (The "men" call me PRINCESS, and I love them all. 
  When the Squad Histories came up digitalized, last Nov. John "Butch" Fitzgerald (446th BS) did what I did, and most others, he started in his Dad's time-frame, I already had the 321st Printed, and dozens of Pilot/Crew Logs, and Diaries....which I sent him, and he has "quite literally" typed in the War-Diary "word-for-word", added the Logs, and now Dave Charville (445th BS) has gotten us the Missions, Butch is adding them now.  I am matching ships to serials for Bob Haney, and progress is being made all around.  OH, Butch has agreed to continue on and "write" ALL of the Groups !
  Paul Gale came for a very short visit, on his way to Alaska, but I photographed 300 pages of the books he brought me to see. . .
  OK, enough out of me, I am only doing so good because no one has said that I may not !  HA !  Our history, with all of these people involved, is going to be HUGE when all added together !  We are all so very excited about it, and I am in a hurry, as I love talking to the Vets themselves, and getting the stories.  Thanks for the time this has taken from your important day, and PLEASE say YES !  and send me all of the photo's you can (One vet sent OVER 250 !, I scanned them in and sent right back !)
  A pleasure to meet you Doug, remember you know a whole LOT more than I, Please give me all corrections, news, new idea's....anything !  Blessings, Barbi
 
I am pretty PROUD of MY Dad / http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/ennis.html (1/2 done)

 

From: Roger Juglair [mailto:rogerju@libero.it]
Sent:
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Courtesy for pictures on your site

 

My town is Pont-Saint-Martino, actually Pont San Martino.

I want to describe all the missions of 23rd august 1944, and a short history of 340th BG, so I need picture illustrating airplanes of the Group and for 488th aand 489th BG a picture illustrating any plane partipate to this mission

Thjans for your reply

Roger

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> B-25s in formation from my father's war album:  Credit  487th Squadron

Thanks for your collaboration,

For the 23rd august I have reconstitute all missions on Italy an South French.

So I need pictures for plane involved in this attacks.

Now I am at work and I can't send to you any material but only a picture of my town before and after the attack on wich there the two bridges considerated target.

Thanks for all

Roger

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

….I sent Roger all of Chas. Cook’s 488th and 489th Squadron Plane photos

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks,

 you are great,

 for the raid were ordered the following plane

 

488th

8J -N.43-27695

 

Pilota   ROME

Sec.Pilota                  KROENING

Puntatore                   ROSENTHAL

Op. Radio                 SQUIRE

Mitragliere                 WOYTEK

Mitragliere                 LOCKHART

8K -N.43-27504

 

Pilota   GROSSKOPF

Sec.Pilota                  HOLTZ

Puntatore                   PFEFFER

Op. Radio                 ZIEGLER

Mitragliere                 EWAN

Mitragliere                 RICKE

8T -N.43-27669  -                       

 

 

Pilota    ASWAD

Sec.Pilota                  HOWARD

Puntatore                   DAVIDSON

Navigatore                BURGER

Op. Radio                 LAZOR

Mitragliere                 SNOW

Mitragliere                 HIDGINS

8E -N.43-35983

 

Pilota   GROSS

Sec.Pilota                  KING

Puntatore                   FISCHER

Op. Radio                 GREENBAUM

Mitragliere                 GASPERINO

Mitragliere                 ROSIN

8M -N.43-4055

 

Pilota   SHIPNMAN

Sec.Pilota                  LACEY

Puntatore                   MOODY

Op. Radio                 DAY

Mitragliere                 BARTELL

Mitragliere                 SLIMOWITZ

8B -N.43-3990

 

Pilota   HELLYAR

Sec.Pilota                  KIRK

Puntatore                   ROBINSON

Op. Radio                 FOND

Mitragliere                 ILJANA

Mitragliere                 TAFOYA

 

8P -N.43-276657

 

Pilota   REAGAN

Sec.Pilota                  SALLEN

Puntatore                   HELLER

Op. Radio                 MIROCNICK

Mitragliere                 RACKNYER

Mitragliere                 SMITH

8U -N.43-4064

 

Pilota   CLIFFORD

Sec.Pilota                  GMACHL

Puntatore                   YOHANNAN

Op. Radio                 GREEN                    

            Mitragliere     KLINKNER

Mitragliere                 SIMS

8N- N.43-27752

 

Pilota   RAPP

Sec.Pilota                  STEED

Puntatore                   O’BRIEN

Navigatore                SLOAN

Op. Radio                 ANDERSON

Mitragliere                 GORSKI

Mitragliere                 HIGGINS

8R -N.43-27474

 

Pilota   McDONALD

Sec.Pilota                  VERTREES

Puntatore                   BARDNELL

Op. Radio                 MARTIN

Mitragliere                 BLAND

Mitragliere                 RYBA

8Q -N.43-4025

 

Pilota   SWIFT

Sec.Pilota                  RITTER

Puntatore                   ATKINSON

Op. Radio                 GOODELL

Mitragliere                 PORTER

Mitragliere                 KERKHAN

8Z -N.43-27537

 

Pilota   DUNCAN

Sec.Pilota                  MUMMEY

Puntatore                   HOUSEHOLDER

Op. Radio                 McGLOIN

Mitragliere                 CHESNEY

Mitragliere                 BERTAGNA

489th

S -N.43-34080 – “Knock Out”

 

Pilota   WALKER

Sec.Pilota                  CLINCH

Navigatore                STEWART

Op. Radio                 RICHARDSON

Mitragliere                 DIETERT

Mitragliere                 CASPER

9X -N.43-4000 – “Queen Mary”   [Sent photo from Chas. Cook collection]

 

Pilota                         INSLEY

Sec.Pilota                  SCHRAMECK

Puntatore                   HOEFFLINGER

Op. Radio                 MISKOY

Mitragliere                 DI MARTINI

Mitragliere                 SHINE

9Z- N.43-27667– “Coming over Hun” [Sent photo from Chas. Cook collection]

 

Pilota   CRITTENDEN

Sec.Pilota                  ROUSE

Puntatore                   BRODEK

Navigatore                O’CONNELL

Op. Radio                 ANGLAND

Mitragliere                 ONIDI

Mitragliere                 CRESCENZI

9W -N.43-27659 -

 

Pilota                         McLAIN

Sec.Pilota                  HARPER

Puntatore                   RICHMAN

Op. Radio                 COOPER

Mitragliere                 CUMMINGS

Mitragliere                 CLARK

9T-N.43-27485–“Mission completed  [Sent photo from Chas. Cook collection]

 

Pilota                         CONVIS

Sec.Pilota                  McKINLEY

Puntatore                   SIMPSON

Op. Radio                 EIKHOFF

Mitragliere                 REINHARD

Mitragliere                 BROWN

9H -N.43-27705 – “Black Jack  [Sent photo from Chas. Cook collection]

 

Pilota                         INSLEY

Sec.Pilota                  SCHRAMECK

Puntatore                   HOEFFLINGER

Op. Radio                 MISKOY

Mitragliere                 DI MARTINI

Mitragliere                 SHINE

Some year later I interwiewed former Lt. Rober Burger, bombardier leadre for this mission.

On 8

 

 

MISSIONS SUMMARY OF12th et 15th Air Force on 23 August 1944  

 

Time

Coord.

Target

Group

Type

N*

Bombs

Tonnage

Losses

7.35

T 4012

Iles Pomegues    (T 397115)

86th FG

P 47 D

8

15

3,75

 

8.00

Strafing

Lyon -Orange

4°FG (FFL)

P 47 D

8

 

 

 

8.50

T 4113

Iles Ratonneau

27th FG

P 47 D

8

16

4,00

 

9.15

S 2446

Montpellier

321st BG

B 25 J

18

72

32,69

 

9.25

N 3215

Branoux-la-Paillade

340th BG

B 25 J

18

72

32,69

 

9.45

N 9254

Montélimar         (bridge N885564)

321st BG

B 25 J

15

47

21,34

 

9.55

X 8967

Saint Alban du Rhône

310th BG

B 25 J

6

24

10,90

 

9.55

X 8967

Givors

310th BG

B 25 J

6

24

10,90

 

9.55

X 8967

Givors

310th BG

B 25 J

24

96

43,58

 

10.00

S964854

Avignon

319th  BG

B 26 C

17

68

30,87

 

10.00

S964854

Avignon

3éme BG (FFL)

B 26 C

12

24

10,90

1

10.00

 Escort

Wien, St Polten (Autriche) *

Escorte 15th AF

P51-P38

400

 

 

1

10.00

 Bombing

Wien, St Polten (Autriche) *

Bombardier 15th AF

B24-B17

472

 

 

11

10.06

L 841076

Covigliaio (FI)

320th BG - 442 BS

B 26 C

8

32

14,53

 

10.06

L 841076

Covigliaio (FI)

320th BG - 444 BS

B 26 C

11

44

19,98

2

10.26

 

Castiglione dei Pepoli (BO)

17th BG

B 26 C

18

144

65,38

 

10.30

Q 857897

San Pietro a Sieve (FI)

17th BG

B 26 C

15

55

24,97

 

13.00

T 4012

Iles Pomegues    (T 397115)

86th FG

P 47 D

5

10

2,50

 

14.00

Strafing

Carpentras - Orange

4°FG (FFL)

P 47 D

8

 

0,00

 

14.10

T 4113

IleRatonneau

27th FG

P 47 D

6

12

3,00

 

14.30

N 8755

Cuneo - Demonte  - Argentera

4°FG (FFL)

P 47 D

8

16

4,00

 

16.05

N 7847

Valvighéres

324th FG

P 47 D

11

21

5,25

 

16.50

T 8586

La Brillaune         (T 7986)

79th FG

P 47 D

3

6

1,50

 

17.15

T 4012

Iles Pomegues

4°FG (FFL)

P 47 D

8

16

4,00

 

17.30

J-172864

Pont Saint Martin

340th BG - 488th BS

B 25 J

12

48

21,79

 

17.30

J-172864

Pont Saint Martin

340th BG - 489th BS

B 25 J

4

4

1,82

 

17.45

H-691637

Borgone Susa

321st BG

B 25 J

6

12

5,45

 

17.45

H-691637

Coazze

321st BG

B 25 J

12

24

10,90

 

17.55

T 397115

Iles Pomegues    (T 397115)

86th FG

P 47 D

8

16

4,00

 

18.15

H-691637

Borgone Susa

310th BG

B 25 J

18

72

32,69

 

18.19

S964854

Avignon r/r Bridge

340th BG - 486th BS

B25 J

14

56

25,42

 

18.19

S964854

Avignon r/r Bridge

340th BG - 487th BS

B25 J

8

32

14,53

 

18.19

S964854

Avignon r/r Bridge

340th BG - 489th bs

B25 J

7

1889

102,01

 

18.50

S 5880

Nice

4°FG (FFL)

P 47 D

8

16

4,00

 

19.10

S 5880

Nice

324th FG

P 47 D

8

16

4,00

 

19.15

S 7182

Monaco

86th FG

P 47 D

5

10

2,50

 

23.45

 

Po  Valley - Nice to Savona - Rhône Valley

47 BG

A 20

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Roger,

 

You have more mission information than I do.   I see that at least some of the planes I sent from the 489th fit your mission list.   From your photos yesterday, it seems that the town I found on Google Earth is not yours.  Also, the mission was a big risk for civilian casualties with the bridges right in the midst of historic buildings.  I can assure you that the B-25 bombing missions in Italy were strategic military targets- mainly railroad bridges and marshaling yards that are farther from population.  Ultimately they starved the Nazis of supplies and drove them north to Austria and Germany.

 

I don’t know how you feel about these young men- 18 to 25 years old- given the grave responsibility to carry out these missions.  Many did not return.  I know my father (487th BS) saw many of his friends go down in flames but he did not talk about it.  He did the job he was assigned to do and brought his crew back alive after each of 70 missions.

 

Was any of your family hurt in the raid?  If so, I offer my condolences but am glad that Italy was liberated.

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Roger Juglair [mailto:rogerju@libero.it]
Sent:
Tuesday, October 31, 2007
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Courtesy for pictures on your site

 

 

Hi Doug,

 Italy declares war to USA, Mussoline trhought is people in an adventure bigger than his possibility.

Italy attacked Abissinia (1936), Albania(1938), France and UK(1940), Greece(1940) Yugoslavia and so on.

Our Air Force bombed Abissinia(with mustard gas !!), finally Allies bombed and invaded Italy.

We lost the war and any victims was for Mussolini decision.

Allied bombing killed  50.000 civilians. the cost on civilian lives maded by fascist and nazi Army was the same.

I am in conctact by mail with Burger and I had the pleasure to spoke with Mr Greenbaum, so I know the situtation american soldiers and pilots. They risk their lives for our freedom, many of them died for grant to us democracy.

For the reason of the bombing of my town, probably was the possibility the German Armored forces passed from Piccolo San Bernardo Pass. A very difficult way, probably the HQ made an error on evaluation of the danger this way of communication was.

130 peoples died, on this day 14 america airplanes were shot down, and more than 100  american airmen died.

This was the war, the Hitler and Mussolini war, all charges, also the aAllied's mistakes are on charges of them

Sincerely

Roger

PS: I wrote from my work bureau.

 

Robert w Gaffney [thegaffer1@juno.com]   Nov 5, 2007

 

Dear Doug:      My Uncle George P. Gaffney (Bud) 36503953 was in the 12th

Air Force, 340th Bomb Group (M), 487th BombSqd. I know he served in

Tunisia and I think also Sicily and  Italy.

 

He served as an electrician for the B 25 bomber, the Red Ass. He was insturmental in developing a radio bomb release for which he received the Legion of Merit.

 

I have a copy of the 487th Squadron Album.  There is a photo in which your father appears on page 109.  If there is additional information of interest I would be happy to forward it to you.

 

Bob Gaffney    E-Mail    thegaffer1@juno.com

 

 

 

Robert,

 

Thanks for the email.  I have the 487th Album that was printed about May 1944 just after they arrived in Corsica.  They 487th did come up through Tunisia and Sicily in 1943.  It's not in front of me now but I think we have the same album.  There is a picture of the 'Red Ass' in the album I put up on the web pages (attached).

 

The radio release technique from the lead plane greatly increased bombing accuracy.  My father's bomb run photos specify if they were radio release.  I would be very appreciative if you could send documentation of your uncle and his invention so we could put up a web page dedicated to him and the success of radio release bombing (see attached).

 

Thanks,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

 


From: Esther Owen [mailto:eowen@valint.net]
Sent:
Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:38 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 487 bomb sq.

 

Mr. Cook,   

Thanks for maintaining your web-site dedicated to the men of the 487th bombardment squadron. My father flew in that unit from April 1944 thru December of 1944 and was the pilot of the Sky Demon serial 43-4039 7Y. He was 1st.Lt. Howard L. Owen and we did not know much about his wartime experiences as he didn't talk about it much. After his death I acquired his military papers and some very faded pictures and  then the other day found your site which brought together a lot of unanswered questions. In some of the papers I found notes he had made in reference to different planes he flew in besides the Sky Demon, 7Q, 7V, 7W, 7Z to name a few. In his notes I found were he had written that the Sky Demon had been shot up badly  on 9-18-44, I quote"#54 miss. Frags,(d)or(p)imini on gothic line. Hydraulic system shot out. Oil resivor shot out., also elevator trim tab cable. Main landing gear support half shot away. E. Landing back at base, no one hurt". There are many other notes about different mission but very hard to read as they are written in pencil in a very small note pad(11/2 X 11/2 inches sq.) A couple of names found on your site match some dad had in his papers and that made it that much more clear to us that we could just put together a better history of Dad during that period of time.  Great site and as we continue to sift thru his military papers if  I find anything I think may be of interest to you and the site you have I will surely share it. Again thanks so much! Feel free to contact me at this e-mail or at buzzardsroost@valint.net, or at my home at  1002 North College st. Grangeville, Idaho. 83530.

 

Donald L. Owen

son of

Lt. Howard.L.Owen

 

 

Donald,

 

Thanks for writing and your comments about the web site.  I have enjoyed documenting whatever I can about the 340th BG and the 487th BS specifically.  It has been fitting together pieces of a puzzle to get some insight into what our fathers went through.  Thank you for the info about “Sky Demon”.  My father had more photos of it than any other plane in his album.  I would like to add the lines below that I have underlined to the section on Sky Demon if I can get your permission. I believe the word after Frags is Rimini.  It was a target that became the next airbase for the 340th BG.  If you could scan your father’s photos and any other documents, I would be glad to put together a section dedicated to your father and his service.

 

Thanks,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

Hey Doug,

    Please go ahead and add those lines on your site as I'm sure it may be something other families might be interested in.  I am gathering up some of my dads papers and have been seeing some of the names on your site including your fathers name on one of the records of Dads when he received an Air Medal. I am in the process of taking digital photos of that and scanning what few pictures we have. I also have a program from the 487th B.S. second anniversary which I will attempt to photograph and send to you. That was dad's home address after the war and even though Dad had several addresses in his papers he told me that he never made an attempt to contact any of those he served with other than his life long friend Paul Parker whom we all knew growing up.

    On another note, Dad's first mission was on 12 May 1944, his small diary says quote"flew first mission this day. Had raid on field below us, stood on hill and watched." end quote.

