B26.COM Guest Book Pages & Links

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Date:
12/28/2020
Time:
7:15 AM
 
Hello,

I am writing for two reasons.
1. to get my Uncle's name in your list of B-26 crew members.
2. I am searching for a picture of his plane.

Benjamin B. Cummings T-005736
599th Bomber Squadron
397th Bomber Group

Flew out of A-72 Mons En Chaussee in France. Shot down by flak over Steinberger Ley in Germany on Dec.24th, 1944. Mission was Eller R.R. Bridge in Ahrweiler Germany.

His plane was the "Hun Conscious II" 43-34159, B-26 G-1-MA
Plane had 16 missions before being lost

The crew that day was:
1st Lt. Philip C. Dryden - died as a POW
2nd Lt. Robert F. Stang - KIA
F/O Benjamin B. Cummings - KIA
T/Sgt. Elwoo R. Ahlgren - KIA
T/Sgt. Stephen J. Kish - POW
Tail/Sgt. Paul W. LeFever - POW

I am building a radio controlled model of this plane and would like to be as accurate as possible. I never met my uncle. I was born in 1951. His son, my cousin, never met his father.

Thanks,
Sincerely,
David M. Cummings
Date:
12/22/2020
Time:
4:44 PM
 
My uncle Elmer C Meitzner S/N XX-XXX-671 was an airplane and engine mechanic on the Wolf Pack B-26 in England from 1943-1945. He was with the 9th Air Force 584BS 394BG which believe was stationed at Boreham Field. He passed away on October 29, 2020 at the age of 97 years 10 months.

I found a document in his home (amongst many others) called “584 SQDN Milk Run” which was an aerial tour of Germany after German air defense was eliminated, for ground crews. It explains the route and ground targets in great detail. If you would like it please send me a snail mail address and I can send you the original or a copy. The copy is more legible than the original but the original would be more desirable if it is going to be displayed. I can’t email it because the PDF is 80Mb.

He was a proud veteran and we will miss him but he left us a lot of great memories.
Stan Meitzner - his nephew
Date:
12/11/2020
Time:
7:27 AM
 
​USAAF - 11th Air Force Attu Island 1944

15th Tow Target Sq, 28th Bomb Group, 11th Air Force
This website is dedicated to the men of the 15th Tow Target Squadron, 28th Bomb Group, 11th Air Force, USAAF stationed on Alexai Point airfield, on Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands during the year 1944.

To the right is the crew of the Martin AT-23B/TB-26C Marauder "Wet Dream". The flight engineer, TSgt. Bruno Kozlowski is second from the right. It is from his collection that these photographs come and unless he is in the photo it is assumed he took the picture. Click here for more information. -Andy Kozlowski
Date:
10/18/2020
Time:
2:54 PM
 
Hello,

I am trying to find photos or anything else about my Dad in WW2. His name is John "Jack" Milton Martin. He passed away in 1983. I knew that he flew on a B26 and was shot down on his 26th or 27th mission over Germany I believe.

He never talked much about it. This is some information I could find about the crew he was with:

391st Bomb Group

Crew No 12
P 2D LT 1082 ROBERT L TAYLOR O700576
CP 2D LT 1082 GEORGE E ROOS O823969
B 2D LT 1035 FRED L HUDSON O762693
EG Cpl 748 John M Martin 36590470
ROG Cpl 757 Robert P Newland 16104124
AG Cpl 612 John E Lehman 35635674

I have attached some photos of my dad and some of his buddies for your files.

Thank you for any information you can find.

Tim Martin
 
Hi Tim,
43-34349 387BG 558BS
30 Nov 44 to 25 Jan 45 direct flak hit in right engine, burst into flames, went down apparently under control, crashed; MARC 11909
1.Lt. Robert L. Taylor; 2.Lt George Roos; S/Sgts Edward A Kennedy; John E Lehman; John M Martin; Robert P Newland. (Taylor kia, rest pow's).
Mr. Robert Taylor is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery near Maastricht, grave location L-13-2.
Trevor Allen, B26 Historian
 
Mr. Martin,
I can help with any details regarding your father's wartime service. Sadly the 387th Bomb Group records are very poor so I am unable to give full details but have pieced together some information that is attached, along with several photo's of aircraft that he flew upon including the one the crew were shot down in. [See last four pictures on John "Jack" Milton Martin ]

I cannot answer why the crew transferred from the 391st BG to the 387th, the crew was assigned to the 558th BS in Sept 1944, probably fairly early in the month, the crew list for the 391 BG that you give shows your father as a Corporal so I guess this was upon their assignment to Europe or just upon arrival.

