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From: Martha Conley
[mailto:mconley@smarttx.com]
Sent: Friday,
July 16, 2004 12:13 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Howell B.
Conley
I am looking for any information
that you may have on Howell B. Conley. All that
I know is that he was a ball turret gunner in
the 8th Army Air force stationed in England from
May 1944 through November 1944. Mom believes he
flew 35 missions. You have a great web site.
Thanks,
Martha Conley
Martha,
Sorry, we have
searched our records and were
unable to find any record of
Howell B Conley in the 379th
BG. It is possible that he
flew with another BG. If you
could find any documents that
reflected what bomb group or
location he was stationed at
that would help in your quest
to find additional
information.
Responding4 7/16/04
Mike
Search No. 1209 - Burrel F Newman
From: Bennie Newman
[mailto:bln902@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 5:54 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: 379th
I am seeking
information on my brother, Burrel F. Newman who
was a member of 379th Bomb Group, 527th Sq. He
was shot down over Germany on June 11, 1943. I
have made some contact with some of the pilots
of this group, however none of them knew him.
Were you in the group at that time. This has
been a long time but I am still hoping, I read
in the Legion of your re-union. I think the
reason I can't find anyone whio knew him is the
fact that all of them were killed in action. If
you would ask me I think they were suicide
missions, even though they may have been
necessary. any info would be appreciated.
Thanks and God bless you.
Bennie Newman
Bennie,
Lt Burrel F
Newman, pilot, was in the
379th Bombardment Group and
flew missions with the 527th
Bomb Squadron. The following
are the crew and their
positions on their 2nd
mission to Wilhelmshaven,
Germany (U-Boat Pens) June
11, 1943 aircraft 42-3138
(FO-M) "Eight Ball" 527th Sq.
Newman Burrel F. -2nd Lt,
P, O-377405, McBee, SC,
Netherlands I 20 8
Culler
John D. -2nd Lt, CP,
O-734074, Jefferson, MD,
Netherlands D 20 10
Jackson George W. -2nd Lt, N,
O-733433, Glen Osborne, PA,
Netherlands B 21 24
Kelly
Thomas B. Jr. -2nd Lt,B,
O-733318, Chicago, IL, POW
Hyvonen Edward E. -S/SGT,
RO, 32333822, Brooklyn, NY,
Netherlands B 21 25
Gauthier Leo A. -S/SGT, TT,
11043949, Pawtucket, RI,
Netherlands I 14 4
Griffin
James T. - S/SGT, BT,
31133632, Fall River, MA,
Netherlands H 9 7
Butterfield Joseph V. -
S/SGT, RW, 16094889,
Wauwatosa, WI, Netherlands K
7 5
Dudley Harold C.
-T/SGT, LW, 11042684,
Eastport, MA, Netherlands I
20 18
Lauters Raymond D.
-S/SGT, TG, 16094106,
Pt.Washington, WI, POW
Netherlands is an
American European Cemetery in
Europe. The number of the
grave, row and plot numbers
at the Netherlands Cemetery
are shown above.
We do
not show Thomas Kelly or
Raymond Lauters on the
current membership roster. We
will post your inquiry in our
Looking4 section on the 379th
BGA Website; perhaps one of
our members who knew Burrel
will contact you.
The
surviability factor was only
1 in 3 of completed 25
missions in the early part of
the war. The odds of
surviving a tour of duty
increased some when the P51
fighter escorts (extended
fuel tanks) could protect the
bombers to and from the
targets. Flak was always a
factor and many personnel and
aircraft were lost from flak.
All aircraft formations would
normally return with moderate
to extensive battle damage as
they could not take evasive
action to avoid it. Many of
our young men who went to war
did not think they would
survive it.
Responding4 7 /16/04
Mike
Search No. 1208 - Lloyd Burns,
Pilot
From: Nancy
Ramacitti [mailto:nramacitti@mchsi.com]
Sent:
Monday, July 05, 2004 6:27 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Looking for
We are searching for Lloyd Burns, Pilot in
the 379th Bomber Group. He survived the crash in
Kimbolton, England. My uncle was the other pilot
that was killed. We would like to find him.
Please help us and we would be most
grateful.
Thank you.
David F.
Ramacitti
Armand P. Ramacitti
Sirs,
The following are
the crews (525th BS) and
their positions on mission #
146 to Zudausques, France on
June 19, 1944.
Aircraft 44-6133 (FF-Y)
collided with 42-97942 on
return over Gravesend Thames
Estuary, England and crashed
into the water.
