|
From: Kirk Westbeld;
kwestbeld@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, March 23,
2012 9:38 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Theiss, Joseph E.
I'm looking
for more information on my Great Uncle Joseph E.
Theiss. I know he piloted b-17 stump jumper for
a number of missions and I have number of
photographs during his initial service. He was
operations officer in 526th Squadron. He is
listed has being originally an officer in the
524th and then assumed command of the 534th
squadron. My information on what he flew after
the Stump Jumper is unclear. I know he was
promoted to Major and volunteered for another
tour of duty after his initial tour ended.
I also have photographs for Capt Joe Glaser
and a "Pinky" Foil. I was hoping to contact any
family they may have to email scanned photos of
their relative that they may not know exist.
Kirk –
Association records for Joseph E.
Theiss show he flew 27 missions as pilot with
the 524th Squadron from May 29, 1943 to August
13, 1944. Our records show missions 1, 2, 4, 5,
6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 17, 24, 53, 59, 60, 63, 75,
79, 84, 111, 131, 136, 138, 140, 163, 170, 186,
and 189. Major Theiss may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
Major Theiss was 1st Lt. Theiss
when the 379th left Kearney, Nebraska in April
1943, bound for Kimbolton. He and his crew took
part in the Group’s 1st mission, to St. Nazaire,
France, on May 29, 1943, with the following
crew:
Theiss, Joseph E, Lieutenant, Pilot
Krafft, Julius W, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Edwards, James G, Lieutenant, Navigator
Peifer, Thomas D, Lieutenant, Bombardier
McKeegan, Hugh (NMI), Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Nolan, Morrison T, Staff
Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Frydryk, Frank P,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Johnson,
Robert H, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Klump, Delbert W, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Stone, Samuel W, Sergeant, Tail Gunner
A
number of Major Theiss’ early missions were, as
you say, flown in a/c 42-30237, “Stump Jumper”.
Following those (7) missions, Major Theiss had
single missions in many of the Squadron’s
aircraft, which was typical for most 379th
crews. Major Theiss went on to command the 524th
Squadron.
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 we retrieved from the
National Archives, dated 16 July 1943,
identified as being the crew of (then) Lt.
Theiss, is being sent by separate e-mail. We
would be very grateful for any photos of Major
Theiss, Capt. Foil, or Capt. Glaser you’d be
willing to share.
Responding 4 04/17/2012
Kent
Search No. 1559 – Joseph Wheeler/”Blues
in the Night”
From: Paul Knowles;
paul.knowles@azltd.co.uk
Sent: Saturday, March
17, 2012 2:11 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: B17 AC 42-37791 'Blues In The Night'
Hello,
I am trying to find a photograph of the B17, AC
42-37791 ‘Blues In The Night’ piloted by Lt
Joseph Wheeler between November 1943 and March
1944. Any details regarding missions, crew and
particularly photographs would be very much
appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Paul Knowles
Paul –
Association records for Joseph C.
Wheeler show he flew 29 missions as pilot with
the 526th Squadron from November 26, 1943 to
March 20, 1944. Our records show missions 43,
45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60,
62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 81,
82, 83, 84, and 85. Lt. Wheeler may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
What looks to be Lt.
Wheeler’s “regular” crew was as follows:
Wheeler, Joseph C, Lieutenant, Pilot
Smith,
James A, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Christensen,
Harold C, Lieutenant, Navigator
Wuoltee,
Alden L, Lieutenant, Bombardier
Curley Jr.,
James W, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Allen, George H, Staff Sergeant, Top Turret
Gunner
Magner, William J, Sergeant, Ball
Turret Gunner
Knapp, Myron W, Sergeant, Right
Waist Gunner
Burrow, Willard R, Sergeant,
Left Waist Gunner
Vardaro, Gastano A,
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. As you indicate, Lt.
Wheeler flew many of his missions (20) in a/c
42-37791, “Blues in the Night”. A photo of that
aircraft, pictured with a later crew, is being
sent by separate e-mail. If you have any photos
of Lt. Wheeler or his crew that you would be
willing to share, we would be grateful for any
copies.
Responding 4 03/26/2012
Kent
Search No. 1558 – Sidney J. Elskes
From: Chris
Pasch; pasch_chris@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday,
March 11, 2012 9:18 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Info on Lt.
Sidney James Elskes
Hello.
I am
looking for information on my grandfather,
Sidney James Elskes. I was wondering which
missions he flew. I know he was shot down on the
9/23/43 mission to Nantes and evaded capture.
I'm not sure about any others. I am trying to
compile some information about his service and
anything you have would be great.
Thanks
Chris Pasch
Chris –
Association
records for Sidney J. Elskes show he flew 2
missions as navigator with the 525th Squadron
from September 9 to September 23, 1943. Our
records show missions 29 and 31. Lt. Elskes may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we show in our records.