Hopefully the attached document and photo's will be of interest and if there are any further questions you may have do not hesitate in coming back to me and I will see what I can do.

Kind regards
Alan Crouchman
Date:
9/23/2020
Time:
5:30 AM
 
Hello,

I am looking for info about that W2 air force NCO:
Mains, Ted H. “Ted” (tail gunner, 63 missions) 451BS, 322BG – 2/19/02
I just discovered his original A2 jacket and would really like to know more about him. Would you know an association that may help ?

Thank you for your help and best regards

Patrick COLLET (French army officer)
Date:
9/21/2020
Time:
8:20 PM
 
Lt. Jack Gorman McGhee-Pilot, 386th BG
Jack was my beloved dad. I think he said that he was in the 552nd Sqdn, but not sure. All of his personal records/ photographs got lost or destroyed over the years. My dad flew with a man named Wm. Gallagher, if that helps. Do you have any info on my father? His records like most of that era were destroyed in the 1970s DOD St. Louis warehouse fire. My dad was awarded the purple heart.
Date:
8/24/2020
Time:
7:42 AM
 
I'm interested in Lt. John "Jack" Bourlier, he was my uncle. Jack flew with the 555th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group. I see his photo is on the site here. I'd like to know if you have any other photos of him or of his squadron as I see you do for the 554th Bomb Squadron. Additionally any information on his service would be appreciated. I know that he was shot down and managed to evade and escape the Germans. With the help of the French underground he was able to return to England. Any details you might have on this would be great.

Thanks,

Perry Hubbard
Date:
7/4/2020
Time:
1:56 PM
 
Good Morning.

I have been following the stories and information presented on this website for many years – Thank-you for continuing to gather this fantastic historical information.

My father, Clarence V. Erickson, was a Marauder Man serving with the 391st BG and the 575 BS based out of Matching Green, UK. He passed away on my birthday in 1972 a few years before the 391st started to hold their reunions or at least my dad never mentioned them if they were held before August of 1972. He kept meticulous records of his 68 missions and we are fortunate to have those in our possession. Interesting fact is that his last mission was on August 13, 1944 – exactly two years before I was born.

My wife and I found out about the 391st reunions and we were able to get to several of them. We were able to be at the standing down ceremony of the 391st in Akron, Ohio several years ago – impressive. I am wondering if there are any members or family members of the 391st who follow this website. I would like to exchange emails, texts, and information if there are folks out there who would be willing to contact me. I would like to know if any Marauder Men or family members have donated the WWII uniforms and other records to any organization. Has anyone donated to the U of Akron where the B-26 archives are located?

Thank-you to all of the members of the Greatest Generation who served in WWII – those who returned and to the families of those who were lost fighting for our freedoms.

Peace to you, Rich Erickson
Son of Marauder Man – Clarence V. Erickson

Hi Rich, I've been to a lot of archives and Akron Marauder Archives is the best one I've found, here's my review.
Date:
6/28/2020
Time:
1:48 PM
 
Trevor,
My father, Edwin Jendzeizyk was a M/Sgt. and chief with the 33rd Squadron of the 22nd Bombardment Group.
I am writing a book about the group. I would like your permission to use a copy the photograph of Hugh Manson below from your website for my book.
Thank you,
Paul Jendzeizyk

Of course, thanks for asking. Please credit Hugh Manson/B26.com
Trevor Allen, Historian
Date:
6/10/2020
Time:
10:40 AM
 
Hello All,
I am writing in hopes of gathering information on my grandfather, Clark Cordill. My grandfather, Major Cordill was the pilot of “Clarks Little Pill”. Grandpa was a b-26 pilot who flew over 50 missions and then went on to serve on General Eisenhower’s staff. He helped plan D Day plane missions and later dealt with POWs and similar issues. As Eisenhower moved his headquarters east across Europe grandpa moved with him. One of the locations was Reims and another was Versailles. Grandpa saw Field Marshall Keitel drive up to the headquarters to begin the surrender of German forces to the Allies. The most important thing to grandpa was the fact that he made it home alive- so many of his friends did not. Unfortunately grandpa did not talk much about his time in Europe- all we heard were bits and pieces. Sadly, grandpa and grandma both died together in a car accident several years ago. While he was living, I was too young to understand the significance of his service. I regret that grandpa’s stories are gone with him. If anyone has any information on Clark Cordill, “Clark’s Little Pill” or has a family member that served with my grandpa, I would be keenly interested in any details.

