most likely in the wrong section. but i wanted to post this good news.
several weeks ago i was talking to a good friend about modeling, he expressed an interest in building a model of his uncles b-17. he and i discussed it and i told him i would help him do some research on this a/c. after several weeks of dead ends i posted on the mighty 8th air force bulletin board. a few days ago i recieved a request for more info on the plane. on sunday i recieved the following from a gentleman named Duke Sumoria.
2nd Lt EDWARD P. NOORDYK P CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
2nd Lt JOHN R. CREIGHTON CP CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
2nd Lt EARNST AITA NAV CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
2nd Lt DAVID M. BAILEY BOM CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
T/SGT NORMAN L. BROWN ROG CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
T/SGT JAMES A. MEADE TTE CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
S/SGT GILBERT L. LANGDON BTG CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
S/SGT ROY W. BYERS RWG CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
S/SGT JOHN F. HIMPEL LWG CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
S/SGT FRANCIS R. GARDNER TG CPT 7-Jul-44 Nantes
350TH SQDN… CREW IS SHOWN AS CREW #17 ON THE COMBAT CREW ROSTER OF 24 MAY 1944; THE DATE THEY JOINED THE 100TH IS UNKNOWN. CREW FLEW AC 42-32009 “BLACK CAT 13”.
S/Sgt Himpel credits his pilot for the whole crew flying 25 missions without any problems. In his words, “He was strictly by the book. Everyone was supposed to do their job. No excuses. No short cuts.” He told me that after 20 missions they got orders to fly a night training with a bunch of new crews. Everyone showed up at the plane except the pilot. They eventually went back to their barracks and found out the pilot had refused to fly. “Apparently he went to Major Kidd and told him he wasn’t risking his crew with a bunch of rookies in the middle of the night.”
two photos were also included, one being the crew in front of the “mary anne”. just wanted to thank the members of this forum who directed me to that site. this was satisfying to myself and my friend. for those new to this forum this is not an isolated incident this is the stuff that happens all the time. just wanted to share the good news.
joe