Search found 92 matches

by RSwank
Wed Apr 24, 2019 4:05 pm
Forum: Missing/Killed In Action (MIA/KIA)
Topic: Guadalcanal, Americal Division part of the 164 IR
Replies: 1
Views: 12852

Re: Guadalcanal, Americal Division part of the 164 IR

Coulter died on November 25, 1942. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56127742/willard-joseph-coulter This book, text only version online here: https://archive.org/stream/UnderTheSouthernCross/UnderTheSouthernCross_djvu.txt describes the fighting that proceeded November 25, 1942. This report in the...
by RSwank
Mon Mar 04, 2019 7:51 am
Forum: Veterans
Topic: pilot wings
Replies: 1
Views: 16600

Re: pilot wings

For the Army Air Force, if your father as a non-com was on a flight crew he would most likely have had gunner's wings or possibly flight crew wings. http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/usaaf/usaafaircrew.shtml http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/usaaf/usaafgunner.shtml He would not have been qualified as a pilo...
by RSwank
Tue Sep 04, 2018 8:59 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Wirraway wrecks nr. Rabaul New Britian
Replies: 2
Views: 18020

Re: Wirraway wrecks nr. Rabaul New Britian

There is some detail of the event here, starting on page 27 https://books.google.com/books?id=Pj3t74K8hq4C&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=wirraways+rabaul&source=bl&ots=hnsdY9eZd0&sig=XAgTL7B8qdpYld-7jfilkN54CIk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiNyNCf36LdAhUEOa0KHQ7TBj8Q6AEwCXoECAEQAQ#v=onepage&q=wirraways%20rabaul&f=fal...
by RSwank
Thu Aug 16, 2018 12:51 pm
Forum: Missing/Killed In Action (MIA/KIA)
Topic: B-29 loss, AAF serial # 42-63508, May 25, 1945
Replies: 14
Views: 31852

Re: B-29 loss, AAF serial # 42-63508, May 25, 1945

Mike, It looks like the Temple is marked with a "swastika like" symbol on both the 1945 map and on Google Maps. The Temple area and what looks like a graveyard are at: 35.905043, 139.904494 https://www.google.com/maps/place/35%C2%B054'18.0%22N+139%C2%B054'21.2%22E/@35.905001,139.9053418,150m/data=!3...
by RSwank
Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:34 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: 3 Lost B-24's in Burma 14 Nov. 1943
Replies: 1
Views: 13719

Re: 3 Lost B-24's in Burma 14 Nov. 1943

The 3 B-24s that went down on this mission were: 42-73304 The pilot was Lt George H Kimball and the co-pilot was F/O George R Johnson. Listed in the crew was a S/Sgt Carl A Speck from Mound Valley, KA. (Was he your uncle?) (7 page MACR) 42-73059 was piloted by Maj Wesley Werner. (25 page MACR) 42-73...
by RSwank
Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:50 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Lost F4U Corsairs
Replies: 2
Views: 15210

Re: Lost F4U Corsairs

A little background on why the planes ended up in Lake Michigan.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... olumn.html
by RSwank
Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:44 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Lost F4U Corsairs
Replies: 2
Views: 15210

Re: Lost F4U Corsairs

There have been many navy planes recovered from Lake Michigan including a F4U. There are probably still more wrecks in the lake.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_and_T_Recovery


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwNPTkoa9M
by RSwank
Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:14 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

There are two photos on fold3.com of Jabor, Jaluit Atoll taken during WWII. Fold3.com photos are free to view and use (registration may be required). This first photo, taken November 1943 shows the harbor before bombing. North is toward the lower right side of the photo. So the lagoon is toward the ...
by RSwank
Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:57 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

Book page 17 (page 22 of the booklet below) shows where the various piers were located in the early 40s. http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/9884470 You can find Warf 1 and Warf 2 on Google Earth or Google maps today. The Main pier (German dock) has been reconstructed and lengthened and is not today ...
by RSwank
Sat Nov 11, 2017 7:55 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

Here is the entire book in which the "AE" photo was found. http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1223403/113?itemId=info%3Andljp%2Fpid%2F1223403&contentNo=113&__lang=en You can go through it page by page. (Slide your cursor along the left or right edge to get the arrow "next page" to appear. It...
by RSwank
Thu Nov 09, 2017 12:19 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

Tom, I ran across another article in the Pacific Islands Monthly, this one from April, 1936. The article starts on page 36. Nice description of the town. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-311753908/view?partId=nla.obj-311808191#page/n37/mode/1up What I find interesting is that the author describes some the...
by RSwank
Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 am
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

Tom, I will play Devil's Advocate here. When I look at the full picture of the supposed AE on the dock, I think I see a scalloped canopy, probably on a small boat, just to the left of the people on the dock. The boat would appear to be right up next to the dock/wharf. I think there is possible a lad...
by RSwank
Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:48 am
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

I would think there have to be some photos somewhere, unfortunately they may not be on-line. There is an interesting description of a visit by some Japanese princes to Jaluit in July 1935 in the September issue of the Pacific Islands Monthly. Article starts on page 25. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3116...
by RSwank
Fri Nov 03, 2017 2:05 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Plane in the lagoon at Orona
Replies: 130
Views: 197292

Re: Plane in the lagoon at Orona

Are you aware of any photos that show the dock? I note that there is a claim that this dock was built after 1935, but when I look at the original photo : https://www.archives.gov/files/news/Amelia%20Earhart%20possible%20sighting.pdf the pilings along the left side of the dock appear to be quite weat...