Last Update: 20160603 ==================================================================== The text below are emails I have received about this website. If yours is shown below, and I did not ask permission to use it, I apologize. If you want it removed, or you want your email address or other info redacted, but especially if you have more information to contribute, etc. please contact me at: dan@dansher.com The newest are at the top. Some of my replies are included. Dan Martin Longmont, Colorado, USA ==================================================================== ==================================================================== FROM: Lester Applegate lestar@live.com 25 JULY 2013 Dan, You are certainly most welcome for whatever help I may have been able to provide. I may not have been able to help much with what ships your Uncle Bob served on afterward, but I have been privileged to know the first hand account of "Smilin-Thru"s last mission. After reading the e-mails that you posted on the website it looks like you have contact with folks who are far more knowledgeable about the 92nd Bomb Group than I am. I agree with you as to how great these heroes were/are! Since Jeff Baker (he was the left waist gunner on "Smilin-Thru"s final mission) has gotten me involved with the Roanoke, Virginia chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society I have come to realize things these men went through that most people just don't know. Nowadays when we fly on a commercial jet liner we think nothing of the fact that above 10,000 feet those men had to wear oxygen masks or they would blackout. Nor do any of us think about how flying at 25,000 to 28,000 feet over Europe in the winter time temperatures could reach 60 to 70 [F] degrees below zero! B-17's were NOT climate controlled, in fact "F" models such as "Smilin-Thru" had open portals for the waist gunners to shoot out of. The following "G" model had a Plexiglas cover over the portal. All the crewmen wore "electric suits", what were basically coveralls made with wiring in them, like an electric blanket, to keep them from freezing. If either one of those systems failed, and with technology being what it was back then they did often, a crewman would die in a matter of minutes. Then they had to worry about flak, and Me109's & Fk190's shooting 20mm bullets at them. As if all of that weren't enough add the hazards of flying in the tight formations they maintained, such as overlapping friendly fire and mid-air collisions. Most of us have no idea that the 8th Air Force alone lost more men in the air war over Europe than the entire Marine Corps lost during the whole war! I am privileged to have breakfast with some of these men the last Wednesday of every month. Not just bomber crewmen, but fighter crews, too. How many people even know there was a P-51 Mustang pilot that chased a Me109 UNDER the Eiffel Tower and shot it down coming out the other side? His name is Bill Overstreet, and he is a member of our group. Another member in our group is a distant 3rd cousin of Bill's, Carl Overstreet. Carl wasn't in the 8th, in fact he served later in Korea, but he flew the first U-2 spy plane mission over Russia on 20 June, 1956. He also took some of the first pictures of Cuba after Castro took over, from 65,000 feet up! It is up to us to tell the stories of all these amazing men, and to keep their legacy alive. They are leaving us far too rapidly. If we don't do it, they will barely be blurbs in the history books. Thank you for what you are doing, and how it is helping families of other crewmen to connect with what their loved ones did. Dan, keep up the good work. Lester Applegate ==================================================================== FROM: Dan Martin dan@dansher.com 23 JULY 2013 Hello Lester, My WWII website is undergoing addition of much new information, much of it courtesy of the 92nd USAAF-USAF Memorial Association in UK. Seems some kind of critical mass has been achieved and there are now lots more visitors, such as yourself, providing more information. This new info comes in as photos, links, and within the email text itself. I have put the latter into a long text file in hopes some will find useful information about their own heroes. It will soon be on the website. Here is the link: http://www.dansher.com/wwar2/new/emails.txt Thank you so much for all you contribute, past, present, and future! There is uncertainty about much of it and we are losing hundreds of WWII vets a month who might still know the details first hand. As this national treasure of heroes withers away, the enemies within seek to poison the roots from which freedom springs: the Constitution. Dan ==================================================================== FROM: