Late Pass – Fall 2013

LATE PASS! FALL 2013 ISSUE

449th BOMB GROUP ASSOCIATION

20th REUNION PLANNING

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

BY FLOYD H. TROGDON, PRESIDENT

Greetings 449th Veterans, 2nd Generation Members and Families:

The Flying Horsemen

449th Bombardment Group (H) 47th Bomb Wing 15th Air Force World War II Bombardment Targets Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania 254 Combat Missions 475 Days of Combat 103 B-24 Bombers Lost 199 Axis Fighters Destroyed Personnel Loss/Interred or Evaded 388 Airman - 363 POWs 159 Evaded Capture Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC) Bucharest, Romania, April 4, 1944 Ploiesti, Romania, July 9, 1944 449th Bomb Group Association Officers Board 2012-2014 President: Floyd Trogdon Vice President: Richard Lapham, 2nd Generation Secretary: Mary Crowley, 2nd Generation Treasurer: (Actg) Richard Lapham, 2nd Generation Chaplain: Rev. Harry Snyder Asst. Chaplain: Rev. Denise Trogdon, 2nd Generation Historian: Mark Coffee, 2nd Generation Archives Manager: Denise Riegel, 2nd Generation Memorabnilia Officers: Lynn and Vince Moran Reunion Chairman: Lloyd Rosen, 2nd Generation Webmaster: Devin Cress, 3rd Generation

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Since early this year, we have been in a heavy exchange of emails and telephone calls with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), the military organization responsible for recovery of the 449th B-24 and seven of the crew shot down near Udine, Italy on January 30, 1944 (Kendall). Although we had been briefed at our 2010 Reunion in Washington by experts from the Pentagon about finding the B-24, mired in mud and water, on an Island near Udine, we had also been led to believe that recovery would take place in 2012. Surprisingly, when Harvey Gann (the lone survivor) checked with JPAC in January 2013, he found that the recovery was not even on the Recovery schedule. Thus began the exchange of emails and telephone calls that culminated in JPAC committing to start the recovery process in February 2014 and finish in 2015. There is a more detailed article on the Recovery Project later in this LatePass.

Major effort went into the planning, and management of the 20th Reunion in Louisville, KY April 17-20, 2013. Although there was some difficulty with room reservations, it got smoothed out and a “good time was had by all.” Twenty-nine 449th Veterans attended and with families, 2nd Generation and others, the overall attendance was 190. Many took advantage of the tours that were offered including a visit to Churchill Downs where the Kentucky Derby was scheduled for just two weeks later. On the final day of the Reunion, the traditional Memorial Service, which was led by Rev. Denise Trogdon, memorialized 104 of our deceased comrades who have died since the last Reunion. In addition, 27 names of deceased Veterans were also read for the families who attended the reunion in their honor.

The evening banquet featured Guest Speaker. Colonel David Harris, Commander of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, stationed in Africa. Col. Harris spoke on his Group’s Heritage (449th Bomb Group) and its current responsibilities. Later, he wrote me expressing how honored he was to speak “to such a wonderful group of heroes and their stories were absolutely amazing.” A copy of Col Harris’ paper on the 449th AEG is printed separately in this issue. The 20th Reunion was very successful say those who attended.

Planning is now well underway for the 21st Reunion to be held in Dayton, Ohio August 6-9, 2014. The Hotel (Holiday Inn Dayton Fairborn, Fairborn, Ohio) has already been contracted for and according to our Reunion Chairman, Lloyd Rosen, the Hotel has all the facilities and capabilities to make our stay enjoyable. Lloyd has also visited with the staff at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB and has arranged for tours and our final Banquet to be there. That museum features many the World War II aircraft including a B-24 which 449th Veterans will have an opportunity to explore. See Richard Lapham’s article elsewhere in this paper.

In May of this year (2013), John Aulner’s illness and subsequent death was a tragedy for the organization and particularly for the PX which has been managed so expertly by John and Jean Aulner for a many years. Jean did not want to continue with the PX nor would it have been appropriate for us to have asked her to do so. While we were wringing our hands over who would take over the PX management, Lynn and Vince Moran volunteered for the job. Certainly, there could not have been any other two who so obviously matched the capabilities needed. Lynn and Rick thank you so much for taking over this difficult responsibility.

(Continued on page 2)

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(Continued from page 1) We lost three 449th Veterans and leaders of the 449th Bomb Group Association in 2013: First, Lee F. Kenney, L/Colonel USAF (Ret) died on Nov 25 2012. Lee was a Bombardier on Boyle’s crew (718th), flew 26 Missions and was in Grottaglie until the end of the war. For many years, Lee was 449th Vice President and Chairman of the Reunion Committee and was personally responsible for a many great Reunions. He also was a part time resident of Italy, and arranged several group tours for 449th members featuring visits to Grottaglie and many of the places the 449th had bombed in Europe as well as cemeteries where 449th members were buried.

Lee was honored at our 20th Reunion Memorial Service.

STATUS REPORT Recovery Project MACR-2711, Kendall’s Crew

Next, John E. Aulner died on May 7, 2013. John was a Gunner/Flight Engineer on Ludtke’s crew (717th), was shot down on his 40th mission and was a German Prisoner of war until near the end of World War II. As mentioned above, John and his wife, Jean, were outstanding managers of the 449th “PX” for many years. The 20th Reunion was the first Reunion the Aulners had missed. John will be honored at the 21st Reunion Memorial Service.

Finally Wallace R. Green died on July 2, 2013. Wally served as Radio operator and Waist Gunner on Ivers’ crew (717th). Wally survived a serious crash on takeoff on his first mission which killed two crewmembers and hospitalized the rest of the crew. A second incident occurred on a return from a Ploesti mission when his badly damaged aircraft crash landed on Vis Island. The crew was rescued and treated by the Partisans and days later evacuated to Bari. With all this behind him, he still finished his 50 missions. For the last four years, Wally served as the 449th Treasurer. He will be honored at the 21st Reunion Memorial Service. Incidentally Wally and John Aulner were both in the 717th Sq. and had the same birthday: May 2, 1924.

As I close, I want once again to remind the 449th Veterans how fortunate we are to have such a dedicated and talented 2nd Generation that loves the 449th and is carrying the heavy load of running the organization. It would be impossible for me to recognize all the 2nd Generation who are helping but we have to recognize Mary Crowley, Richard Lapham, Mark Coffee, and Denise Riegel for their leadership. They are constantly coming up with new ideas and taking the actions to make the current 449th the best World War II organization. (And already have!) We can be comforted that the 449th will continue strong in perpetuity because of the 2nd Generation, the 449th AEG and because our 3rd Generation is coming! See you in Dayton.