Ramacitti Armand J. -2nd Lt,
P, O-759660, Oak Park, IL,
Cambridge C 3 30
Hager
William J. -2nd Lt, CP,
O-701755, Cleveland, OH,
Cambridge F 2 106
Watson
Donald F. -2nd Lt, N,
O-716559, Cleveland, OH,
Cambridge C 1 47
Chronopolis Theodore -2nd Lt,
B, O-704164, WIA
Ritter
Richard (NMI) -SGT, RO,
35535521, Belleville, OH,
Cambridge F 2 26
Tognazzini Cecil A - S/SGT,
TT, 19161113, Bargar, TX /CA,
Cambridge Missing
Burke
John P. -S/SGT, TT, 14059710,
Atlanta, GA, Cambridge C 3 24
Haynes Paul K. -CPL, WG,
31362371, Weston, MA,
Cambridge E 2 11
Oaks
Warren G. -SGT, TG, 37298962,
White Bear, MN, Cambridge F 4
5
Aircraft 42-97942
(FR-K) collided with 44-6133
on return over Gravesend,
Thames Estuary, England.
Burns Lloyd L -1st Lt, P,
O-180816, Ret. to base
Kauffman Fred S. -2nd Lt, CP,
O-818878, Trenton, NJ,
Cambridge Missing
Sadler
Edward N. -F/O, N, T-123955,
Cleveland, OH, Cambridge A 6
37
Gray Jack L. -2nd Lt,
B, O-739088, Ret. to base
Monk Leroy J. -T/SGT, RO,
37469265, Ret. to base
Gibbs Leonard F. -T/SGT, TT,
19024622, Ret. to base
Farmer William H. -S/SGT, BT,
39557878, Ret. to base
Andrews Richard W. -S/SGT,
WG, 32752979, Ret. to base
Schulte Louis W. -S/SGT,
TG, 37083074, St. Louis, MO,
KIA
Lloyd Burns,
Richard Andrews, William
Farmer and Leonard Gibbs are
on the current 379th BGA
membership roster.
Responding4 7/12/04
Mike
Search No. 1207 - Wilder Nell II
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From: Stephen
Montgomery [mailto:steamer5@fuse.net]
Sent:
Monday, July 05, 2004 2:25 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Info on the
Wilder Nell II
Hi, I have a friend at
church who flew on the Wilder Nell II, as a tail
gunner. His name is Edgar E Schooley Jr. He was
shot down and ditched in the Baltic and was the
only survivor. He was taken prisoner and spent
13 months as a Pow. I am looking for a picture
of the Wilder Nell to build a model of his
plane. We are also planning on coming to Dayton
in Sept. for the reunion. Any info on his plane
and the reunion will be much appreciated. Thank
you for your time.
Stephen Montgomery
Stephen,
S/Sgt
Edgar Schooley, Tail Gunner, flew 4 missions
with the 379th Bombardment Group 525th Bomb
Squadron: 41, 42,43 and 44.
525th Sq.
Bremen , Germany (Port Area) November 29, 1943
mission number 44 aircraft 42-29787 (FR-E )
"Wilder Nell II". A/C Tail was shot off by 3
FW190's, 1 Chute Seen.
LeFevre Charles H.
-2nd Lt, P, O-793793, Drexel Hill, PA,
Netherlands N 12 14
Miller John R. -2nd Lt,
CP, O-680481, Bakersfield, CA, Netherlands
Missing
Spurgiasz Jan - SGT, N, 10601178,
Brooklyn, NY, Netherlands Missing
Valsecchi
Alfred -2nd Lt, B, O-735349, San Rafael, CA, KIA
Dixon Leonard -T/SGT, RO, 39829734, North Price,
UT, Ardennes C 5 3
Mulligan James C. -T/SGT,
TT, 14036522, Savannah, GA, KIA
Hunter Robert
W. -S/SGT, BT, 34334614, Decatur, AL,
Netherlands Missing
Gorn Lion A. -S/SGT, RW,
32411565, New York, NY, Netherlands Missing
Liard Wesley W. -S/SGT, LW, 39537647, Los
Angeles, CA, Netherlands Missing
Schooley
Edgar E. -S/SGT, TG, 35663792, Hamilton, OH,
POW-Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Edgar Schooley was
rescued, but was unconscious for 4 days.