Lester Applegate lestar@live.com 23 JULY 2013 Dan, First of all, don't worry about taking so long to reply. I do not have internet at home, so I do not get to check my e-mail very often to begin with. Usually I take my laptop to the library to get online. That has been why it has taken me a while to reply. Plus I have been trying to do some research on your uncle's squadron, I think on the website you said it was the 327th Bomber Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group. All of the information on the web can be a curse as well as a blessing. There is just so much of it to sift through. I have not been able to find any listing of him as of yet. Do you have any more information as to exact dates of service, and when he arrived in England? Or maybe which base he was stationed at as the 92nd had been moved from Bovingdon to Poddington. I would venture a guess that the picture you have of the wrecked Smilin-Thru is the original ship of that name. The tail designation of the triangle-P is for the 384th Bomb Group. That is the ship that was lost on 14 October 1943 on "Black Thursday" in the account I gave you in the first e-mail. The tail id number was 229784. I will continue to research what other ships your uncle may have flown on, including his last mission. Again, there is a lot of information to sift through, and some websites are better than others. Lester Applegate 8th Air Force Historical Society Roanoke, Virginia Chapter ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 22 JULY 2013 Hi Dan, I just thought I'd share this photograph with you. It's taken from the camera on board the 92nd's "Cookin' with Gas" It shows a smoke marker heading straight downwards and the bombs exploding and smoke rising over the German Cottbus Focke Wulfe A/C Plant on 29th May, 1944. I am also pleased to inform you that 700+ people have now read Bob's Story across the 3 facebook groups. I'm even getting 305th Bomb Group members messaging me for a link for the rest of the details. If it helps.. they include many comments such as "very moving" and "incredibly sad". However, they ALL salute Bob and thank him for his Service. He is a true hero and he will not be forgotten. Dan, I have no doubt that we will be able to add more to Bob's Story in the future and I will be in touch with you again soon. Thank you again for your generosity and please let us know if you find any new material too! Kindest regards, Rob. ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 22 JULY 2013 Hi Dan, You're more than welcome.. I look forward to seeing your updated website to Bob's memory. I've just heard from Greg - B.T.O.'s = Big Time Officers. (I'm glad Greg remembered that one, being a limey I reckon I would have struggled with that acronym! I've just had a quick look at the page where Earl Dahlgren said he had named the Lt Paul Robertson Crew photograph. I've attached the photograph of the crew posing by B-17G-42-97227 [JW-P] "Cookin' with Gas". It was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group 27th March, 1944 and lost to a mid-air with B-17G-43-38510 on 2nd October, 1944. The Lt Paul Robertson Crew: Back Row - Talbot / Lt Alexander / Doc Boden / Lt Paul Robertson / Lt Ray / Lt Gisriel / Heare. Front Row: Earl Dahlgren / Unknown / Unknown / Moggs / Noble. Dan, I find this image very touching.. The photograph was taken on the day they went up to visit Charles Hodges. 2nd August, 1944. Kindest regards, Rob. On Sun, Jul 21, 2013 at 9:18 PM, Dan Martin wrote: Thank you for all the information, Rob It will take me several days to integrate all of it into the website. I'll send you a link when it's done. Here is a link to some restored B-17 photos when, in 2005, one flew in to a local airport near my town (it is also linked on my main WWII page but you may have missed it): http://www.dansher.com/wwar2/b17/b17_jul05.html Dan ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 21 JULY 2013 Hello Dan, As promised, I have attached a scan from the March 1984 issue of the 92nd Bombardment Group News. It looks like there is one new photograph on this page, looking directly at the damage to the Hodges a/c from the front view. *I noticed I had the wrong context for the B.T.O.'s acronym - I have put that one out to Greg and we'll get back to you shortly! ** I haven't seen any nose art photographs for a 92nd BG "Smilin' Thru"... I'm assuming that Bob and the crew never got around to officially naming their ship(s)? Maybe as you state on your website, they just affectionately called all their ships Smilin' Thru. Kindest regards, Rob ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 19 JULY 2013 Hi Dan, Yes, please feel free to use any 92nd BG information and photographs