|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
| Navigation Menus |
|
Military Art Index |
Aviation Art Index |
Naval Art Index |
Artists Index |
Aviation History Archive |
Naval History Archive |
|
| HALF PRICE AND FREE PRINT SPECIAL OFFERS | ||||||
|
| Navigation | |
| Page 2 of 4 | Previous .. Page 2 .. Next |
| Aviation Art Collecton - Flying Fortress |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navigation | |
| Page 2 of 4 | Previous .. Page 2 .. Next |
| Squadrons for : Flying Fortress | ||
| A list of all squadrons from known to have used this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
100th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 100th Bomb Group | 100th Bomb Group The 100th Bomb Group were based at RAF Thorpe Abbotts, and flew Flying Fortresses which specialised in daylight bombing deep into Germany. The 100th Bomb group became known as the ‘the Bloody Hundredth’ due to their heavy losses. On their first mission alone the 100th Bomb Group lost three planes and thirty men and worse was to follow. On March 6th 1944 fifteen aircraft were lost during a mission to bomb Berlin. The 100th Bomb Group's main missions were to bomb strategic targets such as airfields, oil installations, enemy ground defences and submarine and transport facilities. The 100th Bomb Group flew six ‘Chowhound’ missions dropping food parcels to hungry Dutch citizens after May 1945. | |
19th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 19th Bomb Group | 19th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
351st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 351st Bomb Group | 351st Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
379th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 379th Bomb Group | 379th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
381st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 381st Bomb Group | 381st Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
447th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 447th Bomb Group | 447th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
91st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 91st Bomb Group | 91st Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
92nd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 92nd Bomb Group | 92nd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
No.90 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 8th October 1917 Fate : Disbanded 1st March 1965 Celer - Swift | No.90 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
| Signatures for : Flying Fortress | |||||
| A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | |||||
| Name | Info | ||||
 Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman Click the name above to see prints signed by Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman | Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman Robert Altman had joined up in October 1939, serving with the 42nd Bomb Squadron in Hawaii. December 41 found him at Clark Field in the Philippines with the 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. He was radio operator and belly gunner on Kellys B- 17. Robert was captured by the Japanese after bailing out, and taken as POW for the remainder of the war. He spent 36 months of that captivity in Tokyo, Japan. | ||||
John Asmussen Click the name above to see prints signed by John Asmussen
| John Asmussen Tail gunner, B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Queen. Sadly John Asmussen passed away on 31st July 2007. | ||||
  S/Sgt Raymond Baus Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by S/Sgt Raymond Baus | S/Sgt Raymond Baus Ball Turret Gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress Lazy Baby. | ||||
 Lt Col Joe M Bean USAF Click the name above to see prints signed by Lt Col Joe M Bean USAF | Lt Col Joe M Bean USAF Born in Kim, Colorado in 1916, Joe Bean enlisted in the Army Air Corp. in early 1940. He completed his basic training in California and his advanced training at Maxwell Field, Alabama. Joe went through navigator training at Coral Gables. He flew to Hawaii in September of 1941 where he was assigned to the 14th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group. Captain Colin Kelly personally selected Joe as his navigator, and the crew made the long journey in their B- 17 from Hawaii to Clark Field in the Philippines. Joe's total air training consisted of this long distance flight. On December 8, 1941 (December 7th in the U.S.) the B- 17 under Kelly's command, and with Joe as its navigator, flew a reconnaissance mission northward from Clark Field towards Formosa. On their return leg of the mission they observed a large number of Japanese ships escorted by aircraft. On the following day Joe and his crewmates were assigned an older B-17C model and were ordered to fly this aircraft on a mission to seek out and bomb an enemy aircraft carrier situated off the north coast of Luzon. While no carrier was found they were successful on an attack on a large capital ship believed to be the Cruiser Ashi,-ari. This was the first loss of a capital ship by the Imperial Navy since the War had begun. On the way back to Clark Field the B-17 was jumped by a large number of Japanese fighter aircraft. Sgt. Delchanty was killed in the attack, and with the ship in bad shape, Captain Kelly ordered the crew to bail out. Kelly went with the ship. Bean was picked up and returned to Clark Field. In late January Joe left the Philippines by ship which was bombed by the Japanese. Joe's squadron mates were sent to Lake Lanau, and then on to Australia in the bomb bay of a B-24. Joe eventually ended up in Perth, Australia where General Royce organized a task force of three B-17s and ten B-25s. This group flew a number of missions out of Perth and later flew out of Charters Towers. Joe returned to the States in June of 1943. He married the former Janc Danielsen of Ripon, Wisconsin in April of 1944. Joe remained in the Air Force until 1964 when he retired. He was on the Bikini atomic bomb mission from Kwajalein in 1946. Most of Joe's Air Force career was spent with the Strategic Air Command. His numerous decorations include the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal and Commendation Ribbon. After his retirement Joe relocated to Colorado Springs where for more than twenty years he was active in the real estate business. In May of 1994 Joe, accompanied by his son and his wife of fifty-two years, attended the Second Dedication of the Four Freedoms Monument in Captain Colin P. Kelly's hometown of Madison, Florida. At the dedication were Kelly's son, the Rev. Colin P. Kelly II of Las Alamos, New Mexico, and Kelly's grandson Colin P. Kelly, III. | ||||
First Lieutenant Frederick J Bird Click the name above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Frederick J Bird | First Lieutenant Frederick J Bird Navigator with the 326th BS, 92nd Bomb Group, Fred Bird flew 14 combat missions on B 17 Fortresses, his first being on 26 August 1943. Following the second raid on Schweinfitirt he was later shot down and taken prisoner of war. He remained captive until liberated on 29 April 1945. | ||||
 Colonel George P Birdsong Click the name above to see prints signed by Colonel George P Birdsong
| Colonel George P Birdsong George Birdsong was born on the 12th of October 1919 and raised in Clarksdale MS where he earned a football scholarship at Southwest MS Jr. College. Winning his pilot’s wings in April, 1942 he was immediately assigned to a B-17 with the 91st BG and sent to Bassingbourn. George Birdsong arrived in England in the fall of 1942, assinged to 323rd Squadron of the 91st Bomber Group The Ragged Irregulars, where he was one of the first to fly daylight combat missions over Germany. On 4th March 1942, George took part in the famous raid on Hamm, the 91st being the first group to attack a target on the Ruhr. His aircraft - Delta Rebel #2 - made claim to being the first US bomber in World War II to complete 25 combat sorties. George Birdsong remained in the US Air Force experiencing four wars, flying a combat tour in B/17s and B-19s, B-47s, B-52s and B-58s during the Korean and Cold Wars. He was a Wing Commander of the 633rd Special Operations wings, Piciku Airbase in the Central Highlands of Vietnam where he flew A-1 Skyraiders. He survived over 245 combat missions including 220 in Vietnam and his combined military service was 32 years. Sadly Colonel George Purnell Birdsong Jr passed away on the 9th of July 2004 at the age of 84. Colonel Birdsong was buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery VA.
