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LOOKING4

The Looking4 section is designed to help you find more information about someone who served in the 379th. Please send your inquiries to: looking4@379thbga.org
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Search No. 1380 - Charles C Vermillion

From: Mary Bryant, bryantme2004@yahoo.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 1:46 PM
Subject: information

Hello,
My father was a tail gunner on a B-17 for the 379th during WWII. I would like to know if you could give me the missions, dates and the name of the airplane that he flew on during the time he was overseas. His name is: Charles Core Vermillion and he was from Shamrock, Texas. I have his ss# and id number if you need them.
Thank you so much!

Respectfully,
Mary Bryant

Mary -
Association records for Charles C Vermillion show he flew 24 missions as gunner/togglier with the 524th Squadron from October 20, 1943 to February 22, 1944. Our records show missions 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, and 71. Sgt Vermillion may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Sgt Vermillion flew his missions on a number of different aircraft, and with different crews. According to our records, his 1st combat mission was flown as part of the Group's Lead crew, in a/c 42-30237, "Stump Jumper" (photo will be sent in separate e-mail), on the October 20, 1943 mission to Duren, Germany. Crew for that mission was as follows:

Preston, Maurice A, Colonel, Pilot
Hemphill, Mac C, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Dutch, Andrew K, Captain, Navigator
Beeman, George E, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Litz, Eugene A, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Curry Jr., James F, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Till, Rufus W, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Mulhausen, James J, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Vermillion, Charles C, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Bleakman, Melvin J, 1st Lieutenant, Tail Gunner-Formation Control

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information.

Responding 4 6/5/2007
Kent

Search No.   1379 - Mathew J. Hunyad

From: Phyll & Toni: Phyllis Hunyad, crueltattoo@hotmail.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 8:43 PM
Subject: Searching for any information on Mathew J. Hunyad.

My father's report of separation paper listed his organization as the 563d Sq 388 B Gp. His occupational speciality is listed as Airplane Mechanic Gunner 748. I once searched the 8thairforce.com database and the search showed him to be a member of the 525th Sq 379 B Gp. and his duty listed as Nose Gunner/Togglier. Do you have his name on file?

Best regards,
Phyllis Hunyad

Phyllis -
Association records for Mathew J. Hunyad show he flew 15 missions as gunner/togglier with the 525th Squadron from January 23 to April 25, 1945. Our records show missions 271, 276, 277, 281, 284, 285, 286, 296, 297, 321, 323, 324, 325, 328, and 330. Sgt Hunyad may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Being that Sgt Hunyad's missions were flown near the end of hostilities in Europe, he did not appear to be assigned a "regular" crew, instead flying missions as that crew position was required. According to our records, his 1st combat mission was on January 23, 1945, flying against the railroad marshalling yards at Neuss, Germany, aboard a/c 43-38679, "Miss Liberty" (photo will be sent in separate e-mail ). Crew for that mission was as follows:

Elledge, George H, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Bohne, Lester W, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Freedman, Robert L, Flight Officer, Navigator
Hunyad, Mathew J, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Ebner, Kenneth F, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Moore, Phillip , Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Youd, Ivan M, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Cipriano, James E, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Martin Jr., Francis W, Sergeant, Tail Gunner

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information.

Responding 4 6/3/2007
Kent

Search No.  1378 - Joseph Ondo

From: Joy Macari, vignale212@yahoo.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 10:23 AM
Subject: Seeking Information from Your Records

Hello,
My husband found your website for me and I am so happy to learn of the association. I am seeking any information that you have about my Father Joseph Ondo. He was with the 379th Bomb Group and flew out of Kimbolton. His plane was shot down and he was MIA then a prisoner of war. Any information that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Joy Ondo Macari

Joy -
Association records for Joseph Ondo show he flew 5 missions as pilot with the 525th Squadron from September 9 to October 4, 1943. Our records show missions 29, 30, 31, 33, and 34. Lt Ondo may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

On October 4, 1944, the 379th Bomb Group was dispatched to bomb the rail transport facilities at Frankfurt, Germany. Lt Ondo was in command of aircraft 42-29713, which was listed as Missing in Action. Crew for this mission, and their disposition, was as follows:

Ondo, Joseph , 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, POW
Reginer, Robert R, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, POW
Morter, Willis B, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, POW
Laspada, Joseph G, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, POW
Rye, Floyd V, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, POW
Sims, Jack , Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, POW
Ruth, Joseph T, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, POW
Hannon, Jerome J, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, POW
Freund, Charles G, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, POW
Peterson, Lloyd E, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, POW

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information.