Thank you in advance for your time and thank you for your bravery and sacrifices.
 
Kindest Regards,
Shannon L. Heim (Snow)
Date:
5/26/2020
Time:
7:55 AM
 
"World War II tail gunner ‘almost forgotten,’ but not by Redlands family
The airman's name was misspelled on his military records, confounding his family's search"
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2020/05/24/world-war-ii-tail-gunner-almost-forgotten-but-not-by-redlands-family/ (archived)
 
Hindsight is 20/20. The news article was particularly disappointing because researchers usually start with the pilot's name (planes assigned to pilot), then crew names, etc. The MARC has misspelled name and Mr. Coyazo's home address. That's why we ask for pictures with names, documents (crew lists) and crew names, etc., it's how the pieces of the puzzle together. Note: Lambert Austin was witness MARC 12305 page 1&3. Mr. Austin was 344th historian, published the 344th history book and was very involved with 344th Reunions. Content related to Mr. Coyazo's mission.
 
42-95862, 344BG 497BS, Nose Art: "REASSIGNMENT" left side; "JEANNE" right side; MARC 12305
13 Feb 45 flak in right wing 20 seconds prior to bombs away, exploded, wing folded back, plane ignited, spun in.
1.Lt Ancil R. Williams; 2.Lt's Maurice F Crowley; J P Brown; S/Sgts Alphonse A Zabinski; Albert J Ryder; Cruz Coyazo (listed as Coyaso). (All KIA)
Date:
5/25/2020
Time:
5:10 PM
 
Marauderman's Name: Capt. Robert P. McCarthy
Bomb Group: 323rd
Bomb Squadron: 455th
Years: June 1944 - Apr 1945

My father was a Lead Navigator with the 323rd BG from the 455th BS. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 92 on this day, May 25th. God bless him and all the Marauder Men who fought for the world's freedom, and especially for those who never made it back, giving the ultimate sacrifice.

Date:
5/25/2020
Time:
8:55 AM
 
Hello Mr. Allen.

I found your website and I thought it might be helpful to contact you and see if you could help me. My great uncle, Francis J. Rizzi served in the 22nd bombardment group, USAAF during WWII. He died near Biggs field, El Paso TX on takeoff en route to Muroc Dry Lake. The crash date was 9th December as far as I can gather, it was B-26 #40-1443.

I'm hoping maybe I can find some pictures or records of him.

Pilot of the flight was Major Mark K. Lewis Jr
Navigator Major David P. Lauback
Crew chief Staff Sergeant Michael A. Miullo
Radio Operator Corporal Francis J. Rizzi

Thanks for the great website,
Joseph & Nancy Rizzi

Joseph & Nancy Rizzi,

40-1443, B-26, 12-9-41A, Biggs Field, Texas.
The plane suffered an engine failure while attempting an emergency landing about three miles East of Biggs Field, El Paso. After a second take-off the ship never gained more than 100 feet. The pilot attempted a wheels up landing but the left wing caught a large sand knoll which spun the aircraft approx 180 degrees and caught fire. Three crew were killed and four others were seriously injured. Killed: Maj. Mark K. Lewis, Maj. D.P. Laubach, SSgt. M.A. Miullo. Injured: Maj. Stuart G. McLennan, Cpl. F.J. Rizzi, Cpl. Leland H. Whitman and Pvt. W.S. Tracz.

Trevor Allen, B26.COM, Historian
Date:
5/24/2020
Time:
2:31 PM
 
Hello,

I'd like to add my grandfather 1Lt William A Hahn 599th, 397th to this website. He flew with George McCorkle, in the 599th from D-Day through Ardennes.

Let me know what other information I can provide.

--
Sincerely,
Eric Hahn
Date:
5/15/2020
Time:
6:45 AM
 
Hi Trevor,

My late Mother, Jazz musician Kathy Stobart http://kathystobart.co.uk played in the Embassy Club, Bond St. during the war and met quite a few USAF air-crews.

A lot of USAF crews and famous US movie starts used to go into the Club…

One crew used to ask her to sign Shoo-Shoo baby and one day came in with a Photo showing Kath, with Saxophone, painted on the side of a B-26.
(I have a newspaper clipping from the time somewhere where it says… but it’s only text, no photo)

They did give her a photo at the time but sadly it is lost.

You wouldn't have any means of tracking down which crew that could have been or any info?

Problem seems to be also that ’Shoo Shoo Baby’ was a very popular name to give a plane and there is a famous bomber, that isn't a B-26.