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REFERENCE: MIA Recovery Organizations and decision makers include the following: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Maj/General Montague “Q” Winfield, USA (Ret), who heads the Defense POW/Missing Personal Affairs Office (DPMO) in the Pentagon. The field organization responsible for actual recovery is the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) located in Hawaii and headed by Maj/General Kelly McKeague. MIA identification will be done by the Past Conflict Repatriation Branch at Ft. Knox, KY. BACKGROUND: On January 30, 1944, B-24 (Serial Number 41-29217) from the 449th Bomb Group based at Grottaglie, Italy was shot down near Udine, Italy. There was one survivor, Harvey Gann, the Flight Engineer. Pilot Ben Kendall and Co-Pilot Fletcher Porter did not survive parachute jumps. The other seven crew members are believed to have been killed or injured by the fighter attack and in the B-24 when it crashed: Harry McGuire, Pershing Hill, Given Grooms, Nick Gavalas, Gerald Herrington, William Jones and Harold Thompson.

Although, Italian observers saw the airplane crash, its location was not officially confirmed until February 2010 by the Department of POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO). We (449th) were advised of this at our April 2010 Reunion in Washington by Dr Mark Russell and Dr. Stephen Johnson, DPMO Researchers, who had made the identification in February 2010. Our B-24 was located, buried in mud and water, on the small privately-owned Isle of Morgo in the Lagoon of Grado about 30 miles from Udine. We understood that recovery could start within six months (FY 2012). However, that did not happen. On January 24, 2013, Harvey Gann contacted the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), and learned that our project (MACR-2711) was not even on the Recovery Schedule. We were astounded since our project has an almost certain probability of recovering seven World War II MIAs. Thus began an eight month exchange of emails and telephone calls between the 449th, pressuring for a start of this project in FY 2014 (October 2013-September 2014) and JPAC adamant that 2014 was not possible. One major problem was that the recovery group could only work on the Island

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four months per year (Feb-May) as the Island owner had Fishery and Duck Hunting Businesses that could not be disturbed during the rest of the year.

As discussions with JPAC continued, we arranged for the Past Conflict Repatriation Branch at Fort Knox, KY, to brief us at our 20th Reunion in Louisville. This is the organization that has the responsibility for identifying MIAs after they are found. The Ft. Knox Group came to our 20th Reunion and briefed us in detail on the entire recovery process including the identification of those found. We learned that a difficult and expensive part of the recovery usually is finding the next of kin and obtaining DNA. Mary Crowley, along with Mark Coffee took this on as a challenge and within two weeks they had located the next of kin for the seven MIA and had DNA samples on the way to Fort Knox for six of them. The seventh next of kin was not eligible to give the DNA. JPAC was impressed.

449TH AIRCRAFT FOUND IN THE ADRIATIC

UPDATE: Our sometimes contentious discussions with JPAC continued for the first eight months of 2013 with no action on moving the 449th project up or even put on the schedule. Finally a breakthrough came when General McKeague, Commander JPAC, called and followed up with an email on August 10, 2013 asking us to give him “two to three” weeks (I guess without bugging him) and he would conduct a thorough analysis and come back to us with a decision. Three weeks passed with no calls or correspondence.

On September 15, 2013 an email was received from General McKeague committing to start our project in Feb 2014 and completing in 2015. He pointed out that

“Because the original crash crater has been significantly altered over time by the landowner and surrounding waters and contours make recovery a complex endeavor, we’ll need to perform a survey to determine the most prudent excavation strategy. This survey will include JPAC experts as well as Corps of Engineers specialists.” General McKeague’s further stated that, “The landowner was re-contacted and is amenable to us excavating the site but is still insistent on the narrow window of operations as well as us employing measures to mitigate negative impacts to his land, watershed and business.”

General McKeague’s commitment to us: “We are going to commit to conducting the engineering/environmental assessment in Feb 2014, which is the first opening of the landowner’s allowed period. We’ll then subsequently apply for the required permits (which could take 3-6 Months), and then lock in the recovery mission our FY16 Ops Plan to execute in Feb. 2015. I realize this adds another year to your (and your group’s expectations, but it the optimal (and only) recourse we have. Thanks for your understanding.”

We considered the plan, discussed it with several people including Harvey Gann, who were familiar with the project, and went back to General McKeague accepting his plan as the best he can do. We believed that the commitment was reasonable in consideration of the complexities. Further, we believed we would be wasting everyone’s time continuing the fight. We also sent a follow up email requesting JPAC to make sure that our project shows up on their published schedule and that they keep us informed as the project proceeds. We also noted that we have Congressional contacts and we would like to keep them informed and pressured to keep JPAC funded. Finally, we want to collaborate with JPAC on a Press Release about the project as soon as practical. When we get that joint Press Release done, we will make it available to all of you to use as the “gospel” for discussions with your local press and others as appropriate. We definitely want to help JPAC with its image and also keep the money flowing for our project. We will keep you informed.

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COURTESY ITALIAN PRESS: SEPT. 28, 2013

The discovery of the right vertical stabilizer with a partial serial number still visible confirms the identity of a wreck long thought to be 42-51642. The wreck of the aircraft lies in the Adriatic near Grado, Italy in about 30 feet of water. It had long been known to local divers and the wreck has been stripped by souvenir hunters. Along with the stabilizer was the discovery of what appears to be two sets of human remains.

The aircraft was a Mickey ship (radar equipped) belonging to the 716th Squadron of the 449th Bomb Group and was flown on 28 Feb 45 by an 11 man crew piloted by Howard Hanson when it was lost. The aircraft was hit by flak in the #3 engine over the Isarco/Albes RR Bridge near the Brenner Pass and was last seen trailing the formation over the mountains in northern Italy. Three bodies of crewmen, Betz, German, Turpin, washed ashore near Grado soon after the crash. The body of tail gunner Cox was found several months later.

The remaining seven airmen were never found. The loss is detailed in Missing Aircrew Report 12511. Ironically, the crash site of Hanson’s aircraft is near the Grado Lagoon where the Kendall aircraft was located in 2010.

Both aircrafts came down relatively close together, but over a year apart.

The 449th has already communicated with JPAC urging that organization to take prompt action to protect the crash site as our contact in Italy says local divers have already taken parts from the aircraft and may not respect the remains of our missing airmen.

