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P47 Pilots Guestbook
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Welcome to the P47 Pilots Guestbook.
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1018)
Wow! What a nice site. I wish there was such a group for old F4U Corsair pilots, of which I’m one. We flew with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 up front turning a big fan, just like you guys! We also did fighter-bomber stuff, but then had to land back on our carrier -- which could be tricky with a nose 15 feet out ahead of us, coming around at 90 knots, peeking out the left side to see the Landing Signal Officer. My latest (seventh) book, ’Bent Wings - F4U Corsair Action & Accidents: True Tales of Trial & Terror!’ has 43 stories in its 376 pages, written by myself and nine other former Corsair pilots I know. Covers WWII, Korea, and peacetime. Shameless commercial at http://expage.com/page/bentwings. I LOVE comparing notes with old fighter pilots, and just had a long phone conversation with Tom Glenn about his book, ’P-47 Pilots - The Fighter Bomber Boys’ His website is http://thunderbolttom.com. I can be reached at (818)346-7024 most any day from 9AM-5PM Pacific Time...
Posted By: Fred ’Crash’ Blechman
(fblechman@juno.com)
on 06/23/2000 2:16:14 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1017)
My dad was a P-47 pilot during WWII - Roland W. Riddell (Bill). He died in February, 1999, but not before he was able to contact several of his fellow P-47 pilots, which was a joy to him. Your site is great. Keep it up, but please change his name (388th) from Ronald Riddell to Roland (correct name). My brother Jim directed me to this site. Thanks again.
Posted By: Doris Sanders
(dgrsanders@hotmail.com)
on 06/21/2000 9:02:38 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1016)
I am honored to even have my words on the same page with these true American Heroes. My father 1st Lt. J.L.LeGette flew with the 324th, 316th Fighter Squadron starting in Corsica and pushing through France in the Sping and Summer of 1944. My father passed away on March 30, 2000. It is places like this that his memory can stay alive for those who remember. God bless you all. William LeGette
Posted By: William LeGette
(Willget@thegrid.net)
on 06/19/2000 1:26:32 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1015)
Hello All! Looking for anyone from the 391st FS (366th Group) that knew my father, Lt. Peter Wayne White
Posted By: John I. White
(johnw@barlow-promo.com)
on 06/18/2000 9:54:41 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1014)
Just paying my respects to the Heroes of these pages, and to mention 316th Fighter Group Pilot J.LeGette. Endless thanks from a grateful Brit.
Posted By: FLetcher Christian
(schmoo@blueyonder.co.uk)
on 06/17/2000 1:08:25 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1013)
I discovered this site in May and left a brief message about my P-47 service in the Pacific. Later, it seems that someone may have maliciously affected the site, and my original message, along with many others, are now unreadable. So I am leaving this message (with the help of my son, who is working with me on the computer) in order to reconnect with anyone who may have contacted me. Several e-mail messages to me from other old pilots like myself are now missing from my computer, too. So I would like to say hello again, my Squadron was the 413th, which was part of the 414th Fighter Group, based on Iwo Jima from July 8, 1945 until some time after the war. I was a captain when I arrived on the island and our missions, before the war ended, involved strafing Japanese airfields on the Japanese mainland. Many of the messages here are from fellow pilots who flew in Europe, which I did not. While I know we share many recollections of what it was like to fly the Thunderbolt, I naturally identify most with those who flew in the Pacific, as I did. This web site was a real revelation to me, as I had not previously been aware of the Association, so if anyone could help me out with information about how to join and what activities and reunions are a part of being a member, I would really appreciate it. I am 83 now and live in eastern North Carolina, Washington, with my wife of 55 years, Esther. Best regards to all. Frank W. Johnson
Posted By: Frank W. Johnson
(FrankandAndre1@aol.com)
on 06/17/2000 11:44:35 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1012)
A friend, Bill Desante recently sent me a Jug letter dated Feb. 1971. I’ll quote an article that was on the last page. ’The Jug propeller as a display is more realistic than you might think. Want one? A letter from the West Coast informs us that there are 50 or 60 cases of them available for purchase, all in new condition, covered with cosmoline. They are P-47D prop blades. Paddle blades only, and packed 4 to a crate. Each is about 6 feet long and 14 inches wide. They should be great for den or office. My price is $15 per blade or $ 60 per crate plus $26.60 shipping. It says to contact John R. Paul, 1204 49th Ave. Oakland, Calif 94601. ’ I know i’m a little late but if anyone has one of these props, I will pay anything to get one, (well, almost anything). If anyone knows where one is available, please write me or E-mail me or call me. Eddie Poole 303 N 90th St. Milwaukee, Wi 53226 414-453-2582 E-mail epp30390@ameritech.net.