    13 May- quote"Germans raided, fiters above us about 22:30, lot of AA. Stood on hill and watched. About 05:00 this morn they raided us. Put all but 18 ships out of work, killed about 20 men, wounded 80 more. Men down by planes caught hell !!After bomb they strafed us. Could see planes above clearly. Dug Fox Hole today, it might come in handy ! ".  On the 14th he wrote they "were afraid that another raid would come that nite as the 321st below them,  threw little AA in evening".

    I would like to tell you how I ended up with Dads diary, a year or so after dad passed away I was going thru his papers with my brother, in the box mixed up with everything was a leather "Pilots Navigational Kit" very deteriorated and as we took papers, pictures and some of the navigational pieces out I discovered a small pocket, in that pocket was this little ruled booklet(one and a half inches square), very brittle and in it was a record of dads missions(70) while stationed on Corsica. We have since been trying to decipher it as some places are barely legible. When Dad came home(December 1944) he was stationed at Douglas Arizona teaching others how to fly B-25's and a friend from there told us that he knew Dad in the war and that Dad had volunteered for every "Dam" mission that he could. That man 1st Lt. Paul Parker was either in 487th or one of the other Bomb Squadrons on Corsica has since passed away also. Dad stayed in the reserves flying troop transports at the Portland Air base until 1955, Mr. Parker his friend stayed until retirement.

    With this e-mail I will attempt to send you a picture of Dad's crew, its one of the few that are clear enough to scan. On the back in hand writing it says left to right, Kenny(Hill), myself, Angelo(Triunfo), Quinlin(?), Olly(Oliver Buendel), Ray(Heckman)

 

 

Please let me know if the attachment comes thru and I'll send more pictures and photo's of documents. You can post the picture if you want. Thanks again for keeping this site up, its got to be a great history lesson for all of us and today as a veteran I salute you for keeping our fathers memories alive.

 

 Donald  Owen

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: jimmy1017@grandecom.net [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:17 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 487th. sqn.

 

Doug,

 

I am a former B-25 pilot with the 487th. sqn. I was in Corsica from May 21, 1944

to Dec.30, 1944. I flew 66 missions . My name is shown on the mission sheets as

J.A.Littlefield. I have really enjoyed your web site very much. I have picture

of airplanes and the sqn. area that I would be happy to share with you . My

E-mail address is jimmy1017@grandecom.net. Please let me know if you would like

to see them. I remember your father's face but don't remember anything else

about him. I don't think that I ever flew in the same plane with him.

 

 

                                     A former 87 year 487th pilot,

                                      (Capt) James A. Littlefield

                                              8601 Seven Oaks Lane

                                                Denton, TX 76210

 

                                                   (940)898-0370

 

 

 

Hi Jimmy,

 

It is an honor to have you respond to the website!

 

Yes,  I would very much like to have anything you would like to share.  I would be glad to put up a webpage dedicated to your service.  Any photos would be credited to you and they are somewhat protected from direct copy.

 

It would be nice to include a brief bio and any stories/anecdotes you would like to tell. Training and promotions... Post WWII... Also, you could include any service awards and/or news clippings pertaining to your service.  Your immediate family and a photo...

 

Perhaps you have one or access to a scanner. Scanners are inexpensive. Could get the items scanned as a .jpg file at 200-300 dpi resolution? This can be done at an office store like Kinkos also.  Once scanned, you can email them here as attachments.  Please include captions identifying the plane or crew.

 

Thank you again for contacting me and offering to share.  You had an important place in history.  I will try to call sometime soon.

 

Sincerely,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

> From: jimmy1017@grandecom.net [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]

> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:17 PM

> To: Cook, Douglas J.

> Subject: 487th. sqn.

>

> Doug,

>

> I am a former B-25 pilot with the 487th. sqn. I was in Corsica from

> May 21, 1944 to Dec.30, 1944. I flew 66 missions . My name is shown on

> the mission sheets as J.A.Littlefield. I have really enjoyed your web

> site very much. I have picture of airplanes and the sqn. area that I

> would be happy to share with you .

> My

> E-mail address is jimmy1017@grandecom.net. Please let me know if you

> would like to see them. I remember your father's face but don't

> remember anything else about him. I don't think that I ever flew in

> the same plane with him.

>

>

>                                      A former 87 year 487th pilot,

>                                       (Capt) James A. Littlefield

>                                               8601 Seven Oaks Lane

>                                                 Denton, TX 76210

>

>                                                    (940)898-0370

 

 

> Hi Jimmy,

>

> It is an honor to have you respond to the website!

>

> Yes,  I would very much like to have anything you would like to share.

> I would be glad to put up a webpage dedicated to your service.  Any

> photos would be credited to you and they are somewhat protected from

> direct copy.

>

> It would be nice to include a brief bio and any stories/anecdotes you

> would like to tell. Training and promotions... Post WWII... Also, you

> could include any service awards and/or news clippings pertaining to

> your service.  Your immediate family and a photo...

>

> Perhaps you have one or access to a scanner. Scanners are inexpensive.

> Could get the items scanned as a .jpg file at 200-300 dpi resolution?

> This can be done at an office store like Kinkos also.  Once scanned,

> you can email them here as attachments.  Please include captions

> identifying the plane or crew.

>

> Thank you again for contacting me and offering to share.  You had an

> important place in history.  I will try to call sometime soon.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Doug Cook

> Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

Jan 26, 2008

 

  Hi Doug,

 

  Sorry that I didn’t get back to you.  I have had a photographer put a lot of previously unprinted pictures on a disk. These negatives were developed by me in a tent over on Corsica and forgotten over the years. I am trying to get them sorted and captioned. In the meantime I have come down with a bad cold. I'll send them to you with some stories that everyone seems to have forgotten. I really appreciate your doing this.

 

                                          Thanks,

                                        Jimmy

 

 

 

Hi Doug

 

Sorry I'm so late in sending you this but I have been in New Mexico to my Great Granddaughters birthday party. Photos 164 & 190 are of me in primary. Photos 057,068 & 075 are of John Miller , my bomb. 115 is me.

I will send you a list of the photos this weekend. I have to get my son to help me . I also have other photo that I will send.

 

 

                                                Thanks,

 

                                                    Jimmy

 

 

From: Michael Zwierko [mailto:purduemjz@msn.com]
Sent:
Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:03 AM
To: dtaddei@aol.com; ralph.gimenez@warwingsart.com
Cc:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 57th Bomb Wing in Corsica

 

Gentlemen,
 
You may not remember me, but I am the US Navy officer whose great uncle, 1LT Casimir Klujsza, was the bombardier onboard B-25C "TUFF STUFF" when it was shot down on a mission [Feb 13] 1944 [supplies mission between Nemi and Lake Alband].  Thanks to you, I was able to start piecing together facts regarding the 487th BS as well as the details about my great uncle and the two B-25's that carried the name "TUFF STUFF".  I appreciate your generous research assistance thus far and would like to help contribute to the shared knowledge database.  Mr. Cook, your website has been a wonderful and invaluable resource in my research as well.  
 
Although my great uncle has long since passed away, I recently received one of his personal WWII photo albums and a shadowbox from my aunt (who is responsible for his estate).  She knows that I have an avid interest in my great uncle's life and she preserved these items for me to honor his memory.  The shadowbox contains his "Caterpillar" and "Goldfish" cards (for bailing out of a damaged aircraft and surviving a water recovery) along with photos, ribbons, his wings and "Black Knight" leather bomber jacket patches.  Looking through his photos, some have already been documented so he must have traded with other members of his unit.  Other photos are undocumented as far as I know.  Most photos feature my great uncle (there are even shots of his war dog, Rosie), but there are numerous others that feature members of the squadron along with aircraft, including partial shots of B-25J "TUFF STUFF" that I have never seen before.  There are also what appear to be bombing reconnaissance photos with lat/long info on the negative.  Although the photographs aren't of the highest quality and album isn't all that big, there are some pictures which may be useful in preserving the history of the 487th BS. 
 
More than anything else, I would like to honor my great uncle and the men he served with in the 487th BS.  If high resolution scans of these items would be of use in documenting/preserving the collective history of the 487th, please let me know what I can do to help. 
 
Best regards,
Michael Zwierko
 

 

Michael,

 

As you can see by my the growth of my web-pages from submissions by people like yourself, I would be honored to put up a section dedicated to your great uncle.  I recommend the scans to be set for “photo” at 300 dpi.  It’s amazing what detail can be revealed then.   Also, if you can put together a short bio and caption any of the photos, that would really add to the value.  If he had any medals or citations, please try to document those as well.   If the files are too large to email, you can send me a CD at:

 

Doug Cook

POB 12253 Saudi Aramco

Dhahran, 31311

Saudi Arabia

 

I am currently honored to be working with Capt. Jimmy Littlefield, an 87 year old former pilot from the 487th.  I just received a CD from him with his photos that we are documenting.

 

I look forward to working with you.  This project has helped me get closer to my father’s history and touched the lives of many other families.

 

Sincerely,

 

Doug Cook

From: jimmy1017@grandecom.net [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 8:21 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: 487thSqn

 

I left college at Christmas break 1941 and went to work at a primary flying school at Coleman, TX. My job was crewing 3 PT-19s at night. I took the cadet exam here and was accepted as a cadet. We moved to Paris, TX and into service in Dallas. We were sent to Santa Anna, Calif for preflight, From there we went to Tex Rankin Primary School, flying Stearmans. Our class was 43K. Our basic training was at Marana Air Army Base, flying B-13 Vultee Vibraters.  After half of our training, our class no. was changed to 43KX and we were trained in AT-17s. They wanted to see if they could cut the time needed get the pilots in combat sooner. When we graduated we were given the chance to go either into B-25s or P-38s. I chose the Mitchell. Our next base was at Lujanta, Colo. The upper classmen had already graduated and had their wings and commissions. Think they didn’t give us a hard time. We were cadets flying B-25s. After graduation we were sent to Lake Charles LA to fly B-26s, why no one knew. We started raising hell to go to B-25s. The Base commander called us together and told us that he was doing his best to get us transferred and when we 20 men left the base, everyone on the base would breathe a sigh of relief. We were then sent to Greenville SC back to our beloved B-25s, as the CO put it.

I really worked hard to finish early because they promised us leave for the no. of days that we finished early. I finished at the same time as the class ahead of us. Since I had almost 30 days leave, I rushed down to Base HQ. I got the papers to clear the base, when I returned them completed, the Sgt. told that I could be gone until midnight tomorrow night. Seems they were short a crew and guess who took their place. We were sent to Savannah GA, where we picked up our equipment and plane. After several days we were off to West Palm Beach, FL. There our equipment was unloaded and rechecked and reloaded. We were given a set of sealed orders and a compass heading with instructions not to open the orders until we reached the point of no return. We were going to Puerto Rico, and were going to Algeria by way of British Guyana, Natal,&  Belem, Brazil to Ascension Island. [Then to]Liberia, Dakar & Marrakech, Morocco and to Algiers. We exchanged planes in Algiers and spent a couple of days there. We then left for the [487th] Sqn. Enroute we were told to go instead to Ajaccio. Seems the field at Alesan would not be ready until the next day on account of the air raid [May 12,1944]. The next morning we were allowed to proceed to Alesan. We arrived on May 23, 1944. I wonder if the plane that I flew from Africa was the one later named McKinley JR High. It was supposed to arrive on May 20, 1944 .

 

Photo Captions:

 

Pictures

049---Alesan, digging foxholes after raid, lt. to rt. Ray Spurling (with shovel) John Miller, ? , Sgt. Boaz, Flt Eng.

050- Spurling & Miller

051-Same

052- Algeria

053- Out bound mission

054- Sqn. tents

055- Tent on the extreme left is the latrine

057- Tents on left are Officers quarters, next is the communications trailer, trailer and water tank are Maj. Parsons quarters,

        on the right is the latrine, that was dug by some personnel,  who were caught inside a house of ill repute in Bastia,

        as punishment.

058-  Mission returning.

059- Spurling & Miller

060- Edwin Kenyon & Boaz

061- Boaz & Miller

062- John Miller

063

064

065

066

067

068-Spurling

069- Invasion of Southern France

070- Miller

071- Road to airfield

072 Sqn. area

093- Lt Crandall & Lt. Reimer

121- Littlefield, spurling & Miller"s Home

137 Lt. Rushing' s cub that he flew from Italy and had to land on the beach , because he ran out of gas.

145- Sqn. officer's club on extreme right

164-188-190- James Littlefield

 

Hi Doug,

 

Hope that you have gotten the names for the pictures, it's mostly an explanation of the pictures. I don't remember seeing the sqn. album, or it got lost when they lost my things on the trip back to  the states. I saw my crews picture on your website. It was a picture taken at Greenville SC.

I was born in Corinth, MS and moved to Texas in 1938 after I finished high school. I made Captain after I returned to the states. I have a DFC and 13 Air Metals, I think. I was given the DFC. for getting back from my 10th. mission on one engine and we ran out of fuel, brakes shot out and my good engine quit 1/4 of the way down the runway. We crashed, but no one hut bad. Everyone else got the Purple Heart. I'll send you pictures. You have one of the pictures of 7D.

 

 

                                              Jimmy

 

 

From: Michael Zwierko [mailto:purduemjz@msn.com]
Sent:
Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:17 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: 57th Bomb Wing in Corsica

 

Doug,
 
Thank you for the quick reply.
  It will take me some time to get the data together, but it will be put on a CD as there are far too many photos to email at 300 dpi a scan. 
 
I was perusing your site and there is a group photo on the "Squadron Album" page that shows your father on the far left and my great uncle to his left with the dog "Rosie", so their service obviously overlapped.  I noticed that most of the mission crew lists on your site are for late 1944 into 1945.  Is there a resource where I might be able to research earlier crew lists to find my great uncle's missions?  I know for a fact that he was part of the crew of B-25C "TUFF STUFF" the day it was shot down, but I am guessing that the bombing mission aerial BDA photos in his album represent some of his actual drops as bombardier.  He died in 1991 and I was too young at the time to get that in-depth with him about his time with the 487th (I'm only 30).  There are no surviving family members that know enough about my great uncle's service in WWII to provide detailed descriptions and that is why I have undertaken the task to research it myself.  I wish I could go back in time to when I was a kid listening to him and his stories about the war, I have so many questions I would ask him.  Unfortunately, I only have detailed information from what was uncovered after he died.
 
My great uncle "Charlie" was a real hero of mine and probably one of the most influential people in my life.  I am incredibly proud of him and your website has helped me connect with his past in a very real way now that I am old enough to fully appreciate his service.  My family and I are grateful for resources such as your website and I look forward to working with you as well.
 
Mike  
--------------------------------------------------

Mike,

 

I look forward to working with you.  I can search my Dad’s 487th BS Album which has most of its material from before May 1944 (approx date of publication).  It will not have specific mission sheets but it does have bomb run photos and crew photos.  Do you know you uncles’ dates of service?   I do have sheets that tell by date and squadron what the mission target was.  Actual mission sheets are on microfilm at  NARA in MD but I think you would have to go there in person to do the research:

 

 The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272

 

www.archives.gov/

 

 

If you know his SSN or military ID number you can try to get his service records:

 

http://www.archives.gov/

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: jimmy1017@grandecom.net [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 8:26 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 487thSqn Webpage up- still in progress

 

route going over Hi Doug,

The web page is great, I never expected anything to ever see anything like like

this. My thanks to you, Doug, it's great.

I have some other pictures to send you, but am having trouble getting them to

transmit. They are crew pictures, mission pictures and a better picture of the

Fourth of July bash.

The person in the Free White & Filty picture is Ray Spurling, my co-pilot. I

arrived at Alesans on May 21, 1944. On the route going over, we flew from Natal

to Ascension Island then to Roberts Field in Liberia, which is a four hour

flight south of Dakar, and then to Dakar.

I'll will get the pictures to you soon. Doug,

 

 

 again thanks for what you are doing. The 487th. Sgn. will live for a long time.

 

 

                                         Jimmy

 

 

Hi Jimmy,

 

Have a look again.  I put up two more sub-pages for Missions and Alesan Life to test the links.  I would love to get more mission pictures.  I will correct the Free White and filthy picture caption.   I worked on most of the pictures to enhance brightness and contrast.  I think they show much better now.  Do you have any more pictures of 487th BS planes?  The great pictures you have are mostly 489th BS.

 

Long live the Black Knights of the 487th!

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

 

 Hi Doug,

Here are 3 pictures that might clear up some idenity problems. No. 0001 Rt. to Lt. Whalen, Williams, Sqn. Bomb, ??? Kline. Kenyon, & Littlefield. No. 0002 is my crew, Lt. to Rt. Spurling, Kenyon, Miller, Whalan, Littlefield & Boaz. 0003 Lt. to Rt. Lincks, Faylor, Crandall, Littlefield, Miller, Front row Whalen @ ???.
I'LL will send some others tomorrow.

Jimmy

 

Scan0001  Rt. to Lt. Whalen, Williams, Sqn. Bomb, ??? Kline. Kenyon, & Littlefield.

 

 

 

 

Scan0002  my crew, Lt. to Rt. Spurling, Kenyon, Miller, Whalan, Littlefield & Boaz.

