Veterans Day (msg id: 2370)
On this Veteran's Day, thank you to all who flew as well as maintained the P-47, as well as their families and friends who continue to preserve their memory. You are not forgotten!
It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Author unknown
Posted By: PastPilots
on 11/11/2011 1:02:44 PM EST
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C. M. Tommy Thompson (msg id: 2368)
I am Tommy's son. I did not find any entries for him here. He flew during WWII in France. I don't have his group right now but will look it up. He lives in Midland, Michigan. Doing OK for 88 years old.
Posted By: Jim Thompson
(jim.thompson@bigonportage.com)
on 11/10/2011 12:26:54 PM EST
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C. M. Tommy Thompson (msg id: 2367)
I am Tommy's son. I did not find any entries for him here. He flew during WWII in France. I don't have his group right now but will look it up. He lives in Midland, Michigan. Doing OK for 88 years old.
Posted By: Jim Thompson
(jim.thompson@bigonportage.com)
on 11/10/2011 12:24:29 PM EST
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P47 Pilots (msg id: 2366)
I just visited your site and was sad to see William E. Seay was not listed as a pilot. He flew out of Iashima if my spelling is correct, likely not, and he is now 91 years old. Bill was a state representative and circuit judge. An attorney for many, many years. Please research this and include his name in your pilot listings. I believe he is/was a Colonel in the Southern Air Force.
Posted By: Jim Higginbottom
on 10/26/2011 11:13:17 AM EST
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Tadeusz Sawicz 61st FS (msg id: 2365)
A very sad news. General Tadeusz Sawicz DFC, VM, 4 x Cross of Valour, passed away on 19th October 2011. Born in 1914, he participated in Polish Campaign 1939 as fighter pilot of 114 EM, Battle of Britain pilot of 303 Sqn. He later flew with 316 Sqn. Sawicz commanded Polish No. 315 Squadron, No. 3 Polish Wing, he was the last commander of Polish No. 131 Wing.
Tadeusz Sawicz also flew P-47s with 61st FS.
Posted By: Peter Sikora
(m.p.sikora1722@googlemail.com)
on 10/21/2011 8:15:02 AM EST
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36th Fighter Group facebook site (msg id: 2364)
Wonderful group of rare P-47 veteran photos on the 36th Fighter Group facebook site below:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/48476868585/
Posted By: Allen Blumberg
on 09/29/2011 11:23:07 PM EST
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Lt. Ben Blumberg Jr. 53rd Squadron 36th F.G. (msg id: 2363)
My late father Lt. Ben Blumberg Jr. flew p-47's with the 53rd Squadron in the 36th Fighter Group. He took a large group of diverse photo while in service. Many of these photos can be viewed on the 36th Fighter Group facebook site below: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/48476868585/ I would like to hear from other pilots or families of pilots who were members of this group.
Posted By: Allen Blumberg
on 09/29/2011 12:39:20 PM EST
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P-47 pilots' photos (msg id: 2362)
I'm looking for any photos of Lt.Troy L.Dean of 378th FS, 362nd FG and 2Lt Bernard J.Smith of 493rd FS, 48th FG.
m.p.sikora1722@googlemail.com
Posted By: Peter Sikora
(m.p.sikora1722@googlemail.com)
on 09/24/2011 5:25:20 AM EST
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Pilots Schallehan & Massey 405th FG (msg id: 2361)
Perhaps coincidental but Lt. Leonard Schallehan and Capt. Paul Massey both flew in the 405th FG, 509th FS. Very nice tribute to this group at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3gTi5F-sA4
Posted By: PastPilots
on 09/13/2011 2:48:41 PM EST
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My brother ,Leonard Schallehn flew the P47 during ww2 (msg id: 2360)
Len was shot down over France 11 days after D day and lived with the french underground for 64 days until Patten's army took over the town of Domfront Len passed away at the age of 84 If any of his group are still around ,I would like to hear from them Thanks,and god bless. bobschallehn@nycap.rr.com
Posted By: Bob Schallehn
(bobschallehn@nycap.rr.com)
on 09/12/2011 10:08:58 PM EST
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are any of my comrades still alive? (msg id: 2359)
I was the communications offficer for the 410th fighter squadron, 373 fighter group during WW2. I recall so many of the pilots and ground officers. I was in the air echelon of the group during the invasion.