| ||||
T/Sgt John C Bitzer Click the name above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of T/Sgt John C Bitzer | T/Sgt John C Bitzer John Bitzer joined the service in 1942 before tramsferring to England. On 30th December 1943 flying the B-17G Fortress 'Maid to Please', on his very first combat mission his aircraft was shot down and he had to bail out. John was taken prisoner by the Germans and remained in captivity until May 1945. | ||||
  2nd Lt Brunson Bolin Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by 2nd Lt Brunson Bolin | 2nd Lt Brunson Bolin Co-pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress Lazy Baby. Brunson Bolin was just 18 years old when he volunteered for the Army Air Force. Within months, he was training to be a pilot and flew the B-17 named the Lazy Baby. 2nd Lt Brunson Bolin was on his seventh mission — flying as a co-pilot. Their mission was to bomb the ball-bearing factory on the Schweinfurt Raid. They had just dropped their bombs when the plane was attacked. The left board engine was on fire, communication systems were destroyed and the navigator was mortally wounded. The situation looked grim and the pilot ordered everyone to bail out. With the plane in distress, Brunson Bolin jumped from the bomb bay — he slammed into one of the doors breaking most of his ribs. As he tumbled towards the earth, Brunson stretched back and noticed holes popping up inside his parachute. He looked down to find a group of German farmers taking shots at him. The only thing that saved his life was a German Army Corporal who got to him before the farmers did. And in the middle of a huge hay field, Brunson Bolin was captured. He would spend the next 18 months at Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Poland as a prisoner of war. When 2nd Lt Brunson Bolin returned after the war he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Air Medal for his service to our nation. After the war, he took a job with Delta Air Lines. | ||||
 Gen. Charles R. Bond Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Gen. Charles R. Bond
| Gen. Charles R. Bond Bond was born in 1915 in Dallas, Texas. His military career began in the Texas National Guard, and he was commissioned in 1939 at Randolph Field, Texas. His first assignment was flying B-17s based at Langley Field, Virginia. During this period, he participated in one of the first good-will flights to South America in 1939. After joining the AVG, he was assigned to the Adam & Eves, and recalls being the first to introduce the painted shark mouth motif on AVG P-40s. One of the Tigers great aces, he was credited with shooting down three Japanese aircraft in one mission in the defense of Rangoon. While serving with the AVG, Bond was shot down twice, and was ultimately credited with 8.77 victories. In 1942, Barld rejoined the U.S. Army Air Corps and began teaching combat skills to new pilots. A year later he served as an Ambassadors aide in the U.S. Military Mission to the U.S.S.R. in Moscow. In 1949, Bond graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Management Engineering. He then completed nearly 20 years in military leadersnip positions throughout the United States, Europe and Far East. After serving as Commander 12th Air Force, USAF, he retired with at the rank of Maj. General in 1968. Sadly, Charles Bond passed away on 18th August 2009. | ||||
 Captain Turner G Brashear Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain Turner G Brashear | Captain Turner G Brashear Joining up on June 1st 1943, Turner Brashear arrived at Ridgewell in time to fly his first combat mission on 24th November 1944m with the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. He flew as aircraft commander on 27 missions right up to VE-Day. On the 11th April 1945 returning from a mission to Munich, his B17 suffered a mid air collision over the Rhine, as another aircraft descended into his, shearing off the right horizontal stabilizer. The bomber spun downwards for 8000ft before Turner managed to regain some control, coaxing his aircraft home with great skill. | ||||
Captain Al Brown Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain Al Brown | Captain Al Brown Based in England with the 8th Air Force, Al Brown flew B-17s with the 95th Bomb Group, taking part in the first bombing raid on Berlin in March 1944. The 95th BG claimed 425 enemy aircraft destroyed, the highest number by any Fifth Air Force Bomb Group. All Browns crew survived 26 awesome raids without a scratch. He returned to the U.S. with an array of decorations, later flying C54s out of Japan during the Korean War. | ||||
T/Sgt Norman Bussel Click the name above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of T/Sgt Norman Bussel | T/Sgt Norman Bussel As Radio Operator on the B-17 'Mississippi Lady', Norman Bussel flew his first combat mission in March 1944 to Frankfurt. On 29th April 1944 his aircraft was shot down over Berlin, the worst day for losses for the 447th during the entire war. Bailing out with his clothes on fire, four of his crew died that day. Norman was taken PoW for the rest of the war. | ||||
 Lt Col Henry Hank Cervantes Click the name above to see prints signed by Lt Col Henry Hank Cervantes | Lt Col Henry Hank Cervantes Lt Col. Henry Cervantes was born in Fresno, California in October 1923. He joined the US Air Force and graduated on the 27th June 1944. Lt Col. Henry Cervantes wa sone of only a few Mexican American Pilots, of The Bloody100th Bombardment Group flying B-17s | ||||
  S/Sgt Robert Cinibulk Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by S/Sgt Robert Cinibulk | S/Sgt Robert Cinibulk Waist Gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress Lazy Baby. | ||||
L G Creel Click the name above to see prints signed by L G Creel | L G Creel Navigator of B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Queen | ||||
 John Davy Crockett Click the name above to see prints signed by John Davy Crockett | John Davy Crockett John Davy Crockett was trained as a navigator by Pan Am in mid-1941 because the USAAF did not have its navigator school in operation. Davy was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group flying the new B-17C Flying Fortress. Davy found that most Air Corps pilots were used to doing their own navigating, so his job would be easy. Davy experienced a crash in a B-17 while training, but the crew walked away from the wreck. In late 1941 his crew was informed that they would be flying to Clark Field in the Philippines. On December they left Albuquerque and flew to Hamilton Field in California. They received a briefing on expected weather and left on the evening of December 6 for their first stop at Hickham Field, Oahu Hawaii. Flying into the darkness over the vast Pacific, the pilot for the first time in Crocketts career turned the navigation over to Davy. Realizing that the Hawaiian Islands were only small dots on the charts of the vast Pacific, and that his aircraft would have little fuel reserves left when it arrived, sent chills up Crocketts spine. As