1998 Guestbook Entries
Here I am at the 390th Museum with John and Andy and Walter and my Dad, Ken
Allebach,
helping John to figure out how to print the pages off the 390th website so he can edit and
streamline the office scene here at the Museum. I went through the B17 with my Dad and saw
where he used to sit as the navigator. Now I am off to see how my Dad is working to create
indexing for the newsletters and the 390th history. Fred Allebach I was a 19 year old navigator with the 570th and flew combat missions on the ship
"She Dood It". Our ship was put out of action at Kiel, Germany and we limped
home. Of all of our crew who returned home, John D. Peat and I are the only ones active in
the 390th association. I have attended 5 reunions and remember Colonel Moller, Lt. Col
Perry and Major Arvin of the 570th. Who Knows? I may make another reunion sometime. Anyone
who remembers me please send me email. Hello' I am an active duty MSgt in the USAF, I will be going to Germany in March of
1999. My father in-law Ervin Sabel was a B-17 (J) gunner who was shot down and became a
POW . I would like to list some of the area's that he had to March through to get to the
POW camp he was kept in and where he was released . I do not have allot of information on
the Camp ,the march , so anything would be helpful Thank you You have a great web site !
Eric "Mac" McInnis Twins0908@aol.com I'm looking for anyone who served with my father, a belly turret gunner on a 17 called,
"G.I. Wonder." He was in the 570th. He was killed in 1958 in a traffic accident.
I was also with him at the time of his death. He gave his life so that I might live. His
name was M. L. Moody. Thank you. I was so grateful to find this site and being a new member of the computer world was
amazed. My father, Henry A.Glende, was a 390th member and was a turret gunner on a B-17 in
England. One of the planes he was a crew member of was "miscarry". It was
eventually shot down somewhere over Europe but Dad had been transferred to another plane
by then. I know he went to a reunion in Ohio in 1977 and I know one crew members name was
Paul Vance. I cannot remember the rest of the names. My Dad is deceased since 1978 and I
would very much like hearing from anyone who may have flown with my dad and known him. To
the webmaster, This is a great site and I appreciate it. Sincerely Robert Hi my name is Rune I'm from Denmark and I must say really great homepage you guys
have here! The B-17 is my favorite plane, ever since I saw a picture of one from my
grandfathers drawer, you see he was with the resistance during WWII, and some of your
B-17´s and B-24`s crash landed here on the island of Lolland, and it was people from the
resistance who helped the pilots escape from the Nazi's. So I just wanted to sort of pay
my respect and congratulate you on this great site. I've never seen a B-17 for real only
from pictures and such, but I hope one day to be able to fly in one, yours sincerely
Rune.
Sir, I designed and build a Flight Motion Cockpit which can be a great hands-on
display
for your museum. For more information visit my website at Flight-Motion-Simulatr.com or
contact me at my E-Mail address. Congratulations to the 390th BG for their efforts during the war and for this fine web
site. I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your BG and view the pictures of
your 17. Gentlemen of the 390th, you have my respect and gratitude. Thank you. Great site I was with the 569th sq. till the end of the war and returned back to the
states 7/1945 flew my tour as eng. top gunner throught this site have located 3 of my crew
and still am looking for our radio operator. his name is Augustin D Gurrola appreciate any
contact. I have hundreds of color photos of the old airfields as they are now, which I can
email to you. Would pics of Framlingham be of interest? Have a look at http://freespace.virgin.net/anne.welch Steve Welch Hi there! I am an interested B 17 "nut" - enjoyed your web site. I have
visited Framlingham museum several times as well as the Pima museum 2 or 3 times (I have
friends in Tucson) - I think you have created a really worthwhile memorial and museum
between the 2 places - in my view it must be unique. My father was a Lancaster bomber
pilot during WW2 and had several US friends flying B 17s, so I guess I must get the
interest from there. Keep up the good work! I am a young Dutch historian and I am looking for information on the food drops
that the
390th participated in in May 1945. The purpose of these missions were to drop food for the
starving people in Holland that were still under German occupation then. The missions are
also known as the chowhound missions. I would like to hear from all of you who know
someone that participated in these missions. Thanks. My father served in the 390, 568th Squadron but arrived at Framlingham just as the war
ended. He was a radioman on a B-17 called "Maiden's Prayer/I'll Be Around". Hello vets and friends, I am a 29 year old B17 Bomber nut. I enjoy reading and talking
to vets of the great Birds of WW2. If anyone in the southern Ca area Ontario , Chino ,
Upland, etc, would like to share some of their memories , please contact me. Thanks Mike
Dunn dear sir, I'm a Portuguese journalist trying to contact any crewmember that had to land or
bale out over Portuguese territory. I'm trying to put together a book about those stories.
