Download - THERaGGEDIRREGULaR - 91st Bombardment Group · 2014-07-13 · THERaGGEDIRREGULaR Vol. 45 No. 4 91st Bombardment Group (H) October 2012 322nd BS 323rd BS Supporting Units 324th BS

THERaGGEDIRREGULaR

Vol. 45 No. 4 91st Bombardment Group (H) October 2012

322nd BS 323rd BS Supporting Units 324th BS 401st BS

91st BGMA Reunion Banquet Message fromCharles E. “Chuck” Yeager, Brig Gen USAF (ret.)

To:91stBOMBGROUP(HEAVY)UNITEDSTATESARMYAIRCORPS

September3,2012

Gentlemen,

Myscheduledoesn’tgivemetheopportunitytojoinyouinpersontoday.

Thankyouforthehonorofinvitingthe357thFighterGroup,includingme,toyourreunion.

Ihavealltherespectintheworldforyouguys.

Itwasarealpleasureandhonortokeepyousafe.

Victor“Sonny”SchillecideliversChuckYeager’smessageatthereunion’sSaturdayeveningbanquet.

Frankly,myfirstmission in which Ishotdown anenemyaircraft,thebombersultimatelyprotectedme.Duetostinkin’weatherforthefirstdaylightraidonBerlin,IwasoneoftwoP-51’sescortingthebombers.Ididn’tgettherecallmessage.

Itwasaverysuccessfulraid.Onthewayback,Ihadlostmywingmanandwasoutofammunition,soIneededprotection.

IradioedaboxofbombersIsawupaheadreturninghome.ItoldtheleadpilotIwasoutofammunitionandwantedtocomeclosetotheformation.Iaskedthepilot

tomakesurehisguysknewIwasafriendly–andnottoshootmedown.

The357thFighterGroupshotdown609Germanfighterswhileprotectingthebombers.GeneralJimmyDoolittlechangedthestrategy–insteadofhangingtooclosetothebombers,hetoldusourmissionwastodestroytheLuftwaffe.Weweretogetoutaheadanddestroytheattackersbeforetheygottothebombers.Andwedid.

Asyouknow,butIdidn’tuntiljustbeforeIwrotethis:

From Bassingbourn,Englandsite,themenofthe91stBombGroup(H),participatedaspartofthe8thAirForceinTheEuropeanTheaterofOperations(ETO)duringWorldWarII.AfterformingandtraininginTampa,FloridaandWallaWalla,WashingtonU.S.A.theyarrivedintheETOinSeptember1942,supportedby2,000groundpersonnel.

The91stofficersandenlistedairmenflew9,591B-17combatsortieson340missionsfrom 7November1942thru25April1945intheairbattlesforfreedom.

The91stlist197B-17’swhiledestroying420ofAdolfHitler’sGermanaircraft.Lostwere1,010combatcrewman(899killed)and 111 missing in action and more than 960 crewmenbecameprisonersofwar.

TwoDistinguishedUnitCitationswereawardedthe91stformissionson4March1943toHamm and11January1944toOscherslebenGermany.

TheMemphis Belle (first8thAFbombertofinish25missions),andNine-O-Nine (completedarecord140Missions)were91stB-17Aircraft.

Wealllostafewbut;Ithinkyouwillagree,wesavedalotmore.

Thankyouagain,forthishonorfrom allofusinthe357thFighterGroup.

Veryrespectfully;

CharlesE.“Chuck”Yeager,BrigGenUSAF(ret.)

THERaGGEDIRREGULaR October 2012

President’s Corner Mick Hanou

AsImovetothispage,Iwishtoexpressgratitudetothe91stBGMAmembersfortheirvotesandhopethatImeetyourexpectations.I’llkeepthisbrief,tojusthighlights,asmostoftheitemsregardingtheReunion,BusinessMeeting,andBoardmeetingarebeingreportedlaterinthisissueandIencourageyoutoreadthosereports.IwouldfirstliketothankJimforhisyearsofserviceandforsuchagoodjobhandlingtheReuniondetails.SegueonthattothesubjectofthePX.JimhasrequestedtohandoverthePXandwereallyneedsomeonetostepupandvolunteertodothis.TheBy-LawsstatethiscanbeeitheranAssociateoraFullMember(thespousecanassist).

And,I’llmaintain my Veep’sView opinion on encouragingthosewhohavebeenAssociateMembers for three years toapply to the Board for FullMembership.We did have aquestion during the BusinessMeetingaboutMemberswhosespouse is nota memberbutwishestohelp.TheBoardisstilldiscussing this and Iwanttorecognizethosewhohavebeenhelping for many years, butnever became an Associatebecause their spouse was.SomespousessolvedtheissuebysigningupasanAssociatethemselvesfor$10,whichalsohelpswithourfunding.

