97^th BG  Wm Ross  Website Comments and Corrections

 

 

Hello Doug,

 

I just stumbled over the announcement of your great new homepage.

 

I am especially interested in your coverage of 97^th BG.

Having done quite some research into the bombing of my home town Feldkirch in Austria – which was carried out by planes from 97^th BG on 1^st October 1943 – I try to get us much information on the history of this group as possible.

 

I could find the mission report of 1^st October 1943 through NARA and AFHRA – but so far was unable to gather anything in pictures of planes, crews and the airfield in Tunisia from where the mission originated.

I still do not know, which planes and crews from 97^th BG took part in the raid, which was directed against the Messerschmitt factory in Augsburg, Southern Germany, but failed to reach the primary target.

One of my (futile?) projects is to find the bomb strike photos of 97^th BG taken on 1^st October 1943.

 

Possibly your father-in-law even took part in that mission?

I am looking forward very much to what you will display from his collection. Apart from the forum in armyairforces.com unfortunately there has not been much on the internet concerning 97^th BG.

Maybe you can correct that.

 

With Greetings from Austria,

 

Gerhard Winkler

Gerhard Winkler [e.g.winkler@schule.at]

 

Hello Gerhard,

 

I share your frustration in not getting much from the web on the 97th BG.  I tried to piece together what I could like a puzzle.   I may at some point do some research in the US Archives in MD.   I would like to get more info. on my own fathers B-25 487th Squadron.   I will update the websites as more becomes available.  I will look specifically for the Oct 1 43 mission.   My father-in-law was back in the States since August 43.

 

Greetings from Saudi Arabia,

 

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

1/27/07

Dear Doug,

 

I have already visited the US Archives in MD personally and found nothing specific. However this does not mean, that nothing can be found there – because my “research” there was restricted to a few hours.

However I have enjoyed the visit there extremely, because NARA is such a fascinating institution. I found the staff there very helpful. I add a picture of my visit at NARA.

 

I feel, that there is not much on BG level concerning 97^th BG to find at NARA, maybe a bit more at AFHRA.

The key to success could be to search documents at wing level (5^th wing) or at AF level (12^th AF, later 15^th AF).

So I appreciate it, if you have a look at Oct 1 43 mission, when you go to NARA.

 

What I have so far, I have on CD – there is even a version in English. If you are interested, please let me know. And you would have to tell me your current snail mail address.

 

Even if your father-in-law left the MTO in August 1943, I am looking forward very much to what your website will show, especially in terms of pictures from planes, crews and bases.

 

At the moment here in Austria, we do only scarcely have more snow than in Saudi Arabia. But as I look out of the window this seems to improve today.

 

Greetings from Austria

 

Gerhard Winkler

 

 

 

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Thanks!   I look forward to the rest of the scans.

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Gerhard Winkler [mailto:e.g.winkler@schule.at]
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 10:51 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: AW: History of 97th BG

Hello Doug,

 

I have something that might be of interrest to you.

 

In 1943 the famous photographer Margaret Bourke-White, working for LIFE, went on a combat mission against the airfield of Tunis with the 97th BG.

The date is not given in the newspaper article but was January 22, 1943, according to the biography of Mrs. White.

This date would fall within the tour of duty of your father-in-law.

 

I have bought the issue of LIFE magazine and am in the process of scanning the article.

I enclose scan of the first page of the article.

 

Please be aware that the copyright of course is with LIFE.

 

Greetings from Austria

 

Gerhard Winkler

 

 

Von: Cook, Douglas J. [mailto:douglas.cook@aramco.com]
Gesendet: Samstag, 27. Jänner 2007 05:09
An: Gerhard Winkler
Betreff: RE: History of 97th BG

 

Hello Gerhard,

 

I share your frustration in not getting much from the web on the 97th BG.  I tried to piece together what I could like a puzzle.   I may at some point do some research in the US Archives in MD.   I would like to get more info. on my own fathers B-25 487th Squadron.   I will update the websites as more becomes available.  I will look specifically for the Oct 1 43 mission.   My father-in-law was back in the States since August 43.

 

Greetings from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook
Northwest Arabia Team Leader
Central Area Exploration Division
Saudi Aramco
Phone  966-3-873-7724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Doug,

 

 

Found it a very interesting site and I'll certainly visit it again when I have more time.

Really impressed by the high quality photographs and information + details from Google Earth.

 

Keep up the good work !

 

Best regards from cold Belgium

 

Luc   Luc Vervoort from ArmyAirForces [AF9th@yahoo.co.uk]

 

Hi Luc,

 

Thanks for the message.  Can you be more specific on where the typo was found.  I checked back on the announcement at the 97th BG Forum and I find it is correct.   I enjoyed the project and will continue to update it as I find more material or corrections.

 

Greetings from Saudi Arabia,

 

Doug Cook

Northwest Arabia Team Leader

Central Area Exploration Division

Saudi Aramco

 

 

1/24/07

 

 

Subject:   RE: New Site 97th BG 414th Squadron

 

 

Hi Doug,

 

I enjoyed looking at your new website.  My uncle was in the 97th BG, the 341st Bomb Sq. at Polebrook.  He arrived in England in June 1942 and died Nov 17, 1942 when his plane developed engine trouble and crashed in the Bay of Biscay enroute to North Africa.  So my uncle was among the first arrivals in England, and it has been a little more difficult trying to find out information.  Your website helps to give me a better idea of what his life was like during that time.  My husband and I were fortunate to attend the last 97th BG reunion this past October in DC.  What a wonderful group of men, none of whom considered themselves heroes...only doing their job.  I had hoped to meet someone who might have known my uncle or knew of the crash.  I did talk to one gentleman who knew about the plane crash (Brig Gen Asa N. Duncan was onboard--all were killed) and had known the squadron commander, Maj John Knox, who was also on board.  This website certainly helped direct me to more information (a book that gives an eyewitness account of the crash) than my family had previously.

 

My husband is retired AF, and when you mentioned in your father-in-law's biography that he had worked at Famous Barr, it caught my attention because we were stationed at Scott AFB, Illinois and always enjoyed our trips to St.Louis.

 

Thanks again for compiling and creating the website in tribute to your father-in -law.

 

Jan

Hi Doug,

I enjoyed looking at your new website.  My uncle was in the 97th BG, the 341st Bomb Sq. at Polebrook.  He arrived in England in June 1942 and died Nov 17, 1942 when his plane developed engine trouble and crashed in the Bay of Biscay enroute to North Africa.  So my uncle was among the first arrivals in England, and it has been a little more difficult trying to find out information.  Your website helps to give me a better idea of what his life was like during that time.  My husband and I were fortunate to attend the last 97th BG reunion this past October in DC.  What a wonderful group of men, none of whom considered themselves heroes...only doing their job.  I had hoped to meet someone who might have known my uncle or knew of the crash.  I did talk to one gentleman who knew about the plane crash (Brig Gen Asa N. Duncan was onboard--all were killed) and had known the squadron commander, Maj John Knox, who was also on board.  This website certainly helped direct me to more information (a book that gives an eyewitness account of the crash) than my family had previously.

My husband is retired AF, and when you mentioned in your father-in-law's biography that he had worked at Famous Barr, it caught my attention because we were stationed at Scott AFB, Illinois and always enjoyed our trips to St.Louis.

Thanks again for compiling and creating the website in tribute to your father-in -law.

Jan

Jan Lindquist
niece of B-17 top turret gunner
killed November 17, 1942

 

Doug,

 

It has been fantastic to read through the pages of your website and check out the great images, maps etc.  I am writing a book about Col. Hank Tillman, Jr. a good friend who was a B17 pilot who flew 52 combat missions in the 414th BS from July 15, 1943 to January 24, 1944.   Col. Tillman and I have met numerous times.  since March of 2006 and I was fortunate to attend the 97th's reunion in October of 2006 with him.  At the reunion I met many wonderful vets and my favorite was Tillman's ball turret gunner, Frank Dancey.  I would love to talk to you and share information about the 414th since your Father in Law's service with the 414th finished the month after Col. Tillman's service commenced.  Col. Tillman and Frank Dancey flew together on Aug.25, 1943 in the Smokey Stover and their first mission was on Stinky Jr. on July 15, 1943.  You have more info collected on the 414th than I have seen anywhere.  I am still hoping to buy a copy of the 97th history so that I understand the entire evolution of the group in North Africa and Italy.  I have lots of photos taken at the USAF Memorial dedication, the 97th Reunion and scanned photos from Frank Dancey who took many rolls of film during his tour.  I will be glad to share any digital photos with you as I feel is it most important to keep these memories and images in our history so that we do not forget the sacrifices made and challenges taken on by our veterans.

 

The attached image is Col. Tillman and his crew on his first plane "Sweet Adaline" named after his mother.

 

I will be home this evening and my phone number is 703-938-0603.  My work number on weekdays is 703-918-4359. 

 

Please call me when you can or email me so that we can share information.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Shelby

David Shelby [david.shelby@ddlomni.com]

 

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

 

 

David,

 

I appreciate your comments and am thrilled that you are in contact with the 414th.   I would be glad to put up a website section with images and anecdotes from Col. Tillman and Frank Dancey.  I would not want to "scoop" your book but complement it. Its your call on what you want to share with full credit given to the source.  When your book is in print,  I can "advertise" it.

 

I live in Saudi Arabia but will be in Colorado Mar. 20-26  at 719-260-6814.

 

Cheers from the Magic Kingdom,

 

Doug Cook

Northwest Arabia Team Leader

Central Area Exploration Division

Saudi Aramco

Phone  966-3-873-7724   GMT +3

Hi David,

 

I look forward to working on the web site with you. Thanks for the 414th Mission Pages!  I found a little treasure there for the mission 4/10/43 hitting the Cruiser Gorzia.  My father-in-law was on that mission and is referenced in a news clipping on the we site.  I Google Gorzia and found her history and photo so I will add that to the website also.

