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From: JEFFERY MEIGS,
coby2500@msn.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2002 6:05 PM
Subject: Perry L.Meigs
Gentlemen:
I
would like to order any/all mission reports that
my father participated in. The dates of E.T.O
service were 4/22/44 to 8/14/44. Might you be
able to assist me in this matter?
Jeff Meigs
Jeffery,
We show 34
missions for T/Sgt. Perry L
Meigs. The missions are as
follows: 122, 123, 124, 129,
130, 131, 133, 134, 136, 138,
139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144,
145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 152,
153, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161,
162, 163, 165, 166, 172, 173.
Responding4 3/08/02
Mike
Search No. 1049 - Edwin Leon
Mattern
From: Adon R. Reish, adonrmr@earthlink.net
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Monday, February
25, 2002 4:30 PM
Subject: info about my grandfather
hello, i am trying to
find some information on my grandfather, Srgt.
Edwin Leon Mattern, he served in ww II and was
and was a "belly" gunnerman. he refused to speak
about the war. i know that he was shot down on a
mission to Schweinfurt on 10/14/43, and I saw
that you had a mission matching this. After he
was shot down, he was then taken as a POW for 3
years. If anyone has any information, or flew
with him i would loved to hear from you.
Thank you,
adon
Adon,
T/Sgt. Edwin L.
Mattern T/SGT, Radio Operator
was in the 379th Bomb Group
and flew missions with the
group from 8/19/43 to
10/14/43. The following is
the crew and their positions
on the Schweinfurt, Germany,
mission on October 14, 1943,
525th Sq. aircraft 42-29511
(FR-W) “The Iron Maiden”.
Martin Roland H. Jr., 2nd
Lt. P, 0-735093, Berkeley,
CA, POW
Price Linden H
Jr., 2nd Lt. CP, 0-743277, S.
Pasadena, CA, POW
Maher
Daniel J., 2nd Lt. N,
0-676083, Bronx, NY, POW
Rittenberg Irving M., 2nd Lt.
B, 0-670255, Brookline, MA,
POW
Mattern Edwin L.,
T/SGT RO, 32381614, Olean,
NY, POW
Macri Nicholas
J., T/SGT TT, 32435006,
Brooklyn, NY, POW
Peacock
Elihu (NMI), S/SGT BT,
34354103, Mystic, GA, POW
Cihonski John L., T/SGT, RW,
33285690, Butler, PA, POW
Sirianni Daniel A., T/SGT,
LW, 32550944, Olean, NY, POW
Janik Adam A., S/SGT, TG,
16144809, Chicago, IL, POW
We show Daniel A.
Sirianni on the current 379th
BG Association membership
roster.
Responding4
2/28/02
Mike
Search No. 1048 - Howard Hylton
Sells
From: J
Wade, drhazel@earthlink.net
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Thursday,
February 14, 2002 11:00 PM
Subject: Inquiry
regarding B-17 "This Is It"
My uncle was
Second Lt. Howard Hylton Sells (#0-712681), a
Navigator on the plane "This Is It". I would
like to inquire about how I might obtain a
replacement of his Presidential Unit Citation,
which turned up missing in his personal effects
after he died, as I would like to give this to
my mother (his sister). Evidently, his personnel
records were destroyed in a fire at the St.
Louis Records Center in the 1970's. How might I
go about obtaining documentation of his service,
his mission reports, etc.?
My family also
has a photograph of the crew, which served
together on 34 missions. If possible, I would
appreciate the assistance of your organization
in contacting any surviving crew members who
knew my uncle, and might be willing to provide
their recollections of the crew and its
missions. From the back of our photo, I have the
following names:
Pilot: R.T. Lovelace
Copilot: J.F. Thompson
Bombadier: D.G. Wales
Navigator: H.H. Sells
Tail Gunner: Sgt.