 

 

0003 Lt. to Rt. Lincks, Faylor, Crandall, Littlefield, Miller, Front row Whalen @ ???.

Hi Doug,

I am sending the same picture back to you to see if it attached. Please Let me know.
In regard to7D, It's been a longtime since that happened , I can't say that it was my skill and determination that got us back. I did what I had been taught to do to get the plane and crew back. It was something a lot of pilots did from time to time. We were hit over the target and lost the right engine and on this mission we were breaking left and down after we had dropped our bombs so I lost a lot of altitude. The B-25 could maintain altitude on one engine but couldn’t climb. we tossed out some equipment that wasn't tied down in order to clear the mountains on
Italy’s west coast. We had no problems and made clear approach, with the meat wagons waiting on us . I lowered the nose and checked the brakes and they seemed OK. I then pulled the nose up to kill some speed. when the nose came down, the right brake gave away and the left brake locked. I hit the left throttle to bring the ship to the right and the left engine ran out of fuel, taking us left. I told the copilot to pull the emergency air lever. He pumped the hydraulic pump instead. we hit an old bomb casing, knocking out the nose gear.
the mission as have it noted in my log book was Fano. I didn't keep very good records. 7D had no name or nose art. We were leaking fuel
but we couldn't see it.
Do you have a colored picture of RumDum? I think it was 7M I think that I flew my last mission in it. I am building a radio controlled model of a B-25 and would mark it like 7M.

Jimmy

 

 

340th Bomb Group "Any Time, Any Where"

 

 

From: Mark McCandlish [mailto:markmccandlish@c-zone.net]
Sent:
Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:45 AM
To: BARBARA CONNOLLY;
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: Mark McCandlish/Artist/Researcher

 

Hi, Barbi, Doug--

 

Thanks, Barbi, and I'll be happy to correspond with Doug if he is interested.  I have a personal interest in talking to him, since I read recently where several researchers discovered what seems to suggest that oil production below the ocean floor is "abiotic" that is, is an ongoing biological process, that in one sense disqualifies crude oil as a "fossil fuel".  Apparently bacteria in the Earth's crust are constantly creating more while digesting hydrocarbons leaching into the rock from the oceans above (or something like that).  I guess that really shoots holes in the "peak oil" theories we keep hearing about. Meanwhile, crude oil prices crept above $105.00 a barrel on the international markets.... Ahem.

 

Warm Regards

 

 

----- Original Message -----

 

 

 

 

From: Cook, Douglas J.

To: markmccandlish@c-zone.net

Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 3:21 AM

Subject: RE: Mark McCandlish/Artist/Researcher

 

Hi Mark,

 

You have many great B-25 shots on Barbi’s site from the 340th BG 487th BS.  I would like your permission to copy some of them to my website;

 

http://www.reddog1944.com

 

I would credit you and John Sutay as all right reserved.   Can you tell me more about John.  Is he a curator/archivist at NASM?  Was he on Corsica and personally took the pictures?

 

 

As to oil under the ocean floor, abiotic means ‘no life involved’.   Crude oil comes from organic rich source rocks that are buries deep enough to get warm enough (>250 deg F) to crack the kerogens in the rock into oil and gas.  The organic kerogen in the source rocks came from once living algae and plankton that died, accumulated, and were buried (fossils) in an oxygen starved ocean basin.  The oil and gas slowly migrates into a porous reservoir rock such as sandstone or limestone and is trapped there.  My job as an oil prospector is to find that trap and convince Saudi Aramco to drill for it.

 

Bacteria may work on woody organics in the relatively shallow subsurface and generate “biogenic’ methane.  To date this is not an economic source of gas.   On the flip side, bacteria can eat any oil accumulation shallower than about 5000’ below the surface.  I have participated in many research expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico diving in submersible down to as deep as 2600’ studying natural oil seeps.  Bacteria and a reef-like assemblage of chemosyntheic organisms (tube worms, mussels, etc.) live off the seeps also.

 

Oil is not being created by organics from the ocean leaching down into the rocks.  

 

Thanks and regards,

 

Doug Cook

Sr. Geophysical Consultant

Saudi Aramco

Dhahran,  Saudi Arabia

 


From: Mark McCandlish [mailto:markmccandlish@c-zone.net]
Sent:
Sunday, March 02, 2008 10:11 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: Mark McCandlish/Artist/Researcher

 

Hi, Doug,

Say, thanks for clearing up the information on "abiotic production" of oil in the crust.  The article I read in the paper had it completely backwards!  That's what the newspaper gets when they send someone with no technical background in to do an interview!  Your job sounds very interesting.  As an avid scuba diver,

with open water dives down to 150 feet (yeah, right; all of five minutes, LOL) I have always loved the ocean environment.  If I hadn't been an artist, I might have been a marine biologist.

 

You have built a terrific website!  I was really amazed at how extensive and detailed it is.  Of course you can use the images.  I have shots of several of the B-25's I saw over there.  I think you'll enjoy looking through them.  Just let me know how you'd like me to send them-- resolution-wise that is(Or if you would prefer to copy them off the 57th BWA site.)  There are programs available for resizing scanned images, as you are probably aware.  I can even crop and detail small areas up to 3600dpi if you like.  The resolution on these older shots doesn't quite hold up to that level of scrutiny, though.

 

Barbara said you might be interested in one of the "The High & The Mighty" prints, but I'm also available for private commissions if you wanted to document a particular aircraft your father flew in.

 

I think it's wonderful that you have dedicated so much effort to capturing the historical records and personal accounts of your father and the other great veterans who defended us back in WWII.

I feel a surprising connection with you already, inasmuchas your father passed away on my birthday, March 25th, 1994-- the first year Michele and I left southern California for Redding, (north of Sacramento) where we have lived for the past fourteen years.  The mission depicted in the print took place exactly fifty years and one day prior to his passing.  I guess they call that "synchronicity".

 

I haven't talked to John Sutay since around the time I did the painting about seventeen years ago.  He may be deceased.  I seem to recall his eyesight was failing him.  He may have had Retinitis Pigmentosa (excuse any misspelling) or a similar disorder.  The original 4 X 5 negatives I had professionally copied were from another veteran.  His name eludes me at the moment but I recall he lived in Florida back then.

 

Let me know how you would like to proceed.

 

Warm Regards,

Mark McCandlish

 

 

Hi Mark,

 

Thanks for contacting me. 

 

The pics from the 57th wing site are good resolution for me.  How should the credit be documented?  Mark McCandlish and John Sutay?    I’m still not sure who took the original photos or is that undocumented?  You can’t get any better than 4x5 format for original negs.  I used to have a Rolleiflex twin lens reflex camera and RolleiMarine housing for U/W photography back in the stone age.  Now digital rules!

 

Who was John Sutay?  Was he an archivist or a veteran who was there?

 

My father’s pictures were mostly 1” x 1” contact prints that I scanned at 300 DPI.  I was amazed at how much more detail was visible!

 

I am sincerely interested in taking you up on a commissioned piece dedicated to my father or more generically to honor the 487th BS to have a wider appeal for sales.  I’ll have to give it some thought for which plane and subject to capture.

 

http://www.artprints.com/-ap/The-High-and-the-Mighty-Posters_p925_.htm  Awesome!

 

I have recently been in contact (email and phone) with David Konigsberg and James Littlefield who were pilots in the 487th with my father.  It has been an honor to talk to them and to try to document their experiences on my website.  By the way, my techno-savvy daughter is appalled at my lack of html skills in webpage authoring.  I have settled into just using MS Word and brute force!

 

Wow!  Synchronicity is strange! My birthday is March 25, 1955.  My maternal grandfather died on my 8th birthday and Dad died on my 39th birthday.  Chills????

 

Another question:  What sparked your enthusiasm for WWII aviators?   I see your great work on B-25’s and F-14’s on the web. Any others?

 

We have a Saudi air force base just outside our perimeter.  We see F-15’s and Brit Tornado’s up close and personal!   When the F-15s land you can see the pilot and here the hydraulics from the plane. Rarely at night they take of on afterburners and ride a purple pillar of fire straight up to 40,000 feet!

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

 

Hi Mark,

 

Hi, Doug.

 

Thanks for contacting me. 

 

You're welcome.

 

The pics from the 57th wing site are good resolution for me.  How should the credit be documented?  Mark McCandlish and John Sutay? 

 

Actually, I think Barbi may have goofed on that one.  I seem to recall that the set of negatives I was allowed to make contact copies of at a professional photolab in L.A. was from a Walter Liphardt in Florida somewhere.  I'll have to go back and check to be sure.  John Sutay was the 57th BWA historian back around the time when I began researching the background story for the print.  I scanned the images from a set of 8 X 10 inch prints I had made at the same time at 96 dpi. 

 

 

   I’m still not sure who took the original photos or is that undocumented?  You can’t get any better than 4x5 format for original negs.  I used to have a Rolleiflex twin lens reflex camera and RolleiMarine housing for U/W photography back in the stone age.  Now digital rules!

 

I know; I feel like such an antique processing my 35mm film at Walmart!

 

Who was John Sutay?  Was he an archivist or a veteran who was there?

 

(Answered above).

 

My father’s pictures were mostly 1” x 1” contact prints that I scanned at 300 DPI.  I was amazed at how much more detail was visible!

 

I know, one guy from the unit sent me a 1 X 1 of Vesuvius as seen from the Pompeii Airdrome a few day before it erupted.  It was just sending out a little smoke at the time.

I should try scanning it if I can find the little guy!

 

 

I am sincerely interested in taking you up on a commissioned piece dedicated to my father or more generically to honor the 487th BS to have a wider appeal for sales.  I’ll have to give it some thought for which plane and subject to capture.

 

I would love to work with you on that.  If you want to publish a lithograph, I have published all four of the ones I sell.  For a thousand sheets in four color, with separations, you're probably looking at between $5-6K.  I learned a lot about the process and what to look out for.

My original intent was to depict a flight of B-25J's flying past the eruption of Vesuvius, but they didn't make it into the Mediterranian MTO until about April-May of 1944 from what I could tell.  The eruption actually accelerated that move, since 88 B-25C's and D's were lost during the eruption.  Mostly to falling "ejecta" about the size of a man's head falling out of the smoke and ash overcast.  It punched holes through everything; even the tin roofs of the squadron Quonset huts!  But ultimately there were no B-25J's around Italy when the spectacular Vesuvius eruption occured.

 

I have recently been in contact (email and phone) with David Konigsberg and James Littlefield who were pilots in the 487th with my father.  It has been an honor to talk to them and to try to document their experiences on my website.  By the way, my techno-savvy daughter is appalled at my lack of html skills in webpage authoring.  I have settled into just using MS Word and brute force!

 

I can sympathize, since I am self-taught on the computer.  It took me a long time to figure out that LOL meant "Laugh out loud" and not "Lots of Love".  Then there was "WTF"....  LOL  Not something I use BTW...

 

Wow!  Synchronicity is strange! My birthday is March 25, 1955.  My maternal grandfather died on my 8th birthday and Dad died on my 39th birthday.  Chills????

 

Most definitely.

 

Another question:  What sparked your enthusiasm for WWII aviators?  

 

I was telling Barbi that back in the 1960's I used to watch "Twelve O'Clock High" on TV and had the distinct feeling that I had BEEN there.  Kind of a reincarnation type of

thing I guess.  I think I was a P-51 pilot or something, because from the moment I layed eyes on one in the air, it just grabbed me like nothing else I can name.  But to answer your question, that's where the interest started.

 

 I see your great work on B-25’s and F-14’s on the web. Any others?

 

Yes, there is one print featuring a set of F-16's engaging some Iraqi MiG-25's in "Mixing It Up At Nine G's" .  The background here is based on an actual photo I shot hanging from my ejection seat straps in the back seat of an F-4 Phantom flying inverted over China Lake Naval Weapons Range.

 

 

 

And there's an F/A-18A Hornet vs Soviet Mig-29 encounter in "Stung By A Hornet".  This was my first piece that I published.

 

 

 

We have a Saudi air force base just outside our perimeter.  We see F-15’s and Brit Tornado’s up close and personal!   When the F-15s land you can see the pilot and hear the hydraulics from the plane. Rarely at night they take of on afterburners and ride a purple pillar of fire straight up to 40,000 feet!

 

The newer F-15E is an amazing bird, but doesn't hold a candle to the maneuverability of the F-16.  I've had some stick time in both aircraft, although the F-15 and F-16 I flew in were both two seat, trainer models.  In 1985 or thereabouts I bagged a media orientation ride in one of the F-15's that replaced the F-106's that I worked on with the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron  (FIS) up at McChord AFB, Tacoma, Washington, (circa 1974).  The F-15 has a buffeting condition due to its wing design and G-force limitation of about 7-8 G's.  The whole aircaft shudders like it's going to fall apart.  You can see this same kind of effect in a few of the F-14 Tomcat shots with Tom Cruise in "Top Gun" if you watch closely.  He's really in a cockpit at speed.  The buffeting becomes evident right as the editor cuts to the next shot.  The F-16, on the other hand, is like a shorty surf board.  Highly maneuverable and very sensitive to pilot input.  I could barely control it at first.  Just the slightest movement, and ZOOM!   It was half a mile over in another direction!  It could pull up to 12 G's but most pilots can't keep their head awake above 9.3G's.  I passed out at about 9.1 !  It was quite a sensation...  Not a quick bang! yer out! but a slow, tunnel-vision experience that gradually encroached on my field of vision culminating in a small window of black and white imagery (normal size) like a 3 inch window at arm's length.  Then it got blurry, faded, then the sound slowly faded too.  Then I was gone.  My color vision was the first thing to go.  It was literally like watching a old B&W TV!

 

I look forward to our future correspondence.

Salutations from Redding!

Mark

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

 

 

Hi Jimmy,

 

Sorry I took so long to reply.  I have been out of the country and just got back to my desk.

 

The picture came through just fine.

 

I will certainly be able to use it.  I think my father was on that mission and has a similar picture.  I will post this on your web page.  I haven’t yet read all my emails but I will be happy to use any other pictures you have.

 

Thanks a million.

 

Doug

 


From: JAMES LITTLEFIELD [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent:
Monday, March 31, 2008 10:06 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Emailing: Bomb pic 02

 

Hi Doug,

 

At long last I Think that I will be able to send you some more pictures. I attended a computer class today and I think that I can do it. Please let me know if it worked ok. The web site really looks good . I really appreciate the work and effort that you put into it. I'm sorry that it took me so long to send the  pictures.

 

 

                                                                   Jimmy

 

 

 

 

Korsika - The raids on Borgo-Poretta and Alesani from the German perspective

 

http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer/taghon/Korsika_index.htm

 

http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer/taghon/Taghon.pdf

 

 

From: Michael Zwierko [mailto:purduemjz@msn.com]
Sent:
Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:17 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: 57th Bomb Wing in Corsica

 

Doug,
 
Thank you for the quick reply.
  It will take me some time to get the data together, but it will be put on a CD as there are far too many photos to email at 300 dpi a scan. 
 
I was perusing your site and there is a group photo on the "Squadron Album" page that shows your father on the far left and my great uncle to his left with the dog "Rosie", so their service obviously overlapped.  I noticed that most of the mission crew lists on your site are for late 1944 into 1945.  Is there a resource where I might be able to research earlier crew lists to find my great uncle's missions?  I know for a fact that he was part of the crew of B-25C "TUFF STUFF" the day it was shot down, but I am guessing that the bombing mission aerial BDA photos in his album represent some of his actual drops as bombardier.  He died in 1991 and I was too young at the time to get that in-depth with him about his time with the 487th (I'm only 30).  There are no surviving family members that know enough about my great uncle's service in WWII to provide detailed descriptions and that is why I have undertaken the task to research it myself.  I wish I could go back in time to when I was a kid listening to him and his stories about the war, I have so many questions I would ask him.  Unfortunately, I only have detailed information from what was uncovered after he died.
 
My great uncle "Charlie" was a real hero of mine and probably one of the most influential people in my life.  I am incredibly proud of him and your website has helped me connect with his past in a very real way now that I am old enough to fully appreciate his service.  My family and I are grateful for resources such as your website and I look forward to working with you as well.
 
Mike  

 

5/4/08

 

Mike  Hello again,

 

I just wanted to know how your research project was going and to let you know about some updates to my website.   Your email underscored that I had been neglecting material I have that predates my father’s entering the theater *late Mar, 1944).  I have scanned most of his 487th squadron album that covers the inception of the 487th up to about May, 1944.   

 

To guide you down through the tree:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th%20Squadron%20Index.htm

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Album_History%20of%20the%20340th.htm    expanded history

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Album_Continued.htm    bombing up to about April 1944.   At least one new picture of 7C in flight and missions your uncle no doubt participated.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Personnel.htm      alphabetical personnel listing to about May 1944-    I don’t find a Zwierko,  what was your uncle’s name?

 

 

Please keep in touch,

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: Michael Zwierko [mailto:purduemjz@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday,
May 06, 2008 10:26 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Cc:
mrtarkany@comcast.net; tmcgill@insdra.com; Dennis.Schang@toyoda-na.com; iris@mchsi.com; rose; Butterbaugh, Todd; BARBARA CONNOLLY; Robert w Gaffney; jimmy1017@grandecom.net
Subject: RE: 487th BS 340th BG TUFF STUFF

 

Doug,
 
Thank you for the updates, it is great to see more history uncovered and presented to the masses!  My great uncle is indeed on the crew listing you linked, but his last name was not Zwierko, it was Klujsza (Casimir, better known as "Charlie").  His
569 Morgan Avenue address in NY was the same until he passed away.
 