All the best, Pete
Date:
4/21/2020
Time:
7:15 PM
 
Dear Mr. Allen:

I have been following your outstanding historical work and revelations for many years. I am 69 and the son of a WW II Marauder Pilot.

My late father, Lt. Douglas Bertram Barker, 449th BS, 322nd BG (M), USAAF, was a Pilot Officer with the RCAF and RAF prior to joining the USAAF during November 1943. He was an Englishman, but was raised in New Jersey, USA. He was awarded the American DFC, and Air Medal with '12 Oak Leaves Cluster'!!

In the RCAF he flew Hudsons and Wellingtons. In the USAAF he regularly flew, and named, 'Semper In Excretia', PN-E No. 42-96293, during most missions with the USAAF between November 1943 and November 1944. After which he was sent to America ostensibly to train other pilots; but that leads to another story.

Sir, he also flew 'Flak Bait' "3 or 4 times", and his name appears on the Marauder Historical Society's bronze plaque presented to the Smithsonian at Flak Bait's display during about 1993; at which ceremony I attended with my brother Geoffrey Bertram Barker, who was also a USAF Pilot with the SAC.

Mr. Allen, my nephew Dr. Murray Simons, Ph.D., a past Wing Commander with the RNZAF, is doing research on his grandfather's WW II records of service. I have provided as much documentation as I have amassed during my 69 years, and we both would be so very grateful for any assistance you can render in this quest.

Please kindly let us know where we can ascertain detailed flight / missions data on our relative.
 
-D. Robin Barker
Date:
3/15/2020
Time:
7:15 AM
 
Marauderman's Name: Lt. Col. Clarence "Cory" Howard
Bomb Group: 394th Bomb Group
Bomb Squadron: 586th Bomber Squadron
Years in service:
Graduation Class:
Class Location:
Comments: KIA November 18, 1944 Kleinhau, Hurtgen Forest, Germany

Lt. Col. Howard was from Spokane, Washington. His uncle was my great grandfather so I guess that makes him my third cousin or something like that; cousins are confusing past first cousin. Family lore says he had completed his missions and was going to be sent home, but before he left a pilot was ill so he took the man's position. He was listed as a co-pilot of the plane "Mil Bi Fe" (#43-34456) but being as how he was a Lt. Col. I believe he probably was normally a pilot.

The crew (all listed as KIA) was:

Gordon Boyle :: Bombardier
Guerino Del Pesco :: Navigator
Charles J Deritis :: Pilot
Albert J Di Luzio :: Radio Operator Gunner
Frank J Forrest :: Navigator
Clarence A Howard :: Co-pilot
Wilbur E Junkins :: Engineer (or maybe Jenkins?)
William R Muller :: Turret Gunner
David T Vreeland :: Tail Gunner

Another interesting Marauder Man was former Major League baseball player Elmer Gedeon, a pilot, who was KIA in April 20 1944. Gedeon was one of only two MLB players killed in WWII out of over 500 who served.

Mark Jensen

43-34456 394BG, 586BS "ME LIE FO" MARC 10465
9 Nov 44 to 18 Nov 44 flak under right engine, blew off outer wing panel, went over onto right wing, pulled up, rolled over on back, bomb bay door fell off went into a spin, at approx 1,000ft, one chute seen, crashed and exploded in town of Gey, Germany
Capt. Charles J. DeRitis; Lt Col Clarence A Howard; 1.Lt Guerino Del Pesco; Capt Frank J Forrest; 1.Lt Gordon Boyle; T/Sgt's Wilbur Junkins; Albert DiLuzio; S/Sgt William Muller; Sgt David Vreeland. (All KIA)
- Trevor Allen
Date:
3/11/2020
Time:
12:32 PM
 
US Navy Reserve in WW2

Name - Samuel Marsh Jr., Pilot
Service - Enlisted 1st July 1942 United States Naval Reserve and assigned as an aviation cadet on 28th November 1942. Pilot training at U.S. Navy Air Navigation School, Hollywood, FL and promoted to Ensign A-1, USNR on 1st October 1943. Assigned to active service 17th December 1943 and posted to Fleet Air, Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda CA.

Unit – Utility Squadron VJ-2 from September 1944 based at Pitylu Island off the coast of New Guinea

Plane – B26C-30-MO originally assigned to the USAAF but then had a AT-23B conversion to a JM-1 target tow, transferred to the US Navy, assigned bureau number 66617, painted bright orange and flown to Pitylu Airfield. The exact manufacturer serial number is not known but is believed to be in the range 41-35543 to 41-35547.
Date:
3/02/2020
Time:
3:40 PM
 
Good Evening,

Would like to add the following entry to the B26 guestbook for my great-uncle Clifford Alexander “Alec” Stodghill.

