The 390th Bomb Group Anthology

Description

The 390th Bomb Group Anthology includes 83 stories written by 45 members of the 390th Bomb Group relating their personal adventures during the World War II years. of 1943, 1944, and 1945. The stories include combat briefs, mission stories, humor in the midst of war, evasion, and imprisonment after being shot down.

Some of the stories were written as they happened during the war years while others are recollections of those events so prominent in the mins of those who lived them. The reader will be provided new insight into the war in the air by these personal accounts.

The 390th Bomb Group was one of the most famous units in the Eighth Air Force. This unit flew 301 missions against Hitler's "Fortress Europe." This effort had a profound affect on the outcome of World War II in Europe.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Volume 2
• Primera Guerra Mundial
• Segunda Guerra Mundial
• World War I
• Military
• World War II
• History
• Première Guerre mondiale
• Seconde Guerre mondiale

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 1983
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781681623412
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

The 390th Bomb Group Anthology includes 83 stories written by 45 members of the 390th Bomb Group relating their personal adventures during the World War II years of 1943, 1944 and 1945. The stories include combat briefs, mission stories, humor in the midst of war, evasion and imprisonment after being shot down.
Some of the stories were written as they happened during the war years while others are recollections of those events so prominent in the minds of those who lived them. The reader will be provided new insight into the war in the air by these personal accounts.
The 390th Bomb Group was one of the most famous units in the Eighth Air Force. This unit flew 301 missions against Hitler s Fortress Europe . This effort had a profound affect on the outcome of World War II in Europe.
The 390th Bomb Group Anthology
Cabin in the Sky, a B-17F encounters German fighters on a raid over Europe.
VOLUME 1
The 390 th BOMB GROUP ANTHOLOGY
by Members of the 390th Bomb Group (H) 1943 - 1945
Compliled and Edited by
Wilbert H. Richarz Richard H. Perry William J. Robinson
Published by
390th Memorial Museum Foundation, Inc. 6000 East Valencia Rd. Tucson, Azriona 85706
Copyright 1983 by
390th Memorial Museum Foundation, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number
83-070428
ISBN: 978-1-68162-372-6
Reprinted with permission, 1995. Turner Publishing Company
Dedication
T HIS B OOK IS D EDICATED TO
T HOSE M EMBERS OF THE 390th B OMB G ROUP , B OTH L IVING AND D EAD , W HO C ONTRIBUTED TO THE S UCCESS OF THE E UROPEAN A IR C AMPAIGN D URING W ORLD W AR II
AND ALSO TO
C OLONEL J OSEPH A. M OLLER F ORMER C OMMANDER OF THE 390th B OMB G ROUP
Insignia of the 390th Bombardment Group (H), and of its component squadrons: The 568th Squadron, the 569th Squadron, the 570th Squadron, and the 571st Squadron.
Preface
When the stories and accounts in the following collection were first received and the idea for a book of this type was envisioned, it was thought that the contributions would be screened and edited. However, it was soon apparent that any changes that might be deemed necessary by a second party, such as an editor, could only alter, and perhaps even destroy, the context, flavor, mood and/or intent of the original text. It was clear that the stories would convey their special meanings only if the integrity of the authors was protected and their work generally unaltered. With the exception of the correcting of typographical errors or the rearrangement of sentences which were unclear because of inadvertent word placement, the following contributions are just as they were originally written.
The reminiscences collected in this volume were written by the individual contributors and the Foundation and the editors, while grateful, cannot, and do not, accept responsibility for the content of, or opinions expressed, in the individual stories. They are the creations of their authors. The sole purpose of this volume is to preserve those memorable experiences which typify the courage and comradeship of the men of the 390th Bomb Group during the greatest air assault in history.
Table of Contents
Prologue
The Sights and Sounds Joseph A. Moller
COMBAT LIFE
An Airman s Prayer Wilbert H. Richarz
Mission 23; Mission 23 - The Rest of the Story Wilbert H. Richarz
Stories from the Cabin in the Sky Crew; The Nervous P R.D. Brown
Fortnight in the Life of the Eightball Crew Richard H. Perry
Five Minute Hero Leif Halvorsen
Patches , a Plane; Its Name; and Its Fame George P. Jahnke
The Flak Depressor Gus Mencow
Virgin Sturgeon s First Combat Mission R. Rowland
Spot Remover - Landing Gear Jinxes Stan Smith
Target Berlin Marshall B. Shore
Crew Chief s Description of The Skillet s Missions Arthanasis Pop Cummings
A Replacement Crew s First Missions William J. Robinson
One Mission Without Bombs Richard H. Perry
A Mission; A Time I Remember; A Low Crossing Wilbert H. Richarz
Merseberg Mission - Fall 1941 George Zadzora
A Slight Delay in Return From One Mission; An Unforgettable Sight; A Miracle H. James Kenny
Lamentations: Dusseldorf, September 9, 1944 Robert L. Longardner
Talk About Thirteen; A Pal Goes Down Walt Byrne
An Act That Will Never Be Forgotten Jim Horan
