Guestbook Entry (msg id: 843)
I flew with the 404 f/g of the 508th. France,Belgium, and Germany. This is completed by a multi engine pilot, as Bob does not believe that a computer is right for him at 78. Let him know. Bet we can get him to buy one before his money is all rusted. Lt.Bob Taliferro/ G Cole
Posted By: Bob Taliferro
(relorkym@msn.com)
on 01/13/2000 11:21:03 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 842)
CORRECTION: For those wanting to lock on to Quentin Aanenson’s wonderful website ’A FIGHTER PILOTS STORY’ please note that there is a slash (/) following the word ’fighterpilot’. Treat yourself to some great P-47 memorabilia.
Posted By: Bob Richards
(bobr@wilmington.net)
on 01/12/2000 9:49:31 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 841)
I’ve marvelled at the size, power & majesty of the P47 for some years. I never had the opportunity to get hands on when working as a volunteer at Duxford Airfield, but love to get right in there to see how it all works. As an aviation artist, in my spare time, I love to draw the P47 on the ground or in the air, it has majesty. Reading the pilot’s stories of operation and survival helps to paint the picture of what it was really all about and helps us who never experienced the war to try to understand what it was all about. There are very few Thunderbolts around today and only one flying here in the UK. Very often overshadowed today by the P51, lets keep its memory alive.
Posted By: Jonathan A Hughes
(jahughes@abode.screaming.net)
on 01/12/2000 3:59:04 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 840)
Looking to borrow/purchase photos of 8th Air Force fighter pilots and aircraft for a four volume history due to go to press in June.
Posted By: Kent Miller
(hannah1@bright.net)
on 01/11/2000 5:38:46 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 839)
In August 1994 I represented my squadron at a Military Day at the Panama City, Florida mall. I was very lucky that day to meet Robert ’Shorty’ Rankin of the 61st FS, 56th Fighter Group. I didn’t learn until I researched it later that he had shot down 5 German aircraft in a single day on 12 May 1944. 5 years earlier I had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of spending the week with his commander, Colonel Hub Zemke, at my graduation from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. I had corresponded with Hub for months prior to his arrival and was already in awe of the Wolfpack’s accomplishments in WWII under his leadership. When I first met Hub in person, he was talking excitedly to Gunther Rall with his hands outstretched, shooting his watch as fighter pilots are prone to do, recounting that very same famous engagement from 12 May 1944! It took 5 years for things to come full-circle in my mind as Hub passed away the same month I met Bob Rankin. I realized the connection and how Hub’s combat leadership dramatically underscored everything that happened on 12 May 1944. I loved my career flying F-15s in the Air Force but I cherish that Thunderbolt print hanging on my wall because of how it connects past and present. ’A Pack of Trouble’ it’s called. Signed by Hub, Shorty, Gunther Rall and the artist Ross Buckland. Everytime I look at it (which is often) I take my hat off to all you Jug drivers, Jug crew chiefs, Jug maintainers, and Jug support people that made it happen for us in WWII. Thanks for this great site!
Posted By: Gary Turnipseed
(gat37@hotmail.com)
on 01/10/2000 6:54:48 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 838)
I failed to include the e-mail address regarding any information on the 494th Sq., 48th Fighter Grp - 1st. Lt. Frank M. Gaertner - thanks - his son Chris
Posted By: Chris J. Gaertner
(cjg1@worldnet.att.net)
on 01/09/2000 9:13:39 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 837)
I failed to include the e-mail address regarding any information on the 494th Sq., 48th Fighter Grp - 1st. Lt. Frank M. Gaertner - thanks - his son Chris
Posted By: Chris J. Gaertner
(cjg1@worldnet.att.net)
on 01/09/2000 9:13:39 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 836)
My father was 1st. Lt. Frank M. Gaertner who served in active duty from 8 February, 1944 to 19 December, 1945. He was in the 48th Fighter Group, 494th Fighter Squadron, 9th Air Force based in france, Germany and Belgium. Flew 68 combat missions of tactical infantry support - rated asst. flight commander of 8 pilots. Also checked out in P-40 fighters. Had 604 military flying hours. His commander was Vic Cabas who I believe is living out in California. Campaigns were in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe. His Commander was Vic Cabas who I think is living in california. If anyone has any information about this particular unit - I would love to hear from you. A proud son - Chris Gaertner
Posted By: Chris J. Gaertner
()
on 01/09/2000 8:56:02 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 835)
My father, David Eldridge, referred me to this site tonight when I had some questions about fighter pilots returning from the war. I can’t begin to express how very pleased that this site is here and so very proud to be the daughter of such a wonderful man and pilot.