 

Text in MS Word is great.   I am no web site wizard.  My daughter will attest to that!   I actually make my HTML files in MS Word.  JPGs are great also.  I scan at 200 to 300 dpi Large original make large files but I crop and resize.  The images on the webpage I have decimated to have the largest pixel dimension no bigger than about 800 x 1200 so that the file size is under 300kb.   You can send me your high res images and I will work with them  e.g. I cropped the mission sheets,  lightened, added contrast, cut back the blue and saved the files at 260kb size.

 

My background:

 

Born Mar. 25, 1955 in Ohio.  Grew up in Michigan.  BS Oceanography (and scuba instructor)Univ. of Michigan.  Moved to Key Largo and ran a diving charter boat and business for 5 years.  Got married during that time in 1980.  1984  MS Geology  Univ. of Florida then joined Conoco in Houston.  Worked deep water Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria in oil field development and exploration.  Moved to BHP in Houston in 1992 and continued exploration in deep water Gulf of Mexico for 5 years.  My Gulf of Mexico experience had a big highlight for me.  I participated in 6 research cruises with the Johnson Sea-Link submersibles diving to 2600 feet to study oil seeps and chemosynthetic communities (critters that live on oil and gas!) Eager to get out of Houston traffic, we moved to Saudi Aramco in 1998. I am the Team Leader for exploring Northwest Saudi to the Jordan and Iraq borders. I have two successful wells drilling now on my prospects that have discovered significant new oil and gas reserves.  We live in Dhahran on the Persian Gulf. It is a very large compound- actually a walled secure city with lots of trees and grass and recreation.  We have a yacht club where I sail my Hobie Cat.  I am an astronomy buff.  I collect aeronautical and aerospace memorabilia.  I scuba dive in Red Sea several times a year.   We get to do a lot of traveling.  E.g. last year we went to South Africa, Bali, Australia, and to the US 3 times. We have a condo in Manitou Springs, CO that is our US base. I have a 21 year old daughter just out of college and working in San Francisco.  Daughter number 2 (surprise) was born here and is in second grade.

 

Now you know my story!

 

Cheers,

 

Doug

 

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

From: David Shelby [mailto:david.shelby@ddlomni.com]

Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 10:40 PM

To: Cook, Douglas J.

Subject: RE: 97th Bomb Group 414th Squadron History website

 

Doug,

 

I'm so glad that you liked the photos.  I met with Col. Tillman yesterday and it was enjoyable as always.  We talked specifically about the huge amount of energy and time required for both of us in order to

complete and publish a books and how daunting the task is.   I described

your website and how we could take some of the Colonel's info and his photos along with Sgt. Dancey and make it immediately available to anyone that can get to the web.  He is agreeable, with the understanding that he would review a printed copy that I give him prior to going online with it. 

 

With that said, I will begin to gather images and text that will be interesting that relate to Col. Tillman's 414th experiences along with Sgt. Danceys.  After I get approval, can I just send you the text in MS Word?  Are JPGs OK for the images?  What dpi and number of pixels would

work for you?   I like the way that you photos are very clear and large

and that you cannot right click on them and save your own high res version (of course I tried that already!).  This will keep the high quality images protected and in the possession of the owner.  Can you do the same with my section?

 

I don't want to pry to much personally about you, but could you describe a bit of your background so that I can pass it on to Col. Tillman and Sgt Dancey?  I understand that your Father served in the Med Theater as did your Father in law was in 414th, and your Uncle was in the Pacific Theater.  That's a lot of family Air Corp. history!

 

This web method will be a wonderful way to move ahead quickly and share photos and Air Corp. history sooner than later.  I still hope to make a book or short documentary eventually but I like the idea of visible progress.

 

If you are a NFL fan I hope you will be able to see the Super Bowl where you are.

 

Best regards

 

David

 

PS - I copied this document (see attachments) yesterday but have not

cleaned it up yet.   This may be out on the web or in a book somewhere

but it was the first time I had seen it.  I do not know where the Col.

got it but can find out if you post it on your page.

 

 

 

 

David Shelby

DDL OMNI Engineering

703-903-9777

ddlomni.com

 

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Doug,

 

I just recently found your web site and I find it as very nice.  My grandfather, William "Bill" Watson was a bombardier on War Pappy 42-30407 with 414th Bomber Squadron, 97th Bomber Group.  Any idea how I can find information about the air crew for his plane.  The pilot's list is listed as Richter.  I have black and white photographs of them, it looks while they were in North Africa.  I also have photographs from the air where the bombs have hit the ground (smoke and craters), I don't if its through the bomb scope.  On the bottom of the photos, it has notations (date, place, bomber squadron). 

 

Thanks,

 

Rob Valentine

Robval30@aol.com

Doug,

 

We exchanged a few emails earlier this year and I described my project of interviewing Col. Hank Tillman, Jr. B17 pilot, 12th and 15th Air Forces, 414th Bomb Squadron for a book.  I have met with the Col. twice this year so far and talked a few more times.  I told him about your website and we discussed the idea of you posting some photos and details of his service with the Air Corp.  He was a bit hesitant to go ahead with this since he gets so many phone calls, letters and requests as he shares his WWII stories with many and he is written up in his local paper frequently.  He asked me if we post text and photos on your website, that it would mean that he would receive more letters and calls and I said probably not, since you would not list his address or phone number etc.  Anyway I expect to call him tomorrow April 1, on his birthday, and will mention the concept of posting photos and perhaps and stories and not featuring him too much.

 

With that being said, the good news follows.

 

I just spoke with Frank Dancey for 45 minutes.  He is a great guy and one that I always learn so much from.   Sgt. Frank Dancey was Tillman's ball turret gunner for 50 missions.  He said that it would be fine if you posted his photos on the web.  If you would like to add a section about Frank for now, that would be most excellent!  I don't remember what photos I sent you in the past so I will send a few more now.   The mission logs were copied from his original diary which I haven't seen yet.  He is trying to find this at his home!  He shot this photo of Jimmy Doolittle and I think it was in North Africa.

 

I recently purchased some original WWII photos from a seller on ebay.

 

 

THIS IS THE SELLER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOS:

 

 

I do not know the photographers name other than "Jack" and the seller would only give it to the person that one a separate auction!  My thoughts were that since I own about 20 originals that relate to North Africa and Italy, that you might want to post some of these on your website as well.  I am including as starters a neat shot that I am certain is of Eddie Rickenbacker (center) and I am reasonably certain Ernest Hemingway (right) and perhaps Jimmy Doolittle (left).  The additional photos of Doolittle and Hemingway are included so that you can help me ID the guys in my photo. 

 

My main idea is to share this history with other's that are researching it and to get it "out there" before all of the vets from this war are gone.  I hope that you have the time and can post some of these and that you find it helpful with your research. 

 

 I will send you another batch of pics taken by Frank Dancey and some more from my new collection this coming week.

 

FYI - I just met a B17 tail gunner last week in the middle of a parking lot just 2 blocks from my house in Vienna VA.  He said that they bombed Berlin 3 times on different raids and that he would talk with me soon.  I hope that this happens.  :>)

 

cheers

 

 

David

 

David Shelby

DDL OMNI Engineering  703-903-9777  ddlomni.com

Hi David,

 

I just got back from my trip to the US  (CA and CO) and am going throuh emails.   Thanks for the photos.  Yes,  I would like to put up a section on Frank Dancey.   You have sent some great photos and mission logs.  I see the "Smokey Stover", my father-in-law's plane on one mission.   I wonder if Frank remembers pilot Bill Ross?  I would like to get a bio and some anecdotes from Frank if possible  to add to the section.   The Doolittle photos are interesting.  I am a collector abd have a signed Doolittle photo.  If the Doolittle, Rickenbacher, Hemingway photo is real and from N. Africa its a nice historic piece like the Churchill photo in Bill Ross' collection.   I am trying to enhace it to bring out more detail.

 

Hoping to hear more from you soon.

 

Cheers,

 

Hello Doug,

 

I trust that your trip was fun and that you fit in some relaxation.  Our family is looking forward to the weekend of May 11th for a trip to the Jamestown VA 400th anniversary celebration.  We will be staying in a home directly across the river from the original Jamestown Fort and settlement.  A much easier trek that you just made!  I do love to travel and hope to make it to England and Europe again.

 

I am very excited that you are ready to post the section on Frank Dancey.  I will ask him about Bill Ross and the Smokey Stover when I contact him in the near future.  I hope that you can give me an idea of how many images you want to post in Dancey's section and then I can then send with proper annotation.   I have taken notes during my discussion with Frank and already have some details from him in Col. Tillman's write-up.   

 

The info in the following paragraph is accurate and can be used as an introduction:   Sgt. Frank Dancey flew 50 combat missions as a ball turret gunner and all but one with Col. Hank Tillman, Jr. as pilot.  Frank and Hank were in the 414th Bomb Squadron with the 12th Air Force in North Africa.  They were eventually assigned to the 15th Air Force in Italy.  The dates of their missions were July 1943 to January 1944.  They bombed Rome with Jimmy Doolittle leading the way on July 19th 1943.  They were told during briefings for this mission to avoid many parts of the city where civilians were present and especially to stay away from the Vatican and the surrounding area.  German radio helped to circulate rumors that Catholic airmen did not have to fly this particular mission unless they wanted to, so that arguments and controversy would occur between the men.  (Dakar Natives shot) - Frank told me that these men would help to guard their tents and camp while they were out on missions.  Some things still disappeared at times as the security was difficult to maintain with the temporary nature of the bases.  

 

I am sure that Elaine P is one of Frank's photos but I don't know where it was taken.   Great nose art!

 

Back to work for me.  I will write again this week and send you more photos and descriptions.

 

Have a great week.