dawn broke Davy saw lots of islands where there were not suppose to be any. His panic subsided when he realized that they were only clouds. The pilot, Earl Cooper, came on the intercom at that moment to ask for an ETA. As Davy responded, the gunners in the back came on the intercom to report a large formation of aircraft about ten miles north of their position. They must be Navy aircraft. Minutes later they had descended to about 1200 feet when eight fighter aircraft came straight at them with their guns blazing. As the aircraft flew by the flight engineer, Jesse Broyls, yelled out, Rising Sun ! The zeros reformed behind the unarmed B-17, and as Cooper dove the lumbering giant towards the wave tops, Crockett could hear the thump of bullets hitting his plane. The No. 2 engine was hit and Cooper shut it down. Rounding Diamond Head at about 300-feet the crew saw smoke and fire everywhere, and Japanese planes all over the sky. They passed over Hickham Field at about 1000-feet, realizing that this was no time and place for a landing. They turned towards Ford Island and passed directly over the USS Arizona minutes after the ship had exploded. Crocketts B-17 now became a target for nervous anti-aircraft gunners on the ground, and the B-17 had its No. 4 engine shot out. Cooper prepared the crew to bail out, but he then saw an opportunity to bring the big bird into Wheeler Field. He came straight in and belly-landed the B-17 with almost no fuel left. The plane slid to a stop on the turf just short of a group of P-40s. The entire crew got out of the B-17 and ran for cover in a patch of nearby woods. The B-17s on the flight from the mainland were scattered all over the island, with most of them seriously damaged. Fortunately, there were only two casualties, a flight surgeon who was killed and a bombardier who was injured when they were strafed while running from their plane. Crockett would survive a third crash in another B-17 on December 25th when he would spend six days in a life raft. | ||||
 Lieutenant Colonel Robert W Dees Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W Dees | Lieutenant Colonel Robert W Dees 'Bob' Dees originally joined the Army Corps of Engineers in 1941 but transferred to the Air Corps for pilot training in Jan 1943. Assigned to the 4th and then 18th Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, Bob flew the South Atlantic route to Mendlesham, England, in early 1944 and was soon in the thick of the action on operations against military and industrial targets in Germany and occupied Europe. He flew the first of his 31 combat missions on 24th May 1944, flying the B24, before the 34th converted to B-17 Flying Fortresses on which he finished his tour. He had flown 31 combat missions, 14 of which were as lead crew pilot. Bob Dees was awarded the Air Medal with five Oak clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. | ||||
  Lt Edward Dienhart Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lt Edward Dienhart | Lt Edward Dienhart Pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress Lazy Baby. | ||||
Colonel Edward A Dingivan DFC Click the name above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Colonel Edward A Dingivan DFC
| Colonel Edward A Dingivan DFC Edward Dingivan was pilot of 'Brass Wagon', flying his first combat mission to Neuminster , Germany in September 1944. He completed a tour of 30 combat missions in the B-17. after the war, Director of Traffic during the Berlin Airlift and Commander of the 35th Air Transport Squadron. Later Military Executive to the Assistant Secretary of the US Air Force, he retired in 1969. Sadly, Edward Dingivan passed away on 2nd December 2010. | ||||
 Lt Col James D Fletcher Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lt Col James D Fletcher | Lt Col James D Fletcher The day after Christmas in December 1941 James Fletcher enlisted in the service. Completing his pilot training, he was posted to join the 91st Bombardment Group - The Ragged Irregulars at Bassingbourne in England. Flying the B-17G with the 401st Squadron, James flew his first combat mission on 28 March, 1944 and on 20 July was co-pilot of The Peacemaker on the raid to Leipzig. Badly mauled and damaged, the pilots eventually got her home safely to Bassingbourne. James Fletcher went on to complete 32 missions in the B-17 in Europe, and over 4000 hours of flight time as a command pilot. He retired in 1976, with 30 years active service in the USAF. | ||||
First Lt Frank Frision Click the name above to see prints signed by First Lt Frank Frision | First Lt Frank Frision Frank Frision was Bombardier on the Fortress 'Bouncin Baby' flying his first mission on 2nd November 1944 when the Luftwaffe mounted one of their largest fighter operations of the war. He flew the last of his 35 combat missions on 22nd March 1945, supporting the Rhine Crossings. | ||||
Technical Sergeant Jack R Goetz Click the name above to see prints signed by Technical Sergeant Jack R Goetz | Technical Sergeant Jack R Goetz Jack Goetz served with the 544th BS, 384th Bomb Group, flying B 17s from Grafton Underwood. Top turret gunner, his full tour of 25 missions took in the second Schweinfurt raid, raids on Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, and included a crash landing at his home base, and a ditching in the North Sea. | ||||
William Gonyo Click the name above to see prints signed by William Gonyo | William Gonyo Gunner, B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Queen | ||||
 Lieutenant Colonel Robert Gossman Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Gossman | Lieutenant Colonel Robert Gossman Bob Gossman joined the USAAF in March 1943, and after training was posted to England as a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. Here he oined the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron, based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire. He flew his first combat mission from there in January 1944, and later took part on a mission to Berlin with over 1300 bombers. After the war in Europe he went on to fly 58 missions in Korea, and another 30 missions in Vietnam. He retired from the Air Force in 1984. | ||||
Major Paul H Greer Click the name above to see prints signed by Major Paul H Greer | Major Paul H Greer After arriving in England, the first of Paul Greers 35 combat missions took place on a freezing cold New Years Day, 1945, as co-pilot on B-17s. Flying out of Thurleigh in Bedfordshire with the 368th Squadron, 306th Bomb Group (The Reich Wreckers), the oldest operational Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force, Paul flew a total of 31 missions on Fortresses as co-pilot, and a further 4 as lead pilot. Amongst other targets in Germany, he went on the big raids to Dresden and Schweinfurt, and led led missions to Berlin, on which he came under heavy attack from the Luftwaffes fast Me262 jet fighters. | ||||