in any way you see fit on your website. You were generous enough to allow us to use and share all your personal memorabilia and in return, it's the least we can do. fro you and your family. Thank you for your kind words, we are all very passionate about keeping these 92nd memories alive for the benefit of future generations. May they help people to realize that freedom isn't free and the high cost paid by our friends and allies for many years to come. To answer you question about acronyms.. I have not read the exact context you have found them in the report, so I will list the usual ones that apply to our newsletters.. If you feel that some acronyms don't fit, let me know and I'll read through the report again in a day or two and get back to you with the revised meanings: GDO - Group Duty Officer. BTO - Bombing Through Overcast. CBW - Combat Bombardment Wing. IP - Initial Point - A pre-arranged position used as starting point for a bomb run. PFF - PathFinder Force - Target marking lead ships with H2X radar using smoke markers at target for group to follow in DSC - Distinguished Service Cross. DFC - Distinguished Flying Cross. Tomorrow evening, I have another page to scan for you from a 1984 edition of the 92nd BG Newsletter - another series of photographs of the Hodges ship taken on 22nd June, 1944. One is a head-on view of the damage to the cockpit. Kindest regards, Rob. ==================================================================== FROM: Dan Martin dan@dansher.com 19 JULY 2013 Thank you for the update, Rob. Especially more thanks for the scans of the 92nd BG Newsletter from December, 1989. I am just getting into reading Page 4, where the June 18th 1944 mission is described. Will it be OK if I post this, and excerpts from your emails, on my WWII website? Thank you again for the part you and your group(s) are playing in keeping alive the memories of the high cost of freedom paid by so many. Dan On 7/18/2013 2:47 PM, Robert Hutchings wrote: > Hello again Dan, > > Just to let you know that I have made part of your research available - the Hodges A/C ID - to the 380 members of the 305th Bomb Group facebook page. > > I have just received the following message from Mr White, their UK Historian: > > This is likely to be a/c B-17G-42-97637 formerly our 422nd ship carrying code letters JJ-N. Assigned new to the 422nd-305th BG 4th April '44. I have said before on past postings we had an influx of new PFF ships into the 422nd in late March of 1944, I think this was part of the remaining batch received. She was ''assigned'' to our 422nd 'till loss, listed as 20th June '44 Hamburg mission. A/C listed as scrapped. I've also a Capt Fullilove listed as her Pilot on date of loss... At that time many of our 422nd ships were being flown either by complete outside crews from another group, or, were partially crewed as such with some personnel from the 422nd. It was a huge time of instruction being undertaken by the 422nd towards several 1st AD groups, which included our friends from the 92nd.... Ian White. > > > I'll look into this new information with Greg and we'll see how it stands up.. I'm not sure how Captain Fullilove fits in, as Earl doesn't mention this in his account of the crew members that day. [There was only one other 305th BG ship carrying #637 and she was lost in 1943]. > > Kindest regards, > > Rob. ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 18 JULY 2013 Hello Dan, I'm not sure if you have seen this report before by Earl R. Dahlgren, from Sterling, Illinois. He was the Left waist gunner with the Hodges crew. The article lists many of their missions, including that fateful day with Bob. It was published in the 92nd BG Newsletter dated December, 1989. I have been searching Fold 3 for the set of hi res pictures of the damage caused to #637 by the anti aircraft shell. So far I haven't been able to locate them, maybe because they were restricted? If we have no success on Fold 3, it may be possible for Mr Greg Alexander to locate the original copies in the archives, used to prepare this report back in '89. I am in consultation with Mr Ian White - the 305th Bomb Group's UK Historian and he is trying to assist us in clarifying the aircraft concerned. As I said in my last message - 637's status is very confusing. I am working on one theory, that 637 could have been coded WF-Y, as I have a photograph of a 305th BG PFF lead ship taken by a crew member in a 92nd BG a/c, which simply sates: "Germany 1944". Now, I realize I could be putting 2 + 2 together and coming up with 5, but I'm trying to look at every possibility for you. I'll be in touch again when I have more information and I get some thoughts back from Mr White. Kindest regards, Rob. ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 16 JULY 2013 Hi Dan, Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, as an Officer of the 92nd BGMA - I do try to be as helpful and professional as I can at all times. It is indeed a great honor and privilege to be able to carry on the lifetime's work of so many great 92nd people. To answer your question: It is heart warming to see so much co-operation from around the globe. We have links to people and organisations that adopt graves of fallen allied servicemen right across Europe. We are linked to facebook groups and websites from all the big European Cemeteries. We have contact with groups willing to research crashes and take photographs of individual graves, for people who cannot travel abroad to visit these sites themselves. We also work closely with a German based Aircraft Crash Investigation Group that helps to find USAAF and RAF crash sites across Europe. The spirit of friendship and reconciliation is very inspiring. Dan, on the subject of Bob's last mission... I have found a 3 - 4 page account of the Hodges Crew's last few missions.. up to and including 18th June, 1944. It does contain the images of the wrecked aircraft as I thought it did in my last message. I shall scan and email this account to you in the next day or two. I am also currently discussing the aircraft concerned with the 305th BGMA's UK / European Contact.. Mr Ian White. The aircraft has a very confusing status in both the 92nd and 305th Aircraft Rosters. I've also got Greg Alexander involved and some of our members who have extensive knowledge and 92nd / 305th photograph archives. I am hoping to be able to give you a clear and concise account of events in the next few days. Kindest regards, Rob. ==================================================================== FROM: Dan Martin dan@dansher.com 15 JULY 2013 Rob, Thank you. Yes, Mr. Gaillet has already contacted me. I have responded 'yes' to his request to use photos and other info on Uncle Bob's website. I am glad to have your affirmation of his good intentions. I confess to not being sure at first. Makes me wonder if the historians on both Allied and German sides of WWII have generally have a good working (and sharing) relationship? Hopefully professionalism such as you demonstrate is the rule for all who document WWII. It has been over 70 years, yet tears well into my eyes to know that what Bob and tens of thousands of others died to preserve - 'freedom' - is daily being defiled and squandered by the enemies within... Dan On 7/15/2013 11:16 AM, Robert Hutchings wrote: > Hi Dan, > > Just to let you know that you may also receive an email from Mr Eric Richard Gaillet. > > Eric runs a facebook group from Belgium, to the Memory of the 327th Bomb Squadron. He's an author and WWII historian and he's interested in anything 92nd BG related. His facebook group also comes under the Official 92ndma.org banner. > > Dan, he's a really nice guy and his dedication to honor and respect our fallen airmen is without question, but we do sometimes have the odd problem with language barriers and the odd misunderstanding! > > Kindest regards, > > Rob. ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 15 JULY 2013 Hi Dan, Many thanks for your message and confirmation the crew in question was that of your Uncle Bob. I have changed the crew details accordingly in all our UK archive albums. I'm sure Mr Greg Alexander will do the same in the US in due course and I believe he intends to email you directly very shortly. The more research I do on Robert, the more touching and sad I find his fate. I think it's because you have so many wonderful photographs, letters and well preserved documents. Everyone is become personally involved - your families pain is felt by myself and many of our 92nd BG members as strongly now, as I'm sure it was all those years ago by you and your family and friends. Perhaps in the Winter, you will be able to open a facebook account, just to access Bob's research and follow our progress? It looks like the Lt Hodges / Lt Crutcher / Lt Corliss A/C B-17G-42-97660 was originally assigned to the 305th Bomb Group at Chelveston on 19th May, 1944. It then appears to have been operated from Chelveston by the 92nd BG / as the 326th Bomb Squadron's JW-X. I'm almost certain that I have a set of photographs of the damage caused to this ship - put together by the late Mr Bob Elliott - in an old 92nd newsletter. I'm sure you've probably seen those images, but if not I can scan and email them to you if you wish. Thanks again for your time and help. I'm sure Bonnie Allen will be really excited to finally have confirmation that Donald flew with Bob! I will be in touch with you again soon and I'll give you regular updates on this