 

Put up Tillman and Dancey 1^st Draft:

 

What a great way to start the day.  I will forward a link to your site to Frank's sons and to his daughter. 

 

The only correction I see right now is that in the Sweet Adaline photo caption Frank Dancey is the shortest guy on the far left and Hank Tillman is the second guy from the right. This photo was taken in Rabat, West Africa in July of 1943.   I will send you more info about the Sweet Adaline 42-30307, which was named after Tillman's mother.  Frank said that they never flew this in combat and it was transferred to another crew and renamed the "Bonnie Sue".   It was shot down by an Italian captured P-38 on 11 August 1943.  I will condense a few more quotes from Frank and send more photos this week.  I have tons going on but this will stay high on my to-do list.

 

 The winds are whipping around the East coast today.

 

Have a terrific week

 

From: Robert Kalinak [mailto:robert.kalinak@gmail.com]

Subject: 97 BG 414 Squadron

Good day, I like your web site, perhaps you could help me in research I am doing for my family.

A cousin of my Mother, Tech Sgt. Andrew Poczik Jr. was a member of the 97th BG, 414th

Squadron.  He was lost July 8, 1943, B-17F, 42-5090, MACR 69, which I obtained from Lynn

Gamma at Maxwell AFB.  Seeing that your website deals with the 414th Squadron, I was curious if you had any info on the crew of 42-5090, I f you do have any info. or leads I would appreciate anything you could share, Thanks.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robert Kalinak, Grandson of Charles Poczik

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

Hi Robert,

 

Thanks for the email.   I wish I did have more information.  This line is on my website:

 B-17F-35-BO                42-5090    (97th BG, 414th BS) MIA Jul 8, 1943.  All crew KIA.  MACR 69

 I got this from:  http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1942_1.html

 Maxwell Research  http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/

 You may be able to his miltary service record from:    http://www.archives.gov/

I filled out their form and got my father-in-law's service record. 

Good luck!

 

Gerhard, 

 

Thanks for the photo.  I wll add it to the website with credit to you.   I have not heard from TimeLife, so after many weeks, I put the article up anyway.  If I ever get an objection, I will take it down.

 

Cheers,

Doug

From: Gerhard Winkler [mailto:e.g.winkler@schule.at]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 12:51 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: LIFE Permission to use an article from 1943 granted?

Hello Doug,

 

I just would like to ask you, if you ever got an answer from LIFE, concerning their copyright.

 

I enclose a picture I cropped from GoogleEarth and “enhanced” a little bit.

It shows the airfield at Oudna, Tunisia, from where the 97^th BG flew the airstrike against Feldkirch on 1st October 1943.

Even the hardstands around the airstrip still clearly show through the soil and vegetation.

 

From your website I conclude, that your father-in-law holds pictures from the camp in Tunisia.

I would be mightily interested…

 

Greetings from Austria,

 

From: Steven Nelson [mailto:steveo05196@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 12:58 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: my grand father

 

i saw your site and thought id email you. im researching my grandfather and his wwII days he was in the 414th. he went down on april 3 1944 his macr is 3962 and tail number 42-30436. im in army aviation also im an apache crew chief in the 101st airborne. My Grandfather passed away last year when i was in iraq. if you have any information on him i would greatly appreciate it if you emailed it to me. thank you

 

Steven,

Thanks for the email.   I wish I did have more information.  This line is on my website:

B-17F-105-BO     42-30436  (97th BG, 414th BS) lost Apr 3, 1944.  MACR 3962

I got this from:  http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1942_1.html

 

Maxwell Research  http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/

 

You may be able to his military service record from:    http://www.archives.gov/

 

I filled out their form and got my father-in-law's service record.

 

If you are able to gather enough information for a story, I would be glad to post it on the website.

 

 Good luck!  

From: Doorknob52@aol.com [mailto:Doorknob52@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 1:36 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Re: P-38 Fighter Pilot Book etc. winning bid

 

In a message dated 8/24/2007 10:18:57 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, douglas.cook@aramco.com writes:

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

You must be very proud of your father. Remarkable man!

 

Amazing coincidence! One stanza of the poem, Lightnings in the Sky, is quoted in my book (Page 104) in a letter from my brother in 1943. Like the author of the poem, Bob was also a radio-operator gunner on B-17s.

 

More amazing - checked my combat flight log and almost half my B-17 escort missions matched the mission logs of the 97th Bomb Group. Same days. Same targets. We were there!

 

 

Thanks,

 

Fredric Arnold

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frederic,

 

It’s an honor to correspond with you.  It seems obvious that you were connected to my father-in-law in the 97^th BG as fighter escort.  I wonder who did write the poem if not in fact your brother?  May I briefly quote you and promote your book on the website?

 

My father was in Corsica as a B-25 pilot in 1944, also on the website: http://www.redog1944.com

 

Thanks again,

 

 

The author of the poem Lightnings in the Sky was Tech. Sgt. Robert H. Bryson, Radio Operator-Gunner. He wrote it while on an unescorted mission in a B-17 Flying Fortress over North Africa. The P-38 was the only fighter plane capable of escorting bombers to their targets and return.

 

The poem first appeared in a publication, the Lockheed "Star" in 1943.

 

Our Squadron escorted B-17s, B-25s, and B-26s. We also dive bombed and strafed military targets. I finished my 50 mission tour of combat duty in July 1943 before your father was in Corsica.

 

Of our original 14 P-38 fighter pilots, 12 were killed. I was one of the two survivors. The tragic loss of my comrades is memorialized in the film documentary, Between Two Worlds, presently being screened at film Festivals throughout the country and has won several Best Documentary Awards. I have listed DVDs on eBay. For details: www.doorknob52.com.

 

After you have read my book, I hope you will be able to make favorable comments for the public.

 

Our correspondence has touched me deeply.

 

With warm regards

-----Original Message-----
From: jakeegan@twcny.rr.com [mailto:jakeegan@twcny.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 7:17 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: re: Contacts from 97th BG and 414th Squadron Welcome!

 

Mr. Cook:

I am doing some research about my grandfathers service with the 97th Bomb

Group.

I have a small collection of digital copies of the photoes he took in North

Africe between Jan - Nov 1943.

 

Some of the pictures are of planes, and I have some names of the people he

served with.

 

Anyway, I've got a bit of a puzzle, and you seem to have some information,

so I'd like to know if you could help.

 

Your website listed a scheme for squadron markings:

 

1 for the 340th, 2 for the 341st, 3 for the 342nd and 4 for the 414th.

 

But the book I was perusing the other day (B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the

MTO, Hess, Osprey Publishing) said the following:

 

0 for the 340th

1 for the 341st

2 for the 342nd

4 for the 414th

 

The same book however ALSO contains color plates and some photos of planes identified as with the 414th Bomb Squadron, but bearing the "triangle over #1" markings that seem more consistent with the 341/340th according to the schema you (or the Hess book) mention.

 

SO.  Something isn't quite right.

 

Now -- the photos I have show planes with 2 types of tail markings --

Triangle over 0 and Triangle over 1 -- the triangle over 0 markings seem to be more consistent with the Hess book schema -- those planes most likely belonging to the 340th Bomb Squadron.

 

The pictures I have of the "triangle over 1" marking seem like they could be either 414th squadron planes OR 341st Squadron planes.

 

Now -- specific questions for you.re:

http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm

 

1. the first 3 or so "formation pictures" on the page clearly show the

"triangle over 4" schema.     Do you know roughly when those shots were taken?  Do you have any specifics from them about who took them and what mission?

 

2. The "Roster of Officers Emergency Addresses" -- same question -- do you have a date or a source on that?     If you did, it would give some indication about this little puzzle.

 

The two schemas described yours and Ness's seem to be logical -- so I

wouldn't be surprised if the Ness schema is more an early 1943 thing and the schema you describe is more a 1944 thing.

 

I was told by some other researchers with more knowledge than myself that in 1943-1944 squadron markings were changing around all the time.

 

AND -- it's not that hard to convert a 1 to a 4.

 

Anyway -- all of this means my grandfather likely served with either the

341st bomb squadron OR the 414th.  It was most definitely the 97th Bomb

Group.

 

The markings are puzzling me, so let me know if you can advise,

 

gratefully, John Keegan

 

Tiocfaidh ár Lá

 

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

 

John, 

 

I am not an expert on the markings but what I have found on the web is fairly consistent with my father-in-law' pictures of planes from the 97th BG 414th (obvious triangle above 4- other markings not seen, missions and dates

unknown) BS as shown on my web page:

http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm  These photos are certainly 414th BS and circa Jan to Aug, 1943.  Note that other photos of 97th BG planes from my father-in-laws collection only have serial numbers on the tail so the schema is not universal.

 

I got the schema from the link below:

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_45731/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#45745

 

 

The emergency contact list was my father-in-law's and obviously he was counting the missions to the magic 50 that would get you sent home.  He left the theater in Aug. 1943.

 

You may be able to get your grandfathers military service record from:

http://www.archives.gov/

 

 

I filled out their form (SSN and/or service record number required) and got my father-in-law's service record.

 

If you are able to gather enough information for a story and want to share photos, I would be glad to post it on the website.

 

Good luck! Keep in touch 

Doug Cook

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

From: jakeegan@twcny.rr.com [mailto:jakeegan@twcny.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 5:33 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: Contacts from 97th BG and 414th Squadron Welcome!

 

Doug:

 

Thank you.  That basically explains it.

 

      1. I think the 4 = 414 was consistent, even in the early part of 1943.

 

      2. I think the colour plates pictured in the Ness book are incorrect and likely the result of artistic error.  There are PHOTOs in the same     book that contradict that schema and are more in line with your information.

 

      3. I do think the original Ness explanation is correct 0 = 340th, 1 = 341st

and 2 = 342nd and 4 = 414th.  This is because I've never seen any pictures of a "triangle over #3" but I have seen 0, 1, 2 and 4.