Diggins
Right Waist Gunner: Sgt. Mahan
Lower Ball Gunner: Sgt. Hodge
Upper Turret
Gunner: Sgt. Podden
Radio Operator: Staff
Sgt. Duncan
Chief Engineer & Left Waist
Gunner: Staff Sgt. Dill
Thank you very
much,
Jim Wade
Jim,
Lt. Howard H. Sells,
Navigator, was in the 379th
Bomb Group 524th Squadron and
flew missions from 7/04/44 to
10/15/44. Our records at this
time only show 23 missions
flown by Lt. Howard H. Sells.
It is very possible that he
flew more missions then we
currently show records for.
We show the following
missions: 158, 159, 160, 161,
167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173,
199, 200, 201, 205, 207, 208,
210, 211, 212, 215, 216, 219,
221. Even though Lt. Sells
personnel files were
destroyed in the St. Louis
Record Center fire in 1973,
the Center uses alternate
sources to reconstruct basic
service information of
records lost in the fire.
(See url and form 180):
http://www.nara.gov/regional/mprsf180.html
Presidential Unit Citations
were given out to the unit
(379th Bomb Group) not to
individuals. Members of this
unit that were assigned or
attached on a certain date
(January 11, 1944) qualified
them to wear these gold
border ribbons. An entry was
usually made in the service
file of the various
individuals, authorizing them
to wear this ribbon on their
Class "A" uniform. A copy of
the Presidential Unit
Citation is shown in the
379th BG Anthology page 81.
Responding4 1/18/02
Mike
Search No. 1047 - April 1945
Mission
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From:
Mario Schulze; MSRESchulze@aol.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Sunday, February
03, 2002 6:15 AM
Subject: 10.April 1945
Mission
Dear Sirs,
my name is Mario
Schulze, I am 34 and live in Oranienburg,
Germany. I am member of an group of amateur
airwar historians at Oranienburg and I am
research for every informations about the bomb
attack at my hometown on 10.April 1945. The
target for the 379th BG was the SS Ordonance
Depot and after bombing, the formation was
attacked by Me-262's at about five minutes after
leaving the target area. The 379th lost two
ships due to the jets. I am looking for veterans
who flew this mission to archive their
statements about the events of that day. Thank
you very much for help.
Sincerely
Mario
Schulze
Mario,
We will post your email on the 379th
BGA Website. Maybe some of our members who went
on this mission will respond. Thank you for your
interest in the 379th BG Association.
Responding4 2/03/02
Mike
Search No. 1046 - Robert James
Philips
From: "Paul
Philips" <pphil@nav.cc.tx.us>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Monday, January
14, 2002 2:35 PM
Subject: Crew names???
Robert Phillips flew missions with the 379th
from approximately November of 1943 to February
22, 1944 when the plane was shot down over
Belgium. I know that the guy on the top left was
killed during their first few missions. My dad,
second from the left on the front row, was
Robert James Philips. The crew flew in several
different planes with the names, Nine Yanks and
a Rebel, Dangerous Dan, Sweater Girl, and Big
Ass Bird. Sweater Girl was the plane that was
shot down. I believe that all of the crew
survived the war. Anyway, that's all I know so
any info I might be able to get would be
appreciated. Thanks. Paul
Paul,
F/O Robert J. Philips Co-Pilot was in
the 379th Bomb Group 524th Squadron and flew
missions from 12/16/43 to 2/22/44. The following
was the crew and their positions on 12/16/43
mission to Bremen, Germany, Aircraft 42-30720
"Nine Yanks and Rebel":
Morse, John E,
1st Lt, Pilot
Philips, Robert J, F/O,
Co-Pilot
Lovelace, Leonard R, 2nd Lt,
Navigator
Daniels, Robert Y, 2nd Lt,
Bombardier
Clothier, Willard H, S/Sgt, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Humphrey, John F, S/Sgt, Top
Turret Gunner
Neil, Homer L, Sgt, Ball
Turret Gunner
Sechrist, Charles S, Sgt,
Right Waist Gunner
Cox, Charles E, S/Sgt,
Left Waist Gunner
Allen, Andrew L, Sgt, Tail
Gunner
Our records show that John F.