On
September 23, 1943, the port city of Nantes,
France was targeted by the 379th. Lt. Elskes was
flying as navigator for the Breidenthal crew, in
a/c 42-29937, which was witnessed to be burning
but under control. Crew was as follows:
Breindenthal, Leslie T, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Wornson, Arnold T, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Evaded
Elskes, Sidney
J, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, Evaded
Padgett,
George C, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, Prisoner
Of War
McKinlay, James T, Tech Sergeant,
Radio Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Small,
Fred L, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Pitzo, Mike , Staff Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Shaw,
Gordon O, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Mayo, Joseph D, Sergeant,
Left Waist Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Rickett,
Waldo L, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Prisoner
Of War
This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case
any members or readers have any additional
information. Sorry, we have no photo of this
crew. If you have any photos of Lt. Elskes or
this crew that you would be willing to share, we
would be grateful for any copies.
Responding 4 03/15/2012
Kent
Search No. 1557 – Michael L. Dineen |
|
From: Tim Dineen; tim@divineisland.com
Sent:
Tuesday, March 06, 2012 5:47 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: looking for
Queenie and Mike Dineen
Hello,
My
father, Michael L Dineen, flew out of Kimbolton
on B-17 QUEENIE. I am looking for any
information of both Queenie and Michael L
Dineen. He was radio operator/gunner and has
left us a most revealing journal chronicling his
missions.
Thank you.
Tim Dineen
Tim –
Association
records for Michael L. Dineen show he flew 34
missions as radio operator/gunner with the 527th
Squadron from July 28 to November 16, 1944. Our
records show missions 175, 176, 177, 178, 179,
181, 185, 186, 188, 190, 192, 196, 197, 198,
200, 203, 205, 208, 209, 211, 213, 214, 216,
217, 218, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226, 228, 231,
233, 234, 237, and 238. Sgt. Dineen may have
flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we show in our records.
Sgt.
Dineen’s “regular” crew, possibly the one he
trained with, was as follows:
Casella,
Walter R, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Wells, Robert
L, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Martin, Hugh G,
Flight Officer, Navigator
Smith, Richard
(NMI), 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Dineen,
Michael L, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Casper, Nicholas (NMI), Staff Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Stapley, Leo P,
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
White, Daniel C,
Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Haney, Roy C,
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 we retrieved
from the National Archives, captioned as the
crew of Lt. Casella, and dated 18 July 1944, is
being sent by separate e-mail. We believe this
photo includes Sgt. Dineen – if you can identify
him, or any of the other crewmen pictured, we
would be grateful for that information.
Records show Sgt. Dineen flew 8 of his missions
in a/c 42-102627, “Queenie”. This aircraft
completed 128 missions for the 527th Squadron,
and returned to the US in June 1945 following a
transfer to the 91st Bomb Group.
Responding 4 03/14/2012
Kent
Search No. 1556 - Allen T.
Wilkerson Jr.
From: Allen
Wilkerson; allenwilkerson@cox.net
Sent:
Friday, March 02, 2012 3:38 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Looking for
info on the 525th
Hello,
Saw your
site and thought you might me able to get some
information for me. My father Allen T. Wilkerson
Jr. flew in 1944 with the 525th he was a Waist
Gunner/radio operator. His Pilot was Lt.
Herschbeger. There plane may have been the Judy
II, but not sure. Any additional information
would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Allen
Wilkerson
Allen –
Association records for Allen T.
Wilkerson Jr. show he flew 34 missions as radio
operator/gunner with the 525th Squadron from
June 13 to September 9, 1944. Our records show
missions 142, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149, 152,
155, 156, 157, 159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 167,
168, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180,
182, 190, 191, 192, 193, 198, 199, and 200. Sgt.
Wilkerson may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we show in our records.
Sgt. Wilkerson’s “regular” crew, possibly
the one he trained with, was as follows:
Herschberger, Robert A, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot
Beckwith, Bosworth C, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Moreau, Thomas P, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Isham, Robert F, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Worth, J Harlan, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Wilkerson Jr., Allen T, Sergeant, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner
O'Gurek, Stanley B, Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner
Mcdonald, Dale E,
Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Herrell, George,
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 we retrieved
from the National Archives, captioned as the
crew of Lt. Herschberger, and dated 12 June
1944, is being sent by separate e-mail. We
believe this photo includes Sgt. Wilkerson – if
you can confirm, we would be grateful.