 Captain Vernon L Grim Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain Vernon L Grim | Captain Vernon L Grim After joining the service in 1942, Vernon's operational squadron in England was the 407 Sqn, 92nd Bomb Group, based at Poddington, the oldest group in the ETO. Flying the B17 he participated in many of the major raids over Germany, including 4 missions to Berlin, and in the D-Day operations in occupied Europe. Later, losing an engine over Hamburg, he was glad of the help from two P38s who escorted him all the way back to England. | ||||
 Master Sergeant James E Halkyard Click the name above to see prints signed by Master Sergeant James E Halkyard | Master Sergeant James E Halkyard James Halkyard was right waist gunner on Kellys B-17 that day in December 1941. He joined the service back in January 1937 and the outbreak of war found him in the Philippines with the 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. After being shot down he was picked up and served for a time with the local Philippine guerrillas. Evading capture he returned to US forces and later served at Bataan. | ||||
 Robert Hanson Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Robert Hanson
| Robert Hanson Radio Operator and Gunner on the Memphis Belle. Robert Hanson became a regular member of the crew during their training at Walla Walla, Washington in 1941. He kept a log book of the MEMPHIS BELLE missions. He eventually retired from business to Mesa, Arizona. Robert Hanson, the last surviving crew member of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 bomber of World War II, passed away on October 1st 2005. Robert Hanson recalled 'When we got the tail shot off, Captain Morgan put the ship into a terrific dive and we dropped 2,000 or 3,000 feet. It pretty nearly threw me out of the airplane. 'I hit the roof. I thought we were going down and wondered if I should bail out. Then he pulled up again and I landed on my back. I had an ammunition box and a frequency meter on top of me. I didn't know what was going on. On another bombing run, Mr. Hanson was writing in a logbook when he sneezed, jerking his head. A bullet missed him when he moved and hit the logbook, which he kept the rest of his life. | ||||
 Captain C B Red Harper Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain C B Red Harper | Captain C B Red Harper Red Harper joined up in late 1940 and after training was posted to the 350th Squadron, 100th BG. Based at Thorpe Abbotts flying the |B-17 Flying Fortress, he flew his first combat mission on February 28, 1944. Red flew with the Bloody One Hundredth on the first |successful daylight mission to Berlin - March 6, 1 1944, just one of his 35 combat missions. | ||||
 Lt Col Marion H Havelaar Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lt Col Marion H Havelaar | Lt Col Marion H Havelaar Marion Havelaar joined the service on 24 August, 1942. After training he was posted to England joining the 401 st Squadron, 91st Bomb Group - The Ragged Irregulars - based at Bassingbourne. Flying the B-17G, he made his first combat mission on 2 June, 1944, but lost his original crew to Me 410s on a mission to Berlin, 21 June, 1944. Marion flew the rest of his tour as a replacement crew member and on 20 July, 1944 he was flying as deputy lead bombardier in the B-17 The Peacemaker. Badly shot-up with one crewman wounded, they made it safely back, four others from the 401st did not. Marion later flew 29 missions in B-29s in Korea, and served in Vietnam. He retired from the USAF in 1971. | ||||
 Harry D Hink USAAF Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Harry D Hink USAAF | Harry D Hink USAAF Harry Hinks 28 year military career began during the height of World War Two. After completing training, in 1943 he flew his first of 28 combat missions in heavy bombers against Japan, attached to the 39th Bomb Group. He vividly recalls Iwo Jima, not only as a navigational checkpoint to and from bombing missions over the Japanese islands, but also found it to be a safe haven personally on three separate occasions, when he and his crew made emergency landings in their B29. In April 1945, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on Guam, and would later fly missions in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He retired from the U S Air Force in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel, with decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Seven Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation and many others. After the military, he worked with the FAA for 17 years, holding various positions in Airport Safety. Harry resides today in the Washington DC area. | ||||
Col Edward M Jacquet Click the name above to see prints signed by Col Edward M Jacquet | Col Edward M Jacquet 19th Bomb Group, 93rd Sqn. Clark Field B-17 copilot, 47 combat missions with the 19th Bomb Group. | ||||
Ralph Keele Click the name above to see prints signed by Ralph Keele | Ralph Keele Pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Queen | ||||
First Lieutenant Wilbur 'Bud' Klint Click the name above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Wilbur 'Bud' Klint | First Lieutenant Wilbur 'Bud' Klint 'Bud' Klint joined the service in 1942, and after qualifying as a pilot was posted to England in July 1943. He flew the first of his tour of 25 combat missions in B 1 7s on 16 August 1943. The following day he went on the first mission to Schweinflart, and then to Stuttgart on 6 September when he was forced to safely ditch his aircraft. On 14 October he went to Schweinffirt again - this time on the fateful second mission, but again brought his aircraft safely home. He finished his tour in Europe and after a period instructing on B 17s left the service in November 1945. | ||||
Lieutenant Colonel William P Kincheloe Click the name above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel William P Kincheloe | Lieutenant Colonel William P Kincheloe Bill Kincheloe joined the service in April 1942, training as a pilot. He was posted to England to join the 327th Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group (Fames Favoured Few), based at Podington in Bedford, flying B-17s. His first combat mission was on 18 December 1943, when the 92nd went to Kiel, and in the following months other notable targets included the heavily defended factories at Schweinfurt. Bill flew a total of 28 raids to the Reich during his tour, all on B-17s, and six of which he commanded. After World War II Bill flew KC135s during the Vietnam War. He retired from the service in 1972. | ||||
 Major Edward A Klein Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Major Edward A Klein | Major Edward A Klein Edward Klein joined the USAAF on 21st September 1941. As a bombardier he was posted to England, and became part of the 381st Bomb Group, based at Ridgewell, flying B-17s with the 534th Bomb Squadron. Ed Klein went on his first combat missions, to Germany, on 8th October, 1943, and the following day was under constant fighter attack for four and a half hours. On 31st October he went to Schweinfurt. On 6th March 1944 he flew on the first bombing of Berlin by American bombers. Finishing his 25 mission tour in March 1944 he had been Squadron Leader, and Group Leader. Ed Klein retired from the service in 1963. | ||||
