Barenaked Ladies Edition – Research Tour Travelog
Today I started on a trek through the Southwest and some of the middle states, conducting in-person research and visiting more than half a dozen military and aviation museums. I’ll do my best to blog every day of my trip.
Left home about 10:45, worried that I would get caught in the “Cajon Crawl” in the Cajon Pass on I-15 to Victorville. Although the traffic was heavy, I beat the Crawl. Temperature was 97 degrees in the Pass. Listened to Bare Naked Ladies CD.
Four miles west of the Kielbaker Road on I-40, came upon a recently overturned big rig. Ominous and appropriate music playing at this point was “Nothing is Easy” by Jethro Tull, which band is most unfairly not yet inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
Thirty miles east of the Arizona border saw a huge semi, with a painting of Kim Kardashian nearly falling out of her top on the back door. While this itself didn’t seem so unusual, emblazoned on the side of this black truck was an ad for “Kim Kardashian Fragrance,” apparently for “the modern girl who does it all.” The first time I saw the truck, I was listening to “Sailing to Philadelphia,” a great duet by Mark Knopfler and James Taylor. The song is much better than the artwork.
All the way to Needles, CA, the truck and I kept passing each other; in my case, I was trying to get away from that painting for once and for all. Shortly after Needles, the truck took an off-ramp, and I was free. The temperature in Needles was a comfortable 108 degrees.
Once I got past Kingman, AZ, the terrain became green and lovely, more so with each gain in elevation. Here in Williams, I am surrounded by beautiful green pines and great mountain scenery.
In research news, I sent out four proposals. The soldiers to be researched were all infantrymen killed in World War 2.
They are:
- PVT Eugene Hix
- PFC Howard D. Peddicord
- SSGT James W. Probst (I researched his cousin, a downed airman, about five years ago)
- SGT Henry R. Tracy
Stay tuned for more research news across the Southwest through Middle America. Live from Williams, AZ.
–Bill
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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
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