 

I think the book is in error.  I will send you some of the pictures if you'd like. They are nearly certainly from the 341st Squadron.

 

My grandfather served from Jan 1943 to Nov 1943, flew his 50 missions, came home, had 11 kids.

 

 

Doug:

Thank you for sharing all this.

I went back after what you told me and reviewed the Ness book.  It's a pretty simple explanation.

 

      1. Ness is correct about the basic squadron numbering scheme from 1943 on.

      It did not change and remained the same for the 97th, although

      the markings changed somewhat. He correctly explained the markings in the appendix as 340 = 0, 341 = 1, 342 = 2, 4 = 414.

 

      2. At least one and likely both of the planes pictured in the colour plates of the Ness book with squadron # 1 are mislabelled as 414th planes when in fact they are 341st squadron planes.  I did a aircraft serial number search on 42-30267 and it went down in Romania with the 341st/97th and not the 414th.

      (97th BG, 341st BS, 'Hustlin' Hussy') shot down Jun 23, 1944 near Mizil, Romania.  MACR 6951

 

      3. Ness's explanation (Appendix pg. 88) of 0 = 340th, 1 = 341st, 2 = 342nd and 4 = 414th is correct and the only squadron numbering ever used.

      The two colour plates in the book with 1 pictured on the tail are mislabelled and should say 341st, at least definately for 42-30267 and

probably for      42-5346 as well.  The tail markings did change some in that

the squadron number eventually is in a circle and the Y is added inside the

triangle -- but   the triangle and 0,1,2 and 4 markings are consistent.

 

      4. I've done some scouring of existing 97th bomb group photoes on the web and in books, there are no units with a 3 for the squadron markings for the 97th that I can find.  However, the Ness book and my grandfathers photoes

both show planes with a 0 for the squadron number.   That is consistent with

the explanation in Ness's appendix of 340 = 0, 341 = 1, 342 = 2 and 414 = 4.

 

 

My grandfather served from January 1943 to November 1943, departing the 12th AF about the same time that the units moved from N. Africa.

 

He was a radio operator and we believe most or all of the men in his aircrew returned home safely after completing 50 missions.

 

So the book is both correct and in error. (Osprey Publishing, go figure!)

 

Anyway, thanks for all your help.

 

Tiocfaidh ár Lá

 

John A. Keegan

 

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

Hi again John,

 

Thanks for the research answers. I will correct my webpage accordingly.  What will you do with your grandfather's photos?   I would be more than happy to make a web section devoted to him if want to share photos, bio, anecdotes...  Proper credit would be given.  The pictures can't be directly copied with a right mouse click.  My website has mushroomed over the last few years with similar contributions.  I keep making corrections and additions to make it a historical reference for families and researchers who live in the formerly Nazi occupied countries of Europe that our father's and grandfathers help liberate.

 

Sincerely,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

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

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

From: John A WAKELIN [mailto:jwakelin@msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:42 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: B17G-Our Baby

 

Doug,

Good evening

I met Mr Lowell D. Morrow - Bombardier on 42-31392 Our Baby on its 27th and final mission. He was one of those who walked out after the crash.

His son does not have any history of his dad - I have managed to put together, some stuff, including a photograph of the Bf 109 and pilot that shot them down, I know the crew captain was James N Clem, but that is about the extent of what I can find, any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Can you direct me to a site which may have a photograph of this aircraft, I noticed on a Croatian web site mention of there being several photographs of this aircraft, but I was unable to negotiate my way through such a 'foreign' language. Also (from a rough translation) this aircraft at one time held a record for ????most missions without an abort or turnback?????

 

Has the 97th BG website been closed or is it 'hidden away' somewhere.

 

Thanks for you site

Kindest regards

John A Wakelin. Indianapolis, Indiana

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

 

 

Hi John,

 

My apologies if you were unable get to the website.  I was doing some major upload/maintenance Thurs-Fri.

 

For the 97^th BG try:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/97th_Bomb_Group_414th_Squadron_Index.htm

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm

 

Note that I have not found a great deal out there about the details of planes from the 97^th BG and I tried to focus on my father-in-law’s  414^th squadron.

 

 If you know Mr. Morrow’s SSN or military ID number his son 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.

 

I would be happy to put a web page dedicated to Mr Morrow if we can put together more pieces of the puzzle.

 

I just noted my webpage had the plane listed and it was from the 97^th BG 414^th Squadron:

 

B-17G-15-BO      42-31392 (97th BG, 414th BS) shot down by Bf 109 fighter May 24, 1944 over Zagreb, Yugoslavia.  MACR 5187

 

http://www.accident-report.com/Crew_Names/namec_clay.html     You can file a request on the MACR report.  There may be a fee.

 

Conflicting information from a forum site:

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_44794/mpage_1/tm.htm#54940

 

 

Fred :-) You may already have this informaton....This is from the 5th Wing History of Aircraft Assigned.....a/c 42-31392 97th BG 341 Sq MIA Ploesti.. 24-5-44..fighters..crashed at Sisak. James Clem crew,..Keenan, Gardner, Morrow, Reisenberger,Churchill, Ray, Cottrell,Cwierz, Gilbert. ( MACR 5187) Jim :-) [signature]

 

Its got the crew members and plane numbers but the squadron and crash site don’t match.  The 97^th did not bomb Ploesti to my knowledge.

Sisak is near Zagreb-  that rings true:

 

 

Sisak (German: Sissek, Hungarian: Sziszek, Italian: Siscia) is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2001 was 52,236 [1] and it is the administrative centre of Sisak-Moslavina county. Sisak is located at the confluence of the Kupa, Sava, and Odra rivers, 57 km southeast of the Croatian capital Zagreb.

 

I will keep looking.  Lets try to compile something on this.

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

 

John,

 

Perhaps you have been through this forum already:

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_46517/mpage_1/printable.htm

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_46517/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#46517

 

The forum has a lot of chatter about the crash.

 

 

I have emailed through the forum (blind email) Zeljko Bocek  who lives in Sisak and has parts of the plane and newspaper accounts.   If he gets back to me,  I will share and try to get you in direct contact.

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

Viliam,

 

I have website on the 97^th BG  414^th Sq:

 

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/97th_Bomb_Group_414th_Squadron_Index.htm

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm

 

A reader wrote the query below and I have since found your thread in a forum about two downed planes.  Can you provide a photo and further information on the mission?

 

Thanks,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

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

RE: B17G-Our Baby-  some confusion on planes but maybe we're getting somewhere:

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_69219/printable.htm

 

 

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

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_69219/printable.htm

 

 

 

9/19/07   David Shelby [david.shelby@ddlomni.com]

 

Doug,

 

Greetings to you!    I am including some additional photos relating to Col Hank Tillman and Sgt. Frank Dancey.   I have talked and written to Col. Tillman several times during the last few months.  He is still doing reasonably well at home but unfortunately has not had the energy for any additional interviews with me.  He is still undergoing many visits and tests at Walter Reid Hospital for his numerous medical conditions.

 

Info on attached photos that you can post on your website (if you will be so kind).

 

Tillman receiving DFC - probably Air Corp photo

 

Tillman at controls - no writing on the back of this one so unsure if this was training or combat mission etc. - credit Frank Dancey

 

Dancey Tillman Jocko (pet monkey) from Dancey's camera looks very similar to other camp photos in Africa by Dancey - credit Frank Dancey

 

Kan-Do! photo - crew unknown to me although Tillman and Dancey flew #438 in two combat missions.  This is not Tillman's crew - photographer unknown

 

Tillman and P-38  - photographer unknown

  

 

I am sure that you have heard of Ken Burn's WWII seven part documentary which begins this Sunday Sept 23rd.  Don't miss this one!

 

I have interviewed my Uncle Capt. James Cheatham twice this year.  He was in the 26th Yankee Division, 102nd Field Artillery, and served as Battery B commander.  He has an amazing collection of photos that he shot including Battle of the Bulge.  He was in charge of 20,000 Germans in a POW camp just after the war at Ebensee Austria.  I have had some other fascinating WWII vet experiences including making friends with an 82nd Airborne, 505th PIR Sgt. named James Rodier who made 4 combat jumps including Normandy.  I am planning on meeting and talking to another Air Corp vet next week that is a good friend of my mother in laws.  In October I will be joining Historic Vienna Inc. 

 

http://www.historicviennainc.org/

 

as a board member and hope to be able to ask WWII vets from our town to contact me through the Historic group to discuss and record their experiences.  If I can get this going right away it will tie in nicely with Ken Burns series since many people will be more interested in saving and recording history.  I pray that all is well with you and your family.

 

Cheers,

 

David

 

 

From: Cook, Douglas J. [mailto:douglas.cook@aramco.com]
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 12:28 AM
To: David Shelby
Subject: RE: Tillman and Dancey photos for you to post

Hi David,

 

I have been making a lot of modifications to the web pages including material being sent to me.  I will be glad to add these photos.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Tillan_Dancey.htm     See the new reference--

SPERRYBALL TURRET DETAILS.  It would be nice to get some stories from Frank Dancey who spent a lot of time in that freezing (-40 deg F) turret!

 

I also added this section on a P38 squadron that flew missions escorting the 97^th BG and 414^th Sq.   I have corresponded with Fredric Arnold and read his book.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/P38.htm

 

 

Cheers from Saudi Arabia,

 

 

Doug,

 

Excellent site additions for you.  Bravo!   I do plan on talking to Frank again soon and capturing more history from someone who sat in that contraption during combat and will be glad to share it with you.  I do have detailed notes from a prior meeting with Frank that I can check for additional info your site.   I often wish for more time to interview and thank these amazing men.  I will be meeting a new Air Corp vet next week who served in Africa.  MSGT Thomas Ulam is a friend of my mother in laws.  He knows that I am interested in WWII vets so I am looking forward to learning from him and sharing as well.  I watched the first segment of the Ken Burns doc last night and it was wonderful.  I learned that more civilians were killed during the war than all of the soldiers, sailors and airmen combined.