Posted By: Robert Schick
(r24s@aol.comm)
on 09/12/2011 4:09:47 PM EST
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Capt. Paul H. Massey (msg id: 2358)
I am interested in learning anything I can about Capt. Paul H. Massey, 509th sqd, 405th FG, 9th AF. His war record and career as a pilot especially. I believe he was later shot down or bailed out.
I believe he was a varsity athlete at Penn State before the war and was a ski and tennis champion.
Posted By: Doug Collar
on 09/09/2011 2:36:02 PM EST
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Richard Johnson (msg id: 2357)
In his retirement, Dick was one of our instrument flight instructors for many years. He was one of the finest gentleman I've ever known in aviation. A wonderful teacher as well. He had a great attitude about life. His flight students were very very lucky to have him and so were we!
Posted By: Tom Seymour, Professional Instrument Courses
(tom.seymour@iflyifr.com)
on 09/07/2011 4:08:47 PM EST
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1st Lt. Lawrence P. Marsch (msg id: 2356)
My father-in-law is Lawrence P. Marsch. He is currently in Caledonia, Wisconsin. He married in 1945 to Grace Marsch, and they had 13 kids. He was a 1st Lt. in WWII and was a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with the 368th Fighter Group, the 395th Sqaudron "Panzer Dusters". His plane was appropriately called "Lady Grace". Anyone out there that may know my father-in-law? He had the privilege of going on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight this year, April 16, 2011 with my husband, Alan F. Marsch (a Navy veteran). Honor Flight is a 1-day trip to Washington D.C. to honor the WWII veterans, so they may see their memorials. I would be interested to hear from anyone with knowledge or ties to the 368th Fighter Group or the 395th Squadron "Panzer Dusters". Thank you all, and may God bless all of our veterans!
Posted By: Rachel Marsch
(rmarsch@foley.com)
on 08/31/2011 1:39:46 PM EST
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Lt. George Chin (msg id: 2355)
Thank you for sharing - his story is a wonderful story. Great pilot, great FG (406th) and of course the 512th FS. Lt. Chin certainly beat the odds as a Chinese-American, let alone as a P-47 pilot who survived.
Don't know if you have seen this short webBook - good photos and stories by the son of a good friend of your grandfather.
http://512thfightersquadron.com/webBooks/FredBrandtnAngie.pdf
Also check out the 406th FG exhibit at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson - well worth it!
Posted By: PastPilots
on 08/26/2011 12:59:10 AM EST
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Lt George Chin: 406th Fighter Group (msg id: 2354)
I'm the grandson of Late George Chin, his story is told in the local San Mateo paper
See images here. I can be reached at owyang.jeremiah at gmail.com
https://plus.google.com/111654284395316165338/posts/Nh3feqDKNNZ
Being a Chinese American pilot, it'll be interesting to see if anyone remembers him or has more info, let me know! I have more photos, and can share more later
Posted By: Jeremiah Owyang
on 08/25/2011 2:45:57 PM EST
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Capt. Cowell Van Deventer RCAF/USAAF (msg id: 2353)
Capt. Cowell Van Deventer trained as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force - receiving his "wings" at No. 14 Service Flying Training School, Aylmer, Ontario, October 23, 1941. He was discharged from the RCAF September 24, 1942 to transfer to the USAAF.
Capt. George Gautier was another ex RCAF pilot KIA while serving with the 373rd Fighter Group.
I am researching Americans, like Capt. Van Deventer and Capt. Gautier, who served with the RAF and RCAF during WWII.