Humphery was killed in a non related combat
death.
The following is the crew and
their positions on 2/22/44, mission to
Halberstadt/Wernegarode, Germany, Aircraft
42-5828 "Sweater Girl":
Morse John E.
-1st Lt, P, 0-429970, Carlinville, IL, POW
Philips Robert J. -F/O, CP, T121892, Van
Alstyne, TX, POW
Lovelace Leonard R. -2nd Lt,
N, 0-809389, Gaffney, SC, POW
Daniels Robert
Y. -2nd Lt, B, 0-682077, Pittsburg, PA, POW
Clothier Willard H. -T/SGT, RO 37228451,
Wichita, KS, RTMC
Sechrist Charles S. -S/SGT,
TT, 33236836, Williamsport, PA, POW
Neil
Homer L. -S/SGT, BT, 18192627, Holdenville, OK,
POW
Cox Charles E. -S/SGT, RW, 15333377,
Corbin,KY, POW
Allen Andrew L. -S/SGT, LW,
34407381, S.Largo,FL, POW
Pate Edward T.
-SGT, TG, 16002844, Rockford, IL, RTMC
John E. Morse is shown on the current 379th BG
Association roster. He may be able to give you
additional information about your father and the
other crewmembers.
Responding4 1/16/02
Mike
Search No. 1045 - Howard
Siegle,"Walking Out Boot"
From:
Barry Siegle; SIEGLESX4@aol.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Tuesday,
January 01, 2002 9:32 AM
Subject: "Walking-Out
Boot"...
Happy New Year to all
of the 379th Members out there!!!! I am trying
to locate a friend of my Dad's on the crew of
the "RED DRAGON" by the name of James Burgess
from mid-1944 timeframe. He was a waist door
gunner, but for some reason left before they got
off the ground at Kimbolton. Any info is
important!!! This was Howard Hamilton's crew. My
Dad is Howard Siegle, radioman/gunner. Also is
there someone out there who knew Hamilton,
Rexford Feaster (co-pilot) or Walter Neilson
(Bombardier)??? I have tried to find out what
happened to them after the War to no
avail...Please advise as anything would help at
this time! Spouses ! or family, if deceased.
Also, if you knew my Dad, Howard Siegle, Please
email me at SIEGLESX4@aol.com. Crew members
still living include: Hector Kauffman, Dale
Dorning, Harold Willey and Vincent Miller.
Looking for someone who can tell me about the
379th's "Walking-out Boot" award and where I
might be able to get one as a replacement for my
Dad's.
Thank you in advance,
Barry Siegle
Barry,
Our records don't show a James Burgess
assigned to the 379th Bomb Group. This could be
due to his brief time at Kimbolton and he did
not fly any missions with the group. We don't
know anything about the "Walking-out Boot" you
referred to. The 379th POW we conferred with are
unaware of the "Walking out Boot". There are POW
sites on the web, one of them may be helpful.
http://www.heavybombers.com/links.html (see Pow
links).
We will post your message, maybe
one of our association members can assist you.
Responding4 1/10/02
Mike
Search No. 1044 - Glenn D. Shadduck
From: "Glenn
Shadduck" <gshadduck@wsipc.org>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Monday, January
07, 2002 1:37 PM
Subject: Rubin "Rusty" Turek
My father, Glenn D. Shadduck Sr. was a
navigator with the 379th during the last months
of the war. He is interested in locating his
pilot, Rubin "Rusty" Turek (spelling is my
guess).
Glenn Shadduck Jr.
Glenn,
We show that Lt. Rubin Turek, Pilot,
was in the 379th Bomb Group 527th Squadron and
flew missions from 3/01/45 to 4/25/45. Sorry, we
don't show Rubin Turek on the current
Association roster or the Taps section.
Responding4 1/10/02
Mike
Search No. 1043 - Richard J
Lavery
From: Larry
Lavery; llavery@eznet.net
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Sunday, January
06, 2002 10:03 AM
Subject: Richard Lavery -
mission report
Hello, The information I
have is sketchy. I researching the service
history of my relative Richard J. Lavery who was
shot down over Dresden and killed on 17 Apr
1945. Can you confirm he is listed on the
mission report for the 379th Bomber Group,
Squadron 524? If this was his last mission, I
will be ordering the mission report.