The Board recognizesthe greatvalue oftheWeb and the Ring incommunicatingwiththepublicanddisseminatinginformationamongstmembers.WeintendtocontinuesupportofthesevenuesandmakepermanentpositionsintheBy-Laws(withJimSheppardandMikeBanta’sadviceofcourse)similartothePXposition.

Last,butcertainlynotleast,isthatJodyagreedtofilltheroleofourvacantSecretary/Treasurerposition(pertheBy-Laws)withthecaveatthatwesolicitavolunteertohelpintheroleoftheSecretary.

And,asmylastmessageasVeep-IwanttothankallthefolkswhohelpedmeattheHospitalitySuite:LarryandJacqueRuth,BobandShielaStriegal,DeanandBonnieSelje,CraigMurray,Tom FreerandLanelleGarrison.Withoutyourhelp,itwouldnothaverunsowell.

We need help now with the PX and Secretary positions. Pleasecontact me to volunteer!

91st BGMA OfficersPresidentMick Hanou2398SandpiperWayPleasanton,CA94566Tel:(925)[email protected]

1st Vice PresidentJody Kelly3829SunsetLnOxnard,CA93035Tel:(805)[email protected]

2nd Vice PresidentTom Freer6380WinsteadCtLisle,IL60532Tel:(630)[email protected]

HistorianJanet [email protected]

EditorGary Hall1054SunriseDrWoodbury,MN55125Tel:(651)[email protected]

Please send Folded WingsinformationtoJodyKelly.

January R/Isubmissions mustbereceivedbyDecember 15th.

91st BG E-mail [email protected]

91st on the Webwww.91stbombgroup.comwww.bombsqd323rd.comwww.facebook.com/groups/91stBGMA

http://www.91stbombgroup.com

http://www.facebook.com/groups/91st

October 2012 THERaGGEDIRREGULaR

Ambassador presents honor to SonnierbyNicholasPersac.OriginallyprintedinTheDailyAdvertiser,June29,2012

LorceySonniersatonabicycleseatin1943,buthe wasn'triding down the oak-shadedstreetsinhishometownofLeroy.Hesatonthatbicycle seatin the back ofa B-17 "FlyingFortress"duringthemorethan30missionsheenduredasatailgunnerinWorldWarII.

OnThursday,SonnierhadafarbetterseatthanoneheusedwhenshootingatAxisenemies.

He satatthe head table in OurLady ofPerpetualHelp'scommunityroom --thesametableasFrancoisDelattre,theAmbassadorofFrance to the United States,who came toAcadiana to presentSonnierwith France'shighestdistinction,thetitleofChevalierdelalegiond'honneur,orFrenchKnightintheorderoftheLegionofHonor,forhisroleinhelpingliberateFrancefromNazicontrol.

"Mypositionwastheworstoneontheaircraft,"said Sonnier,who was born in 1924."Thelongestmissionwaseighthoursand20minuteswhenwewenttoBerlin,andIwenttheretwoorthreetimes.IwasonlyayoungboywhenIenteredtheservice,andIgrew upafterthat.I'vebeenamaneversince."

AsDelattrepresentedthemedaltoSonnieronbehalfofFrenchPresidentFrancoisHollande,theambassadortoldtheveteran,"Youareourhero."

"You'reFrenchiswonderful,"DelattresaidashepinnedthemedaltheleftbreastofSonnier'sblazer."That'sallwespeakhere,"Sonnierreplied.

DelattresaidSonnier'sbraveryduringWWIIearnedhimthe"undyingaffectionsandeternalgratitude"oftheentireFrenchnation.

"TheFrenchpeoplewillneverforgetwhatyoudidtofreeourcountryandEuropefrom Nazioppression,"Delattresaid."Thepositionoftailgunnerisaverydangerousandrough one,and you survivedmorethan 30 extremelydangerousmissions,anactofbraverythatearnedyoutheDistinguishedFlyingCrossandthishonortoday."

DelattresaidthetitleofChevalierdelalegiond'honneuris"France'shighestawardandoneofthemostcovetedinthe world."Napoleon Bonaparte created the award in1802"toacknowledge servicesrenderedtoFrancebypersonsofgreatmeritandaccomplishments."

"Hedidn'trealizehowbigofadealitisatfirst,"saidoneofSonnier'sthreedaughters,SueSonnier."Heissuchapatriot,andhiseyeslightupwhentheytalktohim abouthiswardays.Heloveshiscountryandwhathewasabletodoforothercountries."

Inadditiontohisthreedaughters,LorceySonnierhassixgrandchildren and five great-grandchildren.His wife,

Annie,diedin2009,butSueSonniersaidhermotherwouldhavebeenproudofherfather'shonor.