Please visit my blog for more information about my project:
www.immigrantsofwar.blogspot.com
Posted By: WPF
(wpf13@hotmail.com)
on 08/16/2011 2:18:02 PM EST
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85th FS Lt. Ward T. Pringle (msg id: 2352)
Hello,
Looking for any service information, pals, etc re: Lt. Ward T. Pringle, my uncle, of Chicago, KIA March 24, 1944, over Orvieto, Italy, flying the X 15 P-47 D, on only with third mission with the Flying Skulls. His flight was protecting bombers that day from a large German aerial ambush of 20 German fighters. His body was recovered from his wrecked P47 by the Orvieto area resistance and hidden until the allies swept through.
Posted By: Robert Pringle
on 08/14/2011 7:25:01 PM EST
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Joseph Nilsen Holmgreen (msg id: 2351)
My father flew 42-28377. The only info I have found is an entry on a database that said he had a "rough landing" in Le Culot, Belgium. He was a member of the 9thAF, 373FG, 412FS. I would love to find someone who may have known him, or any other info about him. I also have his gun camera film that I would like to have digitized if anyone knows a reputable place to do that.
Thanks in advance!!
Posted By: Liz B
on 08/14/2011 1:18:05 PM EST
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Seeking info on Uncle Hank (msg id: 2348)
Anyone who might have known my uncle, 2LT Henry George Hyde (O-816107) 366th F/B Gr 390 Fighter Squadron, please drop me a line at: lilipuha@hotmail.com. Have just returned from his crash site in Normandy (7Jun1944) and recovered parts from A/C. Thanks for your service to our country!
Posted By: Jim Walker USMA 1972
(lilipuha@hotmail.com)
on 08/08/2011 2:34:22 PM EST
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P 47 Pilot (msg id: 2347)
My father, Roy H. Hall of Cairo, Georgia a P-47 pilot died in Cairo, Georgia November of 1984. Is there anyone out there that knew him. I am his only son and would like to talk with you. Please email me at wwhcpa@windstream.net thanks, William W. Hall.
Posted By: William W. (Sonny) Hall
on 08/02/2011 11:49:37 AM EST
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Nickerson and Van Deventer (msg id: 2339)
That is really good to hear that you received much of the information you sought Dan. I will be in Normandy next month for a memorial ceremony and plan to pay my respects to Capt. Van Deventer at the cemetery. Thank you for sharing the story and continued success with your information on Lt. Nickerson. Really great to see what contributors to this site are doing in recognition of the men and women associated with this unique aircraft.
Posted By: PastPilots
on 06/24/2011 4:22:10 PM EST
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Maxwell AFB (msg id: 2338)
Thx PastPilots for the info with Maxwell. They sent a half-inch stack of papers on whats avail. for the 373/410. History,mission reports all.They even sent some example docs for Richard Nickerson and others.They put what you want on CD for 30$ per fiche roll. Capt. Deventer got the units first two kills (me-109s). He was flight commander and formerly with the RAF. One problem i have is there are 2 Richard Nickersons both pilots. One with the Marine Utility Wing flying into Guadalcanal, the other in europe flying p-47s.One Marine, one Army. From what my father has told me it has to be the fighter pilot in europe. But its weird to have 2 pilots with same name.Anyways other people looking for info should try Maxwell AFB
Posted By: Dan
on 06/18/2011 8:47:26 AM EST
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Master Sargent Peter Titus, 91st fighter squad of 81st fighter (msg id: 2337)
My father was not a pilot, but he was trained as a mechanis for the P-47 Thunderbolt by the Republic Aviation Company ( I have the letter from them).
I clearly remember his regret at the short amount of training the ground crew chiefs were given. Dad counted the planes as they came "home" and prayed no one had been lost due to lack of training. He went from North Africa, to Italy, India and ended in China with the 14th AAF flying Tigers. 42 months of straight service. He loved the men he was priveledged to serve and the men he was reaponsible for in the ground crews.
My thanks to you all.
Posted By: Andrea Margolis
(skydot@aol.com)
on 06/17/2011 1:31:06 AM EST
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12th AAF (msg id: 2336)
My father Jay R. Gruver flew P-47D in the Mediterranean theater during WWII. He was in the 85th S, 79thFG and the 12th AAF. He has passed away and was just wondering if anyone out there new him.
Posted By: J Smith
on 06/11/2011 7:39:12 PM EST
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