Responding 4 5/15/2007
Kent

Search No. 1377 - Richard R Blair

From: Blair, Todd R., TBlair@henselphelps.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 1:48 PM
Subject: Richard R. Blair

Hi,
My grandfather Lt. Richard R Blair, was a B-17 co-pilot in the 379th (Triangle K) and that's about all the hard information I know as he didn't talk about it with us that often. My Dad has a bunch of his flight logs, newspaper clippings about the missions, and a piece of flak that came through my grandpa's plane. It would be a real treat to find out more about his time during WWII. Anything at all would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Todd R. Blair

Todd -
Association records for Richard R Blair show he flew 35 missions as co-pilot with the 526th Squadron from August 11 to December 27, 1944. Our records show missions 187, 189, 190, 194, 197, 198, 199, 206, 209, 210, 211, 213, 214, 216, 218, 219, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228, 231, 232, 234, 236, 237, 238, 242, 243, 244, 246, 248, 249, 252, and 253. Lt Blair may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Lt Blair flew his missions, as was common, on a number of different aircraft. His first combat mission, on August 11, 1944, against the coastal guns at Brest, France, was flown on a/c 42-97678, "The Birmingham Jewell" (photo will be sent in separate e-mail). Crew for that mission, and what looks to be Lt Blair's "regular" crew, was as follows:

Powders, Virdin C, Lieutenant, Pilot
Blair, Richard R, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Sorrentino, Jerry V, Lieutenant, Navigator
Mccue, Christopher T, Lieutenant, Bombardier
Smith, John T, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Dernalowicz, Leonard E, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Dukes, Gordon B, Corporal, Ball Turret Gunner
Schoonhoven, Carl C, Corporal, Waist Gunner
Cox, Donald C, Corporal, Tail Gunner

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information.

Responding 4 5/12/2007
Kent

Search No. 1376 - Aron Wilford Jones

From: George Chastain, georgech@hiwaay.net
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 4:28 PM
Subject: Seeking information on a crewman

I am helping a friend to find information about his Dad who was best friends with my Uncle in WWII. We both crossed each other's paths while I was researching my Uncle and he was researching his Dad's service. My Uncle was assigned to the 447th BG. His Dad, who has "dementia", can no longer remember for sure which group he served with. All he could recall is that he thought his tail marking was a "triangle K" which is the 379th. But since he knew my Uncle, we weren't sure if his failing memory was confusing that with the "square K" of the 447th. So far, I have been unsuccessful at finding records of his service with the 447th.

Can anyone at the 379th shed some light on this man's forgotten past? His name is Aaron Wilford Jones. His rank was S/Sgt and he was, at least once, a tail gunner. His son remembers one story his Dad told in which he said his plane was named "The Singed Angel". He would appreciate any information that you might provide.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
George Chastain
Nephew of S/Sgt Clyde G. Chastain, Ball Turret Gunner, 711 BS, 447th BG, 8th AF, Friend of S/Sgt Aaron Jones.

George -
Association records for Aron W Jones show he flew 34 missions as tailgunner with the 527th Squadron from April 10 to June 19, 1944. Our records show missions 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 138, 139, 140, 143, 145, 146, and 147. Sgt Jones may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Sgt Jones flew his missions, as was common, on a number of different aircraft. Sorry, but we can find no record of missions flown in an aircraft named "The Singed Angel", or any name close to that. However, he did fly many missions on a/c 42-37805, "Carol Dawn", which went on to have one of the highest mission tallys of the 379th at 125. Sgt Jones' 1st mission on "Carol Dawn" was mission 96 to Schweinfurt, Germany. Crew for that mission, and what looks to be his "regular" crew was as follows:

Kapsar, Paul J, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot
Kratt, Robert H, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Walsh, Paul V, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Matus, Paul W, Flight Officer, Bombardier
Hannah, John W, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Mucklow, Bartlett C, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Corbin, Harold R, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Sparkman, John H, Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Grajeda, Albert E, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Jones, Aron W, Sergeant, Tail Gunner

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information. A photo of "Carol Dawn" is attached. The crew pictured completed their tour on "Carol Dawn" on April 11, 1944 - the Group's next mission was Mission 96, with the Kapsar crew shown above, including Sgt Jones, aboard.