SueSonniersaidshewillputherfather'snewestmedalinadisplaycaseinhislivingroom,"rightbyhisleatherreclinerwherehesitsandreminisces."

AftervisitingwithSonnierandatleast50ofhisfriendsandfamilymembers,alongwithahandfuloflocalpublicofficials,DelattretouredAcadianatogetatasteoftheregion'suniqueculture.

On Thursday,Delattre also metwith membersoftheFrancophone community and the Council for theDevelopment of French in Louisiana, toured theBicentennialExhibition atLafayette Science Museum,mingledwithFrenchcitizensresidinginAcadianaandattended both a lecture on GeneralLafayette's shipHermioneandagalaattheUniversityofLouisianaatLafayettetoraisemoneyforstudyscholarshipsinFrance.

Sonnierservedinthe322ndSquadron,91stBombGroup,EighthAirForceinCambridge,EnglandinFebruary1943andthenservedasatail-gunneronaB-17bomberfromMarch to August1944.He foughton airdefense inNormandy,France during D-Day events.During sixmonths,Sonnierparticipatedinmorethan30missionsinFranceandinGermany,garneringhim the"DistinguishedFlyingCross"andothermedalsfromtheU.S.

"On behalfofmy country,your example gives usinspirationforthefuture,"DelattresaidtoSonnier."Wearetryingthebestwecantoproveourselvesworthyofyourlegacyinoursharedvalues."

WWIIveteranLorceyJ.SonniersmilesandwavesafterbeingpresentedtheLegionofHonorAward,France’shighesthonor,byFrancoisDelattre,AmbassadorofFrancetotheUnitedStates,right,ThursdayafternoonatOurLadyofPerpetualHelp ChurchinthecommunityofLeroy,nearMaurice.PhotographerLeslieWestbrook.


Vermont Yields Two 91st-ersbyRichardH.Hamilton

RogerLaynandRichardH.Hamilton

Two91st–erscametogether,eachhavinglivedover66yearsinthesmallstateofVermont,eachwithouttheknowledge ofthe otherbeing from the 91stBombGroup.TheoccasiontookplaceinBristol,VTattheannualdinnerhostedbytheAmericanLegionPost#19honoringformerprisonersofwar.

RogerLaynofBristol,inNorthernVermont,wasshotdownonFebruary4,1944flyingasanobserveronaPFF B-17 overFrankfurt.Richard H.Hamilton ofBrattleboroinSouthernVermont,RadioOperatoronLt.CharlesVanAusdall’sDestiny’s Child,wasshotdownonJuly20,1944onaLeipzig-MockauAirfieldraid.

The time RogerLayn and Richard Hamilton spenttogetherwasmuchtoobrief,sothetwoarelookingforward to otheroccasions to continue theirwarmfriendship.

Old Friends Reunite at Freedom WingbyShawnJ.Jones514thAirMobilityWingpublicaffairs

6/26/2012-JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST,N.J. --Forthefirsttimeinmorethan50years,JosephBentzellookedupontheB-17FlyingFortressheflewduringWorldWarII.

The aircraft,which is known as the Chowhound,crashedinNormandyduringtheliberationofFrance,killingseveralofBentzel'scolleagues.

Bentzel,who was a B-17 engineerand top turretgunner,visitedthewreckagehereJune9,andsaidit

wasdifficulttoseetheaircraftinitscurrentconditionafterseeingitflysomanysuccessfulmissionsinhisyouth.

ReserveAirmenofthe732ndAirliftSquadronretrievedthewreckageoftheChowhound inSeptember2011aftermorethan50yearsofbeingstoredinaFrenchfarmer'sbarn.

Thewreckageisnowstoredinawarehousesharedbythe514thAirMobilityWingandthe87thAirBaseWing,andthereishopethatitwillbedisplayedinamuseum.

JosephBentzel(center)looksuponthewreckageoftheB-17FlyingFortressheflewduringWorldWarII.Theaircraft,whichisknownastheChowhound,crashedinNormandyduringtheliberationofFrance,killingseveralofBentzel'scolleagues.Hewasanengineerandthetopturretgunnerontheaircraft.BothLt.Col.DennisDuffy(left)andLt.Col.JonathanBradley(right),playedkeyrolesinretrievingtheChowhound’sremainsaftertheyspentmore than 50 yearsin a French farmer'sbarn.BentzelvisitedthewreckagehereJune9,andsaiditwasdifficulttoseetheaircraftinitscurrentconditionafterseeingitflysomanysuccessfulmissionsinhisyouth.

(U.S.AirForcephotobyShawnJ.Jones)


The Mustang P-51Jake Howland’s response to Chuck Yeager’s message.

Firstofall,abitofhistory.

