Bill’s blog archive: Daily Posts

Hi Bill,-I wonder if you can assist me,-back in the 1970's I used to work with a gentleman,at SEBEL-Furniture,in Canberra,Australia,-He was the Boss & a "real great bloke"-He was in the 5th Air-Force,in New-Guinea,during W.W.2,&flew as a Radio-op.in a B_25 -Michell,& had a large picture of it,in his office,& I as a 30 y.o, used love hearing about how they really had to"make-do"with everything,they could find,& throw together,to keep them flying.He married an Aussie girl,& settled in,Canberra Aust,I lost track years ago,but often think of him,& can still see the big photo,of his B-25,his first name,was John,but I cant remember his last name,but His B-25, had a really big "nose-art" of a lady,with the words"HOW"S YA OLD TOMATO"--Is there any way I can trace this B-25 ??--all the very best,to you and your endevours,-John Caldwell, Tasmania Australia.

Hi Bill, A couple corrections. Hard Hearted Hannah was 41-28755. (MACR 5431) 42-52449 had transferred to the 465th BG/724th BS and was lost with that group on 6/6/44. (MACR 6125) As mentioned above, 42-78088 was also lost, but the crew bailed out over friendly territory and was rescued so there was no MACR. Source - 464th Bomb Group Narrative Mission Report dated 6/6/44, page 2.

Hi John: You are correct; he was on Midway, not Wake. I'll made a correction to the article. Best, Bill

Hi Sandy: Thanks for this note and the correction of the town where LT Sharples lived. Some years ago, I researched LT Sharples and his entire crew (for the next of kin of two of the men on board on their final mission), and have extensive records on the search for his remains, and a great deal of detail on his crew mates. Best, Bill

The body of the article references Cannon being on Wake Island. He was on Midway.

Lt Russell Sharples was actually from Thornville, Ohio not Thornton. The lady he was married to was my mom. Her maiden name was Wava Eileen Foster though she went by Eileen. They married when she was 18. She was presumably widowed by the time she was 19. She was told Russ was presumed dead although that was sketchy. He never returned and she never heard any more of his remains. My mom passed away August 1, 2012. I know she always kept whatever keepsakes she had of him. There may be something in the boxes I haven't gone through yet. Mostly we have always wondered whatever happened to him .