I am wading through a lot of his stuff and it is taking longer than expected due to outside issues taking a much higher priority.  I am working on it, however.  I have obtained his handwritten mission logs for all of his 51 missions and he was extremely thorough in his descriptions and details up until his last missions (his early logs are the most comprehensive, his later logs feature a date and a tail code).  I am going to have these included in the scans.  Lots of target photos and other memorabilia.  My aunt has all of the love letters he wrote to my great aunt, but they are personal and I would rather not make them public.  Suffice it to say, there is a lot of new history to report.
 
Thank you again for the updates and extra data.  As always, if you see anything about 1LT Casimir Klujsza or either of the B-25's called "TUFF STUFF/7M", I am very interested.
 
Take care.
 
Mike

Mike,

 

I’m glad you got something out of the latest uploads.  I look forward to getting your scans and will be honored to dedicate a page to Charlie Klujsza.

 

Regards,

 

Doug

 

 

Mark,

 

Thanks for the material on the 487th BS "Dogface Squadron".  With your permission, I would like to post it with a credit to you.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Navarro, Mark [mailto:mnavarro@utmb.edu]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:31 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Dogface Squadron

 

Hi Doug

 

I found these documents at an antique shop in Houston. I found your

website when I tried to find more information on the squadron and

thought you might like to take a look.

 

Regards

 

Mark Navarro

 

From: Ann Buechler [mailto:teh_annah@hotmail.com]
Sent:
Sunday, June 08, 2008 6:51 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: A few questions

 

Mr.Doug Cook,

My name is Ann Buechler and I am currently doing some research on my great-uncle that was in the same squadron as Charles Cook. If Mr. Charles Cook is by any chance still alive, I was wondering if you could please ask him about a 2nd Lt. named Harley Anderson from
Minnesota. He was killed over in Sicily when his plane was shot down. I would appreciate this immensely.

Thank you much.
Ann Buechler


 

Hi Ann,

 

Thanks for writing to me.  I am inspired to keep expanding the web pages about our WWII Air Corps vets and fallen heroes especially as a research place for families like yours.  My father passed in 1995.  I have been in contact with a few surviving vets of the 487th but their service was in 1944-45.  Action in Sicily was in 1943.  My fathers 487th Album covers that era up to May 1944.  It does list Harley Anderson as MIA but has no other details: 

 

 

 

 

This part of the website shows mission photos from Sicily and that part of the campaign moving Axis forces north of Rome:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Album_Continued.htm

 

This article somewhat documents what the 487th Squadron did for the GI’s on the ground in that part of the campaign in support of Messina Straights, Randazzo, and Anzio:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/Dogface_Squadron.htm

 

If you have any more information on your great uncle you want to pass along (what was his position on the B-25, training photos, stories from letters home, him pictured with family, etc.), I would be happy to post it on a new web page and dedicate it to him. 

 

If you know any more specifics we may be able to get some info from other govt. archives:   Date of the mission he was shot down and his Service number (military ID #) would be most  helpful.

 

You can try to get his service records:

 

http://www.archives.gov/

 

I was successful getting a gold mine of records for my father-in-law.

 

For a fee you can get the MACR  Missing Air Crew Report) report:

http://www.accident-report.com/prices.html

 

or

 

http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/faq/MACR.htm

 

I would be happy put up a section dedicated to him if you can put some of  his story together.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran

Saudi Arabia

 

 

Ann,

 

Here’s more: 

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Album_History%20of%20the%20340th.htm

 

 

 Harley was a pilot and we have his Service number.  He was killed in action on 10 Sept 1943.

 

 

 

This page shows crews from that era and names “Anderson” in three of the photos.  However there was more than one Anderson in the crew roster.  Can you or anyone from the family ID him from these photos?

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Album_History%20of%20the%20340th.htm#Crews

 

 

 

 

Missions on 10 Sept 43:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20Bomb%20Group%20Missions2.htm

 

 

 

 

Ann, your latest history files shows that Harley’s fatal mission began Sept 9 1943 (night mission to  Grazzanise L/G). Sept 10 was shown in the squadron album as the date of Harley being killed in action. 

 

487th Bases:

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Album_History%20of%20the%20340th.htm

 

El Kabrit, Egypt, March 1943
Medenine, Tunisia, March 1943
Sfax, Tunisia, Apr. 1943
Hergla, Tunisia, 2 June 1943  
Comiso, Sicily, 2 August 1943
Catania, Sicily, 27 August 1943
San Pancrazio, Italy, 15 October 1943
Foggia, Italy, 19 November 1943
Pompeii, Italy, 2 Jan. 1944
Guado (
Paestum), Italy, 23 March 1944
Corsica, 14 April 1944

 

 

 


From: Ann Buechler [mailto:teh_annah@hotmail.com]
Sent:
Sunday, June 08, 2008 5:35 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: 487th Squadron : A few questions

 

Doug,

I'm heading over to my grandmother's house today and she is the one that was given all the photos of Harley. If I am lucky, maybe they still have some of the letters he sent home.  I can see if I could borrow them and scan them, then send them to you. I know, from what my grandmother has told me, he was a co-pilot. However, she doesn't remember much else, since she was only nine when he died.


Also, I did some digging around and here are copies of his enlistment information and his death.


Harley H. Anderson
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O1704114
487th Bomber Squadron, 340th Bomber Group, Medium
Entered the Service from: Minnesota
Died: 10-Sep-43
Buried at: Plot D Row 13 Grave 26
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Nettuno, Italy
Awards: Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

I also found his enlistment papers.

Name: Harley H Anderson
Birth Year: 1920
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Minnesota
State: Minnesota
County or City: Rock

Enlistment Date: 6 Sep 1942
Enlistment State: Georgia
Enlistment City: Moody Field Valdosta
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Staff Sergeant
Grade Code: Staff Sergeant
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective
December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Enlisted Man, Regular Army, within 3 months of Discharge or former WAAC Auxiliary

Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Upholsterer
Marital Status: Married
Height: 70
Weight: 138


I hope this is helpful. Thank you!

Ann


Doug,

I asked my grandmother if she had anything of Harley's when I saw her today. Unfortunately, she only has a photo of him with my Great-Aunt Florence, his wife, and a photo that you have on the site. He's standing by the Rum Dum, between Sather and Crane, looking away from/above the camera. Anyway, the story is that my aunt had everything of Harley's in a trunk after he died, and after she married again, the trunk became lost and no one in our family knew what happened to it. Such a loss. I also recieved an email from Mr. Setzer, whose father also served in the same squadron. He had found information about the fatal mission. My grandmother is very interested in my research and is excited to know that I am in contact with relatives of men that Harley served with.

Thanks,
Ann

 

 

Doug,

Here are a few scans of information about Harley for you. I will have to e-mail my cousin to get a high-definition scan of the photo you already have. The first one is a photo of Harley and my Great-Aunt Florence at the beginning of his training. The three other scans are information about his mission and his death.


Ann

 

 

 

Subject: RE: New webpage dedicated to Harley Anderson

 

Doug,

I know you have done so much for both me and my Grandmother and I greatly appreciate it, but I have one more favor to ask you. I wish to come in contact with some of the men who my great-uncle served with. Do you know anyone or their families who might have served around the same time Harley did? A list would be just enough. I can do the rest, but I don't even know where to begin to find the names...

Also, I hope to soon contact my second cousin-our family and hers are on bad relations-in hopes of her knowing the where-abouts of her mother's treasured chest filled with Uncle-Harley's things. Either way, I greatly appreciate your compassion and your persistence in helping me find information on Harley.


Ann


 

Ann,

 

This may be like finding a needle in a haystack but through my website I did find one man, David Konigsberg, who knew my father because he contacted me.  They were in theater beginning Mar 1944 after Harley.

 

I am sending you a dated list of 487th Squadron reunion attendees (credit Hank Del Percio) and the personnel listing up to May 1944 that included Harley.  You can try to cross-reference and start calling.

 

 

Hi Doug,

I had a very nice reunion with my radio-gunner this past weekend. His Son-in-law and his Granddaughter come with him. We had a nice visit after 63 years.

I'm hoping to send a picture of the nose art of a plane that I flew and would like make my model look like.  I think that this plane was 7U but I'm not positive. I'm hoping that you know and also know the serial number of this plane.

Jimmy

 

 

From: JAMES LITTLEFIELD [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent: Wednesday,
July 16, 2008 9:54 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: July 4th.

Hi Doug,

Here is a picture of me and JoeWhalen. Joe was my radio-gunner.

 

Hi Doug.

This is our 4 July 1944 celebration at Joe's Place. We had hamburgers and cokes etc. Ray Spurling is no. 4 from the left and I am the raunchy one in the 7th. space from the left. I think that maybe I have learned how to send pictures , I hope. I had a man come out today to help me straighten out my computer and show me what that I was doing wrong. I sure hope that this will get to you, let me know if you get this and another that I sent earlier today.

 

                                                  Thanks

 

                                                  Jimmy

 


From: JAMES LITTLEFIELD [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent:
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:33 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: a picture for you

 

Hi Doug,

Here's another bomb picture that I don't think I have sent.

 

                                        Jimmy

 

 

Hi Jimmy,

 

I got the picture and it read Rimini Area Sep 14 1944.  I will try to match it with missions and an image from today off Google earth.

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Doug Cook

Rub al Khali Team Leader

Area Exploration Department

Saudi Aramco

Phone  966-3-873-7724

 

Personnel Listing:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Personnel.htm

 

 

Another tactic:

 

Join this group and make a request for contacts through their forums:

 

http://57thbombwing.com/

 

Join this group and make a request for contacts through their forums ( 57th Bomb Wing;  340th Bomb Group;  487th Bomb Squadron)

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/

 

You will find that many family members are on the same quest but be patient- you may find the needle in the haystack.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook


From: JAMES LITTLEFIELD [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent:
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 10:19 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Noseart

 

Hi Doug,

I had a very nice reunion with my radio-gunner Joe Whalen this past weekend (sent July 2, 2008). His Son-in-law and his Granddaughter come with him. We had a nice visit after 63 years.

I'm hoping to send a picture of the nose art of a plane that I flew and would like make my model look liket. I think that this plane was 7U but I'm not positive. I'm hoping that you know and also know the serial number of this plane.

Jimmy

Hi Doug.

This is our 4 July 1944 celebration at Joe's Place. We had hamburgers and cokes etc. Ray Spurling is no. 4 from the left and I am the raunchy one in the 7th. space from the left

Here is a picture of me and Joe Whalen. Joe was my radio-gunner.

 

                                                       Jimmy

Hi Jimmy,

 

I got the picture and it read Rimini Area Sep 14 1944.  I will try to match it with missions and an image from today off Google earth.

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Doug Cook

Rub al Khali Team Leader

Area Exploration Department

Saudi Aramco

Phone  966-3-873-7724

 


From: JAMES LITTLEFIELD [mailto:jimmy1017@grandecom.net]
Sent:
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:33 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: a picture for you

 

Hi Doug,

Here's another bomb picture that I don't think I have sent.

 

                                        Jimmy


From: Dan & Cyd Setzer [mailto:dhsetzer@comcast.net]
Sent:
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 3:52 AM
To: ;
Subject: There is a Catch...

 

Dear Folks,

 

I am working on a paper that I am calling, "The Historical Sources for the Events in Joseph Heller's Novel, Catch-22."

 

In the paper I attempt to make three points:

 

    1. Due to its content and artistic merit, Catch-22 will remain a classic of world literature for generations to come.

 

    2. As far as the events depicted in the novel are concerned, Joseph Heller did not make anything up.

 

    3. Due to the close connection between the historical events on Corsica in 1944 and the events in the novel, the memory of the men and combat missions of the 340th Bombardment Group will live on as long as the novel is read and enjoyed.

 

It is still very much a 'work in progress,' but I am to the point where I need the input from a panel of experts.  If you have the time to glance at a few pages, please let me know if I have made any factual errors.  Also, if you are aware of connections between the novel and historic events or people that I have missed, please let me know that also.

 

There are still details to clean up and, before I go public, I do need to be polite and ask Don Kaiser, Bud and others for permission to use the photos that I flitched from their web sites to illustrate some of the points I needed to make.

 

I will deeply appreciate any feedback you are able to offer...good, bad or ugly.

 

Please take a look (1MB PDF file):    http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer/JHeller_draft.pdf

 

--
Daniel Setzer
Son of Sgt. Hymie Setzer, 340th BG 487th BS
http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer

 

Dan,

 

I am as a son of a 487th Squadron vet and as much interested in 340th BG history as anyone.  I have tried several times to read Catch 22 and just can’t get through it.  If you have read Harry George’s “Georgio Italiano” you will read a veteran pilot’s words tearing Catch 22 to pieces.  Google Harry George “Georgio Italiano and you will find the reference or try Amazon where I bought my copy.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

Rub al Khali Team Leader

Area Exploration Department

Saudi Aramco

Phone  966-3-873-7724

 

http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/487th_History/missions/340thMissions_index.htm

 

-----Original Message-----
From: ANDERSEN Lars T [mailto:larsandersen@optonline.net]
Sent:
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 6:53 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: FW: THE DOGFACE SQUADRON


 
Dear Mr. Cook:

Here are my notes after viewing a National Archives reference room copy of
this film. Thought you might be interested. It could be footage of the 340th
Bomb Group.

RG 18 CS 3389             THE DOGFACE SQUADRON
DVD Reference copy
R1: 1,379'
MPS
R2: 1672'
MPS

Reel 1:
Slate: 9
CCU 2/1/1940 SUBJ: Dogface Squadron, (this is NOT 1940) B-25's -
mechanics work on engines, gasoline truck pulls up, gases up B-25, engines
start, B-25's taxi out.

Reel 2:
Map on wall, three officers study maps, personnel file out of building, CU
view of railroad track leading into tunnel, views of damaged bridges (looks
to be Italy), US trucks crossing bridges some of which are repaired, aerials
B-25's, ground views of B-25's.

Very nice site that you have.  I looked at the film clips - the films could
be professionally transferred and a high quality
DVD made from them.

Regards,

Lars Andersen

 

 

From: Gerry Kersey [mailto:gerrykersey@gmail.com]
Sent:
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:06 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 340th BG info

 

Doug, My name is Gerry Kersey. I do photo restoration of the WWII aircraft. I would like to include some of your photos on my web site.  http://www.houstonphotorestore.com/ If you click on the Warbirds links you will see some of the work I have done in cleaning up the photos of these aircraft. There is no charge for veterans or their relatives. I have an aircraft I am trying to track down it's Group affiliation. It's name was Dirty Gertie From Bizertie. It has a Mediterranean background. Possibly you can help in my search for the group & squadron affiliation. Here is the info I have on the A/C. B-25D-NC # 41-29696 Dirty Gerty from Bizerty
Regards, Gerry Kersey

 

 

Hi Gerry,

 

Nice website and service!  Are you interested ant specific photo on my website?

 

All the info I have on aircraft from the 340th BG s posted on my website.  From the info you have given, I know this plane was not in Corsica at the timeframe that my father was.

 

The 340th had essentially all B-25 J models that would have been built in 1943 to 44. The tail markings would have a large 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 above the serial number to designate the squadron as 486th, 487th, 488th, or 489th.    Your plane was built in 1941. It is possible that they didn’t use the squadron marking on the tail early on.  If it was in the 340th BG, it may have been in Tunisia or Algeria early in the war before they moved to Corsica. In fact Bizerte is in Tunisia!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizerte

 

 

 Try the link below.  I have used this site for research.

 

B-17F-10-DL       42-2985

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: Joan Pariso [mailto:joanpariso@gmail.com]
Sent:
Friday, March 19, 2010 12:53 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Cc: Joyce Buchholz-Kelley
Subject: 340th

 

Thank you for your web site. My father is misidentified in one of photos. In image 32 (file attached), he is kneeling in the front row in the middle. His name is James Earl Kelley. I had this very same photo given to me by my father. He flew on the Bitch N Mitch.

 

I am also attaching other photos that he gave to me. As his name was misspelled so many times in life (Our name is spelled Kelley - not Kelly), I know that it would bother him to see someone else's name in the picture. He was very proud of his military service, and I would like to see him get the recognition that he so richly deserves.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Joan Kelley Pariso


Hi Joan,

 

Thank you for writing.  I am always grateful for reader’s submissions and corrections.  Above all my website stands to honor the veterans who were in WWII.  I am not sure which photo misnames your father.  The Bitch N Mitch is shown on this page:

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20BG%20487th%20BS%20PLANES.htm

 

The first photo shows a crew with my father identified back row right.

 

I very much appreciate your photo submissions and would like to dedicate a webpage to your father.  With your permission, I would post these pictures with full credit to him and to you.  I will need your help with picture captions.   For example:  scan000_   Caption to read:________.

 

Perhaps you could also put together a bio sketch of  James Earl Kelley:  Birth date and place.  Parents.  Where he was inducted and trained for service.   Service dates of his overseas tour. Marriage. Wife.  Children.  Post war life.

 

When I put the webpage together and post it,  you can work with me on any changes so that it suits you and properly honors your father.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Joan Pariso [mailto:joanpariso@gmail.com]
Sent:
Saturday, March 20, 2010 11:15 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 340th I found it!