Colonel William Lawley Click the name above to see prints signed by Colonel William Lawley
| Colonel William Lawley Flying a 305th Bomb Group B-17 on 20th February, 1944, Bill Lawley’s co-pilot was killed in a head-on fighter attack. Injured in the face, weak and in shock, with 7 of his crew injured, Bill Lawley flew his crew home, crash landing with only one engine. He was awarded the Medal of Honor. Lawley died in his home town of Montgomery, Alabama on June 1st 1999, at the age of 78. | ||||
 Charles Leighton Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Charles Leighton
| Charles Leighton Navigator on the Memphis Belle. Eventually retired to become a teacher and guidance counselor before he passed away in 1991. | ||||
Col Edwin A Loberg Click the name above to see prints signed by Col Edwin A Loberg
| Col Edwin A Loberg Edwin A. Ed Loberg was born in Tigerton, Wisconsin on February 20,1915. Like many children in Wisconsin, Ed grew up on a dairy farm. After graduating from High School Ed attended Central State Teacher's College at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He joined the Army prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in the Spring of 1941. Loberg graduated with the Class 41-D from Kelly Field near San Antonio, Texas. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron of the 11th Bomb Group. Based at Hickharn Field during the Pear Harbor attack, Ed is a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. During the War Ed flew approximately 90 combat missions with the B-17 Flying Fortress. His bases ranged from Hawaii to Guadacanal and New Guinea. Ed had many memorable missions, and as he recalls, four of the Fortresses he returned in never flew again, having sufficient battle damage to warrant their use as spare parts. On one mission which involved bombing a Japanese task force, a 5 inch shell from one of the ships ripped through the tail and stabilizer of Ed's B-17. Fortunately, the shell didn't detonate, but it did rip away a good portion of Ed's aircraft. After dropping several thousand feet in altitude, Ed regained control of the aircraft. By using the trim tabs he was able to get the ship back to his airfield. One of Ed's most interesting missions was the one depicted in Stan Stokes' painting when he had a frantic forty-five minute dog fight with a four-engine Mavis Flying Boat. That mission became well known because a war correspondent was onboard at the time. Loberg returned to the States in 1943. He was assigned to one of the first B-29 units, the 769th Bomb Squadron of the 462nd Bomb Group, as Squadron Commander. A combat tour followed to China and India where Ed would pilot the B-29 Super Fortress for another 40 missions in 1944. Ed piloted the lead pathfinder aircraft on the first B~29 attack on Japan. Following the War, Ed remained in the new USAF and served in various staff and command positions, the last being that of Executive Officer of Headquarters Command at Bolling Air Force Base. He retired with the rank of Colonel. Ed then pursued a civilian career with Martin Marietta where he was involved with both the Apollo and Skylab programs. Ed lost his wife, June, following forty-two years of marriage. Two of their three sons are alive, and Ed enjoys his visits with his grandchildren. His oldest son, Bruce, has a private pilots license. Ed, who still retains a commercial pilots rating, flys regularly with his son, and continues to enjoy the thrills of piloting an aircraft. When asked about the B-17, Ed reflected, They were great airplanes - really tough! Sadly, Edwin Loberg died on 28th February 2004. | ||||
 Harold Loch Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Harold Loch
| Harold Loch Engineer and Top Turret Gunner on the Memphis Belle. Harold P. Loch from Green Bay, United States born November 29th 1919. Army Air Corps Soldier. A native of Wisconsin, Loch joined the Army Air Corps in 1941, shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In February 1943, Loch was assigned to the B-17 bomber Memphis Belle as the flight engineer and top turret gunner, replacing Eugene Adkins. On May 17, 1943, After the war, Loch entered the construction business and eventually founded his own home construction company. He would also serve the state of Wisconsin as the Brown County Register of Deeds from 1947 until 1974. He eventually retired as a building contractor and records registrar. Sadly Harold Loch passed away on the 12th November 2004. | ||||
Technical Sergeant Bill E Martin Click the name above to see prints signed by Technical Sergeant Bill E Martin | Technical Sergeant Bill E Martin Bill Martin was a Fortress waist gunner with the 384th Bomb Group, flying his firs combat operation in June 1943. He took part in many of the Groups main raids including the second Schweinfurt operation. After completing 21 missions his aircraft was shot down and he bailed out, escaping captivity via Switzerland. | ||||
Chief Master Sergeant Roy C McGinnis Click the name above to see prints signed by Chief Master Sergeant Roy C McGinnis | Chief Master Sergeant Roy C McGinnis Joining up in November 1940, Roy McGinnis was the right waist gunner on a B 17 o the 339th BS, 96th Bomb Group. His first mission was in October 1943 to Erriden and after a couple of other major raids, he was shot down during the 14 October Schweinfart mission and taken prisoner by the Germans. | ||||
 First Lieutenant Ed McKay Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Ed McKay
| First Lieutenant Ed McKay Ed joined the US Marine Corps in 1937, but transferred to the Air Force in November 1941. Posted to the 350th Squadron of the 100th BG, Ed flew his first combat mission in January 1944 in the B-17, and on March 3 took part in the recalled raid to Berlin. Flymg his regular plane Alice from Dallas II, his gunners claimed three fighters en-route. On March 6, they again went to Berlin, this time successfully Ed served in both the European and Mediterranean theaters, and flew the B-29 at the end of the war. Ed McKay passed away on 17th July 2009. | ||||
General J Kemp Mclaughlin Click the name above to see prints signed by General J Kemp Mclaughlin | General J Kemp Mclaughlin As a Second Lieutenant in October 1942, Kemp McLaughlin had already brought a heavily damaged and burning B 17 safely home whilst under heavy attack from German aircraft. It was a suitable prelude to the dangers that would face him and his crew a year later when on 14 Oct 1943, he was the pilot of the 92nd Bomb Group's B 17 Equipose, the mission command plane during the second mission to attack the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt. Under constant attack from German fighters for almost six hours, he again brought the crew safely home. The following month he was deputy air commander on a bombing raid in Norway, when his aircraft lost oil pressure due to one engine overheating. The crew carried on to the target, but on the return to England were attacked by fighters. Unable to return fire because all guns had been thrown overboard to lighten the aircraft, he skilfully coaxed his plane safely back to base. His 'luck' continued when in December 1944 he was air commander on a raid during the Battle of the Bulge when shrapnel pierced his scat a few inches from him, he was uninjured. | ||||
