Hey ya’ll.
Wasn’t sure where to post this but I’ll try it here and I’ll try to keep it short.
I want to build a B-24 model of a specific aircraft. My dad was a crewman and I wanted to make it sort of a memorial to him, with correct tail no.s, armement, colors etc. Trouble is, like many “War Dad’s” he never talked much about it so I have very little specific info. He had a book of airforce combat units of WWII in which he had highlight 48th bombardment group, 492nd squadron. I also know he was stationed at Alconbury, Eng. at the end of the war. That’s about all I know. My question to you cyber savey guys is how would you go about researching a mans service history; duty stations, aircraft he was assigned to etc. I’m not real good at this so maybe some of you can help. Thanks
John
You can try contacting the Air Force office of records at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. You could also do a web search of the unit and see if they have an official website. Then it would be just a matter of contacting them and requesting the info. It would be even better if they had an electronic bulletin board.
John, are you sure of the group and squadron?
What began life as the 48th Bombarment Group (Light) was redesignated as the 48th Fighter-Bomber Group and then as the 48th Fighter Group. There was a 492nd Squadron within this group, but they never had any B-24s on strength and spent most of the war Stateside as a replacement training unit.
The 492nd Bombardment Squadron was a part of the 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) which did fly B-24s, but that was in the CBI (China Burma India) theater.
Two bomb groups were stationed at Alconbury…
92nd BG
325th BS
326th BS
327th BS
409th BS
482nd BG
812th BS
813th BS
814th BS
You can try asking at the forums on Army Air Forces.com.
What was your Dad’s name?
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I assume there’s no diaries, no old letters, or photos that are particularly informative, so I’d try going to the National Archives site, and searching for his service serial number. With that info you can request his service records and be absolutely certain of his assignments.
If I remember right, name and date of birth are all you need, but if you know date and location of enlistment it can help eliminate duplicate entries if he had a common name.
Al
Another place you can check is: http://www.b24bestweb.com/
they’ll usually go out of their way to help you as it helps complete their own research… they have a forum there where you can post crew member inquiries on. I know I had many replies to a query on my great-uncles’s service…
good luck!!
Hey road kill. thanks for the tips. I’ll sure check them out.
For blackwolf: No I’m not sure about the group or squad. It’s just something he had highlighted. I do know he mentioned being in Ok. Ga. Fl. Tx. for short periods, all of which were stations for the 492nd according to this book. I’m wondering if maybe that was his first state side duty and then he got reassigned which sent him over seas. I think he was in the crew that ferryed the plane overseas. I am certain about the Alconbury duty. My sister is shipping me a box of dads papers so maybe I’ll find more in there. I dont even have his service no. which I’m sure I’ll need if I expect to get very far. By the way, his name was Edwin M. (Mosier) Lampson. When I find out more I’ll let you know.
Thanks for your interest and info
John
Hey Al, hey Tom. Thanks a bunch for the info. I’ts amazing how much is out there if you know where to look or in this case who to ask. I’ll look into both suggestions and let you know what happens.
John
John,
I just went on NARA’s web site and got a Edwin M Lampson born 1922 enlisted at Fort Thomas-Newport, KY in the Air Corps, serial #15066959.
Al
Hey Al. THAT’S HIM!! Dad was born in Providence Ky. 16 Jun 22. I was in the NARA site last night but wound up clicking so many links I got terribly lost and wound up giving up. You have proven it can be done so I’ll look some more. Thanks again to you and all who are helping with this.
John
Well, you guys wont believe this! Last night I remembered the name of a man that dad had mentioned as being one of his old crew members. Did some web directory searching and came up with the no. for a Harold J. Broadhead. I called thisafternoon not expecting much but,incredibly, IT WAS HIM!!! He remembered dad very well. He couldn’t remember a lot of tech stuff off the top of his head but he must be one of those organized types because he has every thing on file, mission dates, A/C serial#'s, tail #'s, tail markings, photos, EVERYTHING![:D][:D][:D] They were in the 36th bomb squadron RCM. They were the only radar counter measure squad with the 8th AF. They flew modified 24H’s & J’s. The 36th has a great web site with pictures of the extra equipment and some of the modifications to the A/C. It also listed all the air crews and dads name was there. There pilot was Victor E. Pregeant III. (french) Any way , I’m anxiously awaiting a package from Indiana with more detailed accounts. I still haven’t figured out what bomb group that would be but I’m sure the info is there. I just wanted to let you know project status. I’ll write again when I know more.