Pilot Co-Pilot Navigator Mickey Nav Bombardier Ft/Eng Nose G Ball G Tail G LWG RWG

MIA KIA MIA MIA KIA MIA MIA MIA KIA MIA KIA

Howard Hanson Edward H. Betz Clarence L. Dragoo Richard M Horowitz Darrell E. German Lawrence W. Brady Thomas M McGraw Lawrence F. Nally James S. Cox Albert Acampora Adolph Turpin

Stoughton, WI Buffalo NY Sandyville, W. VA Brookline, Mass Dayton, OH Tyler, TX Lakewood, OH Pittsburgh, PA Hopedale, Mass New Haven, CT Bedford, Ind

*Note: Family members of Pilot 1Lt Howard Hanson have been located and contacted by the 449th BG. We are sincerely grateful for their efforts in providing a picture of Lt. Hanson for this LatePass publication.

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2014

REUNION

2014 REUNION IN DAYTON

2014 REUNION IN DAYTON

BY RICHARD LAPHAM, VP 449TH BOMB GROUP

The 2014 449th Bomb Group reunion has been set for August 6 through August 9 in Dayton, Ohio. Lloyd Rosen has worked his magic once again, reserving rooms at the Hilton Hotel in close proximity to the Wright-Patterson AFB National Museum. The Hotel comes equipped with all the amenities, including pool, restaurants and even includes free breakfast. Lloyd was able to negotiate a very competitive rate of $101.00 +tax per room.

Jane Leach, Special Events Director for the Nationa Museum for the USAF has been kind enough to help facilitate our tour of the Museum and has even arranged for a special viewing of the B-24 exhibit for the 449th. We can’t thank Jane enough for her guidance to make our visit as enjoyable as possible.

Floyd Trogden, President of the 449th, has authorized a special surprise for the Banquet dinner to be held on Saturday night. The “Dinner

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under the Wings” will be held in the Museum featuring Korean and Vietnam era aircraft.

Nothing like being seated under the massive wings of a B-52 or gazing up at the swept wings of a F-104 while enjoying a wonderful meal. I suspect, an experience not soon forgotten!

Another exciting addition to the Banquet will be the attendance of the Association of the Former Prisoners of War of Romania. Joni Baldwin contacted the 449th asking if they could join our group for the banquet and Floyd quickly agreed to have them join us. As it turns out, their were 97 men from the 449th held in Romania. Among these men from the 449th, Joni is hoping that Jim Ware, Bob Schmidt, and John McCormick will be able to addend.

John McCormick is the Romanian POW Association treasurer and was a member of the 449th, squadron 719 and was shot down in the battle of 4-4-44. We welcome the veterans and second generation of the Association of Romanian POW.

There is an overwhelming number of Museums and attractions in the Dayton area, much more than can be listed here. Please refer to the 449th website for a complete list of special attraction. The Group will sponsor two or three special attractions, but there are many more available to the adventurous who yearn to go out on their own.

As the “greatest generation” fades and the baton is passed to the second generation, this is our opportunity to celebrate and honor a generation of men that stepped forward when their country called. An opportunity to honor the memory of our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and uncles that fought so bravely against almost impossible odds.

And what better place to celebrate the achievements of the men to the 449th than the Unite State Air Force National Museum. I for one, can hardly wait!

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HERITAGE

HISTORY OF THE 449TH AIR EXPEDITIONARY GROUP

BY COL. HARRIS

Like so many of our fellow units, the 449th Air Expeditionary Group has a long and distinguished history, dating back to the height of World War II. Established on April 6, 1943 as the 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) the unit was activated on May 1st of the same year and within 4 months had grown from an initial cadre of 52 officers and 33 enlisted to 184 officers and over 1,200 enlisted. By December the men of the 449th had arrived in theater; settling in at Grottaglie Airbase, an Italian airfield recently captured and designated for Allied use thanks to a heavy bombing campaign by the U.S. 12th Air Force.

Life at the former dirigible base was no picnic. The once proud headquarters of Italy’s “Marcelio Arlotta Airdrome” had been reduced to near rubble in the bombings. The buildings had been emptied and looted. There was no heat, no drinking water, and no furniture. The men slept on bare tile floors until their G.I. cots arrived. All ranks got their

water from a jeep-pulled water cart, and all ranks lined up together for chow and even latrine use. Finally, in March of 1944 showers were installed. Up until that time the full group bathed and shaved out of their helmets.

Despite the difficult living conditions, the men of the 449th went on to distinguish themselves in combat. Flying the mighty B-24 Liberator, they flew their first combat mission on January 8, 1944 against a fighter airdrome at Mostar, Yugoslavia. For the next 16 months the group participated in some of the most notable and harrowing operations of the war, to include the allied landing at Anzio, as well as an heroic bombing campaign against the Nazi gun encampments in southern France, in preparation for the upcoming invasion. By the end of the war the 449th Bombardment Group and its members had received 2 Distinguished Unit Citations, 4 Distinguished Service Crosses, 45 Silver (Continued on page 6)

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(Continued from page 5) Stars, 322 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 299 Purple Hearts, 6 Legions of Merit, 27 Soldiers Medals, 9,980 Air Medals, and 61 Bronze Stars. The men of the 449th returned to the United States in May 1945, a band of truly decorated war heroes.

Upon their return, the unit was redesignated the 449th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and began training with a number of new aircraft, including B-17s and B-25s.

In late 1945 they transitioned to the B-29 Superfortress and in March of the following year became one of the initial ten B-29 groups assigned to the newly-established Strategic Air Command.

Over the course of the next 30 years the unit underwent a number of redesignations and relocations. In 1959, under the auspices of the 4239th Strategic Wing at Kinchloe AFB, the unit was outfitted with B-52H Stratofortresses and KC-135 Stratotankers. In 1962, as part of an Air Force-wide measure to perpetuate the lineage of inactive bombardment units with illustrious war a record, the unit was redesignated the 449th Bombardment Wing.

Original nomenclature restored, the 449th continued its mission of strategic bombard-

ment training and worldwide refueling operations with renewed vigor. It supported SAC combat operations in Southeast Asia by supplying KC-135 crews and aircraft from 1965-1975 and B-52s from 1968-1975, nearly the entire duration of the Vietnam Conflict.

A testament to its steadfast commitment to excellence, the 449th was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Jul 1974-30 Jun 1976. Immediately following its return from Vietnam, the unit went on to win the SAC bombing competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1976, as well as the Omaha trophy as SAC’s best wing for the same year. In September of 1977 the 449th was inactivated due to the closure of its home location, Kinchloe AFB, MI. For nearly the next 30 years the title of the 449th remained unused. Meanwhile, the enemies of our nation slowly devolved from that of a very tangible nation-state to a much more dynamic and fluid threat. In 2001 our country was directly attacked by these enemies, and the 449th was once again called upon to protect the freedoms and interests of the United States abroad. Redesignated the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, the unit was activated under Air Combat Command and attached to U.S. Air Forces Central in 2003.