Posted By: Patricia Eldridge Ammon
(PattyAmmon@netscape.com)
on 01/09/2000 8:20:56 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 834)
I am among the many who have never flown a P-47. I have never seen one fly or sit on the ground. However, I have a poster of a P-47 squadren peeling off. It is circa 1943, and was presented to my father who was a final adjustment mechanic at Republic Aviation (Chester, PA ?). It is signed by all of those who worked the assembly line at the plant. This poster needs to be preserved. Although I am not willing to part with it just yet, I am researching as to where would be its best final display be located. Any ideas would be appreciated. Bob Haynes
Posted By: Bob Haynes
(haynera@louisville.stortek.com)
on 01/08/2000 6:40:42 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 833)
On monday May 31st 1943,1Lt. Pat M. Williams 56F.G./63F.S. crashed his P47-D2, UN-I, 27946, near a farm here in Moorsele. According to the official documents ’His plane turned into a steep dive near Courtrai and was seen still in dive at 10.000 ft when he entered the clouds. All indications point to oxygen failure.’ I try to make an in depth study of this incident. Could it be that any of the veterans of the 56F.G. amongst the readers of this very interesting site knew and/or flew with Lt. P. Williams. He was born in Harrogate/Tennesee and is now burried at the Epinal Military Cemetery/France Bloc B, row 17, grave 31. It would be a great honour for me to be contacted by these former members of the 56 F.G.
Posted By: Lothair Vanoverbeke
(Lothair.Vanoverbeke@compaqnet.be)
on 01/08/2000 12:48:36 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 832)
Suggest you all check out Quentin Aanenson’s ’A FIGHTER PILOT’S STORY’ website at http://pages.prodigy.com/fighterpilot, and click on the sub-sites as well as the main page. You’ll like it!!
Posted By: Bob Richards
(bobr@wilmington.net)
on 01/08/2000 11:55:22 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 831)
First I wanted to wish all of you a happy year 2000. I am living in Belgium and since more than 30 years I am very interested in the pilots of the 8th Air Force during WWII, the guys that helped liberated our country. Since a few months I try to make some contacts with pilots that make encounters with the Me 163’Komet’ in 1944 or in 1945. If you are some of those pilots that fight such planes during the last war, please contact me. Thank you.
Posted By: Bart Vandamme
(bvandamme@bgda.be)
on 01/07/2000 1:53:22 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 830)
I am too young to have ever flown the JUG,but I fell in love with her while reading Bob Johnson’s book while I was in high school. Since that time I have read,built models and idolized the men who flew her. I count myself fortunate to have seen one of the remaing jugs fly. I stood next to her and had a chance to stand in the prop wash and smell the av gas and oil. She is quite a plane. I would love to communicate with any of her piolts as I am an amateur historian and avid reader of almost anything to do with WWII. Thanks for this site. I echo the thoughts of a Marine General as he surveyed the carrange of Tarawa,’Where do we find such men.’ Thank you all for your courage and sacrifice.
Posted By: Roy Cantrall
(p47lucky@aol.com)
on 01/06/2000 3:44:37 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 829)
Correction to my Jan. 5th Query. The P-47 pilot name is Joseph W. Icard, not Robert W. Too many irons in the fire. Thanks for your help.
Posted By: Tom Kracker
(tdk@ellijay.com)
on 01/06/2000 8:47:58 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 828)
I’m a long time memeber of the association having flown the Jug with the 84th F.S. 78th F.G. from9/15/44 to 2/21/45 on which date I was shot down by a train. Never strafe trains in a P-51. I believe we were the very last group to give up the Jug in favor of the P-51. I always suspected it was done because the ’51 cost half as much. I landed in Stalag IIIA in Germany, made the forced march from Nurenburg to Mooseberg and would love to hear from anyone in the 78th or Stalag IIIA. Thanks guys for this wonderful site.