research. Kindest regards, Rob. On Mon, Jul 15, 2013 at 2:06 PM, Dan Martin wrote: Hi Rob, Thank you so much for the hi-res photo of Robert J. Crutcher (my "Uncle Bob"). There is no doubt that there was a simple mis-spelling as it is a photo of my late uncle. I am attaching a hi-res photo of Lt Crutcher & crew, and the remarks my Mom wrote on the back. Also is an eyewitness report of his death. Unfortunately the other page(s) are lost. Dan On 7/15/2013 5:58 AM, Robert Hutchings wrote: > Hi Dan, > > May I ask for your help please, in helping us to identify the attached photographs? The Crew photograph carries the Fold 3 / NARA annotation: Lt Cruther & Crew. > > I am assuming, by looking at the photographs of Bob that you have posted, that is a spelling error. Would I be right in thinking that this is indeed the Lt Crutcher Crew? > > It looks like the photograph was taken at Podington, England on 1st April, 1944. Now, IF this is Bob's crew, I have a message from Bonnie Allen, about Donald Allen, believed to be standing to Bob's left: > > Bonnie Allen: I believe that the 2nd from the left back row is Captain Donald Allen who served in WWII as a navigator He was in the 325th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group (H) 8th Air Force. He flew 50 missions over Normandy, Germany, Northern France and Ardennes. He was awarded 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, European Africa Middle Eastern Theater Medal with 5 Bronze Stars. He served his country again in the Korean Conflict flying 51 missions and awarded 4 Oak Leaf Clusters to Air Medal, Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, and the UN Service Medal. > > Dan, if you could kindly confirm this is Bob's crew, we can move forward building up a picture of both Bob's and Donald's 92nd service. I very much appreciate any help you may be able to give us. > > Kindest regards, > > Rob > > -- > Robert Hutchings 92nd BGMA Historian (UK) ==================================================================== FROM: Robert Hutchings podington.pals@gmail.com 15 JULY 2013 Hello Dan, Many thanks for your speedy response to my email. I really appreciate your time and thoughts. I'm very sad to read that you no longer use facebook, but I do understand. Happily, I can tell you that almost 270 members Worldwide will see and comment on Bob's Story. I can also tell you that Bob's crew photograph has already linked to another family, the Navigator standing to his left - Lt Donald Allen... his family are absolutely thrilled to know who Donald flew with, as he never spoke of his time in the 92nd BG. Yes Dan, we are the Official 92ndma.org. After the sad loss of Mr Robert (Bob) Elliott - the new Historian / Archivist is Mr Gregory Alexander. Mr Irv Baum is still actively taking on many rolls, newsletter editor and treasurer. We also have 2 or 3 WWII Vets who comment on posts and add their wealth of knowledge to our research projects. I myself began the 92nd BG facebook group in the UK almost 2 years ago and it has taken off and been a great success. The 92nd made it their Official 92nd facebook group page and offered me the position of 92nd BG Historian (UK). Working closely with Greg in the US - we tie things together on both sides of the pond and we have 2 very large group followings. The people of Europe, especially in France, Belgium and Holland. We also have a massive following from the Santa Pod Raceway fans, who took over the Podington field in the early 70's. Just so you know how big things will become.. At the FIA European Dragster Championships at Santa Pod in September 2014 - the 92nd BG will be VIP guests and speak to a crowd of up to 30,000 drag racing fans. They are all very clued up on their history of the 92nd. They always show us immense respect and they want to help us keep the memories alive for future generations - it's extremely heartwarming indeed. Dan, I am going to forward your email to Mr Greg Alexander - the 92nd BGMA Historian / Archivist. I can assure you of our best attention at all times. Bob's 92nd Service and memorabilia will forever be assured of a place in the 92nd archives for the benefit of future generations. Please feel free to email me again.. Information wise - anything and everything is useful to us. The smallest pieces of information and the most wrinkled photographs have in the past proved to be the missing jigsaw pieces to kick start many other families stalled research. Kindest regards and thanks again, Rob On Sat, Jul 13, 2013 at 11:32 PM, Dan Martin wrote: Hello Robert and thank you for contacting me. I do not use Facebook any longer and am sorry to miss what your Fame's Favored Few facebook group is doing. I hope its work is mostly mirrored somewhere here: http://www.92ndma.org/ Thank you for posting links to my WWII "Smilin' Thru" website. You are welcome to use whatever information, including photos, you find there. I am sure that would honor my Uncle Bob and all those with whom he served. I have much more info on Bob that I recovered from Mom's things (she passed away several months ago) that remains unposted. There is no way to tell which information would be useful to others. Hopefully a cold week this winter will let me post more of what I think may be of interest. I am getting on myself (73 next week), and I wonder if your org has facilities to accept and process historical WWII info (such as mine) that may later be bequeathed. Write or call anytime. Dan Martin Longmont, CO 303-776-0082 home 303-709-6488 cell ==================================================================== FROM: Dan Martin dan@dansher.com 15 JULY 2013 Of course. Thank you for asking. You are welcome to use whatever information, including photos, you find on the website: http://www.dansher.com/wwar2/BnB.html I am hopeful your usage would treat my Uncle Bob, and all those contemporaries with whom he served (French, German, American, British, etc), with respect. You can "right-click" and download all the images on the website. I have much more info on Bob that I recovered from Mom's things (she passed away several months ago) that remains unposted. There is no way to tell which information would be useful to others. Hopefully a cold week this winter will let me post more of what I think may be of interest. Check the website every so often for additions. Thank you for helping preserve the memory of those who fought with bravery and honor - on all sides. These are qualities seldom seen today. Dan Martin Longmont, CO USA On 7/13/2013 6:17 PM, Eric Gaillet wrote: > > Hello, > > I am a historian and I want to use photographs of your uncle. > > I hope to receive your consent. > > thank you in advance. > > cordially > > Eric Richard Gaillet > Belgium > geneastoria@gmail.com > http://geneastoria.wordpress.com/ > https://www.facebook.com/geneastoria > https://www.facebook.com/groups/92nd.Bomb.Group.327th.Bomb.Squadron/ ==================================================================== FROM: Dan Martin dan@dansher.com 13 JULY 2013 Hello, Lester. First my sincere apology for taking well over a month to reply. You deserve far better than that. I am sorry and my rudeness will not happen again. Your information is very good and much appreciated. May I have your permission to post the contents of your email below verbatim on the Smilin' Thru website? Many others will find it informative I'm sure. I have no evidential information on how my Uncle Bob's B-17 came to be named Smilin' Thru. My GrandMa (Ruby Crutcher) and my Mom (Dorothy Crutcher-Martin) just always said that's the name Bob gave it. Since Bob, Grandma, and Mom have all been long passed away there is no way to know for sure (or even if). My own shallow web searches on Smilin Thru seem to imply that there may have been an other B-17(s) so named. A report of one Smilin Thru said she crashed before returning to base in England. Mom's comments on the back of his crew photo says Bob lost Smilin Thru and commanded several subsequent ships before losing his life in his command B-17 on June 18th 1944. I always thought he was killed in Smilin Thru but now I think not. The name of the ship that he flew on his final mission is unknown. I have much more info on Bob that came from Mom that remains unposted. There is no way to tell which information would be useful to others. Hopefully a cold week this winter will let me post more of what I think may be of interest. Write or call anytime. Dan Martin Longmont, CO 303-776-0082 home 303-709-6488 cell On 6/3/2013 12:08 PM, Lester Applegate wrote: > Hello Dan, > > My name is Lester Applegate. I am an associate member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, Roanoke Virginia Chapter. I came to be involved with this group after becoming acquainted with Earl "Jeff" Baker. He was the left waist gunner on "Smilin-Thru" on her final mission, which was the second raid on the ball-bearing factories in Schweinfurt on 14 October, 1943, which became known as "Black Thursday". That was Jeff's fourth of 28 missions. > > 2nd Lt. Erwin Johnson was the pilot on that mission. From what Jeff has told me that crew was to take subsequent command of this ship, which this was their first mission on it. He said Lt. Johnson intended to change the name of the ship to "Little General" in honor of the historic train from his hometown of Chattanooga, Ten. In fact, they already had "Little General" painted on their A-2 flight jackets (Jeff still has his). Unfortunately, not only was this the ship's