DuringWorldWarIIthe91stBombGroupbecameoperationalon November7,1942.During the next2-1/2years,onehundredninetysevenB-17swereMIAandlostmorethan1,010meninthelineofduty(899KIA,111MIAand960asPOWs).Ourwartimelossesweregreaterthananyotherbombgroupintheentire8thAirForce.

AsChuckYeagersaidinhisletter,TheDistinguishedUnitCitationwasissuedforaraidtoOschersleben.Thatwasmyfirstraid,January11,1944.Althoughthemissionwasrecalledduetobadweather,theWingCommanderdidnotrespond.Withonlyanextremelylimitedescort,theLuftwaffereactedfiercelyandlosseswerequiteheavy.WhatChuckdidnotsayisthat42bomberswerelostthatday,or15.8percentoftheattackingforceof266B-17s.Lossesthatbigmeant,withluck,wecouldonlyexpecttosurvivesixmissions.Afterthat,luckwasallgone.

Aboutthattime,wewereextremelyfortunatethatthecavalrycametoourrescueridingtheirMustangs,alsocalledP-51s.Thesewerefabulousfighterplanesflownbyequallyfabulouspilots.TheLuftwaffefoughtback,butthetidehadturned.

Ourpowerfulescortswerewithuswhereverwewent.DeeppenetrationstoBerlin,MunichandViennawerenoproblem sincetheP-51hadaphenomenalrange,withdropstanks,ofabout2,000miles.

Itisindeedmygreatpleasuretobeabletothankourguestsandhonorthefighterpilotstonight.IpersonallyfeelthatIowemyveryexistencetoChuckYeager,the357thFighterGroup,aswellastheircolleaguesinotherfightergroups.

JakeHowland,PathfinderNavigator,324thSquadron

91st BGMA in NOLA

JodyKelly,SuziandJimShepherd

AndyCaswell,GeorgeBruckertandKenSmith.

DonandMaryFreer.

Andy,Jo,DonandCraigMurray.


Clockwisefromleft:MickHanouattheNationalWWIIMuseum.LeslieandHannahThompsonchatwithMelDartatOakAlleyPlantation.HaroldandPhyllisJohnson.SharonBaird,LindaWilson,VernonBaird,SheilaandBobStriegel.JakeHowlandwiththemapheusedtoleadbombersthroughovercastskiestoGoldBeachonD-Day,nowintheNationalWWIImuseum.JakeHowlandandTedSkawienski.CraigMurrayholdingababygatorontheswamptour.

Morereunionphotosavailableonthe91stBGMAFacebookpage!


MelvinSchissler,FrankFarrandTedSkawienski.(above)

Mary,DonandTomFreer.(middle)

JacqueandLarryRuth.(below)

ZoePerkins,FrankandMeredithAnnis.(above)

RebeccaBelmontandJanetLaroccowithLorceySonnierandhisLegionofHonorAward.[seepage3](below)

JimShepherdandConradLohoefer

JimWhite

DeanandBonnieSelje


91st BGMA 2012 Reunion Business Meeting Minutes - September 15, 2012TheBusinessmeetingwascalledtoorderat9:10am byPresidentJim Sheppard.Therewere28inattendance,including 11 WWIIveterans.Aftera shortintroductionwelcoming everyone,the meeting was turned overtoSecretary/TreasurerJodyKelly.

Jody reviewed the 2010 Business meeting.New FullMembers voted in by the Board ;Larry Ruth,JanetLarocco,GordyAlton,LowellGetz,ChuckEgender,BobStriegelandGeorgeBruckert.

TherefollowedaTreasurerreportoftheamountsinthevariousaccountsin 2010.Nextcame a reportofthenumbersofvariousmembersinvariouscategories.Jodyreportedonthecostsofthewebsiteatthetime.GaryreportedonthereductionofcostsoftheR.I.MickreportedontheBy-Lawserratacorrections.Jim spoketoMemorialsandDonations.Themotionwasmadetoacceptthe2010minutesasread,seconded,andpassed.

Jodynextreportedonthecurrentbalancesinthe91stBGMAaccounts:Checking$39,443,PayPal$512,Putnam$7,429.Note -Checking accountincludes $6,057 inreunionfundsthathavenotbeenspent.Totaltreasuryfundsnetofreunionfunds$41,363.JodynextreportedthatthesebalanceswerethisgoodbecauseofdonationsasduesandPXsalesaredown.SpecificacknowledgementwenttoGaryHall,whohaddonated$3,000andgottenacompanymatchofasimilaramount.GaryandRochellealsodonatedsubstantiallytotheEuropetrip.ThereareotherrecentdonationsbyJakeHowlandandothers,notedintheR.I.eachissue.Thewebsitehasalsogenerateddonations. Membership totals 598 members in thefollowingcategories:165LifeMembers,136FullMembersfora totalof301 91stBomb Group Veterans,183AssociateLife,84AssociateMembers,18AssociateFullMembersand12PublicRelationsmembers. Aquestionfrom theflooraskedaboutthenumberofLifeandFullMembers.Thereissometimesconfusioninthisregards–amembercanbeaFullorAssociateMember,andcanbeanannual-payingoraLifeMember.OnedoesnothavetobeaLifeMembertobeaFullMember.Themotionwasmade to acceptthe 2012 Treasurer’sReportasread,seconded,andpassed.