THE SHUTTLE MISSIONS
The Real Thing - Not A Training Mission Richard H. Perry
Russian Shuttle - Operation Frantic George W. Von Arb
It Had To Be Gremlins Robert Banta
7,000 Mile Shuttle Mission to Russia Raymond E. Strate
A View of Russia From Human Interest Side Paul J. Argenio
Warsaw Shuttle Mission George Zadzora
D.N.I.F. (Duty Not Involving Flying)
Its Greatness Was Its People; You Can Always Learn; Little Friends Joseph A. Moller
The Three Musketeers and Doc Joshua M. Perman, M.D.
Reflections of a Group Engineering Officer Al Engler
Bits and Pieces - Understatement John Quinn
First Trip to London; The Flak House; P-51s and Cycling; The Ground Crew; English Trains; God, The Odds, and Cambridge; The Laundry Woman s Husband; The Songs Wilbert H. Richarz
No Purple Heart - But R. P. Hilson
SHOT DOWN STORIES
Exploits of Jack Bass on His Last Mission Quentin R. Bass
Experiences of a Cash and Carry Crew Member; First Meeting With the Germans Jack E. Nosser
Loneliest and Happiest Point in One s Life Irving Lifson
The Last Mission of B-17G Angel-In-Di-Skies Charles E. Ryan
A Disastrous Day For The 390th Claude Art Carnahan
Shot Down In Belgium Wilbert H. Richarz
Mission 243 - Derben, Germany Melvin L. Johnson
Downed Airman and The Maquis Mike Ruta
He Endured An 850 Mile Forced P.O.W. March George Zadzora
Tribute to Zad Ralph Spence
An Anoxic Ode to Code Wilbert H. Richarz
POTPOURRI
Almost an Unscheduled Mission Thomas S. Jeffrey
You Can t Believe All Press Releases Robert W. Waltz
Combat Diary Excerpts Albert L. Buehler
A Memorable Mission After VE Day Richard H. Perry
Presents For The Reich Other Than Bombs William Carr
Stories From Hap Roger P. Hap Howell
Reflections of a Ball Turret Gunner Carl (Andy) Anderson
I ll Be Around - Sterr Crew Earl Schmidt, Jr.
Stories From The Liberty Belle Crew Albert M. Bell
Do B-17s Back Up?; Search Light Training at Orlando Marshall B. Shore
Emerson Smith Won t Forget B-24 Pilot Emerson A. Smith
Memorable Bits of G.I. Wit; Barbara; The Road Back Wilbert H. Richarz
Purple Heart Mission Wallace H. Phillips
COMMANDERS AND HISTORIES
Edgar M. Wittan, 1910-1944 Joseph A. Moller
Frederick W. Ott Robert W. Waltz
By Example Robert W. Waltz
All The Way With George Robert W. Waltz
The History of The 390th John Quinn
390th Bomb Group Heritage John J. Clark
Photograph Sources
C. Kemper
History of the 390th
Official USAF Photo
Official USAF Photo
Official USAF Photo
Joseph A. Moller
Official USAF Photo
Robert W. Waltz
R. D. Brown
R. D. Brown
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
R. Rowland
George P. Jahnke
Nathanial Mencow
Official USAF Photo
R. Rowland
Richard H. Perry
Stan Smith
Stan Smith
Stan Smith
History of the 390th
Joseph A. Moller
Official USAF Photo
Don Keohane
Official USAF Photo
Don Keohane
Don Keohane
Bill Robinson
Official USAF Photo
Richard H. Perry
Official USAF Photo
Wilbert H. Richarz
Official USAF Photo
George Zadzora
Richard H. Perry
George Zadzora
Richard H. Perry
Jim Kenny
Official USAF Photo
Robert L. Longardner
390th Museum Foundation Photo
Walt Byrne
Robert W. Waltz
Albert L. Buehler
Marshall Shore
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
Official USAF Photo
George Von Arb
Raymond E. Strate
Albert L. Buehler
Raymond E. Strate
Raymond E. Strate
Raymond E. Strate
Raymond E. Strate
Marshall Shore
Official USAF Photo
George Zadzora
Walt Byrne
Walt Byrne
Walt Byrne
Official USAF Photo
Richard H. Perry
Emerson A. Smith
390th Museum Foundation Photo
Al Engler
Walt Byrne
John Quinn
Richard H. Perry
Raymond E. Strate
Albert L. Buehler
Official USAF Photo
R. Rowland
Phil Hilson
390th Museum Foundation Photo
Jack E. Nosser
Irving Lifson
Irving Lifson
Irving Lifson
Charles E. Ryan
Wilbert H. Richarz
Raymond E. Strate
Albert L. Buehler
Mike Ruta
Mike Ruta
Mike Ruta
Official USAF Photo
Richard H. Perry
Robert W. Waltz
Robert W. Waltz
Robert W. Waltz
Albert L. Buehler
Albert L. Buehler
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
William Carr
William Carr
Roger P. Howell
Richard H. Perry
Carl Anderson
Richard H. Perry
Earl Schmidt, Jr.
Albert M. Bell
Richard H. Perry
Richard H. Perry
Emerson A. Smith
Emerson A. Smith
Wallace H. Phillips
Official USAF Photo
Joseph A. Moller
Richard H. Perry
The History of the 390th
Joseph A. Moller
Joseph A. Moller
Joseph A. Moller
The History of the 390th
John J. Clark
Richard H. Perry
390th BOMB GROUP
THE SQUARE GROUP
PARHAM, ENGLAND - STATION 153
JULY 1943 - AUGUST 1945 Aircraft: Boeing B-17 The Flying Fortress Missions: 301 Operational Missions Bomb Load: Dropped over 19,000 tons of bombs Losses: 176 aircraft lost 144 missing in action 32 other causes Wins: Officially credited with: Destruction of 377 enemy aircraft 57 probably destroyed 77 damaged
In this unusual shot, a Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group is shown winging steadily over a small German town, en route to Brunswick. The target for the day was the Waggum main assembly plant of the Luftwaffe s ME 110 twin-engined fighters. 11 January 1944.
Prologue
It was Colonel Moller s, idea that the stories from members of the 390th about their wartime experiences should be published in book form. The former Commander of the Group felt that such a book should begin where the Blue Book , The Story of the 390th Bombardment Group, (H), ended and that it should be a less official, closer-to-the-heart, record that would not so much tell all about the 390