Name: Clifford Alexander “Alec” Stodghill
Bomb Gp: 387
Squadron: 556
Years: 43-45
Class: ?
Location: MacDill Field, Florida
Comments: My great-uncle Alec flew as the pilot-in-command a B-26 Marauder over Europe during the last two years of WW2. He originally trained at MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida in 1943 and was assigned to the 556th (FW) Bombardment Squadron of the 387th Bombardment Group in 1944. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel in 1974 after service in WW2 and the Vietnam War. Would like to find out the aircraft he flew and crew he served with during the war.

Thank you,

David Jackson
Date:
2/25/2020
Time:
11:58 AM
 
Charles Emro Lipscomb, 587th BS, 394th BG
Date:
1/20/2020
Time:
11:58 AM
 
Col. Thomas M. Seymour, 387th Bombardment Group. -Ron Seymour
 
Date:
1/8/2020
Time:
2:09 PM
 
The 8th Gunnery & Target Tug Flight (GTTF) was just a small unit with a mere two AT-23B (B-26C conversions) assigned: 42-35702 and 42-35837. The Flight moved to Y-4 Buc (Versailles, France) in September 1944 and ended the war at Tirlemont, Belgium. The Flight was part of IX Air Defense Command.

Mentioned #837 was written off on 9 November 1944 after a crash landing in Belgium. No MACR because in Allied territory and all crew safe. However, also no Accident Report knownas well, either not filed at all or lost in the archives.
CO in November 1944 was 1st Lt Roy D. Voorhees (deceased in 2009). I wonder if anyone can lead me to other names who were in 8th GTFF, especially the ones who were in the crashed #837?

All info welcome, thanks.

Leendert Holleman, Belgium
Date:
1/7/2020
Time:
9:32 AM
 
A B-26 crashed on April 11, 1945 at Cologne, Germany. There is a long thread concerning this crash here:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=55749

The plane was from the 322nd BG, 450th BS.

What we are trying to confirm are the names of the crew and the identity of the plane. We believe the plane was transferred a short time before the loss from the 394th BG to the 322nd BG and was 42-96030.

The crew:
John T Hopkins, Jr. Pilot
John E Lidicker, Co-Pilot
Donald Merle Wolberg, Bombardier/Navigator
Emory Jacob Koker, Jr.
Andrew Samar
Warren J Dwyer, Tail Gunner? (KIA)

Can anyone confirm these men were in the 322nd BG and were on the plane that crashed? Hopkins received a DFC . Does anyone have the citation?

(There was a prior question about this crash back on 3/20/2004 posted by Phil Siegel.)

Thanks for any help,
Rolland Swank
Date:
1/4/2020
Time:
5:52 AM
 
Mr. Lloyd Kisner from the 455th Squadron will be celebrating his 100th birthday on Monday January 13th.

1st Lt. Lloyd E. Kisner Jr was a lead Bombardier with the 323rd Bomb Group 455th Squadron and a TWO time member of the Caterpillar Club. On December 13, 1943 he participated in the infamous mission to bomb the Amsterdam Schiphol Airdrome. Flying in “Lady Liberty” serial # 41-34785 coded YU-O he was wounded and forced to bail out of his aircraft when it was hit by FLAK. Then on May 25, 1944 while trying to bomb the Seraing Bridge in Belgium, Lt. Kisner’s B-26 serial # 42-95929 coded YU-F was hit in both engines by FLAK and the entire crew had to bail out. This earned Lt. Kisner his second Caterpillar pin. Luckily for Lloyd he was able to hook up with the Belgian underground who hid him out until Allied Troops liberated the area. The entire story is told in a B26.com article. Just click on the link below. http://www.b26.com/marauderman/lloyd_kisner.htm

Let’s all help make this the momentous milestone for Lloyd that it truly is. Emails can be sent to Lloyd via contact @ b26.com

Happy 100th Birthday Lloyd and many, many more!

Roy R. Bozych
Historian 323rd BG
Date:
1/1/2020
Time:
12:01 AM
 
Happy New Year!

Marauder Men, family and friends are invited to add content to the web site. Send scanned pictures 300dpi or mail pictures via post. Tell a story about your Marauderman and include as much information as you can.
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