THE

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

BY HARRY SNYDER

Greetings from the Snyder’s in beautiful Topsham, ME. We are doing well in a beautiful living facility with all the “bells and whistles.” Here, we are in Independent Living and near our children. We miss our old comrades and friends in the 449th. I am so sorry that I missed the Louisville Reunion, which I understand was a great one, but I hope to get to the Reunion in Dayton next August. I know that my assistant, the Reverend Denise Trogdon, does a great job in my place so now let me turn the rest of this column over to her. All best wishes to all of you.

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Since 2003 its mission has been the support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Personnel Recovery operations; employing HC-130 aircraft along with a contingent of Pararescue forces, for civil and combat rescue operations throughout continental Africa and the surrounding International Waters.

By 2005, the 449th AEG had established a foothold in the region and set up its base of operations at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. On October 1, 2008 it was reassigned to the 17th Air Force, the Air Force component of United States Africa Command.

Since then, the 449th Air Expeditionary Group has continued to provide uninterrupted coverage and protection of Air Force Assets over its 750,000 sq mile area of responsibility.

Much like its fledgling days in World War II, the men and women who proudly serve under the banner of 449th stand ready at a moment’s notice to answer their nations call.

With the changing of command from one set of capable hands to the next, we rest assured knowing the work we are accomplishing here in Africa will serve as just the latest successful chapter in the long, distinguished history of the 449th.

BY REV. DENISE TROGDON

It was so good to share in another reunion with you to celebrate the lives of all who served in the 449th and to remember those who have been lost to us this year.

While our time together is always short, the connections made with one another are poignant and lasting.

For those unable to attend I include a short excerpt from the homily I wrote for the memorial service: American journalist and World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle once wrote, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” I imagine he wrote these words after witnessing a few “come to Jesus” moments amid the toils of war. While this proverb might seem somewhat cynical, it is our natural inclination to rely upon our own resources, until trouble strikes. When we are vulnerable, we look to a higher power to save us and to bring hope.

In May of 1943 a community of brothers

was created and the love among them endures today. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for those young airmen, away from home in a foreign land, facing many dangers. The bonds of friendship formed in that journey were sealed in their common vision and tested under great stress. God dwelled in the midst of them inspiring bravery and hope to persevere even in the darkest times.

The reading for the service from Lamentations reminds us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” This was their hope. This is our hope. God’s abiding love is ever present in the most unexpected people and places, even in foxholes. There will always be foxhole moments in our lives that may even seem God forsaken.

Take heart that God’s love is ever present and inspires us to courage and new possibilities. I pray blessings upon each of you and I look forward to our next time together.

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to attend reunions, but she keeps him updated with what happens at the reunions and who was there. They talk often and keep those lines of communication open. Deborah says talking to Bill is one of those riches in her life.

Sam S. “Stu” and Kate Taylor (Underwood Crew, 718th Sq., Nose Gunner) put together a pack of documents to forward to Deborah, worrying if it was too much stuff. “No way”, she said, “we treasure all the info we receive for our archives”. Stu and Kate live in Whitehall, IL. They have attended many reunions in the past but no longer travel on long trips, mostly around their small town. Deb loves getting packages in the mail from her friends. Thank you Stu and Kate!

ARCHIVES

Deborah says, “It is such a joy to be involved with these amazing people. They give me so much and my heart bursts with pride for our veterans and their wonderful wives.” She is so proud of each and every one of them and cherishes being a part of the generations preserving their legacy.

She’s looking forward to talking to everyone again, making calls after the first of the year and letting everyone know about our next reunion in Dayton, OH in August 2014.

THE VOICE AT THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE Ever wonder where that voice on the other end of the telephone line is coming from when you get a call from the 449th? Most likely it is Deborah Hill, 2nd Generation, daughter of Rodger Meek (Willard Bills Crew, 718th Sq., Navigator). She calls from her home in Orange County, CA and talks to our members all over the nation.

Deborah has been contacting our 1st generation members to invite them to their reunions, keep in touch, verify contact information is current and see what her “new friends” are up to. She also accomplishes a big goal for the association by gathering information on crew lists, collecting photos and memorabilia as well as stories from our vets and their wives.

A sampling of her communications: Cornelius “Corky” and Mary Reisdorf, (Stewart Crew, 718th Sq., Co-Pilot, 35 missions as Co-Pilot, 15 missions as Crew Pilot, Original Cadre) are living in Cape Coral, Florida. Mary was a nurse during WW II. Both recently celebrated their 90th birthdays! They met on a

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blind date and have been married for 68 years.

The Stewart crew’s famous possession was the bathtub called Knob Hill. To this day they are all still proud of that fine tub. Corky and Mary forwarded many pictures, documents and stories to Deborah for our archives and she speaks to them frequently.

John and Jane Beam (Beam Crew, 716th Sq., Pilot, Downed 12 April 1944 in Blind Date and taken prisoner as a POW) live very close to Deborah and she is able to visit often. She even took her sisters Teresa Andreika and Denise Riegel to meet with them and pour over their books and documents from John’s stint in Grottaglie. She recently visited with John and Jane and presented him with one of the blue 449th Polo shirts with his info on the sleeve. This certainly made John’s day!

She regularly talks to Bill Dorton living in Cincinnati, OH, (Dorton Crew, 718th Sq., Pilot,).

Bill says their crew was so lucky because they had no real hits and completed their missions in the shortest amount of time. He is unable

The Wings of Freedom Tour stopped by the Fort Collins-Loveland Airport on Friday July 5, 2013.. Tad Gardner, 717th 3rd Generation and a 6’5” giant, attempts to fit through the catwalk of the B-24

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HISTORIAN’S CORNER CAPTAIN CONSTANTIN CANTACUZINO AND LT. COL. JAMES A. GUNN III

Epic Flight Frees Romanian POWs The 449th Bomb Group’s Romanian campaign lasted only five months, but on a per mission basis was its most costly. On twenty-one missions flown against Romanian targets the 449th lost 25 aircraft. More important were the 73 men killed and 132 captured. Thirty nine men evaded capture and eventually returned. Of the captured, 19 were held by the Germans and 13 by the Bulgarians. The remaining 100 were among approximately 1,200 Allied POWs held by the Romanians, some of whom had been in captivity since the 1 August 1943 low-level mission to Ploesti.