Colonel Ed Millson Click the name above to see prints signed by Colonel Ed Millson | Colonel Ed Millson Flying with the 379th Bomb Group, Ed flew 47 missions on B 17s, most as lead bombardier. He went on the 14 Oct raid, and in Feb 1945 led the 8th Air Force to Berlin. | ||||
 Master Sergeant Dale Moon Click the name above to see prints signed by Master Sergeant Dale Moon | Master Sergeant Dale Moon Flying B17s with the 381st Bomb Group, Dale Moon was based at Ridgewell with the 533rd Bomb Squadron. Dale undertook his first combat mission in April 1944 during the build up to D-Day, and went on 4 big raids to Berlin during his tour - surviving two crash landings following heavy action. After the war Dale saw service in Korea, and flew the B29 and B36 Peacemaker - the largest American bomber ever produced. | ||||
 Colonel Bob Morgan Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Colonel Bob Morgan
| Colonel Bob Morgan The 24 year old Captain and pilot Bob Morgan skippered the Memphis Belle on every one of her 25 combat missions over the skies of occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. His renowned skill as a B-17 pilot, his courage under fire, and his leadership welded his crew into one of the best fighting units in the 8th Air Force. Bob Morgan later commanded a squadron of B-29s in the Pacific and led the first B-29 raid on Tokyo. He completed a total of 26 missions against Japan, and became the most celebrated American bomber pilot of WWII. On 21 April 2004, Morgan broke his neck when he fell at the Asheville Regional Airport. He was admitted to a hospital in Asheville, where he remained in critical condition for several weeks. On 10 May, Morgan came down with pneumonia, and that combined with a massive infection brought him face-to-face with one final combat that he lost. Robert Morgan died on Friday, 15 May 2004. He was 85. He was buried on 22 May with full military honours including an Air Force flyover at the NC State Veterans Cemetery. | ||||
 Captain James A Pete Mullinax Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain James A Pete Mullinax | Captain James A Pete Mullinax Pilot James Mullinax flew B 17 Flying Fortresses with the 332nd BS, 94th Bomb Group undertaking his first combat mission in September 1943. He had completed ei operations before his aircraft was attacked and shot down during the 14 Octobe. Schweinfurt mission. Bailing out, he was taken POW by the Germans. | ||||
 Captain James A Myl Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain James A Myl | Captain James A Myl Jim Myl joined the USAAF in 1942. Assigned to the 511th B.S., 351st B.G., he flew his first B17 combat mission in June 1944. On 4th August he brought his badly mauled B17 safely home from Berlin, but three days later, returning from Munich, he was hit again. With his aircraft in flames, he and his crew bailed out into the North Sea, six miles from England. He and six survivors were rescued y an RAF Air Sea Search launch. He completed his tour in just 72 operational days, the fastest tour in the 8th Air Force. | ||||
Casmir Nastal Click the name above to see prints signed by Casmir Nastal | Casmir Nastal Casimer A. Tony Nastal from Apache Junction, Arizona flew one mission on the MEMPHIS BELLE but qualified for the PR tour with his 24 other combat missions on other Flying Forts. After the PR tour, Nastal returned to the ETO and completed a total of 60 combat missions. | ||||
First Lieutenant Don Nielsen Click the name above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Don Nielsen | First Lieutenant Don Nielsen A pilot with the 457th Bomb Group, Don Nielson had joined up in February 1943, originally training for combat flying on B24 Liberators. In November 1944 he was posted to England, joining the 751st Squadron, 457th Bomb Group at Glatton flying B17 Fortresses - first as co-pilot and then as First Pilot, undertaking the first combat mission of his tour on 12 December 1944. On 3 February 1945 he took part in the big raid on Berlin, which was the heaviest concentration on the German capital so far in the war, encountering some of the most intense and accurate flak ever experienced by the Eighth. During his tour Don took part in a total of 34 raids, all on B17s. | ||||
First Lieutenant John P Noack Click the name above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant John P Noack | First Lieutenant John P Noack Joining the service in March 1942, John trained as a pilot before being posted to England joining the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group flying B17s from their base at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire. He undertook his first mission in anger on 12 August 1943, and on 14 October went on the second mission to Schweinfurt. On 11 December 1943, after completing 15 combat missions, his B 17 was shot down over Europe and he was forced to ditch, and taken prisoner by the Germans, remaining in captivity until liberated on 30 April 1945. | ||||
John OConnell Click the name above to see prints signed by John OConnell | John OConnell Bombadier, B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Queen | ||||
S/Sgt John H Osbahr Click the name above to see prints signed by S/Sgt John H Osbahr | S/Sgt John H Osbahr John Osbahr flew his first combat mission on 2nd November 1944, flying to Merseberg, Germany. He was Ball-Turret Gunner in the B-17 'Bouncin Baby'. John completed the last of his 32 missions in March 1945 on a mission to Dresden. | ||||
Captain Robert Paris Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain Robert Paris
| Captain Robert Paris Joining up in June 1940, Rob Paris qualified with dual rating as pilot and navigator, flying a total of 52 combat missions on B17s. Posted first to the 8th Air Force in England, Rob flew with the 325th Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group, completing his first mission in October 1942. In November he was posted to join the 12th Air Force in North Africa, again with B17s, joining the 342nd Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group. Amongst others, he participated in raids on the Italian Fleet in Trieste and Gorizia, the battle of Kasserine Pass, at Palermo during the Invasion of Sicily, as well as raids on the Italian mainland. Rob flew a total of 52 combat missions on B17s, and was Lead Navigator of many 100-plane missions. Sadly Rob passed away on the 21st September 2010, he was honored in december during a ceremony at National Cemetery in Phoenix with a fly over by a vintage B-25 aircraft. | ||||