Posted By: Burt Newmark
(wzkbar@att.net)
on 01/05/2000 11:39:53 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 827)
I’m a long time memeber of the association having flown the Jug with the 84th F.S. 78th F.G. from9/15/44 to 2/21/45 on which date I was shot down by a train. Never strafe trains in a P-51. I believe we were the very last group to give up the Jug in favor of the P-51. I always suspected it was done because the ’51 cost half as much. I landed in Stalag IIA in Germany, made the forced march from Nurenburg to Mooseberg and would love to hear from anyone in the 78th or Stalag IIA. Thanks guys for this wonderful site.
Posted By: Burt Newmark
(wzkbar@att.net)
on 01/05/2000 11:38:37 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 826)
Great new site (for me)! I am researching an 8 Feb 1944 dogfight where Lt Robt W. Icard is believed to have downed Fw Richard Guthmann in Polleur, Be.. Icard w/56FG, 62FS. Un-fortunately, Lt. Icard was KIA one month later. Any of his wingmen out there(?) or any historians who can add ’anything’ to this event? sincerely appreciated!
Posted By: Tom Kracker
(tdk@ellijay.com)
on 01/05/2000 4:21:45 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 825)
I had to look up the P-47 Thunderbolt for a school project. I found it interesting that women of the time had flown this airplane.
Posted By: Nathan Puepke
()
on 01/04/2000 2:13:45 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 824)
Great site. Life member. 53rd Sq 36th FG. Flew 51’s and 80’s in Korea. Came back to US and was assigned to 133rd ANG sq. flying P47’s!!!!! Should have had them in Korea.
Posted By: Bill Tubbs
(willreid@aol.com)
on 01/04/2000 12:23:30 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 823)
My grandfather flew P-38J’s and -51D’s with the 384th FS/364th FG in England and my uncle-in-law flew P-47’s and -40’s with the 90th FS/80th FG in the CBI. As a avid student of military and aviation history it is great to see this site and read all the posts by those who flew the ’Jug’. Many thanks to all of you, Jim Heard
Posted By: Jim Heard
(jheard@slipnet.com)
on 01/04/2000 4:29:47 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 822)
Class 42E St. Louis, Randolph, Kelley. Proving ground command we put the first rockets on the P47 they were in pipes hung under the wings and were just as likely to come back at you when you fired them. There are not too many of 42E left. Have not run any of the old proving ground group.
Posted By: EDWARD DEGROFF
(edegroff@aol.com)
on 01/03/2000 3:22:58 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 821)
I have been assisting the Historian of 364th Fighter Gp Assoc (383rd, 384th, 385th Sqdns P-51s) and families of pilots lost over Germany WW-II in acquiring local(German) info from eye-witnesses etc. If there is a similar need within the P-47 Thunderbolt family, contact me. Served w. German 88s nr Minden, Westfalia 1944-45. Due to military background and German schooling, able to translate and correspond in German as needed. Contact via E-Mail. Good luck to you guys. I saw you buzzing around overhead at times as escorts as well as other missions.
Posted By: Walter K. Schroder
(WKSchroder@aol.com)
on 01/02/2000 10:30:17 PM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 820)
Hello I am looking for people who were based at St-Trond Airfield A92 the 1st of January 1945 and able to testimonies what happened that day on the airfield and who remember something about a Fw-190 A8 WNr-681497 White 11 (Name of the pilot? )presumed land on the airfield and further use by a US fighter group (404FG) for test. By advance thank you and have a nice millennium Phil dufrasne.philippe@skynet.be
Posted By: Philippe Dufrasne
(philippe.dufrasne@skynet.be)
on 12/30/1999 10:29:21 AM EST
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Guestbook Entry (msg id: 819)
Hello I am looking for someone who was based at St-Trond Airfield the 1st of January 1945 and able to testimonies what happened that day on the airfield and who remember something about a Fw-190 presumed land on the airfield and further use by a US fighter group for test. By advance thank you and have a nice millennium Phil
Posted By: Philippe Dufrasne
(philippe.dufrasne@skynet.be)
on 12/29/1999 7:25:04 AM EST
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