Responding 4 03/08/2012
Kent
Search No. 1555 - Harold Schalley
From: Jim Schalley;
Jim.Schalley@iowacourts.gov
Sent: Monday,
February 27, 2012 9:09 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: S/SGT Harold
E. Schalley
I am looking for any
information available regarding S/ SGT Harold
Schalley. He was my great-uncle. His B-17,
Aircraft 43-39003, was shot down over Germany on
April 10, 1945 and he did not survive. I know
that he is buried in Ardennes, Belgium. I was
wondering if anybody had any more information
regarding his service or otherwise while he was
alive. Thank you. Jim Schalley.
Jim –
Association
records for Harold E. Schalley show he flew 32
missions as ball turret gunner with the 527th
Squadron from January 22 to April 10, 1945. Our
records show missions 270, 271, 273, 274, 275,
277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 283, 284, 290, 292,
294, 295, 296, 297, 299, 303, 304, 305, 307,
308, 311, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 321, and 322.
S/Sgt. Schalley may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
On April 10, 1945, the 379th
attacked an ordnance plant at Oranienburg,
Germany. S/Sgt. Schalley was flying the ball
turret position with the Walter H. Howard crew
in a/c 43-39003. This aircraft was one of
several that day that were attacked by Me-262
jets, and it’s RH stabilizer was shot off. The
aircraft went down immediately – four parachutes
were observed. Crew was as follows:
Howard, Walter H, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Hall, Donald E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Widawsky, Gerald J, Flight Officer, Navigator,
Prisoner Of War
Giannattasio, August R, Staff
Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier, Killed In Action
Hanley, James F, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Huntley,
Homer , Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner, Killed In Action
Schalley, Harold E,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Killed In
Action
Rider, Chester G, Staff Sergeant, Tail
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
This response
will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members or readers have any
additional information. Sorry, we have no photos
of S/Sgt. Schalley or this crew – if you have
any photos you’d be willing to share for our
archives, we would be grateful.
Responding 4 03/08/2012
Kent
Search No. 1554 - Dominick Fiorani
From:
Phyllis Manion; SuzieQ524@comcast.net
Sent:
Monday, February 20, 2012 9:07 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Dominick
Fiorani
Dear Sir/Madam:
Would you have
any information regarding my uncle, Dominick
Fiorani, who served in WWII? My mom and all of
us would love to receive any information about
him (how many missions, where he was shot down,
who was on the plane at the time, any survivors,
etc. He was the only son and had 5 sisters.
Thank you!
Phyllis Manion
Phyllis –
Association records for Dominick D. Fiorani show
he flew 5 missions as ball turret gunner with
the 527th Squadron from July 4 to August 12,
1943. Our records show missions 9, 15, 16, 17,
and 18. S/Sgt. Fiorani may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
The 379th’s assigned target on
August 12, 1943 was the synthetic oil plant at
Gelsenkirchen, Germany. S/Sgt. Fiorani was part
of the crew flying in a/c 42-5821, “Cindy”
(photo attached), which suffered a fire in the
bomb bay area from possible flak and fighter
damage. Crew was as follows:
Rees, David
W, Flight Officer, Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Dietrich, Clair M, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Busch, William L, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Galloway, Ernest A, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier,
Prisoner Of War
Murphy, Joseph L, Tech
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, Killed In
Action
Brennan, John T, Tech Sergeant, Top
Turret Gunner, Killed In Action
Fiorani,
Dominick P, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner,
Killed In Action
Lundquist, Chester H, Staff
Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, Killed In Action
Williams, James A, Staff Sergeant, Left
Waist Gunner, Killed In Action
Govern,
Stanley M, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Killed
In Action
This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case
any members or readers have any additional
information. Sorry, we have no photos of S/Sgt.
Fiorani or this crew – if you have any photos
you’d be willing to share for our archives, we
would be grateful.
Responding 4
02/28/2012
Kent
Search No.
1553 - Leo J. Kubinski
From: Michelle
Schultz; michelle.schultz526@comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 12:49 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: information
on Leo J. Kubinski
Hi,
My great uncle
Leo J. Kubinski was a technical sergeant in the
527th bomber squadron. I was wondering if you
could provide any information on him.
Thank you,
Michelle Schultz
Michelle –
Association records for Leo J.
Kubinski show he flew 13 missions as radio
operator/gunner with the 527th Squadron from
April 10 to May 13, 1944. Our records show
missions 94, 95, 96, 97, 100, 101, 103, 105,
107, 109, 111, 113, and 117. T/Sgt. Kubinski may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we show in our records.
On May
13, 1944, the 379th was assigned the
vulcanizing/rubber plant at Stettin, Germany.