By mid-August the 15th Air Force had reduced the oil output of the refineries at Ploesti by 90%. On August 20 the Soviet Red Army crossed the border into Romania

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pushing back the combined German and Romanian forces. This prompted King Michael to lead a coup d’état on the 23rd, overthrowing Prime Minister Ion Antonescu who had refused to break with the Germans and make peace with the Red Army. King Michael then switched Romania’s allegiance to the side of the Allies, issuing an ultimatum that the Germans leave Romania within three days. The German commander responded by immediately attacking government and military targets around Bucharest. Amid this political confusion the guards at the POW camps abandoned their posts leaving the POWs in limbo.

The ranking officer among the POWs was Lt. Col. James A. Gunn III, Commander of

the 454th Bomb Group, who had been shot down on August 17th. Gunn demanded that the new Romanian government move the POWs to safety out of Bucharest which was now under attack by the German Air Force.

He also requested an airplane to fly him to Italy so he could arrange the repatriation of all Romanian held Allied POWs. The Romanians agreed to fly Lt. Col. Gunn to Italy in an old Savoia Marchetti twin engine bomber. However, the pilot Gunn was given appeared reluctant to make the flight, apparently fearing they could be attacked by either the Germans or the Americans at this point. Less than 30 minutes after takeoff, the pilot returned to Popesti Airfield claiming engine trouble although Gunn thought the engines were running smoothly.

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Gunn and Cantacuzino were taken to Fifteenth Air Force Headquarters at Bari where they told their story. Planning began almost immediately to repatriate the Romanian POWs. The initial phase of the recue was dubbed Operation GUNN. On August 29, Captain Cantacuzino was sent back to ensure that Popesti Airfield was still in Romanian hands. He was given a P-51 to fly since his Messerschmitt could not be refueled. He was escorted by two other P-51s from the 31st FG (with orders to shoot him down at the first sign of treachery). Upon receiving Cantacuzino’s signal that all was well, a team of O.S.S. men was flown to Popesti in two heavily escorted B-17s. The O.S.S. team’s job was to set up radio communications and make all necessary local preparations to fly the POWs out of Romania.

15TH AF OFFICERS RECREATE GUNN EMERGING FROM RADIO COMPARTMENT

Back on the ground at Popesti, Gunn was met

by Captain Constantin Cantacuzino, a Romanian Air Force ace with 64 victories. Cantacuzino offered to fly Gunn to Italy in a Messerschmitt Bf-109 if Gunn would agree to lie prone in the fuselage aft of the cockpit of the single seat fighter. To do so meant that the radio equipment would have to be removed to make room and Gunn would be sealed in the fuselage with no way of escaping if they were attacked by either the Germans or Americans, or for any other emergency. Despite the obvious hazards, Gunn quickly agreed with the proposal and the two immediately began planning the flight.

Gunn wanted to cross the Adriatic at wave-top level to avoid Allied radar but Cantacuzino vetoed the idea claiming the Bf-109’s engine was too unreliable. He wanted to cross at high altitude to increase glide distance in the event of engine trouble. Since Gunn would be without oxygen or heat, they settled on 19,000 ft. No suitable maps of Italy could be located so Gunn sketched out crude map from memory on a piece of cardboard with enough detail for Cantacuzino to find the 454th BG’s home field of San Giovanni. A large American flag was painted on both sides of the fuselage of the Bf-109 and white stars on the

449th Flying Horsemen

wings to hopefully get them into Italy without being shot down as an “enemy”. When the painting was finished, Gunn was given warm clothes and he crawled through an 18 inch square access panel and laid face down in the cramped fuselage. Cantacuzino replaced the cover and climbed into the cockpit. The pair took off at 5:20 pm on August 27.

Lt. Col Gunn was entrusting his life that his former enemy could successfully run the gauntlet of German flak and fighters exiting Romania, cross the Adriatic Sea and land in Italy without being shot down by Allied fighters or anti-aircraft guns. Despite all that could go wrong and an engine that began to run rough over the Adriatic, Constantin Cantacuzino did just that. After a two hour flight, he found the airfield at San Giovanni, lowered his landing gear and flaps and circled the field while slowing rocking his wings. The guns remained silent and he was allowed to land. Cantacuzino stepped from the cockpit and asked the gathering crowd for a screw driver proclaiming “I have somebody here you’ll be glad to see.” The hatch was quickly removed and Lt. Col Gunn crawled out cold, stiff and groggy from hypoxia.

Operation REUNION got underway the morning of August 31. Thirty six B17s from the 5th Bomb Wing had been stripped down and fitted with racks in the bomb bays to turn them into makeshift transports. The first wave of 12 B-17’s heavily escorted by P-51’s - touched down at Popesti at 10:00am. Twenty former POWs were loaded into each B-17 and they quickly departed under their Mustang escort. More waves followed and the first day a total of 739 men were evacuated back to Italy. On September 1, the B-17’s were back again and another 393 men were flown to freedom. Operation REUNION ended on September 3rd when the last of a total of 1,162 men had been repatriated.

Thanks to the daring of Lt. Col Gunn and Captain Cantacuzino, Fifteenth Air Force Headquarters was presented an incredible opportunity. In the span of five days it did all the necessary planning, modified aircraft, dispatched men and equipment and safely evacuated almost 1,200 men from deep within a hostile theater. In the words of the committee that reported on the operation, “The Fifteenth did a wellnigh perfect job”.

(See Romanian Mission Loss Chart on page 10)

9

ROMANIAN MISSIONS 449th Losses on Romanian Missions

Date

SQDRN

Pilot

A/C

Target

KIA

POW

4-Apr-44

717

Tyler

42-52172

Bucharest

10

4-Apr-44

717

Bontly

41-28596

Bucharest

2

8

4-Apr-44

719

McCormick

41-29258

Bucharest

5

5

4-Apr-44

719

Garrison

42-7691

Bucharest

7

3

4-Apr-44

719

Polink

42-52159

Bucharest

3

7

4-Apr-44

719

Thieme

41-28655

Bucharest

8

3

4-Apr-44

719

Kendall

41-29193

Bucharest

2

8

5-Apr-44

718

Rogers

A/C not lost

Ploesti

1

16-Apr-44

718

Temchulla

42-52166

Brasov

2

81

16-Apr-44

717

Minor

42-50282

Brasov

1

9

16-Apr-44

718

Rogers

41-28597

Brasov

1

9

5-May-44

717

McInvale

A/C not lost

Ploesti

2

5-May-44

719

Armstrong

42-50307

Ploesti

3

5-May-44

718

Harper

42-52149

Ploesti

12

5-May-44

717

Jacobson

42-64394

Ploesti

10

5-May-44

716

White

41-29512

Ploesti

3

7

5-May-44

717

Morton

42-7744

Ploesti

4

6

11-Jun-44

716

Gudger

42-78294

Constanta

6

43

24-Jun-44

717

Anderson

41-28846

Ploesti

9-Jul-44

716

Westbrook

42-78366

Ploesti

9-Jul-44

718

Driggers

42-78341

Ploesti

15-Jul-44

717

Scroggs, JE

42-64354

Ploesti

15-Jul-44

717

Blanton

44-40265

Ploesti

22-Jul-44

717

Fowler

A/C not lost

Ploesti

22-Jul-44

716

Rye

42-94887

Ploesti

18-Aug-44

719

Watson

42-78604

Ploesti

18-Aug-44

716

McDowell

44-41061

Ploesti

26-Aug-44

716

Rye/Murphy

41-29460

Giurgiu Totals

EVD

7 9

103 5 9 9 10

2

1 9 6 10 1

72

3

73

132

39

Notes: 1 - 1 Died of wounds after repatriation 2 – German held POWs 3 – Bulgarian held POWs

