THE RABBIT HOLE

Chapter 2

thought, why not just search his unit name on Facebook. After all, sometimes I got lucky in the past in finding things on social media simply by searching the name. So, I hopped on Facebook and searched for “2487th Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)”. You would not believe what popped up! There was actually a picture of the Normandy invasion and one comment below it regarding my grandfather’s unit! The comment was made over seven years ago by a Mr. Larry Payne. The picture that he commented on is one that will blow your mind if you have never seen it before. Right there under this amazing Normandy invasion photo (which pictures a beach full of trucks staging for travel, ships all along the coast, and hundreds of balloons flying overhead) was a comment by Larry that read: “My dad was with the 2487th Quartermaster Truck Company Aviation. They serviced the 366th Fighter Group. When they landed at Omaha Beach, their trucks were loaded with mesh metal landing mats used to construct the first Allied airfield on the continent, Airfield A-1. The 366th was the first Air Corp Group to occupy the airfield. As far as logistics and what a lot of people don’t know and history doesn’t tell us, is that our guys were still running all the way back to the beaches in France for supplies even after they moved into Belgium. Dad’s unit was recognized for logging over a million miles on the European Continent between D-Day and the German surrender in May of 1945. Good to see these units getting some recognition!”

Mind my language, but holy shit! Right then and there, I had instant confirmation, a new lead, and just found out my grandfather was a part of history and even made history! To find someone who could confirm all of my research and help me continue with my grandfather’s story was a miracle, a blessing, and what I would soon find out... it was fate. In an instant, I took a chance and direct messaged Larry on Facebook. He responded not long after and that my friends is where Larry not only helped me to find the rabbit hole, but he helped me to go even deeper down the rabbit hole! It was time to find out what Larry knew and hold on for the ride.