 

Hi Doug,

 

I was so very happy to hear from you. Yes, you did locate the correct photo. My father is also in some of the Bitch N Mitch photos that I emailed to you. If you could make sure his name is spelled correctly. The last name is Kelley. It used to drive him crazy if someone misspelled his last name. Thank you. :)

 

I have to tell you that I know your web site must mean so very much to the men who fought for us all those years ago. Even more than that, it means so much to their children and grandchildren and future generations. I have had tears in my eyes, as I look through all the pages and all the data that you have acquired. It is with a very heavy heart that I live with the regret that my father and I never talked much about the war. The only question I ever remember asking him was if he was ever afraid when he had to fly. He said that yes, he had been afraid on every mission, but he learned to put his fear aside and just do what had to be done.

 

It's only as I've gotten older that I realize that there are some wounds that are always fresh - no matter how much time has passed. For me, growing up, World War II, in my mind, was as ancient as the civil war. I was born in 1950, so obviously not much time had passed after the war. I never realized that for the men who fought for us, it must have always felt like yesterday for them when they remembered the horrors of the war. I wish my perspective had been different when my father was alive. We lost him in 2000, and it was only after that when I started to realize that, in one way or another, he probably carried the war with him for the rest of his life. 

 

My sister and I both have contacted James Littlefield. He remembered me dad, but he said because of his age, he forgets some things now. He is still alive, and he is still living in Denton, Texas. Ironically enough, for many years I lived just South of him, and my daughter graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton. My father used to visit us regularly, and it saddens me to think that Mr. Littlefield was just down the street. I retired early from American Airlines in 2002, so I no longer live in Texas, or I would love to visit Mr. Littlefield.

 

I would love to write something up for you, so that you can dedicate a page to my father. My dad was an emotional man, and I can't even put into words how much it would have meant to him. I can, however, tell you how much it would mean to his family. We would all be so very grateful. It may take a week or two, but I promise I will do it and email it to you. 

 

I have another scan that I don't recall if I emailed you. I have the certificate for the medal the 340th got. I also have the medal here somewhere. I think you asked when my dad served in the 340th. I think it was 1942-1944, but I will recheck the dates. The date on the certificate for the air medal is July 26, 1944.

 

I am also going to put together a book of sorts with some of the data from your site (with your permission) along with the pictures I have. I'll be printing everything out myself, and then I'll take it to Kinkos and have it bound. I am hoping to have an artist friend draw the B-25 and add the nose art for the Bitch N Mitch to it along with the number of missions that were flown. (The art work is still up in the air. She is a tremendous artist, but I don't know if airplanes are in her comfort zone). I have not yet had a chance to read everything on your site. I know my dad told me the number of missions he flew, but I don't recall the exact number. I do have a photo that is labeled with the number of missions flown to that date, but I don't know if it was the total of all missions. My plan is to get this done, so that I can give it as a Christmas present to my sister and to my nieces and nephews. I will also be happy to send you a copy when it is complete, and I plan on sending one to Mr. Littlefield. It isn't anything I'm selling. It's just something I wanted to do to honor my father. I want to be certain that future generations understand the sacrifices that he made. I'm sure you understand exactly what I am talking about. I don't ever want him to be forgotten. 

 

Oddly enough, it was only last week that I organized all my photos. When I did, I scanned the ones of my dad into my computer, so I could print them out and send my sister copies of them. I will get the photos out again, so I can read the comments on the back of some of them. I will then write up what I can about my dad, and I will email it to you along with whatever other information I have. 

 

I am touched by your dedication to this web site. I'm sure your dad would take great comfort in knowing that you are maintaining it and reaching out to his fellow airmen and their families.

 

I happened to notice that you are in Saudi Arabia. I am a corporate travel agent now, and I book many people to Saudi Arabia and all over the Middle East. I have been to many places in the world, but I haven't yet been to anyplace in the Middle East. When I ask my clients what they think, they all say, "It's hot". :) At least several times a week, I am booking someone to the Middle East on business.

 

Thank you again, Doug. I can't tell you what your information has meant to my family. I will write up a bio of my dad and email it to you within the next two weeks.

 

Joan

 

Joan,

 

I’ve had fun searching my website and found more missions your father had in common with mine and with David Konigsberg.  David is still alive (as far as I know) in Hollywood, Ca.

 

Missions in common with James Kelley, Charles Cook, and David Konigsberg

http://www.reddog1944.com/Konigsberg_David.htm#Top

 

The France missions were probably some of the roughest.  My father received the Distinguished Flying Cross for Aug 15, 1944 mission on Avignon during D-Day for Southern France.

487th Squadron Planes  7A to 7Z (tail markings)
http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20BG%20487th%20BS%20PLANES.htm

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Joan Pariso [mailto:joanpariso@gmail.com]
Sent:
Sunday, March 21, 2010 1:49 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Good day, Doug.

 

Hi Doug,

 

Yes, feel free to extract from my email. 

 

Thank you for all the links. I am just knocked out by all the information - so much so that after I've gone to bed, I'm waking up several hours later to go back on the computer to keep reading. It's the strangest thing. It makes me feel so much closer to my dad. I know that your dad, Capt. Littlefield, and the other airmen shared an experience together that can't be felt by anyone else. We can read about it. We can look at the pictures. We can talk to other family members who might have recollections of conversations with these WW II vets, but only those men who were there together really know what it was like. What an unbelievable bond they shared.

 

It seems to be a common thread that these men didn't talk about the war very much. Most of them were gone from home for at least several years. We live in such a small world now, but back then, the world was quite large to us. Now people travel everywhere. Then most people wouldn't have known where Tunisia was on a map. Things were so different then. I find it odd that these brave men didn't talk about the war, and I don't know why that is. They fought a global war on foreign soil in places many hadn't heard of. WW II was a huge war - one that wasn't swept under the rug. So many books - so many movies - could it be possible that these men didn't realize the historical significance of what they had done? I don't know why they didn't talk more to their children about it. I realize these are rhetorical questions. I don't know that we will ever know. It just seems so odd to me. If I put the war aside for a minute, if my dad had gone to Tunisia on a vacation in 1942, I'm sure I would have heard something about it from him over the years. He went there for a war and was gone from home for a long time. He fought for something that was so important. I wish I could understand why he didn't talk about it.

 

In one of the videos you have posted, it shows the men standing and waiting for the mail. Seeing those things just brings it all home to me, and it's all made me quite emotional about it (as if you couldn't tell). :) 

 

As for your question about your uncle, we didn't live in Racine, Wisconsin. We lived on Racine Avenue in Chicago. :) 

 

I have to get my pictures out and read the comments on the back. All these years, I have thought my dad's pilot was named "Mitchell". What a surprise to find out that it was the model of aircraft. Maybe it's my imagination that I have a faint memory of him talking about someone named Mitchell. I'll find out for sure once I get the pictures out.

 

Have a good day, Doug. I'm absolutely captivated by your web site.

 

Joan

 

 

Joan,

 

Thanks for your kind thoughts and rhetorical questions.   I am already working on the web page for James Earl Kelley.

 

I have attached a document with a picture that may answer part of your question of why the men didn’t talk much about flying their missions.  Anti-aircraft guns were shooting aerial flak bombs that exploded at their altitude.  The shrapnel would tear right through the plane and brought many of them down.  The plane had to fly straight and level over the target and right through all that flak.  Even if you didn’t get hit, the shock waves were bouncing the plane all over.  Imagine the sheer terror mission after mission.  If there was no flak or fighters, the mission was a “milk run”.   When our fathers arrived overseas, they were expected to complete 25 missions.   The movie “Memphis Belle” is about a B-17 crew that was the first to survive 25 missions since the rate of attrition was so high.  After 25 missions you were deemed mentally unfit for combat so you got to go home.  Well as our fathers added missions, they upped the ante to 50 missions and then in late 1944 they upped it to 70 missions!  I’m sure you’ve heard about the book and movie “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller.  He was in the 488th Bomb Squadron on Corsica in our father’s 340th bomb group. Joseph Heller was bombardier and 8U had Francis Yohannan as bombardier. Yohannan was the real-life inspiration for Heller's main character of Yossarian in "Catch-22."

 

There are links to 489th BS video from Corsica.  It’s in color but the focus is fuzzy.  I recognize many of the planes in my father’s album.

 

489th Bombardment Squadron Ground Crews Video

 

The 489th Bombardment Squadron on Corsica   Video

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: Iris Hyland [mailto:iris@mchsi.com]
Sent: Wednesday,
April 14, 2010 10:23 AM
To:
Iris
Subject:
BILL MAULDEN...

 

  

 

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:6A02438A-943D-4ACA-87DD-8A1AF5F2014E

 




Bill Mauldin Stamp Honors Grunts' Hero


The post office gets a lot of criticism.  Always has, always will.

And with the renewed push to get rid of Saturday mail delivery, expect complaints to intensify.  But the United States Postal Service deserves a standing ovation for something  that's going to happen this month: Bill Mauldin is getting his own postage stamp.  Mauldin died at age 81 in the early days of 2003.  The end of  his life had been rugged.  He had been scalded in a bathtub, which led to terrible injuries and infections; Alzheimer's disease was inflicting its cruelties. Unable to care for himself after the scalding, he became a resident of a 
California nursing home, his health and spirits in rapid decline.

He was not forgotten, though. Mauldin, and his work, meant so much to the millions of Americans who fought in World War II, and to those who had waited for them to come home.  He was a kid cartoonist for Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper; Mauldin's drawings of his muddy, exhausted, whisker-stubbled infantrymen Willie and Joe were the voice of truth about what it was like on the front lines.

Mauldin was an enlisted man just like the soldiers he drew for; his gripes were their  gripes, his laughs were their laughs, his heartaches were their heartaches.  He was one of them.  They loved him.

He never held back. Sometimes, when his cartoons cut too close for comfort, his superior officers tried to  tone him down.  In one memorable incident, he enraged Gen. George S. Patton, and Patton informed Mauldin he wanted the pointed cartoons -- celebrating the fighting men, lampooning the high-ranking officers -- to stop.  Now.

 

The news passed from soldier to soldier.  How was Sgt. Bill  Mauldin going to stand up to Gen. Patton?  It seemed impossible.

Not quite.  Mauldin, it turned out, had an ardent fan: Five-star Gen. Dwight D.  Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in 
Europe.  Ike put out the word: Mauldin draws what Mauldin wants. Mauldin won.  Patton  lost.

 

If in your line of work, you've ever considered yourself a young hotshot, or if you've ever known anyone who has felt that way about himself or herself, the story of Mauldin's young manhood will humble you.  Here is what, by the time he was 23 years old, Mauldin had accomplished:  He won the Pulitzer Prize. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine.  His book "Up Front" was the No. 1 best-seller in the United States.

All of that at 23. Yet when he returned to  civilian life and he grew older, he never lost that boyish Mauldin grin, he  never outgrew his excitement about doing his job, he never big-shotted or  high-hated the people with whom he worked every day.

I was lucky  enough to be one of them; Mauldin roamed the hallways of the Chicago  Sun-Times in the late 1960s and early 1970s with no more officiousness or  air of haughtiness than if he was a copyboy. That impish look on his face  remained.

He had achieved so much.  He had won a second Pulitzer Prize, and he should have won a third, for what may be the single greatest editorial cartoon in the history of the craft: his deadline rendering, on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, of the statue at the Lincoln Memorial slumped in grief, its head cradled in its hands.  But he never acted as if he was better than the people he met.  He was still Mauldin the enlisted man.

During the late summer of 2002, as Mauldin lay in that California nursing home, some of the old World War II infantry guys caught wind of it.  They didn't want Mauldin to go out that way.  They thought he should know that he was still their hero.

Gordon Dillow, a columnist for the Orange County Register, put out the call in Southern California for people in the area to send their best wishes to Mauldin; I joined Dillow in the effort, helping to spread the appeal nationally so that  Bill would not feel so alone.  Soon more than 10,000 letters and cards had arrived at Mauldin's bedside.

Even better than that, the old soldiers began to show up just to sit with Mauldin, to let him know that they were  there for him, as he, long ago, had been there for them.  So many volunteered to visit Bill that there was a waiting list. Here is how Todd DePastino, in the first paragraph of his wonderful biography of Mauldin, described it:  "Almost every day in the summer and fall of 2002 they came to Park Superior nursing home in 
Newport Beach, California, to honor  Army Sergeant, Technician Third Grade, Bill Mauldin.  They came bearing relics of their youth: medals, insignia, photographs, and carefully folded newspaper clippings.  Some wore old garrison caps. Others arrived resplendent  in uniforms over a half century old.  Almost all of them wept as they filed down the corridor like pilgrims fulfilling some long-neglected obligation."


One of the veterans explained to me why it was so important:  "You would have to be part of a combat infantry unit to  appreciate what moments of relief Bill gave us. You had to be reading a soaking wet Stars and Stripes in a water-filled foxhole and then see one of his cartoons."

Mauldin is buried in 
Arlington National Cemetery.  This month, the kid cartoonist makes it onto a first-class postage stamp. It's an honor that most generals and admirals never receive.

What Mauldin would have loved most, I believe, is the sight of the two guys who are keeping him company on that stamp.

Take a look at it.


There's Willie.  There's Joe.

 

And there, to the side, drawing them and smiling that shy, quietly observant smile, is Mauldin himself. With his buddies, right where he belongs.  Forever.

 

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/07/greene.mauldin.stamp/index.html



 

 

 

Thanks Iris,

This is a very touching tribute to Mauldin who was the mascot for the 487th “Dogface” squadron.  I am having a short film about the 487th “Dogface” squadron from the national archives digitized and will post it on the website.  Can I use this Mauldin editorial?  Do you know where it came from?

Regards,

 Doug Cook

 

Doug,

I have a friend whose father served with the 340th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Squadron. He was an ordinance officer and his son has a few photos of B-25 aircraft that he would like for you to post on your website, some of which you might be looking for. My friend says that he is not computer literate, so advise me as to what to do and I will get the photos to you.

 

John Purvis
ACME Signs
1782 State Highway 7
Belzoni, MS 39038
662-247-3103

 

Doug,

Hal's father was Harold Ware Bridges. Hal prefers to use "Hal Bridges" for himself, he lives in Silver City, Mississippi.

his Email is halbridges@yahoo.com

 

John Purvis
ACME Signs
1782 State Highway 7
Belzoni, MS 39038
662-247-3103

 

From: ACME Sign Co. [acmesigns@belzonicable.com]
Sent:
Thursday, May 13, 2010 7:56 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 340 BG photos

Doug,

I have scanned the photos of Hal Bridges 340th Bomb Group. There are about 46 of them and they total up to about 35MB so I was wondering if I should send these 4 or 5 at a time? There isn't much that Hal can provide in the way of stories, as his farther died when he was nine, but he has listed his service record etc.

Let me know about sending the photos and other info. and I will get it coming.

John Purvis

Proud Son Of

John D. Purvis

93rd. Bomb Group

330th. Bomb Squadron


From: Hal Bridges [mailto:halbridges@yahoo.com]
Sent:
Monday, May 24, 2010 10:14 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: 340 BG photos- webpages uploaded!!!

 

Thank you so much for posting the information Johnny sent you on the web.  It looks great and I really appreciate your taking the time to do this for me and my family.  If there is anything else that I may be able to contribute, please let me know.  Thanks again for  helping to preserve his memory and a little piece of history.

Hal Bridges

--- On Thu, 5/20/10, Cook, Douglas J. <douglas.cook@aramco.com> wrote:


From: Cook, Douglas J. <douglas.cook@aramco.com>
Subject: RE: 340 BG photos- webpages uploaded!!!
To: "ACME Sign Co." <acmesigns@belzonicable.com>
Cc: "halbridges@yahoo.com" <halbridges@yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, May 20, 2010, 10:46 PM

John and Hal,

 

Please review the webpages for Hal Bridges that i have uploaded.  Great material and additions to the site!

 

Thanks,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

http://reddog1944.com

 

http://reddog1944.com/487th%20Squadron%20Index.htm

 

http://reddog1944.com/BRIDGES_486th_BS.htm

 


 

 

From: Cook, Douglas J.

Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 1:15 AM

 

John,

 

Proud son of John D. Purvis  93rd BG 330th BS:  I find this to be a B-24 outfit in the European theater and later SAC.

 

Would you like me to make web pages dedicated to your father?

 

 


From: ACME Sign Co. [mailto:acmesigns@belzonicable.com]
Sent:
Friday, May 21, 2010 3:46 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 340 BG photos

 

Doug,

That sounds great, you have brought tears to my eyes.

His crew photo is on the 93rd BG site (Heller Crew). But that is all that is there.

I have many more photos and documents, I will start to get them together for you.

 

John

----- Original

 

Doug,

Here are the links to the 93rd and a link to the crew section. The Heller crew photo is probably the worst of all the photos, but there is nothing that we can do about that. Robert H. "Bob" Heller - PILOT , is the only one still living. I have another crew photo that was probably before their deployment, some of these crew members were moved to other crews, also I need to be sure and correctly identify as many as possible.

I will have the info on my dad gathered up and ready to send today or tomorrow.

 

http://www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/

http://www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/crewphotos2.html Heller Crew

 

John Purvis

 

Doug,

I am sending more photos after this Email.