10

449th Flying Horsemen

EGAN CREW Front Row: Robert L Gonder, WG; Michael Nestoff, F/E; Ralph D Clouse, R/O; Thomas S Shestack, BT; Lyle V Carr, NT; Harold J Vorhees, TT. Back Row: Joseph E Bosco, B; Kenneth W Keplar, CP; Costney R Egan, P; Paul D Corkill, N. This photo is of the Costney R. Egan crew and comes to us from Paul Corkill, our newest 449th Association member. The photo appears on page 88 of Book II, but its placement makes it appear to refer to the crew of Pistol Packin’ Mama which is not correct. The Egan crew reported to the 718th Squadron on 25 July 1944, long after Pistol Packin’ Mama had been lost. The original caption did not list the entire crew in the correct order.

Costney Egan was awarded a DFC for the 13 October 1944 mission to Vienna. Kenneth Keplar was made a 1st pilot and received a DFC for the 19 December mission to Rosenheim,

449th Flying Horsemen

Germany. Thomas Shestack died from lack of oxygen on the 31 January 1945 mission to Moosbierbaum.

Paul Corkill’s last mission was an 8 hour mission to Blechhammer Poland on 12 November ‘44. He was the navigator for the night PFF mission in which the 449th dispatched 3 ships of a total of 9 from the 47th Wing. Corkill navigated his plane to the target at night despite repeated failures of the Mickey equipment aboard. His ship was one of two from the Wing that successfully found and bombed the target. During the flight his heated boot failed and he suffered frostbite

that caused him to lose part of a toe.

Paul was sent to the hospital and then home after the flight with a total of 43 missions. He never knew he had been recommended for a DFC for that last mission until he recently found his name among the awards listed in Book II. After he contacted the Association, the citation and the Fifteenth Air Force General Order authorizing his DFC were located within the archives. Those have been sent to the National Personnel Records Center and hopefully Paul Corkill will soon have the Distinguished Flying Cross he earned 69 years ago.

11

WEBSITE UPDATE Good progress has been made on the Association’s website. Devin Cress, 3rd generation, has been working hard on updates. The complete 449th casualty list is now available online. The mission summaries for February 1945 have been added and the remaining mission summaries should be available soon. We have a lot of information that we want to add to the site as time allows. Among those items are the Missing Aircrew Reports for combat losses, crew lists and the roster of all known members of the 449th (close to 5,000 names a present).

20th Reunion Pictures & DVDs PLAY THEM ON YOUR TV!

Check the site for new additions at www.449th.org. Any suggestions for improving the site can be submitted on the Contact page. We want to make this valuable site to preserve the legacy of the 449th Bomb Group.

THEPX

BY LYNN AND RICK MORAN

Hello, from the PX. Let me introduce myself. I am Lynn Moran, daughter of Charlie Gran, Ball Turret Gunner with the Fabian Crew, 718th Squadron. My husband Rick and I are members of the Second Generation and have been attending the reunions in memory of my Dad. Usually you will see me at the reunions dressed as “Rosie the Riveter” and selling raffle tickets. In Rapid City, SD, Rick became acquainted with Jean and John Aulner when he offered to help them set up the PX. He has helped them out with the PX in some capacity ever since.

About a month before the last reunion in Louisville, Kentucky, we found out that Jean and John Aulner would not be able to attend the reunion because of John’s health.

I was saddened by the news because Jean and John are such a sweet and loving couple and they would be greatly missed. Denise Riegel and her sister Teresa Andreika, daughters of Rodger Meek, Navigator, with the Bill Willard crew, 718th Squadron, decided to make some last minute changes to their travel plans. Both girls live in California. They flew to the Aulner’s home town of Omaha, Nebraska. After a very pleasant visit with Jean and John, the girls rented a car and drove the PX items to Louisville, Ken-

12

tucky. All of the Second Generation members who came to the reunion early helped set up the PX and it was open for business as usual. Dan Livingston found a picture of Jean and John and we all decided it should have a place next to the cash box.

Shortly after we had everything arranged General Floyd Trogdon, President of the 449th Bomb Group Association approached Rick and I. He asked if we would be willing to step into Jean and John’s shoes and take over the PX. Without hesitation we both said yes. I know Rick and I have some large shoes to fill but we both are honored to do this not only for Jean and John but for the 449th Bomb Group Association.

Since taking over the PX we have had numerous requests from people who have found out about the Bomb Group from the website. I have had not only emails but phone calls. Most are from sons, daughters and grandchildren who want to know more about what Dad or Grandpa did in Grotttaglie, Italy.

I am sad to report that John Aulner passed away in May, 2013. Rick and I are honored to be able to carry on the PX in John’s memory.

Sample from the 19th Reunion

#1 Banquet: Colonel David Harris, Commander of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, stationed in Africa. Col. Harris spoke on his Group’s Heritage (449th Bomb Group) and its current responsibilities at its base of operations at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

#2 Memorial Service: Our deceased fellow airmen were honored at the Memorial Service.

#3 Photos: Pictures of the reunion including dinners, tours, families and special events. Print as many pictures as you want from this DVD.

Each item sells for $10 a piece or all three for $25 (includes shipping).

In order to keep sending you the LatePass newsletter, this is a fund raising event to help pay for future printing and postage expenses.

Please make checks payable to: 449th BG Send order to: Denise Riegel, 230 North G Street, Lompoc, CA 93436 E-mail address: redriegel@yahoo.com

449th Flying Horsemen

MOFFET FIELD We recently had the privilege of honoring the 449th Bomb Group by accepting an invitation from the Moffett Field Air Museum in Mountain View, CA to display a portion of our museum collection for the general public for 2 weeks. This coincided nicely with the arrival of the Collings Foundation planes that were scheduled to offer tours and rides for several days in the middle of May on the flight line at Moffett Field.