Responding 4 5/10/2007
Kent

Search No.  1375 - Stanley L Bielawski (Taletha Ann)

From: Roger Krings, Rjkrings@aol.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 7:40 PM
Subject: Picture of 'Taletha Ann' A/C #42 97485

Would be interested in a picture of 'Taletha Ann'. I believe the pilot was -- unknown rank Stanley Brent. His last name may have been longer at that time and was Polish. Information that I presently have is that this was his third or fourth airplane. It appears that he also flew tail #782 to Oschersleben on 1-11-44 on Mission #58 with the high group. They were the sixth group over the target on the incendiary bombing flight. I am the assistant director at the Selfridge Military Air Museum in Michigan and knew Stan fairly well and had the opportunity to fly with him. Unfortunately he passed away before I could get many details of his experiences. I would be grateful for any help -- and am willing to pay what it takes for the picture and/or any history.
Thank you.
Roger Krings

Roger -
Association records for Stanley L. Bielawski show he flew 13 missions as pilot with the 526th Squadron from December 30, 1943 to March 26, 1944. Our records show missions 53, 60, 65, 66, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 79, 81, 85, and 89. Lt Bielawski may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

On March 26, 1944, the 379th was dispatched to bomb a buzz bomb site at Wizernes, France. Lt Bielawski was flying as command pilot on a/c 42-97485, "Taletha Ann". The aircraft was hit by flak and went down over the target. Crew for that mission, and their disposition, was as follows:

Bielawski, Stanley L, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot, POW
Young, Thomas E, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, POW
Weinstein, Robert M, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, POW
Domorgue, Raymond E, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, POW
Ghiazza, Edward C, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, POW
Greggs, Leo L, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, POW
Conlin, Bernard M, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, POW
Finance, Edwin G, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, POW
Frazer, George A, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, POW
Fifield Jr., Lester (NMI), Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, POW

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information. A photo of "Taletha Ann" is attached. Crew in this photo is unidentified - if you can determine that Lt Bielawski is in this photo, we would appreciate an identification.

Responding 4 5/10/2007
Kent

Search No. 1374 - Ernest L Whitmore

From: wayne whitmore, enyaw3311@yahoo.com
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:28 PM
Subject: S Sgt Ernest Whitmore, serial # 32250758

Hello, My dad is Ernest L. Whitmore. He was a B-17 gunner in England following B-25 missions in North Africa. I have only one photo of each kind of aircraft. The B-17 photo is from the air and has a triangle K on it. I don't know if it is his plane or not. Reading other replys leads me to believe you can find out if he was in the 379th. I would be very grateful for any information! His health is failing and he seems to enjoy talking about little things he remembers from his Army Air Force days. Thank you.
Wayne Whitmore

Wayne -
Association records for Ernest L. Whitmore show he flew 25 missions as gunner with the 525th Squadron from November 8, 1944 to April 7, 1945. Our records show missions 234, 235, 236, 237, 239, 241, 243, 246, 247, 253, 255, 258, 261, 262, 263, 266, 268, 273, 280, 286, 293, 298, 303, 315, and 319. Sgt Whitmore may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Records indicate Sgt Whitmore, as is typical of most crew, flew missions in a number of different aircraft. Mission 235, his 2nd combat mission, and first in a "named" aircraft, was flown on a/c 42-97370, "The Hellion" (photo will be sent in separate e-mail). Crew for that mission was as follows:

Nietert, Richard L, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Lampe, Robert F, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Mershon, Richard L, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Kane, Robert S, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Gray, Carlyle , Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Elrod, Earl L, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Roberts, Wayne M, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Putensen, Edward J, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Whitmore, Ernest L, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information.

Responding 4 5/6/2007
Kent

Search No.  1373 - Henry L. Hainline

From: andre.pironet, andre.pironet@teledisnet.be
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 6:09 AM
Subject: Recherche renseignements: HAINLINE,Henry

Bonjour,
Je recherche, tous renseignement, concernant Le Second Lieutenant, HAINLINE,Henry,L. O-748178 décédé Le 05/O1/1944.
Il faisait partie du 379 Bomber Group (Heavy) 525 Bomber Squadron

Merçi PIRONET,André

BELGIQUE

On January 5, 1944, the 379th Bomb Group was dispatched to bomb the port facilities at Kiel, Germany. A/C 42-31093, "Deacons Sinners" was attacked by Me-109 fighters just after leaving the target, and was ultimately rammed, breaking the wing in half, and causing the aircraft to disintegrate. Crew was as follows:

Eaton, Thomas E, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA
Hainline, Henry L, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, KIA
Doty, Robert S, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, MIA
Wright, Clifford W, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, KIA
Clark, Arnold G, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA
Matheny, Ray T, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, POW
Ferrell, Ray , Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, MIA
Nevells, Arnold E, Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, POW
Ceglarek, Boleslaw B, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, KIA
Blondell, Charles V, Sergeant, Tail Gunner, KIA

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information.

