The Sherman Tank Edition – Research Tour Travelog
It was a rough ride on US-50 from Hutchinson, KS, to Wichita. Cars going at 70 MPH in each direction, with no visible center meridian. Lots of construction work as well. Part of the plastic of the front bumper of my Hertznbeigel Research-Mobile somehow detached from the rest of the vehicle, so, at low speeds, my car sounds like a tank missing a tread.
At 10 a.m., I had a great tour of the Kansas Aviation Museum next to the Wichita Airport. It turns out that about 70% of all aircraft ever built in the United States were built in Kansas. Very nice archives, including many training and maintenance manuals for WW2-era aircraft; the museum also has a strong collection of original aircraft construction blueprints. Best of all is the only fully-equipped version of the “Link Trainer” I have ever seen. The “Link” (also known as the “Blue Box” and “Pilot Trainer”) was one of the first training devices used by aspiring pilots in WW2.
On Kansas Highway 99 from Eureka to Olpe, saw only one car besides myself going northbound for this 35-mile stretch. Nice ride through green countryside; looked like parts of Iowa or Minnesota.
At Olpe, I ate at the Chicken House, home of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tried.
I learned on this trip that my PR rep is moonlighting with a tax-prep/dog-kennel service. Explains a lot.
In Emporia, stopped at the Evergreen Cemetery. Paid tribute to Technician 5th Grade Clair Odell Johnson, killed in World War 2 on February 20, 1945.
World War 2 Research:
Prepared one proposal: Corporal Lewis L. Wilcoxen, 1st Marine Division, killed in action on Peleliu on September 16, 1944.
Ask Bill or comment on this story
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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
My mother was a close childhood friend of the Wilcoxson’s. Lewis, Who I seem to recall was called “buzz”,had a twin sister, Francis. Fran was close to all of us, is also an inveterate cigarette smoker, and died in 1993. She had four children: Donn, Who has passed away, Susan, David, and Douglas. Fran’s husband, R. Douglas Trites,, died last year.
Hi Duane:
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate this information; it’s very interesting.
Best regards, Bill