 

Thank you in advance for adding these additional photos on your site.  I am understanding more each day that there are still many untold stories and undiscovered images out there - many are heartbreaking, some are humorous and some show bravery beyond comprehension.

 

I will write again very soon.

 

Your friend

 

David

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

9/25/07

 

Hi David,

 

I have added photos to the web pages for Hank Tillman and Frank Dancey.  The ‘Kan Do’ photo is the page about planes and crews.

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/97th_Bomb_Group_414th_Squadron_Index.htm

 

Thanks for the submissions!

 

9/25/07

 

Greetings Doug,

 

A super fast turn-around on the updates!  You are AWESOME!  A++

 

On your title for the Kan-Do, you could elaborate if you care to.  These details in black are from my notes that Frank Dancey's and Col. T provided relating to that particular day's events:

 

Col. Tillman and his crew were scheduled not to fly on Oct 14, 1943.  Sgt. Paul Fuchs was the Engineer and gunner with Col. Tillman and Frank Dancey's crew.  Paul had accepted an additional mission on the "Kan-Do" on October 14th as Frank Dancey had done on "Ther-N-Back" so that they could get in their required missions sooner . Frank said that when the two of them showed up at the field for duty as volunteer replacement gunners, that Paul was sent to one ship and Frank to another.   Paul Fuchs was killed when the Kan-Do was lost in action.  The gunner that replaced Paul's slot on Tillman's crew was the "Kan- Do" crew member who was sick the day that the Kan-Do was lost.  The transfer of the airman without a crew, to Tillman's crew who had lost their gunner, was made because they fit each other's needs.

 

Please rephrase or use what you would like of the above text as it is not perfect.

 

 

Last night I did find my notes from interviews with Frank Dancey relating to being in the ball turret.  I will write them up and send what can be posted to you as soon as time permits.  I may call Frank and get permission to include some very personal notes.

 

It is quite wonderful to have projects such as this to be a part of.  Thanks again to you for including me in your efforts.

 

When you have the time, would you consider emailing me some high quality JPGs of any of the ships listed below that you have?   I realize that I am asking for a lot.  Please do not go out of your way searching for these if you don't already have them.  I will also take a few pointers on websites with images or other sources where I can look fif you care to share.   I will send printed copies to Col. T and Frank.  I have searched for these planes previously on the web without much success.  I can see the photos of some of them on your site but cannot SAVE AS.  This is fine as I said before to you, as it protects your wonderful collection from being swiped! 

 

342 Stinky Jr.

254 Flamingo

147 Old Ironsides

731 Smokey Stover

117 F.O. #1 (I wonder what that stands for?) :>)

696 Fort Alamo 2nd

336 Virgin Sturgeon

348 Kan-Do

346 Reluctant Dragon

223 There-N-Back

405 Frank said No Name for this ship in his log

407 No Name provided

436 Phantom Lady

943 Joe Blow

 

Have a beautiful day.

David

 

PS - I will be sending you a couple of photos later today of an original There-N-Back jacket!

Doug,

 

I don't believe that I have sent you the attached images previously but they may fit in somewhere on your site.  I shot the attached photos of the 414th BS and the 97th Memorial Wreath at the 97th BG's Reunion on October 22, 2006 when they visitied the WWII memorial in Washington DC.  The USO Liberty Belles were at another event the same weekend at a hotel in Arlington.  They sang "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and danced with Col. Tillman.  What a wonderful moment that was!

 

Please credit the shot of the hangar in Foggia Italy and the German sign inside to Sgt. Frank Dancey.

 

I still need to work on some more text for you that is approved to post by Frank.

 

later

 

Doug,

 

The website additions are perfect.  I can now see and access the text links to missions from the typed mission list which just showed up as lines on my PC previously.  Thanks so much for continuing to add to these sections as it will allow others to share and understand details about the Air Corps that they may never have seen before.  I talked with Frank Dancey and Col. Hank this weekend and also mailed them printed copies of some sections of your website that I thought that they would enjoy.   Frank has some new descriptions about being in the ball turret that I will forward to you after I write it up properly.  We talked for about 40 minutes last Saturday!

 

The photos you sent of Ther-N-Bak and Smokey Stover are superb.  I will print copies and mail to Col. Hank and Sgt. Frank, with your permission.

 

Enjoy your UK visit and stay safe during your travels.  Attached are a couple of pics from my Oct 2005 trip with my parents and brother Mason.

 

David

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

From: Glock57@bellsouth.net [mailto:Glock57@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 3:17 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Looking for info. on my uncle
Importance: High

 

Mr. Cook,

 

My name is Jim Upton, orginally from West Palm Beach, Fla. now residing in Dandridge, TN after retiring from Law Enforcement.  My uncle, Staff Sgt. James W. Sandiford was a left waist gunner on a B-17 and was assigned to the 414th. Bomb Squadron--97th. Bomb group.  On 11/27/43 his plane(42-30705) was enroute to bomb a Marshalling yard in Rimini, Italy along with other B-17,s when they were attacked by German ME-109,s  His plane along with another B-17 were shot down and the pilot and right waist gunner managed to bail out and were taken POW upon landing.  My uncle and the rest of the crew went down with the plane.  After a year of investigation and obtaining all of the Government reports, the location of my uncles plane has been located on the side of a mountain in Apecchio, Italy and will soon be searched by a group called "Area" from Italy.  My contact in Italy (Lorenzo Fresi) is in charge of this and is a great person.  I have spoken with the lone survivor of my uncles plane (right waist gunner Joseph Christie) who resides in PA., but he really does not want to talk much about it as I feel he is still haunted by the memories and I can fully understand.  I have never been able to find out the name of my uncles plane and was wondering if you could help me on this.  Once the crash site is searched, any personal items will be photographed, collected and will be sent to me and I will make every effort to have them returned to the family members as I have all the names of the crew and their home towns.  I will have this story released to the Associated Press so they can assist me on this.  My uncle was returned to West Palm Beach, Fla. and was buried in March of 1949.  I was three years old at the time and for some reason remember attending the funeral, but that is my only memory.  If there is any way you or someone you know can obtain the name of my uncles plane, I would really appreciate it .  The MACR listing for his plane is 1303 and the other B-17 is MACR 1304 (tail number 42-5875).  The crash site for this B-17 has also been located.

 

Sincerely,

 

James M. Upton

1316 Old Chisholm Trail

Dandridge,TN  37725

E-mail----Glock57@bellsouth.net

 

Jim,

 

Everything I have on the 414^th Squadron is on  my website.  I am always eager to expand it.

 

 If you know Staff Sgt. James W. Sandiford ‘s SSN or military ID number his son 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.

 

I would be happy to put a web page dedicated to Mr Morrow if we can put together more pieces of the puzzle.

 

I just noted my webpage had the plane listed and it was from the 97^th BG 414^th Squadron:

 

B-17F-115-BO     42-30705 (97th BG, 414th BS) lost Nov 27, 1943.  MACR 1303

The MACR list was gotten from the imbedded link maintained by the email below.  He may be of some help.

 

 

Also try the links below:

 

http://www.accident-report.com/Crew_Names/namec_clay.html     You can file a request on the MACR report.  There may be a fee.

 

 http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/reports.htm

 

I hope you get all the information you want and are successful locating the plane(s).  I would be happy to put up a web page dedicated to your Uncle’s service and the story of finding his plane.

 

Sincerely,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

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

11/28/07

Doug,

 

Greetings to you!

 

I have talked to Frank several times over the last few months and recorded and transcribed our conversations and taken notes.  In general I tried to be as accurate as possible with this account - even though it needs more organization.  I sent a copy to Frank for review a week or so ago but have not heard back from him.  I think that any of this could be posted by you, but perhaps picking out a few paragraphs describing mission details s would work best for your section on Frank and Hank and the ball turret functions.  Please let me know what you think.

 

 

Hi David,

 

I just got back after a weeks field trip in NW Arabia near Iraq and Jordan.  Great geology.  

 

I will work on adding the material soon.

 

Thanks to you and Frank,

 

Doug,

 

I will pass on your well wishes to Col. Tillman the next time we are in touch.  Thanks so very much for adding all of the new text from Frank.  I apologize that my writings have so many errors.  I need to add more quotations in order to show where Frank's exact words are used, but I will concentrate for starters accuracy of the text.

 

 

Corrections below are marked in green, errors in red.  I worked from top to bottom so it would be easier for you to make the changes.

 

Here are the corrections:

 

Frank would be helped out of the ball turret when the pilots determined that they (PLEASE CHANGE THEY to the) ship was out of danger.

 

 

 

"We didn’t fly that (PLEASE CHANGE THAT TO one) day and around noon Flak became excited and ran down to the spot where his crew normally parked their B17 and acted upset and strange.  When the rest of the crews told us later that Flak’s crew was knocked down, we (PLEASE CHANGE AS IS MARKED IN GREEN) asked the other crews what time they hit the target."

 

 

 

Col. Tillman’s (SHOULD READ Col. Tillman) was the wingman for Doolittle when they bombed Rome.

 

 

 

I asked Frank if he thought about the fact that other young kids were trying to kill them and that they had to kill other young men on the opposing side.  He said “We all thought about that a lot but he had decided that he did not care who he had to kill as long as he was able to return to his hometown in Asbury Park NJ.”

 

Correct as follows:  "We all thought about that a lot, but I decided that I didn't care who I had to kill, as long as I could return to my hometown in Asbury Park, NJ".

 

Please strike the entire sentence about the ball turret spinning and the 20mm rounds, Frank said that this is wrong.  I must have heard this incorrectly from Frank.

 

 

 

This prisoner said on the Jewish holiday they had no Germany because all of the stores where (PLEASE CHANGE TO were) closed.

