Bill writes about: Short Stories

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.

Hi Aaron: the article is part of LT Cannon's Official Military Personnel File. Best, Bill

Where could I find the article about LT Cannon letter to his mom?

Lt. Robert McCaslin, bombardier on "Pappy's Puss" (49-29410) was my wife's uncle, though they never met. Contrary to your report, Bob did not survive that mission. Originally listed as MIA, his body was later found by US Graves Registration personnel and identified by a prayer book, carried in his breast pocket. The official ruling was that he bailed out, but his chute didn't open. No one believes that, because everyone on the crew testified that Bob was also wearing a reserve chute and that it would have been highly unlikely that both would have failed. According to a letter sent by the pilot, Victor Ullman, to Bob's mother, observers from another plane saw a man eject from the plane and hit the tail. Perhaps seeking to soften the blow, Ullman said that he didn't believe this account (though without explaining why). What none of them knew was that Bob had had a stomach operation (for an ulcer?) not long before he enlisted. Although his doctor warned him that any sudden blow to the stomach could kill him and planned to declare Bob medically unfit for service, Bob managed to talk him out of it and was certified as medically fit for service. Many in the family believe that the shock of hitting the slipstream upon ejecting might have rendered him unconscious. Perhaps he did hit the tail. Perhaps not. The end was the same. Do you happen to know if any of that crew are still alive?

Hi, Patrice -- It was common for multiple military aircraft to have the same names, since pilots and crews were allowed to name their planes. However, as I'm sure you're aware, the aircraft tail number was unique to each aircraft, so your father's "Maxwell House" was a separate plane, crew, and incident, from the one I describe in this post. Thank you for sharing your story; I'm so sorry for the loss of your father and his crew. Thank you for your family's service. --Bill

My father, Thomas H. Smith, Lt., Army/Air Corps was the navigator on the Maxwell House when it was shot down. The Pilot was Albert Lowe. The RN's name was Kellogg. They were returning to their base in Italy. This is not my father's Maxwell House. Nor is the story the same.