John
Oh coolish! The 36th BS is covered in a book called ‘Secret Squadrons of the Eighth’ by Pat Carty. Your Dad’s name is not mentioned, not that I saw anyway. But there are several group shots of 36th BS personnel. Here’s one of’em, maybe your Dad is in there somewhere, maybe not…
Larger Image
Even Larger Image
Which 36th BS site are you talking about? I have these in the database but didn’t run across his name on either of them…
THE 36th BOMB SQUADRON (HEAVY)
36th/856th BS Combat Crew Pictures
Please keep us informed, I find this particular unit, along with the 406th BS, to be quite fascinating…
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Hey blackwolf. It IS coolish isn’t it? WWW.36rcm.com is the site were I found dads name and all the photos. I still don’t know exactly when they got there. I’m guessing later in the squads history but I’ll let you know. Don’t know if it’s you, me, or the server but none of your pics came thru, just red X’s. Nuts! Oh well, maybe they’ll show up later.
Later, JOHN
Red Xs…
I use Photobucket for a host and they were doing some maintenance shortly after I posted the images. Should be A-O-K now…
I still didn’t see your Dad’s name on that site. I must be goin’ blind… [:p]
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Hey blackcat;
The pics did finally come through. Thanks. I couldnt see dad ofcourse. When I saw the main photo at the web sight I realized that dad has that photo in an album my sister is sending me and if memory serves you can pick out dad.
Either your eyes are going or I’m halucinating. Go to the 36 sight and click on personnel. Then click Aircrew Roster. Crews are listed in alphabetical order by pilots name. Dads pilot was named Victor Pregeant. Dad is the last name in that crew list. I hope you find it. Your going to start thinking I made all this up!
Later. John
suadron patches from WWII can be found here http://members.aol.com/brimiljeep/WebPages/SquadronPatchPage.html for your plane detail…regards gordon J
Hey Blackwolf and all other interested people.
This just gets better and better. This research project was just meant to be. Fate has taken over!! I got the box of stuff from my sister today. First let me mention that there is another book on the 36th out there called “Squadron of deception” by Stephen M. Hutton. The first folder I pulled out of the box, along with some unrelated stuff, contained a letter to my dad, dated 25 april 1994, from Steven M. Hutton! (OOOOoooo). Apparently they had spoken by phone that day because Mr. Hutton was thanking dad for the info he had provided and asking him to continue looking for any more info on the 36th. And here is the most helpfull part for me. Apparently he had already talked to Lt. Pregeant’s (dads pilot) wife because the letter states in part…“Do you have a photo of your liberator? Mrs. Pregeant said it was nicknamed “Peck’s Bad Boys”. What do you remember of that?..” [:D] It looks like dads plane was Pecks Bad Boys. And there’s more. Also in that folder is a typed list of 25 of the squads A/C. with series #, serial # Tail letter, arrival date and nickname. Pecks Bad Boys: series B-24M, Serial # 44-50576, Letter R4-J, arrived 31 Dec. Anybody ever see a picture of Pecks Bad Boys? What’s a 24M? New one on me. Mr Broadhead did say they flew the “latest” mdl. Mr Hutton also sent 2 photos, one of “Beast of Bourbon”, one of “Lady in the dark” with preaty good nose art shots. Well, thats all I have for now. I’ll keep you posted.
John
Update:
I found a very grainy foto of PBB’s at www.36rcm.com. Anybody know of a better photo? Also the caption under the foto lists that plane as R4-H but also lists Beast of Bourbon as R4-H???
John
Alrighty, I found it. Looks like the ‘Aircrew Roster’ page is only linked on the main ‘Personnel’ page. I went right for ‘803BS Men’ and then to all the other pages but never got to the ‘Aircrew Roster’ page because there’s no link for it on any of the other pages… I thought I was goin’ loopy for a bit…
There are two small and kinda poor quality images on B-24 Best Web which show ‘Peck’s Bad Boys’…
http://www.b24bestweb.com/Pics-P-PEA-PED.htm
The code letter is listed as being ‘J’. Perhaps the caption on the site was a mistake? Or maybe it was changed to ‘H’ at some time. Speaking of ‘Beast of Bourbon’, that was the most photographed ship from the squadron apparently. If you run across any color shots of ‘BoB’ please let me know. I’ve been wanting to see that fabulous nose art in color!
Had a chance to grab that ‘Squadron of Deception’ book at a show sometime back but passed it up. Oh well… as I recall it was a dang nice book too. I think it may still be available.
Anyhoo, I am currently looking through my library and will let you know if I come across a photo of ‘Peck’s Bad Boys’.
Oh… the B-24M was the last major production variant of the B-24. You can read about it, as well as all the other variants, HERE…
Someone above mentioned squadron patches… I make hand-painted USAAF squadron patches on leather. If you think you might be interested in one for the ‘Gremlins’ (I believe that’s what the 36th was called) please let me know.
Glad this is all falling together for you. It’s not always the norm to have this much success this quickly when doing this kind of research.
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Congrats John,
Sounds like you hit the motherlode.
Al
Mna, I’m glad this is all coming together for you so well. Stay the course man.