T/Sgt. Kubinski was part of the crew flying in
a/c 42-97502, which was observed going down in a
straight dive with engine number 1 on fire. No
chutes were observed. Crew was as follows:
Marinello, Joseph (NMI), 2nd Lieutenant,
Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Bolger, Gottlieb J,
2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Killed In Action
Allen, John L, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator,
Prisoner Of War
Brasch, Robert L, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier, Prisoner Of War
Kubinski, Leo J, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Killed In Action
Dennis,
William O, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner, Killed In Action
Decker, Wilson R,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Killed In
Action
Bailey, Arden P, Staff Sergeant, Waist
Gunner, Killed In Action
McLallen, James P,
Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Killed In Action
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 identified as that of Lt. Marinello, and
dated 31 March 1944, is being sent by separate
e-mail. If you recognize T/Sgt Kubinski in this
photo, we would be grateful for that
identification.
Responding 4 02/28/2012
Kent
Search No. 1552 - George C. Bowling
From: George Bowling III;
marya.bowling@verizon.net
Sent: Thursday,
February 16, 2012 4:06 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Fwd: 379th
Bombardment Group Photo
Hello, I was
looking at the photo on your website. And i
noticed the guy standing in the center of the
back row looks alot like my grandfather. The
heading for the photo is Sub Depot Personal 3.44
. My grandfathers name is George C. Bowling he
was a M/ SGT serial # 6 792 711. I have records
that in August of 1942 he was with 97th Service
Squadron, 82nd Service Group Air Service
Command, Midland Texas. According to what i read
on army airforces .com that it was assigned to
the 379th Bomb group in November of 1942.
If
i could look at a closer up view of his face and
compare it to a photo i have of him when he came
home from the war i will know for sure. My
grandfather died on June 14, 1978 and lived out
in Kansas i was unable to ask him anything about
what he did during the war.
Even if it isnt
him he was still with the 8th Air Force i am
trying to see where at and what bomb group he
was with.
Thank You,
George Bowling
III
George –
Thank you for your inquiry.
Regrettably, our records covering the ground
personnel and support organizations are very
limited. However, the 2 volume 379th Bombardment
Group Anthology (available through the PX tab on
the web site) includes a roster of ground
personnel assigned to the 82nd Service Group,
which supported the 379th Bomb Group at
Kimbolton between April 1943 and July 1945. That
roster lists a T/Sgt. G. Bowling assigned to the
445th Sub-Depot, and indicates he was the “Chief
Clerk, AC Supply”.
I have attached a
better copy of the photo you refer to on the
website, which we obtained from the National
Archives, and is captioned “Sub-depot personnel
of the 379th Bomb Group pose for the
photographer at an 8th Air Force base in
England. 26 March 1944.” If you confirm the man
pictured is T/Sgt. Bowling, we would appreciate
that information. If you have any photos of
T/Sgt. Bowling, or his activities at Kimbolton
that you’d be willing to share, we would be
grateful for any copies.
Responding 4
02/18/2012
Kent
Search No. 1551 - Edward J. O’Connell
From: ED OCONNELL; ejocon13@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 5:57 PM
To:
LOOKING4@379THBGA.ORG
Subject: S/SGT EDWARD
J. O'CONNELL
Hello, Could you provide
information on my father S/Sgt Edward J.
O'Connell . He died in 1974 and never talked
about his time in the service. I know he was in
the 524th Bomb Squadron and his plane was the
Miss Liberty. He received the Air Medal and
Purple Heart awards and was possibly shot down
twice. He served from 1942-45, that is all I
know.
Thank you, MSgt USAF retired Edward J.
O'Connell Jr.
Sir –
Association records for Edward J.
O’Connell show he flew 35 missions as gunner
with the 526th Squadron from September 25, 1944
to February 25, 1945. Our records show missions
208, 213, 214, 216, 219, 220, 221, 224, 229,
231, 232, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 243, 244,
246, 247, 248, 249, 252, 253, 254, 258, 260,
261, 262, 264, 265, 274, 276, 281, and 287.
S/Sgt. O’Connell may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
As was the case with most 8th
Air Force crews, there was some crew rotation
(especially towards the end of S/Sgt.
O’Connell’s missions), but what looks to be his
“regular” crew was as follows:
Sorenson,
Maurice R, Lieutenant, Pilot
Griffin, William
T, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Brown, Ralph C,
Lieutenant, Navigator
Moore, Maurice A, Staff
Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Fentress,
Charles E, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Mansell, Harry A, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner
Bonnette, Julius A, Staff
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
O'Connell,
Edward J, Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Peek,
Robert E, 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.
Information we have do show S/Sgt O’Connell
flying missions in a/c 43-38679, “Miss Liberty”
(a photo is being sent by separate e-mail), but
only 2 of his 35 total missions. The rest of his
missions were flown in a variety of the
Squadron’s airplanes, again typical of 379th and
8th Air Force operations. Sorry, we have no
photo of S/Sgt. O’Connell or his crew. If you
have any photos of his crew that you’d be
willing to share, we would be grateful for any
copies.
Responding 4 02/18/2012
Kent |