 First Lieutenant Vincent J Peters Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Vincent J Peters | First Lieutenant Vincent J Peters Vincent Peters flew his first combat mission in October 1944 flying B17s with the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group out of Ridgewell. He flew missions to attack the Nazi capital Berlin, to Cologne and Dresden, as well as targets in the Ruhr valley. On 1st January 1945, during a mission supporting the Battle of the Bulge, his aircraft was hit and he and his crew were forced to bail out. | ||||
 Major General Carl D Peterson Click the name above to see prints signed by Major General Carl D Peterson | Major General Carl D Peterson Carl D. Peterson was born on January 19, 1924. After attending St. John's University, Peterson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. in October 1942. He commenced pilot training in April of 1943, and in early 1944 was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After completing B-17 training at Hobbs, New Mexico, and combat crew training at Sioux City, Iowa, Peterson was assigned to the 549th Bomb Squadron of the 385th Bomb Group based at Great Ashfield, England. The 385th was part of the Eighth Air Force, which was under the command of General james Doolittle, the great aviation pioneer who had led the daring B-25 raid on Tokyo only a few short months after Pearl Harbor. Peterson arrived in England in late September 1944 in time for the 200th mission celebration. While undergoing his final training the 549th lost eleven aircraft on a single mission to Berlin during an all out attack by 75 German fighters. Peterson's rookie crew became the fifth oldest in the squadron before they had flown their first mission. Peterson participated in a bombing raid of the Cologne rail yards during his third mission. On this mission, Peterson's aircraft lost two engines because of flak hits. A third engine was lost on return and he was forced to make a crash landing in Belgium, only two miles behind the front. In November Peterson took part in the largest air battle of all time when 1100 bombers and 900 fighters of the Eighth Air Force took on 500 Luftwaffe fighters during an attack on Meresberg. Peterson flew a total of thirty-five B-17 missions. On more than half of those missions he lost one or more engines. On four of those missions they were attacked by German fighters, and on four occasions they were forced down on the European Continent due to battle damage. Carl Peterson flew Ruby's Raiders as a back-up aircraft on more than one occasion. Peterson was also present when Cpl. Ruby Newell visited the 385th for the dedication of the aircraft, named in her honor. Peterson also served in Korea as Squadron Commander of the 339th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, which flew the F-94B. In 1961 while stationed in Saudi Arabia, Peterson organized an acrobatic team flying the F-86. General Peterson served in Vietnam where he piloted the A-1 Skyraider. In 1973 Peterson was promoted to Brigadier General and put in command of the USAF Defense Weapons Center at Tyndall Air Force Base. General Peterson flew his last operational flight in an F-106 in May of 1977. This was the culmination of more than 5,400 hours of military flying in 28 different aircraft. For two years prior to his retirement in 1979 General Peterson was third in command of land, air, and naval forces assigned to the NATO mission. Peterson received more than 20 decorations during his distinguished career. He and his wife Twy-la Jean have been married for more than 44 years, and have seven children and 16 grandchildren. | ||||
S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo Click the name above to see prints signed by S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo | S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo Pete Petrillo was a Waist Gunner on the B-17 'Bit o' Lace'. He flew his first combat mission to Caen, France in August 1944, and the last of his 35 missions was in December 1944 to Mainz in Germany. One of his memorable trips was a supply drop to the French Maquis. | ||||
Gene Platek Click the name above to see prints signed by Gene Platek | Gene Platek Co-pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Queen | ||||
Johnny Quinlan Click the name above to see prints signed by Johnny Quinlan
| Johnny Quinlan John P. Quinlan was the only officially wounded crew member of the MEMPHIS BELLE. After the PR tour, he tried unsuccessfully to fly again with Robert Morgan in the Pacific Theatre. Quinlan was eventually assigned to the CBI Theatre and downed 3 Zeros, to become a gunner Ace before his B-29 was shot down. He had already shot down 2 German fighters from the BELLE. Quinlan eventually retired to Stephentown, New York. He passed away in 2001. | ||||
Staff Sergeant Robert Rickel Click the name above to see prints signed by Staff Sergeant Robert Rickel | Staff Sergeant Robert Rickel Left waist gunner with the 379th Bomb Group, Robert flew a full tour of 25 missions on B 17s. Amongst many missions, he participated in both of the Schweinfurt raids. | ||||
Staff Sergeant Ben Roberts Click the name above to see prints signed by Staff Sergeant Ben Roberts | Staff Sergeant Ben Roberts Flying with the 364th BS, 305th Bomb Group, Ben Roberts was a B17 ball turre gunner. Flying his first mission on 5 October 1943, his fifth mission was the 14 Octobe raid to Schweinfurt, during which his aircraft was shot down. Bailing out he wa captured and taken to Stalag Luft 17B until the war's end. | ||||
Sgt Byron Schlag Click the name above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Sgt Byron Schlag | Sgt Byron Schlag Byron Schlag was the Tailgunner of B-17 'Ol Scrapiron', flying his first combat mission on 26th February 1945 to Berlin. On 23rd March his B-17 collided mid-air with another B-17, cutting the tail off. He managed to bail out at just 400ft; his ball-turret gunner fell in his turret from 23,000ft and survived. The rest of the crew died. Byron Schlag was taken PoW; he escaped and was recaptured four times. | ||||
 First Lieutenant Harry Seip Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Harry Seip | First Lieutenant Harry Seip The Pilot and Captain of B-17G Silver Meteor with the 568th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group, he flew 35 combat missions over Germany and throughout the Normandy invasions. | ||||
First Lieutenant Arthur Sherman Click the name above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Arthur Sherman | First Lieutenant Arthur Sherman Arthur Sherman joined up as soon as he could on 10th April 1942, and after training was posted to the 15th Air force in Italy, joining the 779th bomb Squadron, 464th Bomb Group flying B25s. He flew his first combat mission on 2nd May 1944. Transferring to the 483rd Bomb Group he flew B17 Fortresses and was regularly escorted by the 332nd Tuskegee Fighter Group. Among his numerous strategic bombing missions were included the momentous raid to Memingen airfield to destroy the factory where over 600 Me109s were being made every month, together with the new Me262 jet fighter. | ||||
