Search found 35 matches

by Steve Birdsall
Tue Feb 16, 2016 4:01 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Pearl Harbor B-17Es
Replies: 0
Views: 16801

Pearl Harbor B-17Es

I’ve got an article about the eight B-17Es that arrived over Hawaii during the 7 December 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks in the next issue of Aviation History that might be of interest. http://users.beagle.com.au/stevepb/AH.jpg All eight were quickly reassigned to Hawaiian Air Force squadrons and overpai...
by Steve Birdsall
Sun Sep 22, 2013 4:56 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Listen Here Tojo
Replies: 3
Views: 7394

Re: Listen Here Tojo

One of the more poignant aspects of this story is that the pilot, Howard Eberly, had already cheated death once. On March 15, 1943 he was Lt Arthur McMullan's co-pilot in 41-24424 "Hell from Heaven Men" . They were returning from an abortive mission to Wewak and, with fuel running out, were finally ...
by Steve Birdsall
Wed Sep 04, 2013 6:46 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Questions about two Sergeants
Replies: 10
Views: 13759

Re: Questions about two Sergeants

I've just heard from Dean C. Sanford who confirms that his late father, Donald Sanford, is the man standing third from the left in the crew photo.
by Steve Birdsall
Thu Aug 29, 2013 2:55 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: 5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport
Replies: 7
Views: 11698

Re: 5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport

Thanks Gordy. I got a lucky break a while ago and, thanks entirely to Peter May, I was able to confirm that Pretty Baby was definitely 41-2665. I have VHCBC as 41-2497, originally Tojo's Nightmare with the 19th Bomb Group, and 41-2440 as Calamity Jane , at least after it went from Hardison's 93rd Sq...
by Steve Birdsall
Wed Aug 28, 2013 6:24 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Questions about two Sergeants
Replies: 10
Views: 13759

Re: Questions about two Sergeants

Image

This is Robert Midgley, the radio operator on Cap'n & The Kids on 2 March 1944. His son Bob Midgley kindly provided the photo.
by Steve Birdsall
Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:18 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Questions about two Sergeants
Replies: 10
Views: 13759

Re: Questions about two Sergeants

Thanks again Rolland, that’s just what I was hoping to find!
by Steve Birdsall
Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:57 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Questions about two Sergeants
Replies: 10
Views: 13759

Re: Questions about two Sergeants

Thanks Rolland. As you probably know, these fellows were two of the 14-man crew aboard 41-24353 Cap'n & The Kids on the 2 March 1944 Momote mission. The names and serial numbers I had were drawn from a 69th Troop Carrier Squadron report dated 13 April 1944. The full crew was a real mix: Pilot: Major...
by Steve Birdsall
Mon Aug 12, 2013 5:56 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Questions about two Sergeants
Replies: 10
Views: 13759

Questions about two Sergeants

I'm finding it difficult to establish the facts about two 433rd Troop Carrier Group airmen. http://users.beagle.com.au/stevepb/Beck.jpg T/Sgt Robert R. McCulloch from Michigan, ASN 6913150, was in the 67th Troop Carrier Squadron and is the man kneeling on the right in the photo above. His name is li...
by Steve Birdsall
Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:24 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: 5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport
Replies: 7
Views: 11698

Re: 5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport

I'll try to come at this from another angle . . . has anybody seen a photo of a B-17 displaying the number 41(on 41-2665) or 97 (on 41-2408) behind the cockpit?
by Steve Birdsall
Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:12 am
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Crash of Red "A" Baby in Australia 1942
Replies: 3
Views: 6558

Re: Crash of Red "A" Baby in Australia 1942

The mission was flown by five B-17Es - two from the 30th Bomb Squadron (not the 28th as reported in Gene Salecker's book) and three from the 93rd. The two 30th planes were 41-2664 flown by Captain Edward C. Teats and 41-2669 flown by First Lieutenant Clyde B. Kelsay. They were first over the target ...
by Steve Birdsall
Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:01 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot
Replies: 6
Views: 10727

Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

There seems to be some confusion here . . . the 19th Bomb Group co-pilot I was looking for was in fact Warrant Officer Lewis S. George, 407234 . The various initials given in The Age story and Hardison's mission report are just clerical errors, but they certainly muddied the waters - for years. Acco...
by Steve Birdsall
Wed May 30, 2012 7:02 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: 5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport
Replies: 7
Views: 11698

5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport

http://users.beagle.com.au/stevepb/640PB.jpg Can anyone confirm the identity of this B-17E armed transport? Available information suggests it belonged to the 317th Troop Carrier Group. If so, it can only be one of two aircraft – 41-2408 of the 46th Troop Carrier Squadron or 41-2665 from the 40th Sq...
by Steve Birdsall
Thu May 17, 2012 2:16 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot
Replies: 6
Views: 10727

Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Image

I suspect that I'm the only one who cares about this, but I've finally identified this fellow as Lewis S. George, from Adelaide. The photo shows him with Captain Ken Casper.
by Steve Birdsall
Mon May 07, 2012 8:35 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot
Replies: 6
Views: 10727

Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

An October 1942 story in Melbourne newspaper The Age mentions a number of Australian co-pilots and navigators who took part in the October 13, 1942 mission against the Rabaul airstrips. One of the men mentioned is “Warrant-Officer W. George (co-pilot) of Adelaide”. The 93rd Bomb Squadron mission re...
by Steve Birdsall
Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:32 pm
Forum: Wrecks & Losses
Topic: B17 Hoomalimali
Replies: 7
Views: 8669

Re: B17 Hoomalimali

I'm not sure what you're hoping to find, but the only eyewitness account of the aftermath of the crash that I've seen came from Chaplain William Taggart. He told the harrowing story in his 1943 book, My Fighting Congregation . He wrote . . . During the night I was thrown from my cot by an explosion....