Questionfrom theFloor:CanwechangethewaitingtimeforanAssociatetobecomeaFullfrom 3yearsto1year?TheBy-Lawswerewrittentoencouragealong-standingcommitmenttothe91stBGMA,hencethe3-yeartimeframe.ThedifficultyisingettingAssociateMembersingood standing to become FullMembers.The seconddifficultyisthatgenerallyaspousedidnotsignupforaseparatemembershipinthepast,soisnotanAssociateandisunabletobecomeaFullMember.

Follow-upQuestion:CanwesplittherolesofSecretaryandTreasurer?Thishasbeenadiscussioninthepast.TheBoardwilltakethesetwomattersintoconsiderationatthefollow-upBoardmeetingaftertheBusinessmeeting.

JakeHowlandreportedthathehadadatabaseofVeteranswhohadpassedinactionandcanmakeitavailabletoallandtheWebsite.Questionsonwhatcategoriesandtypesofdataareinthere?Jakecanansweroffline(notfrommemory).DonFreeralsohasmicrofilm andraw dataonthissubject.Jodymentionedthereusedtobeabookonwherepeoplewereburied.BelievesPaulLimm mayhavea copy.Audience consensusisthese itemsshould beconsolidated.

Janetreported thata database ofPOWs has beendeveloped asa PDF file.Thishasbeen lotsofworkbecauseoferrorsanddifferentsourcesofinformation.ShehasreconciledthesewithoriginalMACRandcleansedupthedatabaseasmuchaspossible.Janetisalsomakinga“Yearbook”ofphotosof91stCrewmen.Lastly,JanetismakingacomprehensiveindexofHaavelarbook“RaggedIrregularsofBassingbourn”.Jim reinforcedthemessagethatthewebsiteiscollectingallthesereportsanddata–inthecaseofthePOW databaseasa.PDFfile.

Gary reported on the Ragged Irregular quarterlynewsletter.Significantcostsavingshavebeenrealizedbyemailing electronic versions ratherthan hardcopy.HecontinuestoworkcloselywithFedExtogeta50% discountonthehardcopymailings.Usedtosend800hardcopiesout,butnowsends400bymailand100byemail.

Jim thenmentionedthatthe91stBGMAcanonlysurviveifwecangetmorehelpfrom Membersinthefuture.ThemoreMembersengage,themorewecandotofurtherthememoryofthe91stBG.Specifically;weneedassistanceontheDatabases,thePX andorderingonline,andtheSecretaryposition.HeaskedMicktothepodium.MickthankedJim forhispastserviceandespeciallyforthehandling ofarrangements forthe 2012 Reunion,thenwithheldfurthercommentsforlater.

Jim made a tribute to Vince Hemmings and had adiscussionofthewreath-layingandservicebythevariousassociationsinEngland,France,andTheNetherlands.IvoDe Jong-Margarten and Eric Domincus-Opijen &Ardennes.Jim opened the floorto questionsfrom theaudience.

Jody:Regarding the PX – can we getsome searchoptimizationonthewebsitesothatourPXsalesontheInternetimprove?Jim respondedbygivinganexampleofhowweraisedmoneyyearsagoforthebanneratthe8thAFmuseum inSavannahvia“advertising“ontheRingandthenreiteratedtheneedfor“advertising”.

DonFreer:Isthereanyattempttocoordinatewiththe8thAForganization?Jim:Notatthistime,weseem tolikehavingtheintimacyofourownreunions.Mick:Wecanhavemeetingswiththe8thAFHS onthe“Rally-Roundyearsbetweenourannualreunions;TheBy-Lawsspecifythis.Gary:Hehashaddiscussionswithothergroupson

October 2012 THERaGGEDIRREGULaR thesubject.Consensus:wewillinvestigatethepossibilityofcoordinatingwiththe8thAFHSin2013.

Questionfrom theFloor:Doweselladvertisingspaceonthewebsite?Jim:wetrybutdon’tgetalotofresponse.

Question from the Floor:Heard the TowerMuseum isclosing? Mick:No,the building hasbeen listed and isundertherunningoftheTowerFoundation.Jody:WhataboutthePropMemorialGarden?Mick:shouldstaywhereitisunlessthesituationchanges.MelDart:IsthereaseparateaccesstotheMuseum?Mick:reportedontheseparateaccess.ChrisandAmyhavedoneanoutstandingjobontheTower,onmovingtheendangeredmetalsignsofthe323rdand441stSub-Depot,andacquiringaWWIINissanHut.ItwasproposedtosetupaSkypemeetingwithChrisandAmyat13:00thatday(whichdidhappen).