Any information, even in second hand interest me. my contacts are Carlos Guerreiro R. Dr.
Arnaldo Vilhena,17 - 1ºdt 8000 Faro Portugal e-mail: c.guerreiro@ip.pt Wonderful web site. The B-17 will always be my favorite Boeing Aircraft. As an Engine
specialist I have spent many hours changing "jugs & plugs" and hours on test
hops. I ended my active duty as a B-29 Flight Engineer but didn't get over seas before the
War ended. The B-29 was a great ship, but the B-17 is still the Greatest. Nice site. It's great to see old planes remembered. Though Vietnam was my war, I'm a
wwII buff and follow the stories available. GI (www.wardovebooks.com) My father James Edmondson,571st.) and I enjoy the wed site very much. Folks should make
a point of seeing the most recent issue of Flying magazine for several photographs of the
Framlingham airfield. On a recent trip to the terrific 390th Memorial I was interested to see the Quonset Hut
display with a bicycle in front...I have had a picture in my wallet of my
brother,1st/Lt.Vic Rutkowski,for over 50 years, sitting on a bicycle in front of a Quonset
hut at Framlingham.I just got this computer and am a total zero on it's operation. Imagine
my surprise when a picture of the Doug Johnson crew of the 569th popped up while I was
trying to find this site. Vic was the copilot. The picture was on the Pimaair site. Not
knowing what I was doing and being somewhat shocked I lost the picture and it took me
about two hours to find it again. I would like to hear from anyone who was friendly with
Vic. I am looking for anyone who has any information on a friend of mine. His name is Jerome
(Jerry) Howell. He was an operations officer and a lead pilot for the 569th and the
570th. Tom Troup 5974 Aurora Av Mira Loma , CA. 91752. 909-360-6093 The web page looks great!! Hope to see you all in San Diego this year. My Dad, Dan Jr.
(570th) is trying to get all us kids there. HI I did a report on the Regsenburg Schweinfurt double mission that the 390 was
involved in. Quite a raid. Just thought I'd say hi and take a look around your website My Dad was Ray Moore, tail gunner on the Earl Combs crew of the 570th. They flew their
35 missions Oct. '44 thru March '45. I have been visiting this great site for about a year
now. I visited the Museum about two years ago and can't say enough about it and the great
volunteers. I have had the pleasure of meeting five of Dad's fellow crew members over the
last two years. A wonderful experience I never thought I would have. Another experience I
never thought I would have was flying in a B-17. I had that thrill of a lifetime
experience last year in the B-17G of the Collings Foundation (a private-non-profit org).
They are on their 4th annual U.S. tour with their B-17 and B-24. Following is their web
site where you can check to see when they will be near you. www.cyberhighway.net/~cessna/index.html I was in the 571st Squad, Assistant Crew Chief on all planes parked on Hardstand 8.
