The Last Tight Mountain Turn
by Bill Beigel
The jeep sped around the last of the tight mountain turns, and soon was making great time along the road that crossed the alluvial fan at the base of Monte della Torraccia. He’d probably be back in time for dinner in the mess tent. He looked forward to some good strong black coffee.
Everything looked the same to Staff Sergeant Keyes as he passed the Brazilian field artillery battalion and the Canadian aid station.
He slowed down the vehicle to make the final turn...
Simmons’ Creek
by Bill Beigel
Walking the beach at dawn is a habit. There are many places where I can find a crescent ring of tiny shells.
The shells are embedded and enmeshed in a tangled mass of sea grass and feathers and dark, coarse sand. They are nearly hidden. But when the sun is just right, the shells shine out to me. I have picked up many handfuls, but usually end up tossing them back into the ocean. I enjoy the small splash they cause, and the ripples that tickle the surface for a few...
Five From the 464th Bomb Group
The 15th Army Air Force, based in...Wee Willie and the photo that started it all
Above is B-17 “Wee Willie”...Sweatin’ It Out
“Sweatin’ It Out,” B-24...The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
More than 260 UCLA students, facility...Debut for Debach
It was the very first combat mission...The “tail” of Ascend Charlie
The desperate last mission of the...
WORKSHOP: WW2 Military Records Research | Torrance CA, 8/17/17
Register Below “Researching the...Remembering Jerry Angelich on Pearl Harbor Day
December 7, 2016 marks the 75th...“Lessons From a Corporate Dropout
Professional researcher and World War...Workshop Presentation: “Researching World War II Military Files”
On September 22, 2016, WW2 Researcher...Honoring Lt. George H. Cannon, USMC, on Medal of Honor Day
On December 7, 1941, 1st LT George H....Lt. Robert L. Schanen, Navigator of “Ascend Charlie”
Yesterday, I received this email from...
Five From the 464th Bomb Group
Hi Bill. You have incorrectly listed the George W. Leggat as a 2nd Lt. He was a Captain. Capt. Leggat flew with my grandfather from Pocatello to Europe. At the time they piloted Pistol Packin Mama. tail 42-52563. Leggats crew was: Pilot - George Leggett Co-Pilot - McCord "Mickey" Marshall (my grandfather) Navigator - Johnny Sevy Engineer - Jack Collier Radio Operator - John H. "Jake" Schuffert Bombardier - Ed Stillwell Nose Gunner - Dale Teur Tail Gunner - Dick Snider Waist Gunner - Al Bardill Waist Gunner - Jimmy Stalworth For reasons I don't suppose I will ever know why this crew was split up. My grandfather went on to co-pilot the Three Corner Kid with Capt. Arthur Robertson Jr. then later co-piloted Corner Coffin Cutie with Lt. Richard Roode. Thanks for keeping these stories alive!! Sean MarshallMIA: No man left behind?
Update: Clarence Dragoo, navigator of the B-24 tail #42-51642, will be laid to rest on October 14, 2017 in his hometown of Sandyville, WV. His Angel Flight will land at Yeager Airport in Charleston, WV on October 11th and be escorted to the funeral home in Ripley, WV. My cousin, Clarence will be buried with full military honors with his family in Independence Cemetery.“Windy City”
My father, Willard McGinn was in the Army Air Force (15th air force, 451st Bombardment Group, 724th Squadron, Crew 13 ). He was the nose gunner of the “windy city” when it was shot down in WWII. They when down on July 28, 1944 in Yugoslavia. He said while he was there, they meet up with some men that looked like natives. He said, “They talked English and they were Americans. They told us they had been shot down three months before. One of the men asked us the name of the plane that we went down in was called. We said, “Windy City”. They said that was not possible because that was the name of their plane. We decided that when the first one went down, someone named another plane Windy City”.The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
Looking for info on Captain Edward C. Collins. Whom Died 15MAR45. He is my Uncle. Thanks2nd Lt. William M. Hummer of Mine Hill, New Jersey
I wasn't reading your post on Lt. Hummer of Mine Hill as I am looking for information on his sister in law, Agnes Hummer new Delaney. Lt. Hummer's parents and two young siblings are buried in Orchard Street Cemetery in Dover. His brother James is also buried in Orchard Street along with his sister in law Agnes and their son James. James, the brother of Lt. Hunmer died in 1935. Interesting story.Honoring Lt. George H. Cannon, USMC, on Medal of Honor Day
Hi Aaron: the article is part of LT Cannon's Official Military Personnel File. Best, Bill
Bill’s WWII Almanac