S/Sgt Don Sherman Click the name above to see prints signed by S/Sgt Don Sherman | S/Sgt Don Sherman Don Sherman was the ball-turret Gunner on the B-17 'Buddy Buddy'. The first of his 31 combat missions was in December 1944 to Mainz in Germany. His final mission was flown in April 1945 against German targets holding out a Royan in France. | ||||
 Major Robert Simpson Click the name above to see prints signed by Major Robert Simpson | Major Robert Simpson Signing up in June 1941, Robert Simpson served both in Europe and the South Pacific. Initially with the 42nd Sqn, 11th B.G., 7th Air Force in the South Pacific, his first landing in a B17 was on a steel strip in a coconut grove. After participating in the bitter battles of the Solomons and at Guadalcanal, he transferred to Europe joining the 8th Air Force in England for the battle against Germany. During World War Two he flew both the B17 and B24. | ||||
 First Lieutenant Leonard L Spivey Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Leonard L Spivey | First Lieutenant Leonard L Spivey Leonard Spivey joined the USAAF in 1942 and trained as a navigator, joining the Eighth Air Force in May 1943. He was posted to fly B-17 Fortresses with the 281st Bomb Group at Ridgewell in Essex, where as the Squadron Navigator he was the Group lead navigator on most of his missions, and on one was Wing lead. On 19th August 1943 he was shot down over Holland on his 13th mission, parachuting out of his B-17 and captured immediately by German forces. He was paraded through the streets in front of Dutch civilians, who incensed the Germans by displaying their support for this Allied airman. Leonard was sent as a POW to Stalag Luft III, made famous by the book and movie The Great Escape, and remained a POW until liberated by the US Army on 29th April 1945. | ||||
 Jim Verinis Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Jim Verinis
| Jim Verinis James A. Verinis from Woodbridge, Connecticut also piloted the B-17 The Connecticut Yankee. Jim was the crewmember who purchased the crew's mascot: A Scottish-Terrier named Stuka. Captain Verinis went over with the Memphis Belle as co-pilot, but during much of the time he was overseas he flew another B17. Retired from the USAF with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Passed away 2003. | ||||
Staff Sergeant Leon Walden Click the name above to see prints signed by Staff Sergeant Leon Walden | Staff Sergeant Leon Walden Joining up in November 1942 Leon Walden trained to become a waist gunner on B17 fortress, being posted to Europe, joining the 840th bomb Squadron, 483rd bomb Group in Italy. Going into combat on 12th April 1944, Leon flew 50 combat missions with the 483rd, including the heroic raid on the Me262 jet fighter factory at Memingen Airfield on 18th July 1944, when the group was attacked by a force of over 75 Luftwaffe fighters. | ||||
Col John A Wallach Click the name above to see prints signed by Col John A Wallach | Col John A Wallach 19th Bomb Group, 14th Sqn. Clark Field B-17 and later part of Swoose crew and fighter pilot. | ||||
Robert Weiler USAAF Click the name above to see prints signed by Robert Weiler USAAF | Robert Weiler USAAF Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bob Weiler enlisted in the Army, seving in field artillery and the newly formed Tank Destroyer Forces. In September 1943 he began flight training in the Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner, first on B-17s, and eventually as an electrical specialist gunner aboard the new B-29 Superfortresses. Stationed on Guam, he flew many 3000 mile combat missions of 18 hours per flight against the Japanese home islands. On his 14th mission, to Osaka, his plane was badly shot up. His crew bailed out, narrowly escaping the complete destruction of their plane, which exploded just before hitting the water. Bob and his surviving crew were picked up by submarine. Over the course of his 19 combat missions, Bobs crew made emergency landings on Iwo Jima on a number of occasions, due either to battle damage or engine problems. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in December 1945. Bob is retired, living in the Sarasote, Florida area. His decorations include two Air Medals, Purple Heart, Pacific Theater Medal with Air Offensive Japan Star, and other WWII service medals. | ||||
 Captain Rolland H Whited Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain Rolland H Whited | Captain Rolland H Whited The Captain and pilot of the 34th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress Queenie, Rolland Whited arrived in England with the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group in April 1944. He flew his first combat mission on June 20th. A veteran of many heavy bombardment missions he flew on operations against Luftwaffe airfields, VI rocket sites, chemical plants and the railroad marshalling yards at Cologne and Ludwigshafen. After completing 26 missions on B24s, the 34th re-equipped with B17 Flying Fortresses. Rolland flew a further 8 missions on the B17, flying his final mission in January 1945. He holds the Air Medal with three Oak clusters in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross. | ||||
Colonel Earl Williams Click the name above to see prints signed by Colonel Earl Williams | Colonel Earl Williams Flying a stripped down B17 with the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron en-route from Hamilton Field to Clark Field in the Philippines, Earls aircraft and eleven others were landing to refuel at Oahu when they ran straight into the Japanese attack. With their aircraft hit they managed to land. Williams went on to complete 55 missions in the South Pacific, including the Battle of the Coral Sea. | ||||
Bill Winchell Click the name above to see prints signed by Bill Winchell
| Bill Winchell Clarence E. Bill Winchell downed the eighth and final German fighter from the guns of the MEMPHIS BELLE. His diaries provide most of the accurate accounts of the missions. Winchell retired as a chemical engineer and passed away in 1994. | ||||
 Jay Zeamer Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Jay Zeamer
| Jay Zeamer Jay Zeamer was born in Carlisle Pennsylvania and grew up in Orange County, New Jersey. He became an Eagle Scout at the age of thirteen, and at 14 enrolled in Culver Military Academy in Indiana. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after graduating high school and enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. One of the USAAFs most highly decorated bomber pilots, Jay Zeamer was awarded the Medal of Honor on his 47th mission. Badly injured when attacked by Japanese fighters, he got his B-17 crew safely home. Zeamer died in a nursing home at the age of 88 on March 22nd, 2007. Citation for the Medal of Honor : | ||||
  S/Sgt Christy Zullo Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by S/Sgt Christy Zullo | S/Sgt Christy Zullo Waist Gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress Lazy Baby. | ||||
|
Contact Details |
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com |