Dan and his right hand man, Jose, who some of you may recall was indispensable at the Reno Reunion, once again loaded our large box van with bombsights, uniforms, photos and other rare items.

The museum provided and secure and spacious area which worked out well to allow visitors to observe artifacts from World War II. We were proud to include the Battle Ribbons of the 449th in appreciation of the service and sacrifice put forth for the freedom of our country.

449th Flying Horsemen

13

ORAL HISTORIES OF THE 449TH BOMB SQUADRON VETERANS

BY LINDA TROGDON DONAHUE AND ELAINE TROGDON MARTZ

For the last several reunions, we have had the honor of videotaping the World War II experiences of many of our 449th veterans. These heartfelt recollections include stories of barely 18-year-olds begging their parents to enlist, to prisoners of war struggling to survive. Each one provides a unique perspective on the 449th experience and its profound effect on each veteran’s life.

As the ultimate goal for these oral histories is to have them archived in the Library of Congress, a script was prepared with questions about the veteran’s hometown, training, manner of traveling to Grottaglia, identification of crew members, rank, position, number of missions, and his own personal story. Each history ends with the veteran’s opinion about the B-24 aircraft.

It is our sincere desire to obtain histories (video, audio or even written) from every veteran who is able to participate. If you have not yet had the opportunity to complete an oral history, please consider doing so either at our next reunion or prior to that time from the comfort of your home. We would be glad to send you the script. It is SO important to document these stories, not only for their historical value, but also for all that they mean to your family members, many of whom are hearing these accounts for the first time.

HONOR ROLL

Names Read at Memorial Service 716th

ALLEN Albrecht D.

716th

ANDERSON, Merle E.

716th

BARTON, Norman C. “Jim”

716th

BASIL, Anthony Frederick

716th

BOLT, William T.

716th

BOLTON, Otis J.

716th

BRYAN, Bruce R.

716th

BUMGARDNER, Paul R.

716th

CARPENTER, Raymond E.

716th

COLLINS James P.

716th

DEHN, Arnold

716th

DOWALO Theodore H.

716th

FREDERICK, Lawrence E.

(Continued on pages 15-16)

14

BOMBS & BOOTIES

BY WALTER BYNUM & JUDY CARPENTER

I was 19 years old when I enlisted at Ft. Bliss, Texas, on March 3, 1943. One advantage of enlisting was to be able to select a branch of service, and I requested the Army Air Corps. I was at Ft. Bliss through March 10, 1943, at which time I was sent to Atlantic City, New Jersey, for basic training. They were bringing in groups of 4,000 troops at a time, about two weeks apart, for this purpose. We were stationed in hotels on the boardwalk, and I was assigned to the Ambassador Hotel.

The Army Air Corps was in the process of becoming a third branch of service, to be equal with the Army and Navy. Our instructors told us, “Let there be no doubt about it, you are already in the Air Force!” We did several things to distinguish us from the other branches, including a double-court cadence, and having to sing the Air Force song every time we got in a formation. During the course of basic, I was promoted to Corporal. By the time of completion, I was promoted to Buck Sergeant. Because I was employed by the Western Union at the time of my enlistment, I was designated as a teletype specialist, to be assigned to the Air Corps Signal Corps. This resulted in me being shipped to Fresno, California, to attend some Signal Corps schools, in June, 1943. Upon completion of three schools, I was shipped to Sioux City, Iowa, in December, 1943. At this time we were placed in groups in preparation for being sent overseas as replacements for various companies, according to our MOS (Military Occupation Specialty).

The next stop was Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, where all the final preparations for overseas assignment was done. My group boarded a Liberty ship docked at Newport News, Virginia, and part of a 100 plus ship convoy. We set sail on December 24, 1943, destination unknown. We had an aircraft carrier escort for the first three days at sea because of the presence of so many German submarines. The morning of the third day, the carrier was bringing in the fighter planes which had been up on morning patrol, in preparation for returning to the states. At 11:00 a.m. that morning, we were involved in a mid-ocean collision with a destroyer which was assigned to the carrier. Because of the damage done to our ship, we were not able to keep up with the convoy. As a result, we made the crossing alone with a top speed of six knots, causing us to name her “Six-Knot Nora.” The fact that it was well-known that the Germans were looking for the lone, “wounded ducks”, caused us to be uneasy the rest of the trip. We took an unscheduled stop at Gran, North Africa, so our ship could

449th Flying Horsemen

(Honor Roll Continued) be dry-docked while we waited for another convoy to pick us up. We were there for two weeks before we were able to “hitch a ride”.

The first we knew anything about our destination was when we docked at Naples, Italy. We were loaded in the back of 2 1/2 ton trucks and delivered to our separate companies. I was the last one delivered. When the Captain called me in for an interview after reviewing my 201 papers, he said, “Sergeant, I hate to tell you this, but we are not a Signal Corps company. I can arrange a transfer for you.” My answer, “Captain, this is as far as I want to go. If you will find a job for me, I would like to stay here.” Thus, I found myself a member of the: 1627TH ORDNACE SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE COMPANY ATTACHED TO THE 449TH B-24 BOMB GROUP 47TH WING 15TH AIRFORCE. Our company provided ordnance, and all the bombs and ammunition for the bomb group. I was assigned to the bomb dump, and immediately began “hands-on on-the-job” training to become an ammunition NCO (non-commissioned officer), my new MOS. Soon after, I was promoted to Staff Sergeant, my final rank.

Beginning with January, 1944, when I joined the company, my finger prints could be found on every 500-pound bomb the bomb group dropped. Occasionally I would “chalk” in a message when I knew where the mission was, just a little bit of profanity! One of my responsibilities was to inspect each and every bomb which was delivered to us, to make any necessary repairs, to make sure that they were mission ready for the group’s bombing missions. This was the basic routine up until VE Day (Victory in Europe), which was so designated on May 8, 1945.

On May 15, 1945, we boarded a ship which was the USS Manhattan in peace time. It had taken me 34 days to get to Italy; it took on 10 days to get back. We were the first troops to land in the States after the war was over in Europe, as we docked in Boston Harbor on May 25th, 1945. After a 30-day furlough spent in Artesia, New Mexico, I reported to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas for reassignment. We were forming new companies to be deployed to somewhere in the Asian Theater, and were scheduled to leave in two weeks. Fortunately, Victory over Japan (VJ DAY) was declared on August 14, 1945. Even though I was eligible for immediate discharge, for some unknown reason, I was shipped to Eglin Field, Florida. When it was finally determined I could actually be discharged, I requested Walker Air Base, Roswell, New Mexico, for this very special occasion. After one week of being stationed at Walker, I was discharged on November 5, 1945.”

