Guestbook Entry (msg id: 818)
Greetings all and this note is sent hoping all of you are well and looking forward to the new century. Thanks to the P-47 crews for allowing us to survive the last one... I posted here once about a year ago and got some really nice feedback. My dad (Jack) flew with the 336FS, 4FG and carried a business card with him which said... Jack L. Raphael (has been fighter pilot) ’better a has been than a never was’ I just wanted to pass on a little story I read recently... Several years back a British Airways 747 landed at Frankfurt, GE on a busy holiday evening. As the a/c turned to taxi he made his contact with ground control who told him to proceed to gate 12. The 747 was still sitting after 30 seconds and the German ground controller came on quite abruptly and asked the 747 what the problem was. The British pilot replied that he was looking on his chart for gate 12. The German replied with a real attitude now.... ’Haven’t you ever flown into Frankfurt before??’ The British pilot responded (very cool) ’Yes, in 1944, but I didn’t land. God Bless all of you. and to Bob Nelson - you are my favorite! Dave Raphael, CMSgt, USAF sends
Posted By: Dave Raphael
(mraphael@mindspring.com)
on 12/28/1999 6:24:31 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 817)
I was a pilot with the 390th Fighter Squaron 366th Fighter Group. I ended the war as the leading P-47 Ace in the 9th Air Force. I am now doing documentaries and writing books. This leads me into many research areas if I can help you let me know. Watch for our documentary ’Shooting War’ on ABC. Great job on putting this site together.
Posted By: Melvyn R. Paisley
(mvpaisley@erols.com)
on 12/28/1999 5:38:18 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 816)
Received your mailing. The miracle of modern technology will help members in their seach for information. thanks for all your effort. I flew with the 314th Sq , 324th Gr. May of ’44 thro Jan of ’45.
Posted By: Stan Hart
(stanwh@aol.com)
on 12/28/1999 5:25:05 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 815)
Received your mailing. The miracle of modern technolohy will help members in thier seach for information. thaks for all your effort
Posted By: Stan Hart
(stanwh@aol.com)
on 12/28/1999 5:14:47 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 814)
The Jug like no other aircraft made, always brought me back home safely ... although sometimes slightly bent, and with a few holes, or cylinders missing, it never failed to make homeplate. Republic Aircraft and those people who made up the assembly line created the best, which no one can question, they put a little of themselves into each Thunderbolt that came off the line. Bless them each and everyone. As such, I became the world’s second greatest fighter pilot ... we all know who the first was!!! This is Big Ed ... over and out.
Posted By: Col Ed Kenny
(ekenny@luna.moonstar.com)
on 12/28/1999 2:47:16 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 813)
I restored an flew a P-47N for several years and retired as Commander of the 156th TFG, P.R. Air National Guard. I have been a Life Member of the Association for over 25 years and enjoy receiving its various publications.
Posted By: Gabriel I. Peñagarícano
(guigo34@hotmail.com)
on 12/28/1999 9:49:10 AM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 812)
I flew in the 318th FG 73rd Sq. from Ie Shima. Was also in the 507th GP and the 413th Gp on Okinawa.
Posted By: edward p poole
(epp30390@ameritech.net)
on 12/27/1999 12:10:20 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 811)
I’m looking for a canidate for my scale model of a P-47D Thungerbolt. I live in the northwest and would like to scale one from the area if possible.
Posted By: Eric Lahaug
(EALAHAUG@MICRON.NET)
on 12/26/1999 9:58:02 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 810)
GREAT WEB SITE. I FLEW MY COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE P47 WITH THE 524TH SQDN, 27TH FIGHTER GP.AFTER WAR ENDED IN ETO,WAS TRANSFERED TO 391ST SQDN, 366TH FTR GP UNTIL MAY 1946. P47 WAS BEST AIRCRAFT FOR DIVE BOMBING AND STRAFING.
Posted By: MELVIN H. ORNOFF
(melvin@edifax.com)
on 12/26/1999 12:07:54 AM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 809)
Merry Christmas!!! God bless all those who served and sacrificed that made it possible for us to celebrate this holiday freely. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all the Jug pilots of the world.
Posted By: Zack Baughman
(zwb76@hotmail.com)
on 12/25/1999 12:22:17 AM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 808)
great to see the website. keep up the good work.
Posted By: Capt.Thomas W. Miller USAFR RET.
(rsdimick@swbell.net)
on 12/24/1999 9:47:54 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 807)
Was in the 356th Group, 359th Sqdn. stationed at Ipswich, England First mission D-day, flew 75 missions, last few in P-51s, still think the ’jug’was the best bird.
Posted By: Richard (Dick) Tucker
(rtucker@ies.net)
on 12/24/1999 6:16:37 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 806)
Greetings for the year 2000, to all 36 fighter group-53rd fighter sq. 23rd and 22nd fighter sq., from W. E. Peto 53rd fighter sq. 12/24/99
Posted By: Bill Peto
()
on 12/24/1999 3:55:04 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 805)
Great web site: salient and informative. Flew 100 missions in P-47s with 41st FS, 35th FG, in South Pacific, New Guinea to the Philippines. The JUG and I teamed through some rough and rugged times. The JUG, tough and reliable, kept me alive. I am proud to be one of the fraternity of P-47 pilots and its accompanying heritage.