Posted By: Eddie Poole
(epp30390@ameritech.net)
on 06/15/2000 8:58:15 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1011)
Ex RAF P47N 135 Squadron Burma. Through the Guestbook made contact with another RAF P47 pilot Bernard Hancox who converted on to P47’s at RAF Fayid (by the Suez Canal) Egypt and now we plan to meet at an RAF reunion this 4th July weekend. This annual reunion is for all the British pilots who were trained in the USA under the USAAC Arnold Scheme from 1941 through 1943 The the ’flying day’ of reunion is held at an ex RAF grass aerodrome close to Duxford (Ex USAAC P47 base) On the day we have PT17’s, AT6’s and Tiger Moths all flying about and usually a fly past of a Spits, Hurricane, Gladiator and one of the latest RAF jet fighters. Duxford England is now the British Imperial Warm Museum, where they have the American Airforce Museum (of which I am one of the early founder members)and also regularly, at weekends, fly a P47D accompanied by P51’s, Corsairs (F4U)a B25’s, a B17, Spitfires and Hurricanes as well as a couple of ME 109f and g. When this melee are all flying together it is so reminscent of the Battle of Britain days. This place is worth a visit if your travels should take you to England.
Posted By: Robert Walker
(reklaw23@naples.net)
on 06/14/2000 11:24:11 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1010)
A little poem the jugheads might appreciate: Grace was her name One of the best The night I put her through the test So pretty ,so sweet, so slim The night was dark, the light was dim I’d seen her stripped, I’ve seen her bare I’ve felt her over everywhere. I got insider , she screamed with joy We got off as quickly as we could What a thrill, the best in the land. A P47 in the fighter command.
Posted By: M.K. Arrow
()
on 06/13/2000 10:54:18 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1009)
What a wonderful website. Reading through the Guestbook is a walk through a part of history that feels so close you think you can reach out and touch it. Snagged by a wave of nostalgia, perhaps inspired by the recent D-Day anniversary, I was looking for a link to my father and a bit more information. He was a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and served in the Ninth Air Force under Col. Curry (Curry’s Cougars). I don’t know the FG or FS, but culled from other messages that it might be the 36th FG, 22nd FS (vice versa). His name was Lt. George Townsend Leach England, Jr. His plane was the ’Susan E’. He received his wings at Spencer Field, GA in March 1943 and was based somewhere in England. According to his obituary he flew 5 missions in the first two (2) days of the invasion. He was kia on Aug 7, 1944. Although he enlisted in Virginia, my father grew up in NYC, attended the Dwight School and NYU. Anyone with any stories to tell or info to share about my father, his squadron &/or fighter group, their activities, exploits & conquests, whatever...I’d love to hear from you. Susan E
Posted By: Susan England
(sae@sundial.net)
on 06/13/2000 5:47:24 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1008)
June 11, 2000 My first visit to the site and, while I haven’t had the time to analyze it sufficiently, it looks very good. I have been an Association member for many, many years. I flew the jug, the P47D, and then the P47N, long range version, from it’s entry in late ’44/early ’45 to my departure from the Air Force in 1946, and then some Reserve flying thereafter. I was with the 456th Fighter Squadron, 414th Fighter Group, that went to Iwo Jima (via Guam & Tinian)in mid ’45 to assist the B-29s on their missions to Tokyo and other sites in the South Pacific. E-mail me if you need info on the 414th.
Posted By: Jim Baird
(jbaird8910@aol.com)
on 06/11/2000 7:08:48 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1007)
As I’m researching the ’45 crash of 2LT Richard W. Taylor (P-51D) in my village I’m now in the possession of a copy of Class 44-C (Nov ’43) Dorr Way FL Primary Flight Training Class Book. It shows all the officers & students. For those interested (maybe you’re one of them..)I’m able to send scanned pictures.
Posted By: Paul Patist
(patist@casema.net)
on 06/11/2000 4:04:33 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1006)
From a virtual P-47 pilot to the real things, thanks for your heroic actions during the second world war. You did us proud! ~S!
Posted By: jim hartsell aka CA_14thWarrior
(jimh527@hotmail.com)
on 06/11/2000 1:12:04 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1005)
Hello... I haven’t seen any new entries since April. Is it me or you?. I miss the traffic from this gr8 site. dr sends
Posted By: Dave Raphael
(mraphael@mindspring.com)
on 06/10/2000 4:48:18 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1004)
Looking for any photos or information on P-47 named ’Lucky’ flown by Robert S. Johnson in 56 Fighter group WW2. Need it for a radio control scale model. Thanks.
Posted By: John Shortall
(lshortal@morgan.ucs.mun.ca)
on 06/10/2000 12:23:10 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1003)
I would like info.from any one that knew or flew with my late brother. His name was Lieut.Nelson E. Wolfe and was in occupied Germany right after the war ended .He flew P-47s after attending Texas A & M .