 

I talked with Mr. Heller yesterday and he advised me that they trained as a crew with a bombardier and arrived in England with a bombardier. When they reached Hardwick, their navigator, bombardier and ball turret gunner were moved to other crews. He also stated that most of the B-24 aircraft that they flew had their ball turrets removed. Mr. Heller informed me that they flew bombing missions with groups of 18 to 20 planes each group had two leads, a primary and a secondary in case something happened to the primary. When they reached their IP (Initial Point) then these groups of 18 to 20 planes began to tighten up to the point of over lapping wings, this is when they became very nervous because of their proximity to each other. They held this position on their approach to the target, upon target acquisition the lead plane opened its bomb bay doors and as they all had a visual on the lead they did likewise, when the first bomb left the lead plane the rest of the group released theirs. He stated that this was call Pattern Bombing. Another thing that was interesting is that he stated that they never talked from plane to plane on the radios, just inter plane via the intercom.

 

Here is a revised break down on the crew:

PILOT Robert H. "Bob" Heller from Penn Yan, NY         Living

CO-PILOT John S. "Luke" Lucas from Greensboro, NC  Deceased

NAVIGATOR Mario J. Rota from New York, NY             Deceased

FLIGHT ENGINEER John D. "Jack" Purvis from Belzoni, Mississippi  Deceased

LEFT WAIST GUNNER Cecil D. Kenny from Cumberland, Maryland  Deceased

RIGHT WAIST GUNNER Joseph R. Davis from Saint Louis, Missouri  Deceased

NOSE GUNNER George R. Light from Baltimore, Maryland  Deceased

RADIO OPERATOR Leonard B. Bartchak from Cleveland, Ohio  Deceased

TAIL GUNNER Michael J. Gentile from Worcester, Massachusetts  Deceased

 

John Purvis
ACME Signs
1782 State Highway 7
Belzoni, MS 39038
662-247-3103

 

 

 From: ANDERSEN Lars T [mailto:larsandersen@optonline.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 3:23 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: DOGFACE SQUADRON

 

Yes, Doug, I am still alive and have not forgotten you.

 

I have received  the Dogface footage now so I will make up your discs and

send 'em in the next days. Sorry for the delay, but sometimes these things

take time when ordered with other stuff.  The footage, I can tell you is

crisp and sharp enough to shave with, but then it's from 35mm,

understandable, directly transfered. 

 

Also, never heard back from your friend about his film, see if you can roust

(sp) him up, maybe I can make a documentary DVD on your Group along with

other footage that will work with it, but I NEED his footage - it's no risk

to him to Fedex it to the National Archives Lab, tell him that, in fact you

might tell him, if it would work, that after all he is getting this footage

from you - so couldn't he cooperate -,  

 

Well, good luck and stay cool over there and let me know your thoughts after

you view the footage.

 

Lars

 

 

Hi all,

 

I have just uploaded some great video of the 487th Squadron and 340th BG (3 videos and other vets pages).  I was contacted by Victory Films who recovered the film from the National Archives.  I paid to have it transcribed to video and then edited it for the webpage.  I hope you can access it!  I recognize many planes my father flew in combat.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/

 

DIRECT LINKS-  the videos are 30-60 mb please be patient for them to download.

 

487th ‘DOG FACE’ Squadron Video!!!  

 

340th Bomb Group Catania Sicily 1943  VIDEO  

 

340th Bomb Group Italy 1944-45 COLOR Video

 

 

Let me know if they work for you.  I can send a cd if you need it.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

just watched the "three" video's, Doug, and they are great.  Now I have a burner on this computer and can I burn a video with this computer?  I have not done it yet and I did buy 30 blank CD's today.    I will have to have one of my Grand's to show me how to do it. 

 

They look like the pictures Harv brought home  and yes, I do believe my son and daughter-in-law are fibbing to me when they say they don't have the photo album. 

 

I would still like to have a video and I would like to give you some money to help pay for the making of all of the video's.   Please let me know how much and send me your address. 

 

"Hello" to your family.  I would like some more pix's because my other computer burned out and I lost some of the things I had in it and even some addresses. 

 

Thanks so much for the video's.

 

Iris

 

From: DTaddei@aol.com [mailto:DTaddei@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 10:53 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: Corsica visit: 340th BG 487th BS B-25 Vet's son

 

Hi Doug,

finally i have been able to see the videos, what a fantastic film especially the 487th Dog Face one, rolling, taxiing and the town of Cervione is easily recognizable.

Thank you so much to share such a great document with me, the third one on the ground it was Alesan but the bombings in Italy.

See you with great pleasure in Corsica, by the way my son has left Luanda Angola for Houston Texas.

All the best

Dominique

 

Doug,

as you know the 487th BS had decided to honor the GI's of Bill Mauldin Uncle Willie and Joe in January 1945 (6) and (24) when the Squadron was still at Alesan(i) Corsica.

As you know it had been thanks to

"Daniel A Barton" from Indianapolis

"Sgt Gavette",

"Sgt Moore" and

"Sgt McCrea" 

that the 487th BS had chosen the famous American troup soldiers fighting in Italy . They were also called the Raiders. Several Sergeants who fought in Italy had been sent to Normandy to supervise the young recruits disembarking in France the 6th of June 1944.

I think that all the film had been run in Corsica early 1945, but the photos in black and white had been taken at Rimini Italy end of April or May 1945.

On the photo you have from the left to the right Major John E Rapp (487th BS CO),  Joe Barton painting on the ladder,  General Robert D Knapp in black 57th BW CO and Colonel Willis F Chapman 340th BG CO.

Unfortunately i never found a photo of Sgts Gavette, Moore and McCrea.

I don't know who was PRO who went to Naples quoted in the 6th of January 1945 paragraph 487th BS Diary .

Dominique

 

Hi Douglas

a wonderful site . Best compliments.

I inform you that, on april 20 2010, at Recoaro Terme (just after 65 years of the end of WWII and on the day april 20 1945 after the mission of the 340th Bomb Group ) has

been presented in the spa buildings (just in the one who was the Official clubs of the German Headquarters) our new historical book titled:

"Bombs Away, the allied bombing on German Army Headquarters in Italy at Recoaro (20 april 1945) and the surrender of the Wehrmacht in Italy"

The author are myself and historical friends of mine Maurizio Dal Lago (my co-author of the McAllister Case), Franco Rasia, Giorgio Trivelli and Luca Valente.

You can see in attachments the cover of the book.  

The aircraft that you see in the cover is B-25J 6Q "Noah's Ark" of the 486th Squadron piloted by Lt. F.S. Driscoll just over the Recoaro's German Headquarters bombed on april 20 1945..

In the mission there were 6 planes of the 487 and 12 of the 486th.

Mt best wishes.

Cordially

Giuseppe,an old friend of the 57th Bomb Wing

 

 

From: jal1017@verizon.net [mailto:jal1017@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday,
June 11, 2010 7:58 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject:

 

Hi Doug,
I want to let you know that I haven't forgot you and that I'm still alive and kicking. I'll be 90 years Oct 17 if I make it  until then. We have flown my B-25 model three times and had engine trouble 2 times and radio problems once. Each flight ended with some damage to the model. I just about have it repaired for another try. It is modeled after 7U, complete with nose art and the original crew members names at thier positions. I'll send you some pictures.
                                                                                Jimmy Littlefield

 

 

From: Dan & Cyd Setzer [mailto:dhsetzer@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday,
June 12, 2010 2:54 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.

Subject: Re: 487th Squadron and 340th BG Video

 

Doug,

The videos you have posted are simply spectacular!  Priceless.

Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

They will stay on my 'play list' for many years to come.


Dan Setzer


From: Ann Buechler [mailto:teh_annah@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday,
June 14, 2010 7:57 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: 487th Squadron and 340th BG Video

 

I literally got chills down my spine when I was watching the latest videos, especially the one that was from September 5th to the 13th of 1943. I saw the Rum Dum, which-at on point-I knew my great-uncle piloted. It was very eerie yet amazing to watch.

-Ann

 

Hi Ann,

 

I agree with you on the Rum Dum scene!   I have this picture of my father:

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 


From: Giuseppe [mailto:gversola@alice.it]
Sent: Monday,
June 14, 2010 12:10 PM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.

Subject: Re: 487th Squadron and 340th BG Video

 

Doug and friends

Video about 487th is wondeful, one of the best that I have seen about WWII !

I have been inable to open  the other two about Catania and 1944-45 in color.

I thank you for to have written  also about the Recoaro German Headquarters  bombing.

As I wrote just on 20 april 2010 has been presented , at Recoaro, in the building who was the official club of the German Headquarters, our new book about

the bombing performed by the 340th (6 plane 487th, 12 planes 486th) on april 20 1945 with a great success.

The bombing caused the final decision of  the  surrender of the Germans Army in Italy a few day after.

The book written by myself and other four  historian friends ( among them Maurizio Dal Lago my co-author in the book "The McAllister Case") , two of them born at Recoaro,

In attachment the cover of the book. It is interesting to see the photo of B-25J  6Q "Noah's Ark" piloted by Lt. F.F.Driscoll taken just over  the Recoaro German Headquarters

during the bombing on April 20 1945.

An old friend of the 57th Bomb Wing Ass.

Cordially

Giuseppe

Vicenza-Italy

 

 Please Doug

send also the one of the 487th because I have been able to open and see

only two times this morning the video. Now it is not visible.

I dont know the why.

I send you a pic of " dog face" personell that I have taken from

the old newletters "The Bridge Busters"(courtesy of William Laney) of the 487sh 

and I enclosed it on my book. B-25 F and C were in the mission

In the pic , front row- second from right, is Capt.Paul Spencer, operations officer

of the Squadron who signed the list mission of 487th for Recoaro. (It may be

one of the officer who are visible on the video during the examinations of maps?)

Back Row, second from right S/Sgt Tony Guckwa who was in the aircraft 7A.ù

Giuseppe

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: figura 35

 

From: ALAN RICHARDS [mailto:adrichmd1@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday,
June 22, 2010 2:57 AM
To:
Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 487th Squadron and 340th BG Video on You Tube

 

Fantastic,,,, sent it on to a bunch

----- Original Message -----

From: Cook, Douglas J.

To: henryjdelp@cs.com ; drgordo@att.net ; BDXYZ@aol.com ; mlaney1@cox.net ; 'Hdgeorgejr@aol.com' ; DTaddei@aol.com ; rhmeekjr@aol.com ; ehetzel@northrock.bm ; gversola@tin.it ; Graverob@toledointernet.net ; holman506@charter.net ; hvoss216@bellsouth.net ; mrtarkany@comcast.net ; franck.allegrini@ct-corse.fr ; tmcgill@insdra.com ; Dennis.Schang@toyoda-na.com ; Iris ; snoopy100@adelphia.net ; butterbaught@ReadingRock.com ; ccgm@satx.rr.com ; rogerju@libero.it ; princessbarbi_b25@msn.com ; thegaffer1@juno.com ; eowen@valint.net ; purduemjz@msn.com ; markmccandlish@c-zone.net ; mnavarro@utmb.edu ; teh_annah@hotmail.com ; dhsetzer@comcast.net ; gerrykersey@gmail.com ; joanpariso@gmail.com ; monguse@gmail.com ; 489thcorsica@gmail.com ; henryjdelp@cs.com ; ehetzel@northrock.bm

Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 12:27 AM

Subject: 487th Squadron and 340th BG Video on You Tube

 

Hi all,

 

For those that may not have been able to access the Hi Res video off the Reddog1944 site,  I have uploaded it to YouTube:

 

My YouTube Site:  http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#

 

Dog Face Squadron

http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#p/a/u/2/--0qKOwehgU

 

340th BG Catania 1943

http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#p/a/u/1/M7Ec7eQHtpc

 

340th BG Color

http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#p/a/u/0/NvFj6schRlg

 

My other life passion:

 

http://www.reddog-diving.com/

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

From: kkenney99@verizon.net [kkenney99@verizon.net]
Sent:
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 4:02 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Cc: acmesigns@belzonicable.com
Subject: C Kenney 93rd BG

Hi Doug

 

Hope your vacation is going well.

 

I am sending some more photo's. I am waiting on some dates to finish the bio. Will send that as soon as it is completed.

 

Are you in the DC area? I live in Annapolis. If you are maybe we can get together and I can show you what

I have put together in a note book about my dad.

 

Also I noticed in John Purvis info. that my dads last name should be C E Kenney

Can you fix this?  

 

Thanks again

Ken

 

PS: I am sending 2 e mails. 6 photos in the 1st and 6 in the 2nd.

 

 


From: Victor J Hancock [mailto:pilotb25j@sbcglobal.net]
Sent:
Saturday, August 14, 2010 7:57 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Requesting information from newsletter Men of the 57th

 

Dear Doug:  I will keep this to a couple of sentences to see if you still respond to this email address.

 

In 2007 you responded to a request by Roger Juglair for information regarding a mission conducted by the 340th.

 

I have had a request to publish a excerpt of Juglair's book in the Men of the 57th. The request is by one of our associate members. I have read his translation.

 

Hope all is going well with you.

 

Victor

 

 

 

 

Hi Victor,

 

I am alive and well at this address.  How can I help?

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Victor Hancock [mailto:pilotb25j@sbcglobal.net]
Sent:
Monday, August 16, 2010 3:59 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: Requesting information from newsletter Men of the 57th

 

Hi Doug:

 

Thank you for replying to my email.  After reading the translation of Juglair’s book which one of our associate members wanted me to publish in the newsletter I was appalled. You had indicated some concern when you wrote Juglair in 2007 and gave him a great deal of information and then Sid Setzer, son of Hymie Setzer, and a pretty good writer, sent me something which I would not put in our newsletter.  Sid, Juglair, and a few others seem to have drawn conclusions that we were hell bent on random destruction and as amateur historians for some reason are bent on rewriting history. They have too much time on their hands! They think that because they review some mission reports that they know what happened. But it wasn’t their asses that were puckering, who had the G.I.’s after seeing one’s name on the mission roster for the following day. In Sid’s case he seems to be an apologist for the German’s or sees the German Soldier in a heroic light. I think they were good Nazi’s and knew how to shoot a 88mm, but for my book the good soldiers were the American G.I.  We have had one of these son’s suggest, in a written comment, that the flak could not have been too bad in the Brenner because-look at how few planes we lost! A little research would show the high percentage of B-25’s holed or sustained great damage and yet, because of the skill of the crews, and strength of the aircraft, were able to return to their bases and survive crash landings.

 

I noted your email to Juglair cautioned him to consider his words and conclusions and he did write you an explanation of what he meant to say. I sleep well at night bathed in the knowledge that I was privileged to serve this great nation at a time of peril. On some missions I saw the collateral damage happening, but on most, because of our tight formations, that was avoided.

 

I would like to caution our members that not everyone out there thinks we were the good guys----but how do I go about it?  If you have any ideas please let me know.

 

How hot is it there? We have had 18 days of plus 100 degrees but I’m sure you would settle for that.

 

On another matter, my nephew-Richard Hancock—like you never knew his father, 2nd Lt. Richard Louis Hancock, a P-38 pilot, shot down and KIA while engaged in aerial combat over Alexshafen, New Guinea, January 16th, 1944. I would like Rich to know more about your organization.

 

Best regards,  Victor

 

 

Victor,

 

Thank you very much for your email.  There is a lot for me to respond to and I would love to expand the dialog.  I have not been in close communication with “Men of the 57th”.  If by my organization, you mean my website- its just me.  Most of the material on my website has grown by submissions from readers:  vets and their families.  I am honored to be in contact with you and as I can glean from your email you are a B-25 pilot from the 57th Wing.  Which bomb group and squadron?  I have a Vonage phone and can call the US for free.  If you will give me your number and time zone I can call and we can cover a lot of ground.

 

I have not read Juglair’s book so I don’t know how far he went to portray random destruction by US airmen.  I focused on his quote that rings true even from his Italian perspective:

“I know the situtation american soldiers and pilots. They risk their lives for our freedom, many of them died for grant to us democracy.”    I take it that he strayed from that sentiment in his book.

 

Beyond that,  he must have issues with unintended destruction in his village.  I just returned from a repatriation trip to the US where I spent a day at the National Archives in MD.    I did not acquire the 340th BG 487th BS mission sheets I was searching for. If you know of any resources in the 57th where I can get a more complete mission sheet set naming pnaes and crews on specific missions, I would be very greatful.  However, I did get a lot of 340th BG bomb run photos from 1944-45 that I did not have on my website.  The mission objectives were always clear to bomb German transport lines.  High altitude bombing then did not have today’s laser guided technology and so was not perfectly accurate.  It improved with the advent of the Norden bombsight and radio release.

 

Any who question Allied motives in the war must imagine a world with Nazis still in power- unthinkable to any sane rational person.  Any who would want that world must be filled with poisonous racial hatred.   As for larger WWII issues that may come into question,  I worked with Tom Ferebee Jr who’s father was the bombardier on the Enola Gay.  Tom said his father was proud of his role in performing the mission as duty called to shorten the war with Japan.  Perhaps million’s more on both sides would have died.  Many other men I work with had father’s in the Pacific theater in ground combat up to Okinowa- next step mainland Japan.  Many or most would not have come back.

 

Weather- its hot.  Summertime highs average 110 deg and can go over 120.  I have 4 seismic crews and a drilling rig  (over 2500 contract people) working in the Rub Al Khali desert.  It can get over 140 deg there.  I don’t know how men can withstand that!  I work in air conditioned comfort mapping prospects and telling Aramco where to drill for oil.

 

I would be honored to include your story (bio, pictures, medals, awards, anecdotes) and that of 2nd Lt. Richard Louis Hancock if you and your family would want to have it on my website.  I am self funded and intend to keep it up and expand it indefinitely.  