Conrad:Expressedappreciationattheworkofthenon-veteransfortheirvolunteering.He also mentioned theTowerMuseum whichhasimprovedalotovertheyears.

Asquestionsfrom thefloorwereatanend,Jim proposedclosingthemeeting.Mickmadeapoint-of-orderthattheresultsoftheelectionhadnotyetbeenreported.LarryRuth,headofNominatingCommittee,reportedtheresults:MickHanouasPresident,JodyKellyasVicePresident,Tom FreerassecondVP,GaryHallasRIeditor,JanetLorrocco as Historian. The position of Secretary /Treasurerwasunfilled.Themotionwasmadetoaccepttheresults,secondedandpassed.

Mick,asnewPresident,thankedJim forhisworkonthisReunion and his pastyears serving asPresident.Hethanked the 91stBGMA membersfortheirvotesandexpressedthehopethathemeetstheirconfidence.Thereareanumberofkeyareastomaintainattentionto:theWeb, the Ring, the Tower Museum Bassingbourn,Memorials,theChino91stBG display,AssociateandFullMembers,theSecretary/Treasurerposition.

DiscussionthenproceededtothenextReunion(West)–suggestedpossiblyinSanFranciscoinconjunctionwithflying B-17 and B-24.HalJohnson asked abouttherelationshipwiththeCollingsFoundation;Mickrespondedthatitisstillgoodandtherearenoplansofthem makinganychangesto909.DonFreeraskedaboutthepopulationof91stersacrossthecountry.Mick:roughly40% west,20% central,and40% east;wecanverifythiswithananalysisofthezipcodesofmembers.LarryRuth:whatabouttimeofyear–fallishardtogetkidsoffschool.Mick:hopesthathavingitoverMemorialDay,inconjunctionwiththeCollingsFoundationstopwillmakeiteasier–overalongweekendandaftersomeschoolsareout.DonFreer:suggestyouasktheNextGenerationwhenagoodtimeforthem is.GeorgeBruckert:FocusonyoungerpeopleusingFacebook. We can also engage re-enactmentorganizations.TedSkawienski:makesuretoplacePressReleasesinnewspapers,USAFmagazines,8thAF,etc.

Motionwasmadetoclosethemeeting,seconded,passed.

MickHanou,ChrisMurphy(onthelaptop),JodyKelly,GaryHallandRochelleTreziokconverseusingSkype.

DonationsDonationsforthethirdquarteroftheyeartotaled$1,687.50!IncludedisSonnySchilleci’srefusalofthe50/50prizeawardedaspartoftheraffleatthereunionbanquet.

LuAnnAllen $20.00RebeccaBelmont $25.00PhyllisBibbo InMemoryofMSGTJohnP.Sutera322nd,CrewChiefofAck Ack Annie $30.00WilliamCameron $100.00LisaHammerly $20.00RobertHoffmanJr $50.00JakeHowland $600.00DannyLinn InMemoryofMajWilliamCornell,Commander,91stBombGroupAirInspector'sOffice $100.00DannyLinn InMemoryofMSGTRiceC.Linn,91stBombGroupAirInspector'sOffice $100.00DannyLinn InMemoryofMSGTMalcolmCoubrough,91stBombGroupAirInspector'sOffice $100.00DannyLinn InMemoryofSGTDonaldNorthcott,91stBombGroupAirInspector'sOffice $100.00SonnySchilleci $412.50RalphSimin $10.00DouglasWood $20.00


Special Folded Wings

91stVeteranRobertBallandVinceHemmingsholdthe91stBGMAwreathatMadingleyonMay26,2008.

Vincent A HemmingsDiss,Norfolk,UK,August23,2012

ReportedbyhissonGaryVincewasanunassuming,modestmanwhosepassionforWWIIaviationandthe91stBombGroupwasevidentthroughouthislife.

Vince waspartofa smallgroup ofenthusiastswhocreatedtheEastAnglianAviationSocietyin1965.TheEAASvolunteersworkedwiththeImperialWarMuseumandtheCambridgeshireCountyCounciltocreatetheDuxfordAviationMuseum.TheEAASthenbeganworkon the Prop Memorial and Tower Museum atBassingbourn.VincebecamethesecondcuratoroftheTowerMuseum in1978.HealsofoundtimetobethechairmanoftheShuttleworthVeteranAeroplaneSocietyatOldWardennearBiggleswadeforanumberofyears.