Responding 4 5/1/2007
Kent

Search No. 1372 - Pierre Joseph

From: Charles T. Borg, Borg10231@aol.com
To: Looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 7:12 PM
Subject: Staff Sergeant Pierre Joseph, Service Nr: 39461681

Dear Sir,
I am doing research on the above named WWII Veteran to provide his sons and daughter. I have the following information SSG Joseph:
- Entered Service 3 Feb '43
- Attended Armorer School, Kingman, AZ, and Aerial Gunnery School Lowery and Buckley Field
- Record of Award of the Air Medal dated 2 Feb '44, station 634, which shows assigned to 525th Sqdn. This record shows, "By Command of" Brig Gen Williams
-Discharge record stating 17 combat missions

POW/MIA records at the Dept of Defense show he was reported as POW on 13 May '44, at Stalag 17B, near Krems, Austria. There is a 'hitch' here however, because that office shows him assigned to the 384th BG, 547th Sqdn. Any information you can provide would be deeply apprecited.

Thank you in advance for your time and efforts. SSG Joseph was a Native American and little else than what I have stated above is known about his military record

Sincerely,
Charles T. Borg
LTC USA (Ret)

Chuck -
Association records for Pierre Joseph show he flew 17 missions as gunner with the 525th Squadron from December 20, 1943 to March 8, 1944. Our records show missions 50, 53, 54, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 78, and 79. Sgt Joseph may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Sgt Joseph flew missions on a number of different aircraft, but most frequently aboard a/c 42-31228, "London Avenger" (photo attached), which was an aircraft "purchased" through War Bonds by citizens of London, England. Crew of this aircraft for Group Mission 50, Sgt Pierre's first combat mission, to the Fw-190 factory at Bremen, Germany, was as follows:

Walter, Robert E, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Youcom, Theodore R, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Evans Jr., Robert W, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Wright Jr., Adam G, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Jensen, Bertrand A, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Vadersen, Ernest R, Staff Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Joseph, Pierre , Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Bryant, Tommie J, Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Culver, Raymond F, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Pappone Jr., Frank N, Sergeant, Tail Gunner

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information. We have no record for Sgt Pierre following the completion of his 17th mission with the 379th on March 8, 1944, and have no information on any crash that he may have been involved in that would lead to his POW status. However, a check of the 384th Bomb Group's website at www.384thbombgroup.com reveals that they do show a Pierre, Joseph as 384th Bomb Group personnel, including a record indicating his status as POW. It is possible that Sgt Pierre transferred from the 379th to the 384th at some point following his March 8, 1944 mission, but we have no further records that would verify that.

Responding 4 4/23/2007
Kent

Search No.  1371 - Leif Nelson

From: Dane Rochelle, <danerochelle@yahoo.com>
To: <Looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 10:27 PM
Subject: B-17 FATSO Ball gunner Leif Nelson

Hi,
My name is Dane Nelson Rochelle. I am the nephew of Leif Nelson (son of his sister Amy), who was at one time serving aboard the B-17 FATSO as a ball turret gunner while it flew out of Kimbolton airfield. I am attempting to put a family history together, and was hoping I might be able to obtain any photos of him and his crew and plane which you would be willing to provide, as well as any possible information pertaining to his service. I can also provide your group with copies of family photos of him in his dress uniform and also from his "class" book, which was handed down to me. I think this is the one he would have attended for the B-17 crew training, but might be for fighter training, as I recall hearing that he was up for fighter (P-51) training toward the end of the war, but was washed out due to the bigwigs seeing the end of the war in sight.

I also wish to find out more about my uncle Walter's service as a Marine in the Pacific theater. He at one point served aboard a B-25, I believe as a waist gunner, but I know little else. Would you have any suggestions as to how I might proceed in researching this?

Both uncles survived the war, by the way. I would appreciate your reply and assistance, at your convenience.

Gratefully,
Dane Rochelle


Dane -
Association records for Leif H Nelson show he flew 28 missions as gunner with the 526th Squadron from December 11, 1943 to March 23, 1944. Our records show missions 47, 48, 49, 52, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 79, 81, 82, 83, 85, and 87. Sgt Nelson may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.

Sgt Nelson flew missions on a number of different aircraft, but most frequently aboard a/c 42-29718, "Fatso". Crew of this aircraft for Group Mission 48, to Bremen, Germany, was as follows:

Sanda, John A, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
White Jr., Hardy P, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Daniel Jr., Charles E, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Walsh, Robert R, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Smail, Harry E, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Fremaux, Wilton (NMI), Staff Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Nelson, Leif H, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Bremer Jr., John F, Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Crickmer Jr., Walter B, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Lee, George W, Sergeant, Tail Gunner

This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members have any additional information. A photo of "Fatso" is attached, however it is of poor quality, being a scan from the Group's record "Shades of Kimbolton", available through our PX. We have no other photos of this aircraft. We would be interested in copies of photographs that relate to Sgt Nelson's service, and appreciate your offer.

Sorry, we don't have any specific suggestions to help with your research of your uncle in the Pacific theater - perhaps looking for a website similar to ours for his Marine unit may be helpful.

Responding 4 4/22/2007
Kent

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