Across from the MP station. Some of the names I remember that I painted on the planes are:
Boston Blackie and Rick-o-shay. Anyone from the 571st reading this? My daughter went to
England this spring and visited Framlingham Castle and The Crown Hotel where I stayed
whenever I needed to, no charge by Mr. Fred Hayles. She brought lots of photos and some
video. Would like to hear from anyone while I am here for the summer-my daughter has her
computer here. Bill Bunton Looking forward to seeing everyone in CA I just wanted to say what a fantastic job this site is!! I had the pleasure of meeting
a bunch of people from the 390th group for their reunion here in Tucson. I was working at
a hotel taking their reservations. They are wonderful brave men. I also had they great
pleasure of going to the memorial at the Pima air and space museum. If anyone has the
chance of going pls do. Also a good book to read is "Flying In Coffin Corner"
Thanks you all these Brave Courageous Men!!!!!!!! Your Museum, publications, and this web site are great additions to the history of the
8th AF. I have just returned from Framlingham and other 8th bases in East Anglia for a
photo story I am doing for Flying Magazine. It was a very moving experience to see what is
left (I landed there in a rented Super Cub on a former taxiway the Kindred family uses for
an airstrip). The tower restoration and museum are superb. I enjoyed seeing your wonderful
museum in Tucson 2 years ago. Work like yours is essential for future generations. My
article, due out probably in the Sept. '98 issue, will include a few present day photos of
Framlingham. Would enjoy talking to any 390th vets. Thanks for all the help I found in the
Blue Book and the two anthology volumes. Sincerely, Russell Munson Thanks to your Museum, and my visit last month, I found my father's squadron, his
plane, his crew, and have since sat down with his co-pilot to hear stories of their
missions. I also found his waist gunner and talked to him over the phone and got more
stories and pictures. Nothing can repay that kind of gift except Thank You from the bottom
of my heart. "Baby Buggy II" and crew Feb '45 thru Jun '45. We visited the 390th Museum last winter and I thank John Warner, Mike Howell and Frank
Drain for all the info about the father I never knew. If anyone remembers 1stLt. Calvin E.
Straney, I would appreciate any info you could give me. He was a navigator in the 570th
who went down with the Hobbie crew in the "Bundles of Trouble". Thank you. Great site. I visited the Square J's at Framlingham in July 95. Spent hours in the
Tower/Museum there which is one of the finest in England. Then rode a bicycle through as
much of the area as was accessible. This was the last field I visited at the end of a ten
day bike tour of the fields in East Anglia, which will be a trip I'll never forget. Great page!!! Keep up the good work. We should never forget the price of freedom. Great information! Keep up the good work. Would like to add my appreciation for the splendid job you have done making this site
very meaningful to those of us who flew the big "J" over Europe. The last time
our crew was together was the day we bailed out over Germany, thanks to a ME-262, and
wound up in different POW camps. On June 30th we surviving members will meet for the first
time since that day at a most fitting place - our museum. Your personnel, especially Scott
Gray, have been very helpful in our planning of this event, and we are looking forward to
expressing our thanks in person to all of you there who are doing such a fine job keeping
our 390th history alive. Those of us who remain could not have picked a more appropriate
place to be reunited as a 390th crew. C.Earl Gillmore, NAV. 570th Sqd. I am a university student in the UK, and am researching the social impact of the
American GIs on Framlingham, and the surrounding villages, during World War Two. I have
been speaking to some of the English people who were resident in that area, and have heard
lovely stories about how much the GIs touched their lives and how much life they brought
to the community, and I would love to hear from any of the GIs who served there about
their memories of their time in England. Or from any other people who were resident in the
area at the time about their memories of the GIs. Any help would be gratefully received. My Grandfather, Fran W. Maher, was a pilot with the 390th Bomber Group. The stories he
continues to share with me about his experiences during the war are amazing! My generation
will never understand the bravery these veterans displayed, especially as young twenty
year olds! Grandpa Maher frequently speaks of his crewmates--Samuel Cohen (Boston), George
Farrell, Vernon Nyhus, Conn Fletcher, and Bill Russell. I would appreciate any information
about these veterans to share with Grandpa. He has been very appreciative of the
information I have sent him from this website. Keep up the great work and we look forward
to hearing about other stories, upcoming events, etc. Lauri Matsuda Great Homepage!! My wife's grandfather served in the 390th as a pilot of a B-17 called
"Tondalayo". Spelling might be incorrect. I would love any information about his
service, or references that I could use to track his tour of duty. I understand that he
did complete 25 missions. His name is Horace (Pat) Patton. My father Major Marne "Hack" Wilson of the 96th bomb group would probably
love to trade stories with you guys. He's currently volunteering his time to the B-17G
display at the Palm Springs Air Museum. He's never turned on a computer in his life so he
won't see your incredible website, but at 80 years old he still remembers every fact ever
written about B-17s. The B-17 on display seems to be a time machine that takes WWII
veterans back to 1943-5 and allows them to relive those amazing times. Keep up the good
work. I've been dropping by for over a year now and have enjoyed every visit. Whoever the Web
Boss is knows his stuff. This site is very well done. I've placed my own humble site up
for my dad's (Lt. Earl Combs crew) crew members to drop by and view. I'm hoping that some
of them will be able to tell me about the events and/or persons in the photos. If any of
you visitors are 390th veterans (dad was in the 570th), maybe you might recognize these
guys... Please check out http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/9078/squarej_pgone.html
Mucho appreciado, Dave As an Air Force Retiree (1973) and a history buff, I am much impressed with this web
site. Keep up the good work! I really think your web page is really great. My grandpa served in the 390th. If you
could, please send me information about him. His name in David Charles Sullivan. Keep up
the good work. I am an ex-Army during the early 70's. I have an uncle (on my mother's side) who I
don't know anything about. He died in a plane crash in Shanghai back in 1949. The only
information my mother can tell me was that my uncle was in the Army Air Corp during WWII.