Vincewasastrongsupporterofthe91stBGMAandwasalwaysreadytohelp.HelaidthewreathattheMadingleyduringtheMemorialandVeteran’sDayservices,andprovidedawriteupoftheeventfortheRagged Irregular.Many91stershave fond memoriesofVince greetingthemwhentravellingtoEngland.

HeissurvivedbyhiswifeMargaretandhistwochildren,GaryandMargaret.

Folded Wings (continued from page 12)

Charles “Carley” A Skidmore 324th Age 88FortWorth,TX,September5,2012

CarleyenlistedintheU.S.AirForcein1942asapilotandretiredasamajorafter25yearsofdedicatedservice.HewasalsoaMasonandaToastmaster.Charleswasalovingandcaringfather,grandfatherandgreat-grandfatherwhowillbegreatlymissed.

Hejoinedhiswifeof58years,VirginiaMaySkidmore,inheaven.Survivors:Children,Carla(BillIson)Finlay,Charles (Trisha)Skidmore,Susan (Ken)Chamberlain,Scott(Carol)Skidmore,and Gale (Rick)Winningham;10grandchildren;and5great-grandchildren.

John R Waldron 323rd Age 87BlueBell,PA,August17,2012

ReportedbyhiswifeBettyBornJune4,1925inPhiladelphia,PA.JohnservedintheArmyAirCorpsasaRadioOperatorGunner.HewasthelastsurvivorofthecrewontheRamblin’ Rebel.

Bob is survived by his wife Elizabeth;daughters:Sr.ElizabethSSJ,Maureen;son:Dr.JohnR.WaldronJr.(Kathleen);3grandchildren;and3greatgrandchildren.

Linwood “Lin” F Wright 323rd Age 85NewSharon,ME,May17,2011

LinenlistedintheAviationCadetsandgraduatedabomberpilot.HearrivedinBassingbournlate1944,flyingmissionsas a co-pilot. After VE Day, heparticipatedintheevacuationofAlliedPOWs.AfterleavingEngland,LinferriedbombershometotheMidwest.DuringthismissionhemetPatriciaAnnBlakeandwassoonmarried.

HewasrecalledtoparticipateintheBerlinAirlift,flyingmorethan120missionshaulingeverythingfrom coffinstocoal.Forthe next20 years,Linwood wasinvolved inkeepingtheSovietUnionatbayflyingB-29s,B-47sandthefirstB-52intoLoringAFBin1956.LtColWrightretiredin1966asDirectorofSafety,8thAirForce.

Linwaspredeceasedbyhiswife,Patricia,withwhom heshared60yearsofmarriage.Heissurvivedbyhissixchildren,Barbara(Frank)Gooding,LynneWalsh,Jeffrey(Cindy)Wright,Kim (Carlton)Gardner,Kerry(Jonathan)Blacker,andGregory(Kari)Wright;14grandchildren;and14greatgrandchildren.


George H “Dutch” Odenwaller 323rd Age 87Hillsdale,NJ,September1,2012

Reportedbyhisbrother-in-lawJohnKrummGeorge served with the 91stBombGroup as a B-17 ballturretgunner,flying26successfulmissions.Hewasatalented commercialprototype artisanformostofhislifeandwasactiveintheVFW,the Aviation HallofFame andMuseum ofN.J.,andtheMetropolitanSportsSquadron(modelairplanes).

Ashishobbydeveloped,hedrew andconstructedmanyWorldWarIIandsomeWorldWarImodelplanedesignsto scale.George wasconsulted bymanyhistoriansofthoseperiodsforinformationaboutplanesaswellashisexperiencesduringWorldWarII.

GeorgeispredeceasedbyhissonGeorgeM.Odenwaller.He issurvived byEva,hisbeloved wife of50 years,brother-in-lawJohn(Genevieve)Krumm,andmanyniecesandnephews.

Rudolph “Rudy” E Moretti 324th Age 93Wooster,OH,December20,2010

ReportedbyhiswifeAliceRudywasbornJan.3,1917,inWooster,OH.HeservedhiscountryduringWW IIwiththeU.S.ArmyAirCorps.

Survivingarehiswifeof53years,AliceCocciaMoretti;andmanylovingniecesandnephews.

Charles B Rongey Jr 401st Age 90Dunedin,FL,January20,2012

Survivedbyhiswife,Dorothy;sons,ThomasandTerry;andthreegrandchildren.

William D Cameron 323rd Age 87RanchoSantaFe,CA,August17,2012

ReportedbyhiswifeBettyWilliam servedinthe8thAirForce,91stBombGroupoftheU.S.ForcesasatailgunneronaB-17inWorldWarIIwithhismissionsflownoverGermanyandisaCharterMemberoftheNationalWorldWarIIMuseum.

HeissurvivedbyhislovingwifeBettyGibsonCameronof60years,daughter

ColleenCameron,sonPhillip(Melissa)Cameron,andtwograndsons.