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

Hi Victor,

 

I just found you on the 57th website:

 

321stBG, 445thBS, Lt Victor J Hancock, Pilot

 

Another comment that I left out-  I am taking my family to Corsica Sept 7-14.   I will meet with Dominique Taddei  and get a tour of the B-25 air base locations.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Victor Hancock [mailto:pilotb25j@sbcglobal.net]
Sent:
Monday, August 16, 2010 6:56 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: Requesting information from newsletter Men of the 57th

 

Hi Doug:

 

How wonderful for you to travel to Corsica! Double great to go there and meet with Dominique, his family and friends. Dominique plans to be with the Wing in San Francisco for the Reunion; first he will visit his son in Houston and then proceed to San Francisco and will share a room with Fred Lawrence (crew chief of PEGGY LOU). Fred and Dominique have been friends for many years and Dominique is as fine a gentleman as you could ever wish to meet. Dominique’s’ respect for the 57th Bomb Wing stems from his experiences as a young boy, experiences which he never forgotten. Through the printed word and human dedication he has, along with others, that the memory of the young American Airmen on Corsica will never be forgotten.

 

A number of years ago Dominique and two or three other friends visited my wife and I here in Richardson, Texas (one footstep north of Dallas). We all went to the State Fair of Texas; which I believe impressed them all very much. I am so happy for you and your family to be able to visit the beautiful island and meet the wonderful Corsicans. Please convey my best wishes to Dominique. You might wish to listen to some video sounds of the B-25 before you go and then when you stand on the former apron of a 57th Bomb Wing Group—visualize if you will---eighteen to twenty four B-25’s lined up for takeoff and then down the steel planked runways, up and away and forming up over the base to head northeast into Italy to bomb some highly contested sites.

 

I don’t know the total number of combat crew members there were assigned to the Wing, but God Bless them, there are close to nine hundred that were killed or missing in action.

 

Your work sounds fascinating as I know a slight bit about oil operations having flown for Choya Drilling Co. and City Service Oil. With the latter I was required first to work on an ‘off shore’ rig out of Morgan City, LA.. I started out lower than a weevil, handled the mud pits, worked my way up to roughneck, worked the slips and tongs, hauled 50 lbs hydraulic jacks to the top of the Kelly, I became so strong I did not recognize my strength. I worked the motors and was scheduled for derrick man when, having volunteered, I was recalled to active duty in May of 1951. All the preceding is meant only to know and admire the work ethic of anyone of any nationality who makes his living on a rig or in the oil patch.

 

My combat career was brief and included only twenty two missions, if you include being a spare and an early return (which I do!). I was not too proud of what I found out about myself and was very self-critical about how far I failed to measure up to my own, prior to that time, heroic self image. But seen now through the lens of an 87 year old, I think better of myself now.

 

Have a great time in Corsica.

 

Best regards,   Victor

 

P.S. Google: Victor J. Hancock or Eloise Jennings for a bit of personal background.

 

Victor,

 

I have been corresponding with Dominique for years on various items in my website.  I look forward to meeting him.  He has invited us to stay a night with his sister.

 

I have B-25 sounds in my head from some video I had transcribed from the national Archives.  My father suffered hearing loss from the big engines.

For those that may not have been able to access the Hi Res video off the Reddog1944 site,  I have uploaded it to YouTube:

 

My YouTube Site:  http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#

 

Dog Face Squadron

http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#p/a/u/2/--0qKOwehgU

 

340th BG Catania 1943

http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#p/a/u/1/M7Ec7eQHtpc

 

340th BG Color

http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwReddogdiving#p/a/u/0/NvFj6schRlg

 

Previously in my career I was a geologist in deep water Gulf of Mexico.  The Deepwater Horizon disaster was a big blow to me.  I once flew a DC-3 from Miami to San Salvador Bahamas to study modern coral reefs.  Its amazing that these old birds are still in commercial service.

 

A bit of background on my geology career and oceanography  passion:

 

http://www.reddog-diving.com/

 

Natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico:

 

http://www.reddog-diving.com/reddog_diving_GOM_submersibles.htm

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Tim Butterbaugh [tbutter1@gmail.com]
Sent:
Friday, October 08, 2010 9:04 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: B-25J 7A

Dear Douglas,

    My grandfather flew for the squadron. He was the pilot who flew "My Naked Ass" with the tail designation 7A. I looked through the manifests on your page, but did not see him listed as such.  His name was Ted L. Suarez (Ted was what he prefered to go by.  His actual name was Telmo).  Sadly, he has passed away, but I enjoy your page and seeing the history of the unit therein. If you or anyone else who might view your page has any information about my grandfather 1st Lt. Telmo (Ted) L. Suarez, please let me know. Thank-you for your time. 

Best Regards,

Timothy E. Butterbaugh
tbutter1@gmail.com

 

 

Tim,

 

I have updated the webpage I have for your grandfather with the new information you gave me that he was a pilot and 1st Lt.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th%20Squadron%20Index.htm

 

You may need to refresh your webpages to get the updates.

 

Please pass on anthing else you may have and I will add it.

 

Download and read this.  I just added it and I think you will finf it fascinating as I did:

57th Bomb Wing History “Battle of Brenner Pass”

 

 

 From: Daniel Setzer [mailto:dhsetzer@comcast.net]
Sent:
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 3:58 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: 340th Bomb Group Missions posting

 

Doug,

 

Yes, the 340th Missions page on the 57th BW web site is my project.

 

Of course you may link with anything you find on that web site.  When I started building the site I recollected seeing a site that included satellite views of the target as it appears today.  I copied the idea, but I lost track of where I had seen the displays.  Thanks for reminding me who I owe for the idea.

 

I live in Maryland just over an hour from the NARA in College Park.  I have been there twice.  Following my last visit in May, I added over a hundred missions to the page.

 

We should coordinate efforts.

 

Recently, the Wing sent me ten boxes representing the archives of the Wing.  I have only opened two boxes.  So far I am seeing family photo albums with many pictures dating to the war years, but also a very large amount of pictures of the reunions over the years.

 

I am scanning everything dating to the war years into digital files and will be sharing with all that have an interest in the documents.  I am very much on the lookout for crew manifests for the 487th.  My father told me that he flew five combat missions (all milk-runs) and I would love to find a manifest with his name on it.

 

So far, album #1 has yielded over 100 photos.  Almost all were new to me.  Against all odds I found a picture of my father in a group of guys posing in front of the Group Operations building on Corsica!

 

I am expecting many more treasures to surface.  It will need to be a collaborative effort.  Most photos are very poorly documented so it turns into a detective story to identify and classify pictures that are coming to the fore.

 

Dan

 

Thanks for the quick reply.  Your online 57 BW project was a monumental effort and the one you are undertaking with the new material maybe even more so since it is not documented.  As you know, Dominique Taddei has encyclopedic knowledge of the 57th BW and especially the 340th BG and may be able to help with some of the photos.

 

Thanks and Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: Helger [mailto:lo.genso@neuf.fr]
Sent:
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 2:55 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 487bs avignon 1944

 

Hello, myself son of GC 1.5 in 1944/45 website French fighter pilot

I congratulate you on these web pages.

 I am Professor of history and I am working on a book dealing with the bombing of Avignon in August 44.

487Th BS participated in missions to this objective.

In order to illustrate my work I would like to use some photos you put online, can I have your permission,

you other documents that might me useful, such as pages of the logbook for missions on Avignon?

Thanks cordially

Laurent Gensonnet

Bonjour,

Thank you for your response.

If I use your pictures I show the image credit reference.

Then, do you have your father’s LOG

 If Yes, can you scan me the pages concerning flights to Avignon.

I you will to be grateful.

I cannot fail to warn you of the publication of my book that I offer you with pleasure. 

Cordialement

Laurent Gensonnet

Laurent,

 

This is the link to my father’s flight record.  No individual log.   He flew two missions on Aug 15  PM mission was to Avignon.  There are links to the bomb run photos in the spreadsheet.

http://www.reddog1944.com/CHARLES%20COOK%20%20ARMY%20AIR%20CORPS%20FLIGHT%20RECORD.htm

 

My father was close to Harvey Hyland who’s widow sent me his personal logbook including Aug 15 1944 to Avignon.

http://www.reddog1944.com/Dedicated%20to%20Harvey%20Hyland.htm

 

More complete missions coverage:

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th_BG_MISSIONS_INDEX.htm

War diary records go to Aug 1944:

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_History_NARA_documents.htm

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Stephen Newsome [mailto:stephen@mainsalerealty.com]
Sent:
Sunday, February 06, 2011 11:06 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 488th BS

 

Thank you for keeping your site alive.

My father was J H Newsom from the 488th BS, 340th BG.

 

I am interested in finding more information and pictures from the 488th.

 

Good luck to your team today in the Super Bowl…

 

stephen

 

Stephen,

 

Everything that I have is posted.  Did you see these pages?  The videos should give you a good idea of what it was like in combat in |

Corsica for the 340th BG.

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Video.htm

 

This war diary is insightful about 340 BG daily life:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_History_NARA_documents.htm

 

488th specific planes:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20BG%20489th%20BS%20Planes.htm

 

Another good website:

 

http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/340thHistory.php

 

If you have material on your father and want me to put together a webpage dedicated to him, I would be glad to work with you on it.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: suzanne230@comcast.net [mailto:suzanne230@comcast.net]
Sent:
Friday, February 11, 2011 3:55 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Info. about Dad's time in
Corsica with the 487th

 

Dear Doug,
I am the daughter of Capt. William B. Suthers who, as a member of the 340th Bomb Group and the 487th Bomb Squadron, served in
Corsica at Alesan Air Field during World War II beginning on May 7, 1944.  So, apparently, our Dad's were in the same squadron.

While doing some reading recently, I became interested in getting more specific details about Dad's Distinguished Flying Cross.  I began by re-reading the letters that my Dad wrote to his parents (my grandparents), while he was in the service.  (It had been awhile!)  From there, I started Google-ing, and that is where I found your site.

Thanks to the war diaries/historical records/mission sheets posted on your site and on the 57th Bomb Wing site - I have a good bit more information than I started with.

Dad flew the B-25s and for a good portion of his time it was a B-25J named Moanin' Minnie.  Saw the photo of Moanin' Minnie on your site.  You can just make out Dad's name stenciled under the window - Lt. W.B. Suthers.

He flew 66 missions, most as pilot.  A few were as co-pilot, some of which were on 1st Lt. Harry P. Naruszewicz' ship Uncle Willie.

According to the mission sheets, he flew 7G as pilot, on 8/15/44 - D-Day for southern France.

In the historical records/outline for the month of Oct. 1944, Dad's D.F.C. is listed as follows:
28) Capt. William B. Suthers 0-415935 (the one is a typo, it should be a 2)
      a) Citadella, Italy, August 31, 1944
      b) Extraordinary Achievement
      c) Distinguished Flying Cross

In addition to the D.F.C., Dad also had the Air Medal with 6 clusters.

I would truly appreciate hearing from anyone who may have knowledge of my Dad, William (Bill) Suthers during his time in Corsica.  I would especially love to have any details (beyond what's in the war diary) regarding his mission on 8/31/44 for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

I was hoping  that you might be able to suggest the best place to post such a request or even other avenues I could try to gather information.  Thanks for your time, I look forward to hearing form you.

Sincerely,
Suzanne Suthers

Suzanne230@comcast.net

 

Suzanne,

 

Thanks for writing.  I have been away from this project for some weeks and you rekindled my interest.  Our fathers must have known one another.  Ironically,  your father arrived at Alesan, Corsica just before the German bombing raid of May 13, 1944.  What a way to get into combat!    Did you look at the videos for the 487th?

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squadron_Video.htm

 

As for your quest to find more info on Aug 31, 1944,  I suggest that you try this site most recently posted by Dan Setzer:

 

http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/487th_History/missions/340thMissions_index.htm

 

The Aug 31, 1944 Citadella mission has a lot of info including the crew sheet that lists your father in the 7E.

 

http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/487th_History/missions/083144_Cittadella.htm

 

 

More on the 7E:   http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20BG%20487th%20BS%20PLANES.htm

 

 

7E  Watch Copier is also in this video:   487th ‘DOG FACE’ Squadron Video!!!

 

Dan Setzer and I have done research at the National Archives   NARA,  College Park, MD.    You have to go there to access files but I don’t think you will get more than what are on my or Dan Setzer’s websites.   Dan also got info from Maxwell below.

 

Anne M. O’Connor at the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama for digitizing and making these historical files available.

 

 

Last but not least,  I invite you to work with me in making a webpage dedicated to your father’s service.  You have some great documents including the letters if you are willing to share.  I would be glad to discuss it with you if you are interested.

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: hdgeorgejr@aol.com [mailto:hdgeorgejr@aol.com]
Sent:
Wednesday, March 02, 2011 7:36 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 487th Mission Sheets

 

Hi, Doug,

It's been a long time since I have been active in 487th matters, but fate has decided that it's time for me to do so again. I have recently been perusing the 57th Website and saw your request from several years ago for Mission Sheets for the 487th. I have them from 27 March 1944 through the end of the war on 25 April 1945. A rough guess would make that about 500 pages - no small duplicating task, but I can certainly have them copied and mailed to you. I don't know if it would be possible to have them scanned into pdf's and made scannable. I'm not that tech-savvy. Let me know. Actually, I have all of the 487th mission sheets, but cannot locate the earlier ones. Paul Spencer has the originals and, I believe, is still alive. You might try contacting him. We got our copy from him. There are a few other copies floating around, but I don't remember who has them. (We duplicated them for others several times many years ago.)

On another front, what has spurred this is an Italian researcher who has contacted me and who has located the crash site for 7C, the McKinley Jr. High - the plane my father was shot down in on 22 June 1944. I think that your father flew the plane's first mission, so there is a connection.

Best,

Harry George, jr.

 

 

Harry,

 

It’s good to hear from you especially with news about the 487th mission sheets (Crew assignments?).  I made a visit to NARA last year and got a lot of info but not the crew and plane  assignments.  I have posted what I came back with and collaborated with Dan Setzer:

 

Use this to investigate missions.  I only have very few 487th crew mission sheets.

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th_BG_MISSIONS_INDEX.htm

 

 

Use this to read and search the 487th daily war diary. It’s a large file-stay in it once loaded since you will have to wait for it to load again to return.  If you want to investigate mission details use the link above.

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_History_NARA_documents.htm

 

An example of the crew mission sheets I am after showing the names of the crew and the B-25 they were assigned to:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/44-12-10_Calliano.htm

 

 

If you have such a treasure trove of crew mission sheets,  I will gladly pay for quality copying and postage.  I can scan them but if you can have them scanned as .jpg  files so much the better.  An office store like Kinkos could do it.

 

Do you have a contact for Paul Spencer?   I would be honored to dialog with him.

 

Lastly,  I am very interested in the McKinley Jr High crash site.  We made a pilgrimage to Corsica hosted by Dominique Taddei last year.   This could be another one to explore with my family.  Perhaps we could meet there if you have in mind a trip to Italy.

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

 

From: Dave's Mail [mailto:monster336fs@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 1:21 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 489th greetings

 

Mr. Cook,

My name is Lt Col Dave "Monster" Berg.  I am an F-15E pilot who has just been given the honor to be the first operations officer (second in command) of the soon to be activated 489th reconnaissance squadron on May 16th.  Our heritage is the 489th BS.  As an avid amateur historian, my goal is to make sure my young airmen learn about their squadron history and become inspired by this who have served before them in the 489th.  I have noticed that you maintain this website dedicated to your father and those who served with him.  I would be interested in communicating with you concerning the squadron history.  It would mean a lot to me to gather info, stories, and digital photos of the past.  Do you know if there is a reunion association?  I look forward to hearing back from you and appreciate any help you can offer.  Have a great weekend.

 

Sincerely,

Dave

(Cougar 2)

 

Dave,

 

It's an honor to be contacted by you, an F-15E pilot, in regards to the 489th BS.  We have a Saudi air base adjacent to Aramco which flies F-15s and Tornados.  Fascinating to watch.

 

 

The 489th was part of the 340th BG 57th Bomb Wing.  The 57th BW does have reunions:

http://57thbombwing.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=slideshowapplet.SlideshowApplet&g2_itemId=48008

 

I'm not sure about the 489th BS specifically.  My father was in the 487th which thinned out to too few to continue reunions.

 

 

340th BG History:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th_BG_HISTORY_and_MISSIONS_INDEX.htm

 

http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/340thHistory.php

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: Bill Maywhort [mailto:BMaywhort@hollandhart.com]
Sent:
Monday, May 16, 2011 7:27 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 340th Bomb Group, Mission #735

 

Dear Mr. Cook,

 

While researching one of the combat missions flown by my late uncle (Walter B. Wooten, Jr.), I happened across your website dedicated to the 340th Bomb Group.  My Uncle Walter was a member of the 486th Squadron and was the pilot typically assigned to Tail No. 6A, “Sahara Sue II.”   

 

Recently, while reviewing some papers and other materials that belonged to my late mother (Walter Wooten’s sister), I came across my uncle’s account of Mission #735, on February 13, 1945, to Ambrogio, Italy, near the Brenner Pass.  Sadly, this mission resulted in the loss of two aircraft (Tail No. 6W, “AWOL” [noted on your website] and Tail No. 6Y (“Yankee Doodle Dandy”).  After discovering your website, I thought that you might be interested in the account and have attached it as a pdf file.