Thanks,
Larry Lavery
Larry,
Lt. Richard J Lavery was in the 379th
Bomb Group 524th Squadron and flew (33) missions
from 4/13/44 to 6/20/44. The 379th Bomb Group
did not sustain any casualties on the April 17th
mission to Dresen, Germany, all 39 aircraft
returned.
The following is the crew and
their positions on Lt Lavery's final mission
with the 379th BG to Hamburg, Germany on 6/20/44
in aircraft 42-31720 "Blue Blazing Blizzard".
Lavery, Richard J, 1st Lt, Pilot
Spratt,
Warren E, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Peters, Lewis S,
2nd Lt, Bombardier
Kaminski, Joseph R, S/Sgt,
Nose Gunner / Togglier
Hawerlander, Theodore
S, T/Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Millard,
Alymer G, T/Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Thompson Jr., Lester O, S/Sgt, Ball Turret
Gunner
Thorpe, Thomas G, S/Sgt, Waist Gunner
Black, George W, S/Sgt, Tail Gunner
Lavery and Spratt finished their tour on this
mission. Lewis S. Peter is on the current roster
of the 379th Bomb Group Association. It is
possible that Lt. Lavery flew more missions with
another group on a second tour.
Responding4 01/07/02
Mike
From: Larry Lavery
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 7:39 PM
Subject: Re:379th (1043) Richard Lavery -
mission report
Mike,
Thanks for the
info... it looks like I have more research to
do. I have attached a photo of Richard J.
Lavery's grave located in East Otto, Cattaraugus
Co., NY. You can see he is listed as a Seargant
and his Will states he was killed on a mission
to Dresden. His father was a widow who met and
eventually married the mother of another crew
member killed on that mission. They are both
deceased now. Do you have any suggestions how I
can get to the bottom of this little mystery?
thanks,
Larry
Larry,
This an odd state of circumstances. It
is highly unlikely that there were two men with
this identical name. The fact remains that Lt.
Richard J. Lavery wasn't shown on the causality
report or any of his crewmembers from the 379th
Bomb Group. Also that he is shown finishing his
missions 10 months prior to the Dresden mission.
Do you have his Serial Number? The officers all
started out with 0- (0-123456) with the
exception of Flight Officers (F/O) the started
with T- (T-567890) and 6 numbers whereas the
enlisted personnel all were a set of 8
consecutive numbers (12345678). Keep this in
mind on your search.
All personnel files
for veterans are stored in St. Louis Mo. That
seems like the logical place to start to unfold
the mystery. If there are two Lavery's it will
show there. It should also tell you were he was
stationed and what groups etc he was in. You
need to contact the following to start your
research: National Archives & Personnel Record
Addresses.
If you want your records or,
general orders awarding your medals or for the
medals themselves (you did not receive) Contact
the following:
US Army Command
Mrs.
Virginia A. Barrett
Chief Army Reference
branch
National Personnel Records Center
Military Records Branch
9700 Page Ave.
St.
Louis Mo. 63132-5100
Please keep us
posted as to what you find out. Once you have
completed your research of the personnel files
we may be able to assist further.
Responding4
1/10/02
Mike
From: Larry Lavery
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 8:33 PM
Subject: Re:379th (1043) Richard Lavery -
mission report
Mike,
I know it sounds
very unusual but I am beginning to think there
were two Richard J. Laverys in the 8th Air
Force. I found another Richard J. Lavery in the
Social Security death records that is the right
age. He could be the pilot you have records of.
Thanks for the pointers. i will try to find out
more info and get back to you. Unfortunately I
do not know his serial # or much else at this
time.
thanks again..
Larry Lavery
Search No. 1042 - Harry R.