 

 

 

One German on the boat said that you were never going to see the United States.  We’ve got a lot of submarines out here that will sink this ship.

 

PLEASE CHANGE ABOVE TO THE FOLLOWING AS SHOWN HERE:

One German prisoner on the ship said "You are never going to see the United States again.  We’ve got a lot of submarines out here that will sink this ship."

 

 

 

Frank Dancey told the story of how a little boy from a Catholic family was complaining about having to eat fish sticks every Friday night for dinner.  His parents said, “We do this because Jesus died on a Friday for our sins”.  “That’s true” said the boy “but he didn’t have to die EVERY Friday!”

 

PLEASE UPDATE ABOVE TEXT WITH FOLLOWING TEXT:

 

Frank Dancey told the story about what his daughter said during a Friday night dinner at home,  “How come we have to eat fish sticks every Friday night for dinner?” said Cathy. Frank replied, “We do this to remember Jesus because he died on a Friday for our sins”.  “That’s true,” said Cathy “but he didn’t have to die EVERY Friday!”  Frank said that he told this to some nuns that he knew and they loved this story.

 

I am glad (and embarrased) that I found these errors, as I need to update the same info in my master file on Frank.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Doug

 

Thanks for taking action on these corrections when you have the time. The most important one is the removal of the turret spinning sentence.

 

It is most rewarding to see these images and stories from Frank and Hank on the web after getting info from these guys during the last two years.  I have been passing links on to your site to friends who are interested in the Air Corps.  Col. Tillman submitted a DVD, 100 scanned images, and the text I have compiled on the Col. and the completed forms to Congressman Gilcrest's (MD) office in December 2006 for the Library of Congress - Veteran's History Project and they still haven't been turned it in yet!  I talked a lady at their office Friday and they are waiting for a large batch to do all at once and have college volunteers processing them and making sure the packages are correct.  They said that I still need to provide a detailed video summary for the contents of the DVD but that is the first that I heard of that so I will have to get it done this week.  I am ready for the Col.'s info to be posted NOW while the vets are around to see it!

 

Have a good week.

 

David

 

Hi Doug, 

 

Please replace the paragraph about Flak (the dog) knowing about his downed crew with the following text:

 

 

 

“Talking about crazy stuff, a crew that had a tent near mine had a dog named Flak.  We didn’t fly one day and around noon Flak became excited and ran down to the spot where his crew normally parked their B17 and acted upset and strange.  When we heard that Flak’s crew was knocked down, we asked the other crews what time they hit the target.   The time that we were told was just about the same time that Flak became upset.  It was crazy that the dog knew what was happening.”

 

 

 

You can keep it in quotes as well as this is what Frank told me.

 

 

 

Col. Tillman is home from Walter Reed and doing reasonably well.  My friend Tom said that his memory is in good shape!  I know that he is glad to be home and I will call later today to see how he feels.

 

 

 

CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING about some new vets I met this past weekend:

 

This past Saturday I was fortunate enough to meet and visit with several WW2 vets in a retirement home in Chantilly, Virginia.  My neighbor’s uncle, Woody Jones, came ashore in a landing craft on D Day at 0625 hours.  He was with the 29^th Division, 116^th Regiment, E Company and landed on Omaha Beach.  He is 91 years young and still remembers many of his fellow soldiers with a little bit of prompting by his nephew, who had notes from one of their discussions from several years ago.  It was an honor to shake his hand and spend an hour with him.  I gave him some photographs that I shot at the D Day memorial in Bedford.  We recorded his recollections today so that his family can eventually have a copy so that they will know his history.  Woody received the Silver Star for his actions on D Day which included using a bangalore torpedo that took out a pillbox.

 

later

 

 

 Hi Brandon,

 

I just got back from a two week holiday.   Thanks for the information.  I will gladly update the webpage.  If you have any other photos, stories, or information on your grandfather, I will add it dedicate it to him.

 

Thanks,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

 

 

From: Garretson, Brandon [mailto:bgarretson@camber.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 9:01 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Kan-Do #438 "crew unknown"

 

For what its worth, I can help you with a piece to the puzzle.

In that photo of the Kan-Do you have on your website, my grandfather is in the front row, far left.

His name was Roland Garretson, he was a waist gunner on that plane.

From what I understand, he was grounded with an illness on the day the Kan-Do made her last flight.

I suppose Sergeant Paul Fuchs was the man who volunteered to fly in my grandfathers place.

I never met my grandfather, but I think he carried a great remorse after the Kan-Do was lost, I think he regretted not being with his crew that day for the rest of his life.

 

Sincerely,

Brandon Roland Garretson

 

 

From: Glock57@bellsouth.net [mailto:Glock57@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 3:07 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Web site on Tillman and Dancey
Importance: High

 

Doug,

 

After speaking with you via e-mail on my uncle James W. Sandiford who was shot down over Italy on 11/27/43 and my search for the remains of the aircraft, I re-read your web page and noticed at the very bottom it list a B-17 called "Ther N Bak."  Yesterday I was cataloging all of my research and reading this over, and I found the following that had been sent to me back in June of 2005.  When the B-17 was attacked by ME-109's, the right waist gunner and the pilot manged to parachute out before it blew up and crashed.  Mr. Joseph Christie was the right waist gunner, and along with the pilot were taken P.O.W. for the duration of the war.  Re-reading some of my research, found this entry on item number 108 and it reads as follows:  JOSEPH CHRISTIE JR. P.O.W. 18 MONTHS.  PLANE BLEW UP OVER RIMINI NOV.27,1943.  "THER N BAK."

 

I have a picture of the crew that was taken days prior to the crash and Mr. Christie was the one who sent me the pictures along with the crew members identified in the picture.  If you want a copy of the picture, send me your mailing address and I will send it to you so you  update your web site for that entry.

 

Hope this helps you.  Weather permitting according to my contact in Italy the search will start shortly----I HOPE.

 

Jim Upton

 

Hi Jim,

 

Thanks for the information on ‘Ther n Bak’.  I would like the crew picture to include in the website.  Can you scan it to a jpg file and send as an email attachment?  If not, my mailing address is:

 

Douglas Cook

PO Box 12253

Saudi Aramco

Dhahran, 31311

Saudi Arabia

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

 

 

 Dear Crew member of Bombardier's Lounge WWII Big Band Jazz on KRML,

Carmel:

 

      Happy New Year (1942, `43, `44 or `45).

 

      Attached is a Desktop Image for your PC or Mac—the cockpit of a B-17G, compliments of Capt. Mike and Bombardier's Lounge WWII Big Band Jazz,  with the music that helped save the World.

 

Desktop jpeg:    

 

 

 

 

From: A. W. [mailto:pillar7@yahoo.com]

Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 6:53 PM

To: Cook, Douglas J.

Subject: 97th Bomb Group 414 Sqdn website

 

 

Mr. Cook,

 

I noticed your website (below) on the 97BG/414Sqdn

operations of WWII. I enjoy finding sites such as

yours, as they bring some contemporary insight into

the locations I visit.

 

Please accept only one minor criticism of your site:

the photos which you identify as Gerbini are actually

the Catania airfield (Fontanarossa), which was and

remains a dual-use civ-mil facility. (You will note

the curve of the highway at the bottom of your modern

satellite photo of Catania matches the road passing

abreast of Fontanarossa in the satellite photo you

identify as Gerbini.)

 

Gerbini, which was actually a complex of several (up

to 12) grass fields, is further inland from the coast.

The  Sigonella airfield used today by the Italian Air

Force and the U.S. Navy (under NATO) was one of the

satellite fields of the Gerbini complex. Gerbini

proper was located to the north-west of Sigonella.

Both are around 10 miles from Catania Fontanarossa.

 

Ciao from Catania!

 

 

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

 

Pillar,

 

Thanks for the correction,

 

Putting together the website was like a big puzzle with too few clews at times.  Input from readers has been very helpful.  I will make the change.

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

 

Jim,

 

Thanks for the reply.   You could try to reach Tillman or Dancey through David Shelby [david.shelby@ddlomni.com].   David has been documenting their story and feeding it to me.

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

 

 

From: Glock57@bellsouth.net [mailto:Glock57@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:11 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: mail

 

Doug,

I did what you said to do and was able to get it.  THANKS A LOT.  I just wonder if Col. Tillman or Sgt. Dancey might remember my uncle and the plane as they were there in Italy during that period I think.

How could I find out?

 

Jim

-------------- Original message from "Cook, Douglas J." <douglas.cook@aramco.com>: --------------

Hi Jim,

 

Yes,  I just got the envelope yesterday.  I will get it scanned and on the website soon.  I’m a little uncertain of the ID’s on the picture.  You listed left to right with 2 unknown.  Did the listing include the guy kneeling in front or is he an unknown?

 

Website access:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/   home page

 

scroll down to 414^th Squadron Tillman and Dancey and click that…

 

It takes you to this link:

 

http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Tillan_Dancey.htm

 

An intermediate page is for the 97^th BG 414^th Squadron you can get this from the home page and then to Tillman and Dancey from the index on the left.

 

 

I upload this stuff from home but it works from every computer I’ve tried here and in the US.  Are you able to navigate other pages from the home page?  Most have a lot of pictures to load.  If you are on a slow modem, it may take a while.  I’m on broadband and the pages open almost instantly.

 

Let me know if you get there.

 

Thanks,

 

Doug

 

Doug,

The one to the far right next to the open crew door is unknown, and the one kneeling is also unknown.  I believe that either Mr. Christie has moved from Pa. or he is deceased.  No phone number listing in Pa. for him anymore.  The other crew members I identified in the letter I had attached to the picture.  Anything else you need, do not hesitate to ask.