Responding4 7/6/04
Mike
Search No. 1206 - T/Sgt James
Craig
From: mike craig
[mailto:ftblco@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, June
27, 2004 4:18 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: James H. Craig
I am trying to
find out about my Father's years in the Eighth
Air Force. I remember he use to talk about a
triangle K, and Kimbolten, England. He was James
H. Craig, he may have been known as Woody. His
dates of service were June 4, 1941 to October
18, 1945. I believe one of the planes he was on
was named "Hun Runner". According to his
seperation papers he flew 30 missions. 24 as the
lead radio operator. He was a Technical Sargent
at the time of his separation. I am sad to say
that my father died in 1989. He never did really
talk about those years very much.
Mike Craig
Mike,
T/Sgt James Craig, Radio
Operator/Gunner, was in the 379th Bombardment G
and flew missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron
from 7/04/44 to 1/20/45. The following are the
crew and their positions on their 7th mission to
Leipzig, Germany 7/20/44 in aircraft 42-97967
"Hun Runner":
Huau Jr., Joseph H -1st Lt,
Pilot
Blumenthal, Milton D -2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Madden, John E -2nd Lt, Navigator
Tresser, Abraham A -Sgt, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Craig, James H -S/Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Roach Jr., William W -Sgt, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner
Schunk, Robert E -Sgt, Waist
Gunner
Smith, Bill M -Sgt, Tail Gunner
Wright, Walter J -Sgt, Tail Gunner
William W Roach is shown on the current
Association roster. The crew flew in various
aircraft during their tour of duty. They only
flew “Hun Runner” on 3 missions. Our records
indicate that Sgt Craig flew the following 30
missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron: 158, 159,
160, 161, 162, 168, 170, 171, 172, 178, 180,
184, 186, 192, 196, 227, 230, 235, 238, 239,
241, 242, 245, 246, 249, 250, 252, 259, 265 &
268.
Responding4 6/29/04
Mike
Search No. 1205 - 379th BG Jeep
From: DR LAMB
[mailto:DLAMB@cdresource.com]
Sent: Friday,
June 25, 2004 3:18 PM
To:
LOOKING4@379THBGA.ORG
Subject: Fw: Thought
you might like this
I am in the process
of re-building a 1953 M37. When it came time to
paint and stencil last week I kinda did my own
thing. My Great Uncle was the co-pilot on B17
42-3099 which was lost 12 June 1944. Figured it
was time someone in the family did something to
remind everyone of him and his crew.
DR Lamb,
Thank you for the picture, what a
great tribute to your uncle! See F/O Reed J
Lamb, Co-Pilot and crew on inquiry 1087 in this
section of the (Looking4) Website (the crew of
aircraft 42-3099 FO-R) .
Responding4
6/25/04
Mike
Search No. 1204 -Oliver's Crew
From: Missy Rung
[mailto:msyrung@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday,
June 21, 2004 7:50 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Looking for
Oliver's Crew
Hi! I have 2 sets of
questions for you:
1) My dad is James E.
Rung. He was a navigator in the 524th flying
most of his missions on 2 planes, Lil Satan
(that my dad knew as Queen O'Hearts) and Hundred
Million Dollar Baby. I am looking for any
surviving crew members or family members of the
crew. I know that his pilot, Willard L. Oliver,
Jr. passed away in 2000.
Copilot: James
W. Dodson
Bombardier: James A. Lawrence III
Waist Gunner: Kenneth L. Drissel
Radio
Operator: John W. Bickel
Engineer: Robert A.
Hennings
Ball Turret Gunner: Lester R. Moody
Tail Gunner: John L. Lewis
2) I have some
questions about some of the planes my dad flew
in. The tail numbers are not complete, but are
the number my dad listed in his flight log.
* J7980 - My dad flew in this a/c on his
32nd mission on November 30, 1944. This was
possibly mission #245 for the group, but I'm
having some difficulty with this one since it's
in my dad's flight log with mission comments but
he is not credited with the mission in the 8th
Airforce database that I found online.
*
Linda C7597 - My dad's mission #18, October 5,
1944, 379th BG mission #215.
* Miss Liberty
J4388 - My dad's mission #33, December 9, 1944,
379th BG mission #248.
* P4310 - My dad's
mission #29, November 20, 1944, 379th BG mission
#239.
* S5004 (42-107004?) - Dad's mission
August 8, 1944.
* Wanda B Y4110 - Dad's
mission #31, November 29, 1944.
Any
information you may have about these a/c would
be great, especially names. The interesting
thing about Linda (C7597) is the information I
found on it said it was listed as MIA on
1/31/1944 but my dad flew in the plane on
October 5, 1944. Must be a different plane
called Linda?
I have made a website of my
dad's flight log and memories. Feel free to
check it out:
http://www.geocities.com/missy092869/dad.htm.