Colborn, JR
From: Susan Raymond; docsue@dmea.net
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Sunday, December
30, 2001 5:34 PM
Subject: Location of fellow
crew members
What a wonderful Xmas
present my brother sent me. I didn't know these
pictures existed of my father. He never talked
about his war days although I remember as a
little girl, I played with his medals. My Dad
passed away in 1984 and I never knew he had an
album of pictures and war items ie. pins from
bombs, medals, etc. Can you tell me how to find
out about his fellow crew members? Will your
book tell me of his missions, etc.?
Thank
you,
Susan Colborn Raymond
Susan,
T/S Harry R. Colborn Jr., Radio
Operator/Gunner, was in the 379th Bomb Group,
526th Squadron, and flew 9 missions from 6/11/43
to 8/16/43. The following are the crewmembers
and their positions on their 1st mission to Le
Bourget, France, on aircraft 42-29890
"Stupefier":
Burdette, Archie E, Lt,
Pilot
Haughy, Robert F, Lt, Co-Pilot
Condon, William F, Lt, Navigator
Bolling,
James A, Lt, Bombardier
Colborn Jr., Harry
R, T/Sgt, RadioOperator/Gunner
Hoge, Everett
J, T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner
Furness, Warren
E, S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Richmond,
Harold A, Sgt, RightWaistGunner
Hall, Eugene
G, S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner
Sedivy Jr., John
H, S/Sgt, Tail Gunner
Our records show
your father flying the following 9 missions(2
,3, 6, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20). It is possible
that he flew more missions but, our existing
records don't reflect that or show that he got
sick or wounded. It is unusual that he only
completed 9 missions when a tour back then was
25 missions. Robert Haughy is shown on the
current 379th BG Association membership roster.
We will post this response along with your
email; hopefully other members who knew your
father will respond.
Responding4 12/31/01
Mike
Search No. 1041 - John L. Swanner
From: Cunningham
Martin P SSgt
<Martin.Cunningham@PETERSON.af.mil>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Wednesday,
December 26, 2001 9:47 AM
Subject: John L.
Swanner
Hello Sir/Ma'am,
I am in the
Air Force stationed in Colorado. I am a
collector of several WWII memorabilia and I was
able to come across a uniform worn by Capt John
L. Swanner. I did some research and found out he
was in the 379th Group, 524 Bomb Squadron. Is
there any other information you can provide me
with? Anything would be greatly appreciated.
V/R
MARTIN P. CUNNINGHAM
Martin,
Capt. John L Swanner was in the 379th
Bomb Group 524th Squadron and flew 44 missions
from 3/19/44 to 2/01/45. The following are the
crewmembers and their positions to Wizernes,
France on 3/19/44, in aircraft # 42-29897
"Censored". This crew flew many different planes
during their tour of duty. Capt Swanner flew
several missions as group lead.
Swanner,
John L, 2nd Lt, Pilot
East, John L, 2nd Lt,
Co-Pilot
Betz Jr., Franklin L, 2nd Lt,
Navigator
Walsh, Robert R, 2nd Lt,
Bombardier
Tonenzaph, Abraham H, S/Sgt,
RadioOperator/Gunner
Bagdon, Frank J, S/Sgt,
Engineer/TopTurretGunner
Snyder, John R,
Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Creighton, Otis B,
Sgt, RightWaistGunner
Smith, Alfred E, Sgt,
Left Waist Gunner
Marsh, Frank R, Sgt, Tail
Gunner
John L. Swanner was a member of
the 379th Bomb Group Association (see TAPS
section). Frank L. Betz Jr., and John R Snyder
are on the current roster of the 379th Bomb
Group Association. I am sure there were other
members that flew with Capt. Swanner. Capt.
Swanner flew the following missions: 84, 87, 88,
90, 92, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104,
106, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 122, 124, 126,
133, 141, 142, 143, 144, 150, 153, 165, 168,
169, 171, 226, 231, 236, 240, 246, 248, 265,
269, 272 and 274. It is possible that Capt.
Swanner flew more missions than are shown on our
records.
Responding4 12/27/01
Mike
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