Blitz W [blitz4569@yahoo.com]    Jan 27, 2008

 

Doug,  You've done a wonderful job of the web site of the 414th.  My Father was a waist gunner in 'Stinky Jr" tail# 342.    My father, Harrison William Welch, flew in N. Africa from 10 Mar 43 thru 26 Aug 43, thats when he completed his 50 missions.  I've attached some  photos they aren't all that great but real.  One photo is of his jacket patch.  Please pass this info along to other interested parties.

 

 

HI DOUG

Glad that you received the CD.  You have my permission to post any of the photos on your site.   I have sent you the masters (my highest quality files) so you may need to resample to keep the sizes down.  If I can do any of that work, just email me:

 

1. File names needed

 

2. Pixels sizes desired

 

3. File type desired

 

and I will resample and email the smaller files back to you. 

 

Below is a short article that I submitted as per Col. Tillman's suggestion.  This was printed in the Kent Island Bay Times last week (a small local Eastern Shore paper).  I have not seen the printed copy yet, so I don't know what they named the article.  I have attached the two photos that I submitted with the article.  You can use any part of this story on your site that you want as well.

 

I have referred lots of people to your site and have heard rave reviews from them about it.  Keep up the GREAT WORK! 

 

My son is helping me to add some of my WWII vet friends and their stories and photos to the web.  I will send you the link when I can get a bit more details uploaded.

 

Isn't it terrific to see two Big Ten rivals teaming up to do good historical work together? 

 

your friend

David Shelby - PSU - BA Art - 1980!

 

 

On February 16^th, Col. Hank Tillman enjoyed a visit at his home on Kent Island with David Shelby and Dave Miller, two friends from Vienna Virginia, who are documenting the Colonel’s military history.  Very interesting experiences are always related by Col. Hank during these interviews.  The following is a story that he told on this particular visit.  “We flew from West Palm Beach, Florida to Puerto Rico, then on to British Guiana and from there to Belem Field, Brazil.  Near Belem, we buzzed the Amazon River in our B17.  Some surprised locals paddling below in a canoe, were waving at the plane and they capsized during their excitement.  It was quite challenging to take off from the very short runway in Belem.  We were briefed before our departure that it was a very touch and go take off.  The officer at the base would come out and stand next to the runway and signal when the engines were revved to the proper power level, when to release your brakes, and when to put down half flaps.  The landing gear had to be retracted immediately upon clearing the ground.  Our B17 just cleared the treetops, and upon our arrival in Africa we found debris from those trees in the wheel wells and landing gear.  To cross the Atlantic, we flew from Natal, Brazil to Dakar, North Africa.  The flight took 11 hours and 45 minutes and covered 1630 miles.”

 

The Colonel enjoys sharing these memories with others since so many veterans never made it back to tell the stories themselves.  Col. Hank sends out his sincere thanks to all and feels blessed to have his family, friends and his home care staff watching over him and helping him in so many ways.  The support by so many friends on the island have been a source of strength and great inspiration for him.  On Sunday February 24^th a child at his church gave him a wonderful card that expressed the family’s appreciation of the Colonel’s continued attendance and service.

 

 

Mar 16, 2008

 Doug,

 

I am overwhelmed at the amount of excellent new text, photos and interactive links added to your site.  You have done a fine job of selecting words and photos that will honor these vets, inspire others and help all of us understand more about this important part of the world's history.  I have not been able to proof everything carefully yet and will do so this coming week.  I understand from your note that the omitted letter in the Tillman links will be very hard to correct.

 

I will plan on trying to get the full image of Col. T's letter home after being wounded as that is a very interesting part of his story.   You do have a place in an index listing in a box on the left side of a page that shows blue highlighted text that says LINKS but the box is clipping it so it can not be selected.

 

I am still trying to assist Congressman Gilchrest's office in submitting Col. Tillman's Library of Congress - Veteran's History Project information that I gave them in December of 2006!  I don't know when that will be complete or accessable to researchers so it is terrific that you have posted all of this powerful info NOW so that others can enjoy it.  Thanks again for your wonderful tribute to our veterans.  You have accomplished something that you can be proud of.

 

I will continue to forward your links to others that are interested in this collection of history.

 

Your friend,

 

Mar 17, 2008

 Good evening Doug,

 

Earlier this afternoon I found the comments of the replacement gunner's grandson on your website and have emailed him, hoping that he will call or email me so that we can talk.

 

Here's my message:

 

 Brandon,

 

It was quite interesting to read your comments relating to your Grandfather on Doug's website this morning as I have been researching and meeting various vets from the 97th for the past few years.  I have a great respect for all of these men and the service that they provided our country.  It must have truly been a terrible thing to lose the rest of your crew as your grandfather did on that day.  I just can't imagine the pain and confusion of wondering why things played out that way.  During several discussions with Col. Tillman, who became your Grandfather's pilot, and Frank Dancey, the ball turret gunner on the same crew, I have come to learn that there were many strange twists of fate that took lives during the war, and that you never knew when your number would be called.

 

I am so grateful to Doug for posting all of the history and I would like to talk to you about your grandfather's service at some time in the near future if you are willing.

 

David Shelby

 

Have a great week.

 

Gerhard,

 

I just got back to my desk from a trip to the States.  Thanks for the corrections.  I will make the changes.

 

As I wrote before, I requested permission from Life on the putting up the article but never got a reply.  I will take it down if they protest.

 

Thanks again,

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Gerhard Winkler [mailto:e.g.winkler@schule.at]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 9:39 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: your website

 

Dear Doug,

 

just stumbled across the new part of your website.

Great photographs, especially those with the VIPs.

 

Thank you for including Feldkirch.

May I point out, that your sources misled you in two points, which however can easily be corrected:

1)       The primary target on 10/1/43 was not “Rusberg” but “Augsburg” in Germany (the fault lies with the typewriter, then used to write the lists of targets).

2)       Google led you to another “Feldkirch” I did not even know until now.

The correct place is Feldkirch in Austria. I enclose another view from Google Earth (the river across the background is the Rhine again – forming the border to Switzerland, in the background too is Lake Constance / Bodensee)

 

How could you convince LIFE to allow publication and what did they write you?

Do you plan to put more pictures of 97^th BG on the net (airplanes, crews, bases in Northern Africa)?

 

If you are still in contact with the old folks, please do ask them, if they have a strike photograph from 10/1/1943, what ever the name of the target is.

 

All the best

Gerhard

 

From: Steven Nelson [mailto:steveo05196@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 6:11 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: my grandfather

 

I’m researching my grandfather and say your webpage. He was in the 414th he flew in 42-30436 which you do have listed on your website.I was wondering if you had any further information about his aircraft, crew, or anything else. I would appreciate anything. I’m in army aviation also. i crewed apache helicopters for 4 years and now I maintain Chinooks.

 

Thank you.

 

Steve,

 

Thanks for writing.  I have posted all the information I have and am always looking for more.

 

 If you know your grandfather’s SSN or military ID number 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.

 

 

I note that the plane was B-17F-105-BO     42-30436  (97th BG, 414th BS) lost Apr 3, 1944.  MACR 3962.  Was your grandfather on the plane when lost?

 

For a fee you can get the MACR report:

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

 

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

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran

Saudi Arabia

 

 

From: Mark Arsenault [mailto:mark0079@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:35 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: 414th squadron

 

Hi Doug,

I believe that my grandmother's brother, Anthony P. Hajkowski, was in the 414th during the war. His B-17 went missing on Oct. 14, 1943, and he was never found.

I'm interested in learning more about the squad.

Do you know what model B-17 the 414th flew at the time?

Are there other resources you could guide me to?

 

-Mark Arsenault

Easton, Mass.

 

Mark,

 

Thanks for writing.   I have posted virtually everything I have on the 414^th BS.  My webpages, much of which I credit to other contributors, do not list a mission objective for that date.

 

http://reddog1944.com/Missions_Targets_Combat_Action.htm

 

However, the planes and crews site does list a plane downed on that date:

 

http://reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm

 

B-17F-105-BO     42-30438 (97th BG, 414th BS) lost Oct 14, 1943.  MACR 973    (B-17 F Model 105 Boeing)

 

 If you know your grandmother's brother’s  SSN or military ID number 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 his story together.

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook

Dhahran

Saudi Arabia

 

From: David Shelby [mailto:david.shelby@ddlomni.com]
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 4:11 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: FW: Kan Do info
Importance: High

 

Hi Doug,

 

I had a nice talk yesterday with Mark Arsenault, who's Great Uncle was lost on the Kan Do.    I have included my response to him (see below).  It is wonderful to be able to help him out relating to his interests in the 97th etc.  I am not sure what anecdote you were referring to from Col. Tillman during your last email and can't find it so far on your site. 

 

My wife Allison and I attended a tribute to Col. T at his church yesterday which was very nice.  They could not get his White House speech converted to DVD from VHS in time to show on a big screen so he spoke for 20 minutes! about his memories, mainly honoring those veterans that have fallen that he knew.  Col. Hank told me that you had called him from Saudi and was very excited about that.  I am glad that you talked and know that it must have meant a great deal to you as well.

 

 

From: David Shelby
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 8:23 AM
To: Mark Arsenault (mark0079@comcast.net)
Subject: Kan Do info
Importance: High

Mark,

 

It was a great pleasure talking with you last night about your Great Uncle and your interest in the Kan Do and the 97th Bomb Group. This photo is owned by Col. Tillman and he may remember where he originally got it.  I have attached the highest quality cleaned up image I have of the Kan Do photo and the original that I shot at Col. Tillman's home.  The next time I visit with him I can bring a better camera and get you a higher quality version.    I don't remember if I looked on the back to see if there were any notes or markings.  The other attached image I sent is the details from the B17 book called "The B17 Flying Fortress Story" which lists B17's and where they were first shipped from etc.  The text "w/Walker" follows the date of the loss of the plane so that may have the pilot's name when the crash occured.  

 

I am sure that Col. Tillman and Frank Dancey will be glad to talk to you in relation to this.  It will not be easy for them since they lost their great friend Paul Fuchs in the same crash.  Please email me your Great Uncle's name so that I can keep it with my collected information.  Also, remember that many different crews may have flown the "Kan Do" even though it only was in action from August 1, 1943 until October 14th.  If you can be certain of the identity of your Great Uncle in this photo then this may well be the entire crew, with the possible exception that Paul Fuchs could be in this photo or it may be the gunner who was sick and couldn't fly the day of the crash.   You can ask Col. Tillman if Paul is in the photo as he would probably recognize him.   I am fairly certain that the gunner from the Kan Do that was replaced by Paul, has passed away as Col. Hank and Frank have told me that they are the last two men still living from their crew. 

 

If you find any another info relating to the 414th or the Kan Do etc. please let me know.   Doug Cook will probably add more details on his site to tell the story of that ship and your Great Uncle if you can give him the text or any additional photos, diary pages etc.

 

 

Mark,

 

From the data that David Shelby sent:

 

This lists the Bases the ship was stationed.   Pont-du-Fahs and Depienne are in Tunisia where my father-in-law was stationed in 414^th.

 

 

I am doing some more research:

http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43b.html

 

 

THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 1943

MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force):

   In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-25's hit Argos Airfield and B-17's bomb the

Terni marshalling yard. Other B-17's and B-24's attack a bridge at Giulianova,

the town area of Piano-Vomano and railroad and highway bridges N of Pescara and

along the E coast of Italy. Weather hinders tactical aircraft operations, but

the XII Air Support Command and RAF DAF hit trains and vehicles and fly patrols

from N of the Volturno River to Formia and N of Pescara.

   HQ 31st Fighter Group and it's 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons transfer

from Montecorvino to Pomigliano, Italy with Spitfires.

   The 5th Photographic Squadron (Light), Twelfth Air Force, based at La Marsa,

Tunisia with F-5's transfers operations from Pontecagnano to Pomigliano, Italy.

   The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group,

ceases operating from Capaccio and returns to it's base at Pomigliano, Italy

with P-51's.

   The 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers from

Sele Airfield to Serretella Airfield, Italy with A-36's.

SATURDAY, 10 JUNE 1944

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):

   550+ B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Italy; B-17s hit a marshalling yard

at Mestre and oil storage and marshalling yard at Porto Marghera; B-24s hit oil

refinery at Trieste, air depot at Ferrara and the town of Ancona. P-51s and

P-38s fly escort, and in Rumania, strafe targets of opportunity between

Bucharest and the Danube River and S of Craiova, and dive-bomb an oil refinery

at Ploesti.

WEDNESDAY, 17 MAY 1944

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):

   450+ bombers hit targets in Italy and Yugoslavia; the B-17s bomb the

marshalling yard at Ancona, Italy and troop concentrations at Bihac,

Yugoslavia; the B-24s bomb the port areas at San Stefano al Mare, Piombino,

Portoferraio and Orbetello, Italy; P-38s strafe airfields at Ghedi, Villafranca

di Verona, Modena, Forli and Reggio Emilia, Italy while other fighters fly 130+

sorties of escort duty.

 

The RR marshalling yards as bombing target can be seen in this closer image of Ancona below at center.   It seems that the weather did not permit successfully dropping their bombs so it did not count as a combat mission even though they obviously did encounter resistance.  The ‘Kan Do’  must be lying nearby offshore.

 

Thats it for now.

 

Cheers,

 

Doug Cook

From: Allison Lukenich [mailto:allukeni@hacc.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 7:03 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Reddog1944

 

Hi Doug,

 

My name is Allison and Frank Dancey is my PopPop. John is my dad. Your site is great and we often don't have time to sit and learn about these things that he did in the war. The information was great and I can picture PopPop retelling his stories. I think I have always been reluctant to ask him questions about it because I know it was a rough time for all the soldiers so it was nice to read your interview.

Thank you for getting this up and running. It is greatly appreciated and admired.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hi Allison,

Thanks for writing.  I have enjoyed putting the website together to honor the heroes in our families.  I have especially appreciated the submissions from Frank Dancey.  I believe David Shelby submitted a picture with you and Frank at the Smithsonian.  We had a special visit there with my father-in-law Col. Bill Ross (414^th BS same time as Frank) just before he passed on.

Regards,

Doug Cook

6/20/08

 

Gentlemen,

I got the missing crew report for the Kan-Do from the National Archives. There's not a lot of info, but all the crewmen are named, including my great uncle, Anthony Hajkowski. There's also a crude map that shows their last known position. I have attached scans.

My great aunt confirms that her brother is in the Kan-Do photo, front row, third from left.

 

Very best

 

Editor’s Notes:   Tillman and Dancey files fix links on Kan Do to Dancey’s Log ref and the More on Kan Do ref

 

414^th Planes and Crews  add Kan Do MACR

 

Pilot                              Laird K. Walker              1^ST Lt

Copilot                          Leo L. Magee                2^nd Lt   

Bombardier                    John R. Shores              2^nd Lt   

Navigator                       Daniel Ulrich                  2^nd Lt   

Aerial Engineer              Paul H. Fuchs               T/Sgt

Radio Operator              Anthony P. Hajkowski    T/Sgt

Ball Turret Gunner          John H. Carruthers         S/Sgt

Right Waist Gunner        Wayne E.Herrick           S/Sgt

Tail Gunner                    Norman K. Mathews       S/Sgt

Left Waist Gunner          John S. Michalik            S/Sgt

 

 

From: Vintage Boating Life [mailto:boats@vintageboatinglife.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 11:42 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Stinky Jr. B-17 WWII

 

Doug,

 

I happened across your web site as related to the B-17F, "Stinky Jr." during WWII.

 

My father was the pilot of that B-17. He is now 89 years old and lives in Nashville, TN and his name is Cooper M. Schley. His co-pilot was Lee Wood who is also still alive. If you would like more information about him or would like to contact him, please let me know... I'm sure he would be delighted to talk with you...

 

Sincerely,

 

Tom Schley (pronounced as "Sly")

From: HCarr46981@aol.com [mailto:HCarr46981@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 10:16 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: Looking for info on my father member of the 414th Bomb Squadron

 

My father, SMSGT (RET) USAF Harry J. Carroll (Deceased Jan 3, 2006) was a waist gunner and was one of two survivors of Aircraft # 42-5147, MACR 720, Shot down on the 8th of Sept 1943 over Frasotti Italy.

I was doing some research and found this was the only aircraft downed on that mission of 131 aircraft.

I don't think my father knew that fact as he never made mention of it. He spent 18 months in Stalag  17B. I think there were 3 survivors. My father said he and the tail gunner were the only one to get out, but there are only seven names on the list of crew members from a 1986 97th bomb group reunion paper I have. I would like any pictures of my fathers plane before that terrible day they were shot down. I would also like any contact names for patches and memorabilia.   

 

Thank You

Harry Jay Carroll

MSGT (Retired) USAF

HCARR46981@aol.com  

 

Harry,

 

Thanks for writing.  I have posted all that I have on the 97th BG 414^th BS.   I do get and post submissions from vets and families of vets.  I am going to suggest some research options and would love some feedback if you get any farther.

 

Try the link below, register and go the 97^th BG forum and post the questions you posed to me:

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/

 

A pay site with MACR reports:

 

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

 

 

You may be able to get your grandfather’s military service record from:

http://www.archives.gov/

 

 

I filled out their form (SSN and/or service record number required) and got my father-in-law's service record.

 

If you are able to gather enough information for a story and want to share photos, I would be glad to post it on the website.

 

Good luck! Keep in touch 

 

 

Doug Cook

 

From: Bruce Womack [mailto:rockeyecrm@eoni.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 2:16 AM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: B-17 Ther-N-Bak #223

 

Your site is fantastic!! My father was Sgt Raymond M Womack, 97^th Bomb Group, 414^th Squadron, Flight Engineer on B-17 # 223 Ther-N-Bak. He arrived with the 414^th in Jan 1943 and was grounded with 50 missions in July same year. One of the photos on your site labeled Rollout for takeoff… shows the Ther-N-Bak. I can tell from the nose art. I have some great photos of B-17 # 223, several views of the bomber and crew. Also a shot after the plane made an emergency landing, bullet holes in the wind screen. I also have an original copy of his mission list which matches exactly with your list of mission flown by the 414^th. <<<<<<Bruce>>>>>>>

From: Bruce Womack [mailto:rockeyecrm@eoni.com]
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 11:35 PM
To: Cook, Douglas J.
Subject: RE: B-17 Ther-N-Bak #223

 

The disk is sounding better all the time. Send me an address and I will burn a disk a snail mail it. How much stuff do you want? I have shots of what have to be the 414^th camp, people digging fox holes and slit trenches, people (the crew) in a slit trench, individual crew members standing next to their gun positions, etc. I think I mentioned this, but I also have the original of his “Individual Record Combat Crew Member, Operational Time, and Awards”. This document as well as the letter that I think I sent you indicate that he was put in for the DFC, but his discharge records only refer to the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, Middle Eastern Campaign and Good Conduct Medal. I wonder if it would be possible to get him the DFC  after the fact, so to speak. You mentioned a separate page, what would that involve? I think there is enough stuff. Based on your email address, you are probably a busy person, so let me know if this gets to be too much. <<<<<Bruce>>>>>

 

Hi Bruce,

 

This is great stuff.  I have the letter, two crew photos, the bullet hole, and plane being towed.  

 

I will post anything you think is worthy.  I have lots of space on my web site.  The time is my hobby time on the weekends.   If you send a disk,  please include a word doc with the file names and captions.  Contributions from vets and their families have helped the website become a resource for others.

 

I don’t know what the possibility is of getting the DFC posthumously.  You might try the link below, register and go the 97^th BG forum and post the question you posed to me:

 

http://www.armyairforces.com/

 

 

Regards,

 

Doug Cook