 

Yours very truly,

Bill Maywhort

 

From: Michael Higgins [mailto:darienhighlanders@hotmail.com]
Sent:
Friday, October 28, 2011 7:03 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Operation DRAGOON -
15 August 1944
Importance: High

 

Douglas:
 
Hello!
 
I just finished viewing your website.
 
My father, 2nd Lt Martin J. Higgins,
ABLE Company, 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division came ashore at CAMEL BLUE Beach on the morning of 15 August 1944 (near Cap du Dramont). Just a quick note to let you know that the mission flown by your father and the men of the 340th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Squadron on 12 August helped my father and his men accomplish their objectives that day.
 
The B-25 was one one of my favorite WWII aircraft.
 
With best regards, I am,
 
Sincerely,
Michael P. Higgins

Michael,

 

Thank you for writing to me about Operation Dragoon.  I would be pleased to learn more about it and offer to put the information on the website.  August 15, 1944 (and many others) was a terrible mission for my father.  He received the DFC for the mission but I believed paid the price with PTS “battle fatigue”.  He finished out his remaining missions apparently with the help of other senior pilots.  So again, for this reason I am most interested on how the 340th BG efforts helped the ground invasion.

 

NUMBER

COMBAT

TARGET  (Italy or N.B.)

ASSIGNED

PILOT

COPILOT

NAVIGATOR

BOMBARDIER

RADIO

WAIST

TAIL

 

MISSION DATE

 

PLANE

 

 

 

 

GUNNER

GUNNER

GUNNER

44

August 2, 1944

Var River Rd Br #4 Nice (France)

531 7R

CM Cook

WJ Smith

MJ Lukas

MJ Lukas

TR Olander

GF Becker

RJ Mottola

45

August 7, 1944

Lavoulte RR Br (France)

570 7H

CM Cook

WJ Smith

GE Butterfield

GE Butterfield

RE Lemkuhl

GF Becker

JW Miller

46

August 11, 1944

St. Tropez E Gun Pos. (France)

570 7H

CM Cook

WJ Smith

MJ Lukas

MJ Lukas

TR Olander

GF Becker

D Angelini

47

August 12, 1944

Porquerolles Gun Pos.(France)

541 7B

WJ Smith

CM Cook

CF Donovan

CF Donovan

TR Olander

GF Becker

L Cerbara

48

August 13, 1944

La Ciotat Gun Pos (France)

066 7M

CM Cook

WJ Smith

CF Donovan

CF Donovan

TR Olander

GF Becker

D Angelini

49

August 14, 1944

Frejus E Gun Pos. (France)

540 7E

CM Cook

WJ Smith

CF Donovan

CF Donovan

TR Olander

GF Becker

JW Miller

50

August 15, 1944

Antheor Beach Viaduct (France)

540 7E

CM Cook

WJ Smith

JF Craber

CF Donovan

TR Olander

GF Becker

PE Sekaras

51

August 15, 1944

Avignon  RR Brs (France) PM

541 7B

CM Cook

WJ Smith

CF Donovan

CF Donovan

TR Olander

GF Becker

JL Parks

52

August 19, 1944

Orange RR Br (France) AM, PM

066 7M

CM Cook

WJ Smith

CF Donovan

CF Donovan

TR Olander

GF Becker

JT Edwards

 

 

Pete,

 

Didn’t you once tell me your father was in D-Day S. France?  I thought of that when I got this email above.

 

This is the link to my website:

 

 

Interesting…looks like he flew right over them.  My Dad was 45th Infantry Division, originally New Mexico National Guard, landing at Cavalaire sur Mer, just west of St. Tropez.  I tried getting service records out of VA some years ago but unfortunately a large quantity were lost in the 70s due to a fire at the repository.  

 

He (I think) was also at or near Anzio…definitely Sicily.  At some point I’d have to research the unit records/history.

 

If you’re in the region, there are a lot of vacant lots in Beaucaire, and shrapnel marks on the outside of the castle across the Rhone river in Tarascon, as evidence of bombing.  You will travel to those towns if visiting the region because that’s where the Souleiado factory outlet is…

 

Pete Manson

Doug:
 
Hello!
 
Thank you for your reply

My father, Captain Martin J. Higgins, (my mistake, during the landing, Dad was a 1st LT, not 2nd LT, as I mentioned in my previous email).
 
Dad began the war in the Horse Cavalry - the U.S. 10th (Horse) Cavalry, the famed "Buffalo Soldiers" of the Plains Indian Wars (White Officers and Black enlisted men). He saw the war from the ground and was most fortunate to have had a remarkable career in combat. My father was amazed by the absolute beauty of the French countryside, especially in the lavender regions of Provence - around Digne - through which he passed or fought. He would often tell me how he marveled at the incongruence of the beauty of the countryside against the back drop of the horror of war.
 
The Operation DRAGOON/ANVIL landings were the most successful amphibious landings in the ETO, having benefited greatly from hard lessons learned from TORCH (Morocco), HUSKY (Sicily), SHINGLE (Anzio), and OVERLORD (Normandy).
 
Dad landed at CAMEL
BLUE beach on D-Day (15 August 1944). Of all the landing beaches, CAMEL BLUE was the most hotly contested, in fact, Dad's unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions.

Doug - I just looked at the clock... have to scoot off to work...I will continue on Monday

 

Once again, thank you for your reply. I look forward to continuing the discussion.

 

Best regards,

Michael
-----------------------------------------------------

Douglas:
 
Hello!
 
As promised, herwith please find the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to 1/141 during
Operation DRAGOON

II. BATTLE HONORS.  - As authorized by Executive Order 9396 (sec. I, WD

Bul. 22 1943), superscedlng Executive Order 9075, (Sec. III,WD Bul. 11,1942).

citation of the following unit in the general orders is confirmed  under

the provisions of section IV, WD Circular 333, 1943, in the name of the President

of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The

citation rends as follows:

 

The 1st Battalion, 1/141st Infantry Regiment, is cited for heroism, gallantry, and

esprit de corps during the period 15-16 August 1944, in France. During the 2

days of this action, the 1st Battalion successfully assaulted the most difficult

beach in the 36th Infantry Division sector in a hazardous amphibious operation.

Overwhelming the strongly fortified enemy beach defenses, the battalion moved

forward rapidly in the face of concentrated machinegun and mortar fire to seize

the high ground dominating the beach. killing or capturing all Germans in their

path, the men of this battalion pressed on to seize immediate objectives with such

speed and aggressiveness that the enemy soon became completely disorganized.

Then moving east along the coastline the 1st Battalion assaulted and captured

numerous strongly manned German pillboxes, casements, and entrenchments.

Capturing over 1,200 prisoners and killing 150 of the enemy, the 1st Battalion,

141st Regiment seized the bridges on the coastal highway. which were

the final objective of this assault, and broke the enemy's power within the sector

so effectively that the Germans were never able to reorganize their forces for a

counterattack.(General Orders 227, Headquarters 36th Infantry Division, 23 

June 1945.)

'

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

 

 

OFFICIAL:                                                                              DWIGHT D.EISENHOWER :           

         EDWARD E. WITSELL                                               Chief of Staff

      Major General,                

        The Adjutant General 

 

 
AGO 1417B     716114                                   U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

From: Deidre [deidrebruce@gmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 4:19 AM
> To: Cook, Douglas J.
> Subject: Bitch N Mitch photos
>
> Dear Mr. Cook,
>
> I came across your site while searching for images of my father's WWII
> plane, Bitch N Mitch. I believe my father is in the photo in which Kelly is
> second from left. His name was Willard A. Bruce, Lt Bombardier. I believe
> that is him, far left. Do you know who is in that photo so I can verify that
> it is him?
>
> My father passed away on Oct 18. He was 91.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Deidre Bruce
> Albany,NY

I have several pictures of
> the Bitch N Mitch.
>
> http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20BG%20487th%20BS%20PLANES.htm
>
> I need to know which photo shows your father. All these photos are from my
> father's collection.
>
> This web page http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_James_Kelley.htm has several
> pictures from James Kelley via his daughter Joan Kelley Pariso. She sent me
> the material for this web page dedicated to her father.
>
> I would be glad to put together a similar page dedicated to your late father
> if you have material (wartime photos, service records, bio, etc) to post. We
> can discuss this more later.
>
> Thanks for writing and sorry for your recent loss. I sincerely hope you have
> Happy Holidays.
>
> Regards,
>
> Doug Cook

From: Deidre Bruce [mailto:deidrebruce@gmail.com]
Sent:
Saturday, January 07, 2012 11:48 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: Bitch N Mitch photos

 

Hi Doug,

 

Thanks for writing.

 

Here are the two photos I was referring to.  In the first one, the man is standing on the far left.  In the second photo, he is standing, second from left.  He is not identified in the captions on your web site.  We believe it is our father, Willard A. Bruce.  Do you have the original photos, or do you know who might be able to confirm his identity?  We are all 99.9% sure it is him.  None of us have ever seen this photo before.  We do not believe our father had a copy.  

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Thank you.


Deidre

Deidre,

 

I am putting you in contact with Joan Kelley Pariso.  joanpariso@gmail.com

 

She has the original photos. Perhaps there is more information on the back of the originals. 

 

If you have more information on your father and would like me to put together a web page dedicated to him as I did for Joan,  I would be happy to assist.

 

Do you know when he was in Corsica?  I don’t find him in the 487th BS Roster as of May 1944.   You might want to search the mission sheets for his name:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_Squdron_crew_Mission_Sheets.htm

 

Then we might find more mission details:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th_BG_MISSIONS_INDEX.htm

 

Searchable history:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/487th_History_NARA_documents.htm

 

I found your father referenced in October, Nov, Dec 1944; Feb, Mar 1945 (ref going home!)   Please read these war diary pages.  It really brings the times alive.

 

Regards,

 

Doug

From: Janet Dethick [mailto:bombedpowtrain@gmail.com]
Sent:
Monday, April 02, 2012 10:48 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: bombing mission St. Egidio Perugia Italy
April 6 1944

 

Dear Mr Cook,

I am one of a committee trying to piece together as much as possible about the crews of the two planes shot down during this operation.

7K

We have the crew names and know that 3 members - Bob Hicks, Stanley Tulin and John Raschetz - are buried in Florence Cemetery.  We also know that Bob  Hicks was admitted to the German field hospital
Assisi where he died on April 10.  We believe that Donald Pinkerton is still officially missing but that Pilot Billy Barker and Arsene Vervacke survived and may have been the two men seen to parachute down.  There is a considerable amount of documentation available about Bob Hicks because it appears that there was some doubt as to whether or not the man actually admitted to hospital was indeed him or was Stanley Tulin.  In 1956 a ring which was traceable to Bob Hicks was found in a field near the aerodrome and was handed over to General B. Cassady who was based at the American embassy in Rome.

7T

We have the names of all the crew members but do not know what happened to any of them.

We would appreciate any details you might have but would also welcome contact with any of their family members. A future project may be to invite them to Italy.

Yours sincerely,

Janet Kinrade Dethick (Military History Researcher, Passignano sul
Trasimeno, Italy)

 

Janet,

 

All the information I have is posted.  If you did not find the link to this file, you find it of interest.  Note that my father was copilot on 7P.  This was early in his deployment, so he saw some horrific things early.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/44-4-6_Perugia.htm

 

Note that G J Simpson from 7T escaped from enemy lines and made it back to Corsica base.  Photo in link below for 7C  McKinley Jr High.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/340th%20BG%20487th%20BS%20PLANES.htm

 

 

Dominique Taddei is a historian living on Corsica.  He may have more information or contacts to add.

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil [mailto:philm540@aol.com]
Sent:
Friday, May 11, 2012 11:01 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 340 BG UNK B-25

 

Doug

I am long in the tooth in my ability to identifty B-25 (and the 2 heavies...much of my work has been lifted w/o credit or misquoted).  I can tell you something about you unknown planes.

 

Royal Flush is a C or D but is likely a D20 to 25 or 30 to 35.  It has no armor plate. Nav window and clead upper canopy aft panels.  It has a reinforcement plate suggesting it once had D2 Fairfax gun packs.

 

Geronimo, Helengone and jo- jo jr.  Are also late D series in the range above. So is Vesuvianna unless you know some C were transfered in after the eruption.  The flack patch may have been noted in mission report damage being so close to pilot legs.

 

Jersey Bounce, moanin' minnie and Sloppy Joe all appear to have factory J-1 camo of the 43- short serial range.

 

Bridal Bell..is a mid J series as are FWF! ;UMBAGIGO;and Miss Lillian.  Sweat and Prayers is a J also.  Maybe factory camo or not.

 

I agree the macon jackpot is a G but is likely was long with the Group and had a 42-65XXX SERIAL IS MY GUESS. Oops caps lock.

Your 6C is a C od D series with an WRAD Ga or Sidi Amien tail mod (prone).  It therefore can not be 43-27723 a J series serial number.  Perhaps a 42-53723 or nearby.  The name may be another Andy Capp perhaps The Momaning (sp) Critte. The The is there Note late B-25J raised the T/O angle with a larger nose wheel having a flate cap and bulged gear door.  None of your unk is this late.

Phil Marchese.   Restricted to non commercial educational use. All other rights reserved.

Phil Marchese.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

 

 

From: BagpipeJM@aol.com [mailto:BagpipeJM@aol.com]
Sent:
Saturday, June 02, 2012 12:05 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 387th stuff

 

Aircraft 7 L shot down over Brenner Pass, January 1944

 

Jay Summers was the tail gunner on this aircraft.  He said that it was called Lil Donald.  He stated that  flak hit the bomb bay and blew the entire tail off the 7-L. He and the waist gunner were blown free of the plane. Only he and the waist gunner survived and were taken prisoner.  I have a copy of his papers from his Stalag.  He taught English at Bel Air High School El Paso, Texas  for a number of years and I lived down the street from him for about  7 years.  I taught at Bel Air for 31 years and had lunch with him for 25 years or more.

 

john estes

 

From: Cook, Douglas J.
Sent: Saturday,
June 02, 2012 6:36 AM
To: 'BagpipeJM@aol.com'
Subject: RE: 487th stuff

 

John,

 

This is good material to share and add to the story.  It was January 20, 1945.  My father, Charles Cook, was flying the lead ship 7H.  It was one of his last missions. 

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/45-1-20_Trento.htm

 

Can you get the Stalag papers scanned and send them?  Do you have access to any other material or photos from Jay Summers?  I could put together a web page dedicated to him.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

 

From: Jim Nelson [mailto:anmsr213@gmail.com]
Sent:
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 4:09 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject:

 

This is a picture of my father’s 10th mission flight crew, on 23 April 1945. The mission sheet has:

Pilot - 2nd. Lt. Lawson T. Ware

Co-Pilot - 2nd. Lt. Alfred James Nelson, my father

Navigator/Bombardier - FO Lee R. Weil

Right Gunner - Sgt. Sam F. Triantos

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner - Sgt. James M. Hall

Turret Gunner/Engineer - S/Sgt. Emmett O. Holbrook

F - Tech/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel

My father is standing on right, he died in 1991. The mission was the Bassaneo East Railroad bridge I have found the website for T. A. Hetzel. I emailed Eric Hetzel, he hasn't emailed me back.

I have pictures of differant noseart pictures of the 487, 489th.

His Individual flight record of April 1945

log book

I would appreciate you making a page for my father.

I will send what I have.

Thank you, Jim Nelson

7Y Sky Demon

9B Legal Eagle

9 H Black Jack

07 - 7G 43-27738

08 ?

09 - 7v supper unit ration K

10 - Willie 7F 43-27510

11 - 7A - My naked Ass

012 - Stella 9F - 43-4058

013 - Helen 9D - 43-27638

014 - Shirley Ann 7Z - 43-4031

015 - Mission Completed 9T - 43-4045

016 - White Litenin 7?

017 - Bugs 486th

1ST MISSION ON 10 APRIL 1945, TARGET M 311530 LAVEZZOLA #4 FRONTLINE TROOPS – 12 SHIPS (843) 2:00 

 

Both patterns believed to have crossed eastern half of target area, but accurate observation was difficult due to evasive action. Fires were observed emitting from areas around the buildings. One aircraft was holed as a result from flak encountered.

Pilot – 1st Lt. James B. Fitzgerald

Co-Pilot – Flight Officer Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – Flight Officer George E. Erkilla

Right Gunner – T/Sgt. Pul S. McMillen

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Casimir (nmi) Olszewski

Turret Gunner/Engineer – T/Sgt. Hubert O. Knauff

SN 43-27478 – 7J “YAHOODI”

2nd MISSION ON 11 APRIL 1945, TARGET F686933 SAN MARGHERITA NORTH RAILROAD BRIDGE – 6 SHIPS (848) 2:30 #6 in last box 3:30 PM
THIS
BOX WILL FLY WITH THE 489TH BS

 

•Pattern fell on the south side of the san Margherita South bridge. This bridge was hit due to misidentification of target. Flak was negligible.

•Pilot – 1st Lt. Oscar E. Olson Jr.

•Co-Pilot – Flight Officer Alfred James Nelson

•Navigator/Bombardier – S/Sgt. Francis J. LaPierre

•Right Gunner – T/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel

•Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Vernon A. Short

•Turret Gunner/Engineer - T/Sgt. Bert M. Gifford

•SN 43-28074 – 7C “ROSIE”

•Flight log of T/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel