While I was putting some thought behind both of the national model shows that will be happening in Columbia next year, I was reminded that I still had one or two research projects on the go. Both involve men who joined the U. S. Army Air Forces during World War Two.
The first is my boss's father. He flew B-24's from Cerignola, Italy, and I built a representative model of his airplane last year (and posted photos of the same). But my history gene will not let it end there–I want to know more. He flew raids on Linz, on Vienna and Ploesti, and many other places during the war. He wasn't a member of the oh-so-glamorous 8th Air Force, the much-written about group that brought destruction to the Third Reich from the air (as the stories go)–he was with the Fifteenth Air Force, the Eight's little brother on the other side of the continent (for those new to these things, the 8th Air Force in England and 15th Air Force in Italy were considered the strategic air arms, while the 9th in England and 12th in Italy were the tactical forces). Ask any question you want about the 8th, and you'll get the answer. Ask any question about the 9th, and the answers will come, although not as quickly as it might for a question on the 8th. But the 12th and 15th? They were the red-haired stepchildren when it comes to historical documentation…
Ahhh, but there's always an exception, right? A man I met while working in the hobby shop a few years ago often spoke of his father who flew P-47's with the 9th Air Force, and his war ended when the engine on his airplane seized while on a mission 8 days after D-Day. He spent the rest of the war in a German prison camp. Since he was relatively new to the unit when he was lost, there's not a lot out there about the airplane he was flying. Try as we may, we come up mostly empty when we try looking. By "we", I mean the man's son and me…
But the other part of this man's story, to me, is just as, if not more fascinating. After the war, he stayed in the service. He went to engineering school, did a few tours in the Pentagon, a few more at the War College, flew with the Acrojets (the predecessor to the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team), and flew some 150 missions over Vietnam. Oh, yeah, he was also the man who made the name "Gunfighters" mean something with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing in Vietnam–he enabled 16 of their F-4C/D aircraft to carry the SUU-16 gun pod, with good results.
On both accounts, I'm fortunate–both men's sons know the significance of their fathers' service, and both have maintained a lot of their fathers' memorabilia from their time in the service. The second man attained the rank of Major General, so the Air Force compiled a record of his career when he retired–one that I may be able to peruse and copy for my research. If it is half as valuable as I think it will be, I'm looking forward to the opportunity…
The third is a co-worker's wife's grandfather. He recently passed, and I found out that he was on the USS Santa Fe (CL-60) during the later stages of the war. He was on board when the USS Franklin (CV-13) was bombed and damaged, and he served on the ship for the duration of the war. Now, we come to the problem, one that I am trying to prevent as I get older: now that he's crossed over, many of his personal service effects were taken by other members of the family who most likely have no clue what the man's service was really all about. I'm told he had a large painting (likely a print) of the ship, signed by members of the crew. *Zip* That walked out of his house no sooner was the funeral concluded. Same with a lot of his photos and other records. My fervent hope is that the family members who took these things really do understand and appreciate what this man went through and can honestly be the custodians of his story. But my deepest fear is that these items will eventually be stuck in an attic or basement, only to be sent to the local landfill because "grandpa's boxes of stinky old war stuff was just taking up space and collecting dust…"
Why am I chronicling these people? After all, they're not family, just people I know. Well, I have two answers here. The first is that I also have family members who served, and I'm trying to put their stories together as well. I'm not having as many problems with family members, but the issue that does face me is that they're all gone. My cousins have helped some, but the folks who know the stories have gone West. So, I have to do my best to pull from my own childhood memories and then ask some more questions. To this day, I kick myself for not asking questions sooner. Then again, like most veterans, they didn't talk much about their service–"I'm no war hero, I was called to do a job, I did it, and I'm home. You want to know about the heroes? They're still over there…"
The second answer is more to the point: if not me, then who will take up the cause? The Gabreskis, Doolittles, Pattons, Halseys, and Pullers have been documented. But what about the Miraglias and the Chiaravalottis, the Tweedies and the Benders, the Mullens, Bolts, and Smihulas? Their kids, and some of their grandkids, understand. But after that, their stories will most likely be lost to time. And that, friends, would be a shame.
If you know a veteran, ask him about his story. Write it down. Pass it on. From the Generals and Admirals to the PFC's and Gunner's Mates, they all have a story. And if you ask, they may just share it with you.
Be good to one another. As always, I bid you Peace.