Thank you for your assistance!
Missy Rung
Missy,
Lt James E Rung, Navigator, flew
missions with the 379th Bombardment Group and
flew missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron from
7/29/44 to 12/24/44.
The following are the
crew and their positions on their 1st mission to
Merseburg, Germany 7/28/44 in aircraft 42-32024
"Swamp Fire":
Oliver Jr., Willard L, 2nd
Lt, Pilot
Dodson, James W, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Rung, James E, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Lawrence
III, James A, 2nd Lt, Bombardier
Bickel, John
W, Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Hennings,
Robert A, Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Moody, Lester R, Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Drissel, Kenneth L, Sgt, Waist Gunner
Lewis,
John L, Sgt, Tail Gunner
James A Lawrence
III is shown on the current Association roster.
Our records indicate that Lt James E. Rung flew
the following 38 missions with the 524th Bomb
Squadron: 176, 178, 179, 180, 184, 185, 188,
189, 191, 194, 195, 196, 197, 199, 201, 205,
207, 208, 210, 211, 215, 222, 223, 225, 226,
227, 229, 230, 232, 235, 236, 239, 242, 244,
248, 250, 251 & 252.
Aircraft had
markings which told what squadron they were in
WA 524, FR 525, LF 526 & FO 527. Also each
aircraft had a call sign within the squadron (A,
B, C, J etc.) The markings were made large on
both sides and the tail of the aircraft to
easily identify aircraft in the formation as
well as those which were shot down or lost due
to flak. The original markings were on
camouflaged aircraft and were in big white
letters. After July 44 the designations were
changed, made smaller and only added to the tail
above the Triangle; a number designated the
Squadron 1 -524, 2 -525, 3 -526, 4 -527 and the
call sign letter was below the Triangle on the
tail.
Example 42-31597 FO-C "Landa", this
was a 527th aircraft with the call sign C and
assigned to the 379th on 1/31/44. 11/30/44 on
mission # 245 to Zeitz, Germany, this aircraft
was identified and reported in debriefing as hit
over target; # 1 & # 2 engines on fire, left
formation under control, nine chutes seen.
Aircraft were used on their availability;
many aircraft were unable to fly next day
missions due to damage. Squadrons often flew
planes that were operational from other
squadrons. In this case on your fathers October
5, 1944 mission, his 524th crew flying their
mission in a 527th aircraft called "Landa".
As you can see this was prior to losing the
aircraft and crew on 11/30/44.
Lt Rung
and crew flew in various aircraft during their
tour of duty. Only 9 missions were flown on "LiL
Satan" (Queen of Hearts) and 7 missions on
"Million Dollar Baby".
We are sure your
father really appreciated getting your gift of
membership in the Association. We hope to see
you both at the 2004 Dayton in September.
Responding4 6/22/04
Mike
Search No. 1203 - Steve P Souris
From: Paulette Souris
Henry [mailto:pacer@mail.uch.org]
Sent:
Thursday, June 17, 2004 8:13 AM
To:
Responding4@379thbga.org
Subject: Steve P.
Souris
Please help me with the details of
my father's war perils. 2nd Lt. Steve P. Souris
(2/16/1917) Gary, IN. He was a bombardair on B17
shot down over Germany in October of '43. POW
escaped 7 times. Stalag Luft III (center, I
believe he said) and Mooseburg and Neurenburg?
Also, I did join the 379th assoc. but have not
received any confirmation of anything yet. Do
you know how long it takes? Thanking you in
advance for any information.
Paulette Souris
Henry
Paulette,
Lt Steve P Souris, Bombardier, was
in the 379th Bombardment Group and flew 8
missions with the 525th Bomb Squadron from
9/09/43 to 10/09/43. The following are the crew
on their last mission to Anklam, Germany on
10/09/43 in aircraft 42-37728 (FR-G):
Lash James K. -2nd Lt, P, O-737972, Seattle, WA,
POW Stalag 1 (032)
Zepak Eugene M. -2nd Lt,
CP, O-680794, North Irwin, PA, POW Stalag 3
(033)
Butler Kerwin O. -2nd Lt, N, O-669985,
Enid, OK, POW Stalag 3 (033)
Souris Steve P.
-2nd Lt, B, O-738592, Gary, IN, POW Stalag 7A
(013) Moosberg
Howell John F. -T/SGT, RO,
33272926, Meadville, PA, POW Stalag 17B (025)
Blair Ralph J. -S/SGT, TT, 37303719, Glenwood,
MN, POW
Culley James F. -S/SGT, BT, 33249718,
Cresson, PA, POW Stalag 17B (025)
Irvin
Benjamin B. -T/SGT, RW, 34036658, Concord, NC,
POW Stalag 17B (025)
Preston Lawrence L.
