Aircraft

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, Actually the B17s were used in Europe and in limited duty in the Pacific.  The B24s, B25s, and B26s were used in the Med area. Ol'927 is painted now like it would have been in 42.  Some of the B25s in the Squadron in which Dad was is in were painted blue/gray color to blend in with the water in the Med.

[Leo Tanner]

My Uncle chased Rommel in a B17 while his brother chased him in a tank.  Both of them got to see the joy and wonder of North Africa before they got to Europe.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

My Dad got to see it also, unfortunately the hard way( Kasserine Pass)
He got to see Sicily and parts of Italy before he got out. 19th Army engineers. Another unfortunate happening was his records burned in the 1974 fire in St. Louis

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, The 12th AF had 2 B17 BGs (97th, and 201 BG) as part of the 12TH Bomber Command.  In aug 43, 2 more BGs were added(2nd BG, 99th BG).  In Nov. 43, the B17s became part of the new 15th AF. I'm still lookin' for more info.

[Leo Tanner]

Thanks.

It's real pain that fire happened before the computer age.  It's a shame that it happened at all but at least the records would be out there in cyber space.

I've heard stories about the Kasserine Pass.  Our guys that fought that were about as tough as they come.

[Texas Lawdog]

The American troops in the battle were"green" and up against the experienced Afrika Korps under Rommel. The American troops were under the command of a British General. All of this led to an unfortunate defeat for the US.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

The American commander "on scene", retreated to a bunker and wasn't reliable. The Americans were badly mauled.
That battle resulted in the eventual meeting of my parents due to the guys in Dad's unit writing letters to my Mom who was a friend of one of their unit who was killed in the action. After time the letters trailed off except for one writer.......my Dad. Once he was back stateside he stopped here on his way back to California, they clicked, and once he went back to Calif., and then mustered out in Indiana. He came here and they got married..................Buck

[Leo Tanner]

Everytjing happens fer a reason Buck

We didn't fair too well with our first shot at Dunkirk either.  More Brit command.

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, Don't forget about the French Army.  Dad's unit got to North Africa in Oct. 42.  Their first fighter escorts were "Free French" pilots flying wore out Hurricanes. Dad called them "Old Men".  Most of them had been WW1 pilots with the Lafayette Escridrille. Some had one eye, Some had just one.

[Leo Tanner]

Well it all worked out in the wash.  All but one of my relatives made the boat home and the bad guys were stopped before they could hurt anyone else.  A lot of people were mad about Dresden but that was all done by aircraft.  The Brits didn't have any V1 rockets so several crews put their butts on the line to retaliate for London.  I can understand their anger, but a lot of them felt bad afterward. 

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, When Bombs are dropped, civilians are always killed. Colleratal Damage!

[Four-Eyed Buck]

In Japan, large civilian areas were fire bombed. This was done however, because the Japanese had war production "farmed" out to schools and civilian homes. A sort of cottage industry, only way we could get at it. Didn't make the crews feel any better about it.
Today, the Arab counties and terrorists do the same thing. hide amongst the civilians and then scream bloody murder when some of them get killed because of it..........Buck

[Texas Lawdog]

It's always been that way, a certian amount of innocent folks are going to be killed during wartime.

[Leo Tanner]

It's always been that way, a certian amount of innocent folks are going to be killed during wartime.

That's true.  They wanted an inquest inta Dresden but once they saw what all the other side had done they let it go.  They was screamin "War crime!"  When all the facts came out they shut up.

[Texas Lawdog]

The folks in London had a right to complain about the V1 and V2 rockets that the Germans sent over.

[Arcey]

A couple shots from the Pilot taken at the Museum in Pungo. The folks sittin' in the hangar were there for movie night. Ten bucks. Tour the museum then stick 'round for the movie. Popcorn included. Bring your own lawn chair....

[Leo Tanner]

I'd like ta go there some day.  It looks like fun on movie night. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Nice PBY and SNJ, there Arcey

[Steel Horse Bailey]

A couple shots from the Pilot taken at the Museum in Pungo. The folks sittin' in the hangar were there for movie night. Ten bucks. Tour the museum then stick 'round for the movie. Popcorn included. Bring your own lawn chair....

Nice PBY and SNJ, there Arcey

Right you are, Buck!

My Pappy flew ALL 3 of those planes.  (Wildcats, Hellcats, Dauntlesses, Avengers and Helldivers, too)  Matter of fact, he said he had the most FUN flying the PBYs.  When Dad died, my (then, now ex) Father-in-Law, a stone mason, carved a beautiful PBY flying into the sunset on his stone.  One of these days ... IF  I remember to take the digital camera, I'll take a picture.  It's pretty clear and Kenneth's artwork is very detailed - considering the size and the fact it's done on granite!  When it was new you could see contrast on the rays of the sun that he did by sandblasting using different media (sand, metal shot, carbide sand, etc.) on each ray.  Mother Nature has taken out those little details, however, in the last 32 years. 

[Texas Lawdog]

That's a nice looking Stearman also.   The CAF had a Catalina at one time. It crashed into Matagorda Bay during an AirSho, killing all on board. They have lost two other aircraft, the Only A20 in existence that crashed at the AirSho at Harlingen(I witnessed this one), and a Martin B26(only flying one in existence) near Midland, while testing the engines. All crew perished.