Posted By: Kenneth A Karstetter
(kkarstet@cub.kcnet.org)
on 06/09/2000 11:07:02 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1002)
From 1948-1950 I lived at the San Juan (P.R.) Naval Station, which was primarily an air station. I was 8-10 years old, and we lived about three houses from the runway. The kids living there looked forward to Saturday mornings when the Puerto Rico Air National Guard would, with a considerable amount of noise, power up their P-47s for their weekend-warrior activities. Because the planes were emblazoned with the letters ’PRANG’ superimposed over a bulls-eye, they were known as the ’PRANGO boys.’ The kids loved to watch them take off. The P-47s exuded pure power, and occasionally one of them would roll over on its back shortly after take-off. One day at the Navy pool, which was close to the runway (which was shared by the Navy, PRANG and commercial traffic), I heard a roar overhead. There, just above tree-top level, was a PRANGO P-47 flying inverted, with the pilot waiving to those below. Occasionally, on Saturdays there would be no PRANGO activity. The information received by the kids was that the P-47s had been grounded for some sort of antics, such as intercepting a Pan Am constellation arriving from New York or Miami. After a while, the PRANGO boys returned. Now kids get up Saturday mornings to watch cartoons. Watching the PRANGO boys was a whole lot more fun, with a whole lot more noise.
Posted By: Mark Marshall
(markm@prestongates.com)
on 06/09/2000 6:23:30 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1001)
I am looking for anyone who might have flown out of Bradley Field in the summer of 1942 and knew or knew of an Alice Rose Cummings, nickname ’BABE’. I am looking for my birth father--last name possibly FORD, white, college grad from mid-west.
Posted By: Joanne Philbrick
(jphil@vineyard.net)
on 06/09/2000 3:27:24 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 1000)
Col Fred J. Christensen Jr. was our honored guest at our annual Memorial Day parade...he was in Zemke’s ’Wolf Pack’....56th Fighter Group..22 kills...great guy...went into the Army Air Corps from Watertown, Massachusetts...if anyone wants to get in touch with Col Christensen please let me know...I am sure that he would want to hear from old friends...
Posted By: Bob Erickson
(berickson@ci.watertown.ma.us)
on 06/08/2000 8:27:27 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 999)
My father, Wayne Leathers, was a P47 and P51 pilot who trained in Victoria, Texas. He passed away some years ago and I am searching for information from anyone who might have known him. I do know that he was stationed in England andat one point, was shot down over France. Our family would be greatful for any information available. Great web site! Regards, Mark Leathers
Posted By: Mark Leathers
(m.leathers@worldnet.att.net)
on 06/08/2000 3:41:06 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 998)
I’m very interested in the several aircraft crashes occurred in the Maritime Alp (North-West Italy) during the World War II and I would like to go deep into this question. So,I take the liberty of referring to you in the hope of obtaining some information about the following P47 fighters wich fell in the North-West Italy in August 2, 1944, the serial number 42-26814, 12th AF 79th FG (Pilot lost). I have found some small remains of a fighter crasced very near to my town Cuneo. Is it possible to have some information about? Thank you for courtesy and assistance. Cordialy Sergio
Posted By: Sergio Costagli
(sergio.costagli@multiwire.net)
on 06/06/2000 5:11:33 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 997)
What did
Posted By: W.W.Smith
(WWSWFD@AOL.Com)
on 06/05/2000 4:47:42 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 996)
JUST WATCHED PBS SPECIAL WITH CPT AANENSON...POWERFUL...I USED TO GUIDE TERRAIN WALKS ALONG KALL RIVER NEAR SCHMIDT, GERMANY AND DO BATTLE ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF HUERTGEN FORREST..REMEMBER A GERMAN TELLING US OF THE P47 THAT CRASHED DURING THE BATTLE..TO ALL OF YOU VETERANS, THANK YOU, WELCOME HOME AND REST........MAJ BOB LOOMIS , USA RET
Posted By: bob loomis
(majloomis@AOL.COM)
on 06/04/2000 8:06:39 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 995)
I am writing a memory concerning the American air attacks on the Gereman colums dring the end of August and the begining of September 1944 over central France. These strafings forced generl Elster to surender with 18000 soldiers ! the strongest German surender in the Western front! I would be very glad and honored to correspond with veterans who were on these missions : South Loire River, Pitiers, Chateauroux, Issoudun , Bourges etc ... or with any researchers. This memory will be dedicated to these airmen (36h FG etc ... ) Thank You Philippe
Posted By: philippe Canonne
(p.canone@wanadoo.fr)
on 06/03/2000 10:09:11 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 994)
New Guinea P-47s. I’d love to hear from any P-47 pilots who remember encountering Australian Wirraways and Boomerangs over New Guinea. I’m writing the history of an Australian squadron that flew Wirraways and Boomerangs, and had a close association with P-47s, though it didn’t ever fly them. 4 Squadron’s Wirraways and Boomerangs flew low-level Tac/Rs and were often escorted by P-47s; led them in on close air support ops; and on one occasion a Boomerang was even shot down by a P-47 (Major Jerry Johnson, 348th FG) as the Aussie aircraft were easily confused with Zeros. Any one out there remember them? jmoremon@hotmail.com.au or PO Box 573, Wauchope, NSW, 2446, Australia.
Posted By: John Moremon
(jmoremon@hotmail.com)
on 06/02/2000 11:49:09 PM EST
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