-S/SGT, LW, 35516465, Cleveland, OH, POW Stalag
3 (033)
Reggie John J. -S/SGT, TG, 13116380,
Swoyersville, PA, POW Stalag 17B (025)
All prisoner of war camps listed above are the
last known locations of interment. We do not
show any crewmembers on the current Association
membership roster. Our records indicate that Lt
Steve P Souris flew the following 8 missions
with the 525th Bomb Squadron: 29, 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35 & 36.
Responding4 6/18/04
Mike
Search No. 1202 - Four of a Kind
From: abbie [mailto:aaamos@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 7:53 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Four of a Kind
- My Dad
My Dad, Robert W. Amos is the
first person to the right in the picture. I
would like to know what he did during World War
II because I have little information other than
this picture. Please contact me. I hope you can
add this picture to your site. Perhaps someone
will be able to identify the others and give me
some information. Thanks, Abbie Amos
Abbie,
Sorry, we do not have any records on
Robert W. Amos at this time. The picture you
emailed was shown on the cover of the April 1998
issue of Contrails. We will post your inquiry in
our Looking4 section on the 379th BGA Website;
perhaps one of our members will recognize the
others pictured.
“The picture was taken
on July 6th 1944. We believe the ground crew was
that of M/Sgt Glen E. Korthouse. Presumably this
was the crew being presented to the Queen in the
photo of Contrails. The aircraft selected for
inspection was 43-37777 (FR-Q). “Four of A
Kind”. We believe that M/Sgt Korthouse and
ground crewmembers pictured were responsible for
maintaining this aircraft. This lead aircraft
was relatively new having arrived from the depot
at Burtonwood on the 19th of June along with 3
other replacement aircraft. This ship was
originally a formation assembly ship, which
started its operations with the 97th BG and flew
on the first 8th AF mission on 17th August
1942.”
The above excerpt edited by us was
taken from Mervyn Wilson’s letter to the editor
on page 10 of the August 1998 issue of
Contrails. As a member you can order back issues
of Contrails through the PX see ordering
information on the homepage of the Website.
Responding4 6/17/04
Mike
Search No. 1201 - 379th BG MP Unit
From: John Curran [mailto:curranjohn@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 1:39 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: inquiry on MP
company that might have been attached to 379
Bomb Group
Gentlemen:
If you have
time to field a question, I would be much in
your debt. Did the 379th have a military police
company attached to it? I ask because my father,
Pfc. Daniel F. Curran Jr., was an MP attached to
one of the 8th Air Force heavy bomb groups, but
I dont know which one. He passed away three
years ago. His grave marker indicates his MP
company was no. 1192, but I can't find anything
online about that organization.
In doing
some online research to try to find out which
bomb group his company was attached to, I have
used a couple of criteria: 1) he told the the
base he was on in England from 1943 to 1945 had
only B-17s flying from it. He also told me his
group went overseas on the SS Aquitania. Both of
those would match the 379th. His company also
was included in the presidential unit citations
for, I believe, Schweinfurt and Regensburg. He
also told me his base (there may have been more
than one) was somewhere near to the town of
Ipswich, in Sussex. I also recall him saying
that after D-Day, when there was less need for
MPs at the airfields, that his unit did prisoner
processing work maybe in France and in Germany
too, but on this point I am less sure.
So, if you know of him or his MP unit being
attached to your group, I'd love to know it. If
there is somewhere else you can point me to,
perhaps some Army research facilities for
particular unit histories or for his individual
service record, I would be much obliged.
Sincerely,
John Curran
John,
The 379th Bombardment Group had the
1059th Military Police Company attachment at
Kimbolton during WWII. All Bombardment Groups in
England during WWII had MP company's assigned.
We suggest that you 1st try to get a
copy his personnel file from the National
Personnel Records Center Military Records Branch
9700 Page Ave. St. Louis Mo. 63132-5100. His
personnel file should have a complete history of
his Military tour of duty. (bases station &
groups, schools, medals etc.)
Many
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 that were lost in the
fire. (See URL for form 180 below) They have
reconstructed the records and may tell you they
don't have them, but they do have something be
persistent. Please let us know of your progress.
http://www.nara.gov/regional/mprsf180.html
Good Luck,
Responding4 6/04/04
Mike
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