8th AF Signatures

going to try and get some things scanned in this upcoming week gents ....... some 9th Af fighter boyz as well........

a BIG bump.

also a friend has attended this weekend the Cali Camirillo Air show where several vets are to have attended, hopeful the pilot/ace of the 15th Tac Rece was attending, Clyde East as I had some questions for him

E

 

Hey Erich,

I've got some signatures you might like to see.

Back in 1992 here is Savannah, Georgia they held the 50th Anniversary Reunion of all the 8th Air Force veterans considering Savannah, Georgia is where the 8th USAAF was formed.

I was 12 yrs. old a the time and the only kid that went to meet and talk with the veterans and, I got a TON of autographs. This is not to mention ones I got years after from guys from the 303rd BG, the 398th BG and the 98th BG of the 12th USAAF.

My moms old department supervisor at Gulfstream Aerospace Wes Thebodeaux brought her a blown up picture of the Sentimental Journey its about 20"x18" and its got tons of autographs on it. Some which include....

Bob Morgan -Pilot "Memphis Belle" -91st BG, 324th BS
Jim Verinis -Co-Pilot "Memphis Belle" -91st BG, 324th BS
Bob Hanson -Radio Op. "Memphis Belle" -91st BG, 324th BS
Bill Winchell -Left Waist "Memphis Belle" -91st BG, 324th BS
Francis "Gabby" Gabreski -56th FG, 61st FS
Walt McElroy -Bombadier(35 Missions)
Frank R. Beedle -97th BG
Lou McKinney -Ball Turret Gunner 487th BG, 838th BS
Bill Haga -Tail Gunner
"Lucky" Joe Jones -Tail Gunner(fell 13,000 ft. in a tail of a B-17/ survived)
Curtis L. Smart -364th FG, 385th FS
Lt. Paul Grassey -Pilot 446th BG
Birch McVey -95th BG(P.O.W.) Stalag Luft-3
Hal Power -Pilot
Jack PreDemore -Top Turret
Kenneth Vail -Top Turret 457th BG
Kenneth J. Pratz -361st FG

These are just some of them on this photo...

Regards,
MARNE

 

a 9th AF ace of the 354th fighter group the highest scoring fighter group in the ETO and almost unheard of....

AJ * S "Merle Maureen" of the 356tg fs

Lt. Richard Asbury

 

Stang pilot from the 55th fighter group sent me a nice pic of his late war P-51 and the Me 262 jet kill on the canopy. Frank was kind enough to send me his combat report with coverage of two of his 20 plus Loco kills as well. Great guy !

 

That's a good picture Erich. Three rear view mirrors must have been a field modification to save the pilots neck from looking around so much, or maybe he did not trust his wingman !

 

Walter Schuck flying in a Me 262 of JG 7 was shot down by this man flying a P-51 from the 20th fighter group on 10 April 1945. After the war they became good friends. Joe P. sent me several super pics signed. Here's a sample ....

 

well thought I would include this shot as well with Joe's hot rod in the background : "Josephine"
KI * B. Sent me a multi-paged interview-combat report of the 10 April 45 mission. Note the fighter pilot "look" ..... great pic

 

wow, quite fascinating erich

 

have I got some sweet stuff to show since the last 2 days. An ace from the 352nd fg and a ground attack ace from the 355th fg have sent some marvelous items my way, also two very special interviews from two Me 262 encounters with US 356th fg pilots

sometimes life is just plain good ........... !

E ~

 

Oemph! That are some GREAT pics, Erich! Can't wait to get to read the story of these guys!

 

after receiving negativity by at least 5 vets on Hess's book on the US fighters agasint hets I think and I am thinking of doing my own book with my interviews of these pilots. have some neat combat reports as well as some gun cam footage to be included. have to ask myself though, why am I trying to delve into another book project ........ ?

 

after chatting with two pilots of the 356th fighter group the past two weeks concerning a Me 262 jet kill by W. Gatlin; photo and sigs coming soon, I just received an interesting and quite rare photo of pilot/ace C. Burdick from the 361st squadron, 356th fighter group. He had 7 kills as noted on the canopy although some sources only credit him with 5.5 kills. P-51 D, seial # 44015310, the name of the Stang was "Do Do" code : QI * B with a bar over the top that you can barely see. the glare on the center of the pic was on the original squadron negative from which this 8 x 10 photo comes from. Sadly Burdick is no longer signing anything due to being quite ill.

 

Gatlin responded quite favourably, what a neat guy and now expecting another from the same outfit and soon another one sent off who was a Ar 234 jet killer, one of the few that was able to down one of these low-slung jet-jobs.

am planning to have my son's fiance' do a little digi work soon for this site of the "stuff" I have collected over the years .......

keep at it guys !

 

those are great photos Erich!!

 

Just arrived in my collection via e-bay and a US dealer, two examples of Robert Rosenthal's ( 100 BG ) signature, one on a bookplate and one on a crew photo with B-17 'Rosie's Riveters' in the background.....

 

got a scan of that Martin ?

~ waiting for a 356th fg pilot, Barnhart's return mail with signed goodies and have slacked off writing the vets due to this time of year ....... hopefully they are with familie and friends celebrating the Christmas season.

my intentions are to do a series of scans showing the 356th photos and signed items after the new year, my good friend that does my digi/scans is on his back almost in a permanent mode

E ~

 

Here they are....




I belive that 'Rosie' was one of the 8th AF's most highly-decorated airmen.

 

holy dog poop ! just got back from a weekend type reunion with the mrs. familie and lo and behold sitting on my doorstep was some interesting 364th fg stuff and a very rare issue of Joiners 364th fg going now for well over $ 225.00 US. Privately printed for the 364th fg veterans and their families, very few of the book has seen light of day outside the association in book shops. Scanning over it very briefly it looks like a good companion with my JG 301 data as the two units met each other on several dates in 44 and 45.

more .............. later................ ♫ ♪ ♫

 

You got a winner there once more Erich, Congrats! I know what you'll be reading the next coming days.

 

other things sadly have been keeping me away from the forums, so skipper have you had luck with your research in France by using the 364th fg book ? shortly I will be in contact with several of the pilots of the group for my work to be.....