During the time that my dad was stationed in Fresno, my mother and dad lived together off base until my dad was sent to Sioux City, Iowa. They knew that my dad was on the way overseas, so my mother traveled by bus to Sioux City so they could be together one last time...they had parts of two days together. I was born in July 7th, 1944. I think it was almost two weeks before my dad knew that I was born. My dad’s company did a wonderful thing by sending flowers to my mother and told her that “Judy was being adopted as their company mascot.”

My dad did not get to see me until I was a year old. During the time my dad was overseas, my mother had my baby shoes bronzed, and sent one of the baby shoes to my dad while he was in Italy. For my 50th birthday my parents had the baby shoes rebronzed and gave to me as a gift. I did not know until know until that time that one of the shoes was in Italy during World War!

449th Flying Horsemen

716th

GOUGEON, John

716th

GREEN, William T.

716th

GREER, Joe T.

716th

HARMON, Cecil H.

716th

KAESS, Walter A.

716th

KNOLL, Willis

716th

KRISS, Peter

716th

LEE, Junior D

716th

MAHONEY, John J. “Jack”

716TH

MARTINSEN, JR, Sigur A

716th

MILLER, James B.

716th

NIKLASON, Einar O.

716th

PATTERSON, Gordon “Pat”

716th

PRIEST, Jesse Webster

716th

RAY, SR, Chester L. (Chet)

716th

RICKELS, James W.

716th

ROSS, George

716th

SELL, Eckhardt

716th

WARREN , Dan R.

716th

WINGATE Don E.

716th

YANO, Albert J.

717th

ANDERSON, Robert

717th

AVERY, Sherwood T.

717th

BOURDON, Howard I.

717th

BRADLEY, Joseph H.

717th

CARMEAN, L G

717th

COLSON , John P.

717th

CONNERY, James

717th

ECKL, Lawrence

717th

FAVASULI, Anthony

717th

GOEBEL, Alfred W.

717th

GOTT, L. Edgar

717th

GREENE, Earle W.

717th

HABSHEY, Nade

717th

HAMBERG, Douglas H.

717th

HUBBARD, James K

717th

HUGHES Ernest S.

717th

JACKSON, Daniel M

717th

JEFFRIES, Harvey J

717th

LADD, Glenn T

717th

LUDEKE, James Milton

717th

MARCHA, Clifford P

717th

MIZENKO, Joseph S.

717th

MOLNAR, John

717th

MOSSMAN, Fred “Tick”

717th

NEWMAN, Jack B.

717th

PARKER, William T.

717th

PARKER, Donald

717th

PINCIOTTI, Anthony E.

15

LATE PASS!

449th Bomb Group Association Mary Crowley, Secretary 2nd Generation 16292 Content Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Phone: 714.840.1805 Fax: 714.846.0965 Email: TCrow16@aol.com

FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER 449th Bomb Group Association 716 - 717 - 718 - 719 Bomb Squadrons

New 449th Bomb Group Directory: Mailing date Jan 2014 Highlights from the 19th Reno Reunion & 20th Louisville Reunion, Membership Directory, Crew list, Historical and Research Information, and much, much more! If you do not wish to receive the book or have a change of address please notify Secretary Mary Crowley.

LATE PASS! The 449th BGA Newsletter 16292 Content Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Ph: 714.840.1805 • Fax: 714.846.0965 Email: TCrow16@aol.com

Info RE: Mailing List / Removal / Deceased Member Please report any changes, or removal, of your mailing address or information regarding a deceased Veteran to Mary Crowley.

*No membership dues assessed. Reprinting in whole or in part, without written permission, is prohibited. All rights and contents are reserved by the 449th BGA, A Not for Profit Organization, funded by member donations and contributions. Contributions to the 449th BGA are deductible on IRS1040 Schedule A, if not made for merchandise or services.

(Honor Roll Continued) 717th

REED, Franklin H.

718th

LAMMIMAN, Lewis J.

719th

LAPHAM Donald C.

717th

SCHWARTZ, Albert G.

718th

LATTA, J. Edward

719th

LINDHORST, Russell

717th

SELPH, William B.

718th

LIVINGSTON , David D.

719th

MALLORY, Galon Horton

717th

SKOLFIELD, Frederick C.

718th

MASON, George P.

719th

MARTIN, Marvin P.

717th

THOMPSON, Elliott A.

718th

MEEK, Rodger

719th

McCOY, Sr., Francis D.

718th

AUSTIN, Horace S.

718th

MILLER, Allen R.

719th

NEWTON, Lewis M.

718TH

BENDER George

718th

MORLAN, Willis

719th

O’DELL, Fernando

718th

BARRETT, Norman G.

718th

SHAW, Gordon H.

719th

OLSON, John W.

718th

CLABAUGH, Carlton C

718th

SHEPHERD, Charles

719th

OSTROM, Frederick C.

718th

CLARK, William M.

718th

SHERER, Maurice L.

719th

PELUSO, Bart

718th

DEEMER Robert G.

718th

SHUMAN Harry E

719th

POHLE, Edgar

718th

ELLIS, Leighton E.

718th

SMITH, H. Carleton

719th

RADFORD, Hubert F.

718th

FELD, Reuben A.

718th

TERRIO, Leo W

719th

ROSEN, Jerome

718th

FORESTER, James F.

718th

THOMPSON, Ralph H

719th

SIDIE, Donald

718th

FOSTER, Rev. Harry A.

718th

WASHINGTON, William B.

719th

SIMONS, Robert M.

718th

GAVALAS, Nick

718th

YOUNG, Daniel J.

719th

VAN LIER, Donald D

718th

GRAN, Charles F.

719th

AHRENS, Trabert R.

719th

WARD, James A.

718th

HATHORN, Robert E.

719th

ANDERS, Weldon E.

719th

WELCH, Eugene

718th

KENNEY, Lee F.

719th

BELCHER, John E.

719th

ZIMMERMAN, Sheldon Jules

718th

KESSLER, Bernard

719th

CHURCH, Merrill P.

HQ

BANNISTER, Russell G.

718th

KLING, Harold H.

719th

GREEN, William Patrick

HQ

HANDRAHAN, Daniel

718th

KNISELY, Richard B.

719th

JENSEN, Phillip

HQ

PETERSEN, James C.

718th

LaMARCA, Charles A.

719th

KEISLING, Delford V.

Radar

KERN, Orville R.

Bold indicates: In honor of their fathers/ grandfathers/ uncles, family members were present for the Memorial service

16

449th Flying Horsemen