Edward L “Ned” Davis Jr 401st Age 91Washington,DC,February7,2012

ReportedbyhiswifeJulietEdwardwasborninPhiladelphia.HeleftYaleUniversitytoserveintheArmyAirCorpsduringWorldWarII.Heservedasabombardier-navigatorandflew 35combatmissions,includinga1944raidontheheavilydefendedoilrefineryatMerseburg,Germany.

EdwardworkedfortheArmySecurityAgencyandtheAirForce SecurityService beforejoining the new NationalSecurityAgencyin1952.Heleftin1961tojointheStateDepartment,wherehebecamealiaisontotheCIA.

Survivorsincludehiswifeof61years,JulietGillDavis;fourchildren,EdwardL.DavisIII,NinaDavis,DianaFerris,andJenniferDavis;andsixgrandchildren.

Loren E Roll 401st Age 94BayMinette,AL,July7,2012

ReportedbyRandyMartzExpressing an earlyinterestin flying,Lorentookhisfirstplanerideattheageofthirteen.Aftergraduatinghighschoolhe entered an airplane mechanicscourseandthenworkedasamechanicforaflighttrainingschooltopayforflightlessonsand earned hisprivate pilot’slicense.

LorenenlistedintheArmyAirCorpon1November1941and was in primary training when PearlHarborwasbombed.InitiallyassignedasaflightinstructorforB-24’s,hevolunteeredforcombatdutyoverseasin1943.WhileonalayoverinMobile,ALforrepairstotheB-17hewaspilotingtoEngland,Lorenmethisfuturewifeof69years,MaryRuthKing.Afteraoneweekcourtship,theyweremarriedonMarch19th,1943.Loren’sflightcrew namedtheB-17“Mary Ruth – Memories of Mobile”inhonorofthewedding.

Lorenflew31successfulmissionsincludingtwoonD-Day.Afterthe warhe returned to Montana to workfortheBureauofReclamation,butreturnedtoactivedutyintheAirForceatthestartoftheKoreanWar.StationedinJapanandKoreauntiltheendoftheKoreanWar,LorentransferredtoOkinawawherehewasre-unitedwithhisfamilyuntil1957whentheyreturnedtotheUnitedStates.LorenretiredaMajorintheUSAirForceReservesandin1974heretiredfromtheArmyCorpofEngineers.

LorenwasprecededindeathbyhiswifeMaryRuthRoll.HeissurvivedbyhisthreechildrenJudyFlugstad,GlennRoll,and Karen Larson;6 grandchildren and 3 greatgrandchildren.


Page 12 THERaGGEDIRREGULaR October 2012Folded Wings: Neil A Daniels 401st Age 92

LosAltos,CA,May29,2012Reportedbyhisdaughter-in-lawAnnamarie

Neilhadhisfirstairplanerideattheageof12atthecountyfair.Theonedollar,fiveminuterideuseduphisallowance,butthenoises,smellandthrill“sunkthehookinforgood.”

Atage16,heearnedhispilot’slicense.Following his dream,he joined theArmyAirCorpin1941andbecamea

B-17 pilot.Neilflew 29 missions,10 ofwhich wereunescorted.HewasawardedtheDFC,threeairmedals,PresidentialUnitCitation,plustwobattlestars.Afterhistourofduty,heenjoyedaflyingcareerfor35yearsandretiredfrom UnitedAirlinesasa747captain.

He waspredeceased byhiswife,Jan,in2009.Heissurvived by his children Kris,Carol(Keith)and Todd(Annamarie); four grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.

James D Fletcher 401st Age 93SunCityWest,AZ,July24,2012

ReportedbyhisdaughtersJim,like mostofhiscontemporaries,answeredthecalltodefendhiscountryduringWorldWarII,servingintheArmyAirCorps.Before he leftto fly 32combatmissionsoverEurope asco-pilotintheB-17,hemarriedRuthLouiseManthe,hisbrideof58yearsuntilherpassingin2001.

UponhisreturntotheStates,hecontinuedhiscareerintheAirForce,completing35yearsofdedicatedservice.HisfavoriteassignmentswereinGermanyandEnglandwherehecouldtravelextensivelyandmaintaincontactwithhisfriendsinthe91stBombGroup.

He issurvived byhisthree daughtersJamie (Spence)Daniels, Mary (John) Hermes, and Patricia (Rusty)Mitchell;andsixgrandchildren.

Folded Wings continued on page 10

THERaGGEDIRREGULaRispublishedquarterlyinJanuary,April,JulyandOctober.ThepurposeofthenewsletteristokeepalivetheSpiritofthe91stBombGroup(H)andtomaintainthefellowshipofthosewhofoughttogetherinWorldWarIIfrom AFStation121inBassingbourn,Englandfrom1942-1945.EditorGaryHall

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