She didn't know what his English name was - best guess is 'Ben', and his last name was Yip
or Yap. His stateside address was in Oakland, CA. He might have been a warrant officer. If
any one out there who might have some knowledge of my uncle, I would really love to talk
with you. Thanks ! My dad is Norman Coats, a belly gunner in the 390th bombardment group and key figure in
the 390th Memorial organization. He was the organizer of the St. Louis reunion several
years ago and I believe continues in the position of vice president in the memorial
organization. Once he and his crew returned from a mission with only one working engine.
He is proud of the Holland relief missions he flew. My uncle was Harry Ross Robison. He was a pilot in the 390th from 10/44 through 5/45.
Aircraft (I think) was B-17G "Take It Easy." I don't know which squadron. I
would appreciate hearing from anyone who knew him. Great site, you all do good work. My father is the old goat Ken Stewart, he does good
too! I am a university student in the UK, and I am trying to find out information about the
390th bomber squadron. In particular, information about John Coleman who served in the
390th bomber group in Framlingham, UK. He is my uncle's father. Any information would be
gratefully received which I can use for a university dissertation on this matter. Love your site. PLEASE consider selling CD's of B-17's sounds...It is very beautiful
music.. We found your site courtesy of your friends at the Halifax 57 rescue in
Canada(eh).... Visited your fine facility in March of 1993 and drove by again on March 12, 1998.
Please keep up the fine work you are doing. My father was trained as a radio man and was
on leave just prior to shipping out. While on leave he lost a leg in an auto accident and
spent the rest of the war in various Veterans hospitals. He told me that his whole crew
was wiped out on their first mission over Germany. I thank God that my Dad only lost a leg
instead of a life. Are there any surviving members of the two aircraft that collided during assembly on
the 26th August 1944 over Weston in Hertfordshire, England. I am researching the incident
and would like to contact anyone who can give me any details and, if possible, provide
photos of the crews or aircraft involved. Any help would be gratefully received. Back from a 14 day trip in the States. Visited 2 weeks ago Pima Air Museum. Truly
a
magnificent collection of aircraft, especially your B-17. Kind regards Robert van de Ven My father, Lentz McSherry Lackey, was a Captain and pilot with the 457th Bomb Group.
And, I was born at MacDill Air Force Base in 1945. So the interest in the War Birds of
WWII comes natural. Your site is great. Keep up the good work. Your Museum is a must see
for me. My dad was Paul J. Caruso, BTG with 571st squadron. I'm a descendant member of the
Museum, and enjoy reading the Square J and other mailings. I attended the St. Louis reunion
several years ago, and met a crew member of Dad's original crew, which was shot down on 5
June 1944. My son Paul is named for his grandfather, whom he never got to meet, but he is
very interested in all the research we've done together. Thanks to the Museum staff and
volunteers for doing such a great job. The Web site is magnificent! Fred Woodard Sr. Frdwoodard@aol.com wrote: Dave Brouchoud brouchou@execpc.com wrote: Charlie Turner Top Turret Gunner bachbabyttg@radix.net
wrote: Howard L. Johnson Tuputt4par@aol.com wrote: Joe Ryan kdonog@aol.com wrote: Cees Steijger cees.steijger@wxs.nl wrote: Dwight Levi wrote: Michael Ennis mennis@ccnet.com wrote: Calvin Wagner CWagner253@aol.com wrote: Steve Presswood sp@airmail.net wrote: |
|
|