last mission, but Lt. Johnson suffered a broken ankle during the "bail-out", the only casualty, and was given a medical discharge. > > As in the first attempted raid to Schweinfurt, the Germans were ready and waiting for the bombers when they crossed the channel. The bombers still managed to fight their way to the target, drop their bombs and head for home. Over 60 bombers were lost, and some 600 crewmen. "Smilin-Thru" was shot up pretty bad, and some of the control cables were severed. German fighters continued to harass the damaged B-17 across the channel. As Jeff tells it, the best chance they had was to fly "on the deck". That way if the Germans tried to dive down on them the fighters couldn't pull up in time, and there wasn't enough room for the Germans to come up underneath them either. If the Germans had to attack them on the same level then the B-17 crewmen at least had a chance to fight them off with their guns. Once clear of the fighters, Lt. Johnson told the crew that with the controls shot up he would not be able to take the ship down for a landing. However, he could take the plane up. So once they cleared the coast, he took the plane up to 5000 feet and gave the bail-out command. He checked each station to make sure all crewmen were out, then bailed out himself. By that time his parachute opened just before he hit the ground, hence his broken ankle. > > I am curious, and I'm sure Jeff would like to know if you know anything more about when your "Uncle Bob" may have named the ship "Smilin-Thru". As best as I can tell, Bob was in the 327th Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group, the ship had just been transferred to the 545th Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group, and this was its first mission with that group. I assume that is why this crew was to take subsequent command of the ship, and the pending re-naming. > > I don't know if you know anymore than that, or if any of this information will help you, but please feel free to contact me. > > Lester Applegate > lestar@live.com ==================================================================== FROM: Luke St.Blanc lukestblanc@cox.net 20 DECEMBER 2012 Dan, Thank you so much, you have no idea how much this means to me. I would sit for hours talking to my grandfather about aircraft, and would always go with him to air shows in the area. During numerous discussions with him about books written about the air war we came across a book and on the back cover was a picture of a ground crew in the south pacific. He looked at the picture and realized that he brother was in it, Hamilton Hebert(USMC) it was VMF-214 the Black Sheep he called Uncle Hammie who confirmed that he was with 214, my grandfather kept in touch with Hamilton throughout the war via telegram but never knew where each other was stationed. My grandfather was a pilot before the war, after the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted with the hopes of flying; however he was 27 at the time and was not accepted. So he did the next best thing, worked on the machines he so loved to fly. After his service he was employed by Shell Oil as a mechanic working 7 and 7. After retirement he built a single seat experimental aircraft in his garage out of wood, aluminum, and cloth which he flew hundreds of hours around the Acadiana area. He flew so much that my father constructed an airstrip on our property so that he could fly in to have lunch with us on Sundays. I really miss my "paw- paw" Willie and I am so grateful to you for honoring him and all others that have served our country. Regards, Luke St.Blanc TFO United States Marshal's Service Violent Offenders Task Force Lafayette, Louisiana ==================================================================== FROM: Dan Martin dan@dansher.com 20 DECEMBER 2012 Hello Luke, Thank you so much for the hi-res picture of Smilin' Thru and crew. I did indeed place it on the website, along with some additional research that it inspired: http://www.dansher.com/wwar2/BnB.html There is a bit of a mystery if there were two ships, "Smilin' Thru" and "Smiling Through" We'll probably never know... Best, Dan Martin Longmont, CO 303-776-0082 home 303-709-6488 cell On 12/19/2012 7:44 PM, lukestblanc@cox.net wrote: > Dan, >My name is Luke St.Blanc from Charenton, Louisiana. My grandfather is William H. Hebert from Franklin, Louisiana who served in the USAAF during WWII. Attached is a Picture of one of the B-17s that he maintained I hope you can use this for your website. My grandfather is the Sgt. on the far left of this picture, it is great considering how old it is. Please stay in touch. Regards, Luke > (337) 578-9889 ==================================================================== EOF