Posted By: Richard DeBaugh
(debaugh@galesburg.net)
on 12/22/1999 10:52:19 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 804)
I flew the Jug in europe while assigned to the 86th FBG ,525 SQ. I flew 80 missions in Italy,France and Germany and I believe I`m alive today because of the P47.
Posted By: Donald Westfall
(durite@nortexinfo.net)
on 12/22/1999 12:44:17 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 803)
I did not fly the P-47 in combat, I flew the P-40 as the original commander of the 85th Fighter Sq. 79th Fighter Group in the Desert Air Force from Egypt to Tunisia in WW2. I later flew many models of the P-47/F-47 after returning home from Africa. It was a very comfortable and easy to fly aircraft.
Posted By: Tarleton H. Watkins (jack)
(usaf39@aol,com)
on 12/21/1999 1:27:11 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 802)
I have had several inquires as to the correct url for my depiction of the P-47 . Try this one ,but be patiet . Its a slow loader http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/wappee Thanks Lynn
Posted By: Lynn Redfern
(redfern@fbtc.net)
on 12/20/1999 4:59:22 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 801)
Thanks for the mail about the web site. Glad to be able to read news , hopefully, of some people from the 78th Group, 84th. Sqdn. I flew out of Duxford with the 78th from July, 1944 thru November 1944. (66 missions)
Posted By: Charles D. Whitefield
(cwhitefield@eastland.net)
on 12/20/1999 4:57:11 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 800)
I have had several inquires as to the correct url for my depiction of the P-47 . Try this one ,but be patiet . Its a slow loader http://www.angelfire.co/ok3/wappee Thanks Lynn
Posted By: Lynn Redfern
(redfern@fbtc.net)
on 12/20/1999 4:26:40 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 799)
Class 44-C Eagle Pass, TX. Flew P-47s with 513FS, 406FG. Shot down by ground fire April 18, 1945 while on my 75th and ’last’ scheduled mission. Survived the Battle of Berlin while a ’hostage’ of a German medical unit. Would appreciated any info on squadron mates killed in action, such as Maj. Gordon Fowler, Maj. Richard Graves and Lt. John Traige.
Posted By: Wallace King
(wnking@infonline.net)
on 12/20/1999 2:26:13 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 798)
Flew out of Toul, France & Wurtzburg, Germany with the 81st squardon, 50th Group, Flight A; Dec. ’44 - May ’45. 86 missions. Still have pictures of our flight in ’tent city’ at Ochy. Fond memories of the flak shack at Nancy, Hotel Trier. Regret to report that Jack Rathbone died this year; not too many of us left. Love the Jug!! Ed Roth
Posted By: Edward M. Roth
(sundog@bellatlantic.net)
on 12/19/1999 8:08:58 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 797)
Been a big-time P-47 fan since I was 12 years old - a space of 40 years ! Thank you to Bob Johnson and ’Thundrbolt!’ for that ! Through the kindness of a true gentleman - Paul Carll ( 57th FG 64th FS ’The Black Scorpions’), I have been able to attend two P-47 Pilot’s Assoc. reunions as his guest. What wonderful experiences they were for me - to be surrounded by hundreds of my boyhood heroes ! My best wishes to all of you Jug jockeys !
Posted By: Jim Guignard
(JGUIGNARD@AOL.COM)
on 12/18/1999 3:50:13 PM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 796)
Yesterday I put a message on this guestbook that started with ’THIS IS DEC. 17, 1999’. I made an omission by not saying that I was flying the ’WORLD FAMOUS P-47 THUNDERBOLT’ and that you will not find a finer group of young men anywhere than the pilots of this aircraft. ’LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF THE GUG AND ITS PILOTS. I have seen messages on this site from young and old. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND FOR THIS GUESTBOOK.
Posted By: Lewis T. ’MOE’ Easterling
(tom.e@juno.com)
on 12/18/1999 10:16:39 AM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 795)
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Elderirge a p-47 pilot who fought in world war 2, and wanted to express my utmost respect to him and all of the men and women of his generation. we should all be grateful for the sacrifices you made for all of mankind.
Posted By: jonathan weaver
(jon88weaver@yahoo.com)
on 12/18/1999 1:58:30 AM EST
|
Guestbook Entry (msg id: 794)
This is Dec. 17, 1999. 55 years ago today I took off from Toul France on a combat mission to bomb and strafe the marsheling yard at Mannheim, Germany.....A ONE WAY TRIP. My group, the 358th. was known as the ’ORANGE TAILS’. And I was with the 365th. Squadron. I had joined the Squadron at Pontenson, on the Cheribourg Pennisular along with Don Flowers, Bud Gallaher, Bob Dwyer, and Gus Garcea. We moved frequently all across France keeping up with the front lines By December Gus and Bob were KIA and Paul Fulton had been lost while we were in England. I miss those guys yet..When I was on my last strafing pass Les Boze was following, but managed to excape the TERRIFIC EXPLOSION which I was caught in. After finishing the war as a POW and getting back to England where they put me in a body cast, was eventuelly returned to the USA where I spent the next two and a half years in hospitals getting patched up. Just returned from Nashville, TN. where the 358th. Group had a reunion. Saw many old friends including Don, Bud, and Les. Merry Christmas everyone.... DOWN WITH THE FLAPS, DOWN WITH THE GEAR, THREE POINT LANDING, AND I’M OUT OF HERE.
Posted By: Lewis T.’Moe’ Easterling
(tom.e@juno.com)
on 12/17/1999 9:30:35 PM EST
|