LT Edward Arthur Loetscher, Ellington, CT
The weather was "clear on the deck" when the Mustangs of the 55th Fighter Squadron left their base at Kingscliffe, England, for a fighter-bomber mission to the German university city of Heidelberg.
Piloting one of the Mustangs on Thursday, November 9, 1944, was 2nd LT Edward Arthur Loetscher of Ellington, CT. On their way to the target, the 55th executed a right turn. While making this maneuver, the fuel tank on the belly of LT Loetscher's aircraft fell off. Probably due to a change in the...
Beloved son shot down one week after his 24th birthday
LT Junior Grade Albert Leonidas Peterson
LTJG Peterson was born March 17, 1920, in Jacksonville, FL. On March 24, 1944, while serving with Naval Bombing Squadron (VB) 305, he was killed in a crash on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. His aircraft was observed to be streaming fuel as he approached his target. He attempted to land at the Torokina fighter strip, but when he saw it was impossible, he bailed out of his plane at 100 feet. His parachute did not open.
He was survived by his...
55 Miles From Kyushu
Lieutenant Volney Wright Taylor, Jr., was a promising young attorney with his family law firm in Brownsville, Texas. The son of prominent citizens Volney Wright Taylor, Sr., and Ethel Cook Taylor, his legal future was unlimited.
As part of his application to enter officer training, LT Taylor received letters of recommendation from Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, the One Hundred and Third Judicial District; and Milton H. West, his local Congressman.
His...
The Kintz Brothers of Downey High School, Downey, CA
Frank J. Kintz, Jr., born May 8, 1920 and Robert E. Kintz, born January 21, 1922, were brothers from Downey, California. With World War 2 on the horizon, both young men volunteered for the Army Air Corps. Frank enlisted on February 13, 1940 and was followed about five months later by Robert, who enlisted on June 23, 1940.
They were serving together in the Philippines, Frank with the 27th Materiel Squadron and Robert with the 17th Signal Platoon, when the islands were captured by the...
Six B-24s From Baker Box Downed
The men - the boys, really - were right from Central Casting. An All-American crew. Ready and able for the mission of July 2, 1944. The pilot was 2nd LT Laurence Whittaker, of Little Rock, Arkansas. His fellow officers were Flight Officer Ernest C. Phillips, copilot, from Chester, Pennsylvania. The navigator was 2nd Lieutenant John F. Wark, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, and the bombardier was 2nd LT Russell M. Sharples, of Thorton, Ohio. Only LT Sharples was married.
There were six...
Five From the 464th Bomb Group
The 15th Army Air Force, based in...Wee Willie and the photo that started it all
Above is B-17 “Wee Willie”...Debut for Debach
It was the very first combat mission...From Panatella to Ploesti
The 15th Army Air Force, based in...Six B-24s From Baker Box Downed
The men – the boys, really...The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
More than 260 UCLA students, faculty ...
Talk Radio One’s Steven Spierer Interviews WW2 Researcher Bill Beigel
Steven Spierer Talk Radio One Interview...Captain Norman L. Aigner: An Ordinary Guy
If you’ve been reading my blog with...Tomas Garza’s Daughter – “Now I Don’t Feel Empty”
Like most children of World War II...“Fresno Marine Dies in Action in Pacific War” – Fresno Bee, Oct 21, 1944
Private First Class Huston R. Fannon,...“Fresno Officer Dies in Action on German Front,” Fresno Bee, April 3, 1945
This article is part of a series...The Pheley Brothers of Fresno, California
This article is part of a series...
Wee Willie and the photo that started it all
My father was Paul D Jessop, he spoke of your Grandfather a lot. My father passed away in 2011 .The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
Hi Bill, Thanks for putting this together. My grand uncle, 2nd Lt. Robert L. Woolfolk attended UCLA and I believe he graduated in 1936. He was on the waterpolo team. He was a bombardier in the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group and his aircraft "Decatur Deb" was shot down on May 28, 1944. He and six others perished while three were able bail out and became POWs. This is written up the in the book "Bloody Skies: U.S. Eighth Air Force Battle Damage in World War II." There is a B-17G tail gunner's compartment on display at the 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to this crew. Regards, Nick VeronicoBill’s WW2 Almanac for January 21: Featuring Col. Randy’s Flying Circus
Hi! Randall Col Randy is actually my great grandfather and I was wandering if you ever new him? I am curious to know more about him.Women in WWII: Cornelia Clark Fort
Interesting....very hard to know the 'who hit who'.....Fort had enough flying time to be a instructor, I know nothing about the other pilot. If Pastor Jeff had information on her being talked into a situation, I would love to know if reliable. Regardless, so many losses in so many ways.... My take is the WAFS/WASPS deserve a bit more of history's 'time in the books'. Many thanks for the commentary, StarrRemembering the Fallen: WWII Veterans of UCLA, Major Robert C. Maze
Bill, Are you still working on this blog? Rosemarie is my mother in law. She passed away 10 years ago. Her (and Roberts') son Robert Maze Jr is alive and well. I was googling Admiral Radford and ended up googling links... Thank you for your efforts here. Kim WoodsFrom Panatella to Ploesti
I’m looking for information on My Great great GRANDFATHER WAS ON A B-24 LIBERATOR CALLED: Diamond li
Bill’s WWII Almanac
