My father, Jonas Merrell Harper (usually called “Jonnie” while he was in the UK), served with the Eighth Air Force, 390th — with the 571st Bomb Squadron. While I must say that there are not a huge number of complete names in his letters, I have just completed summarizing/transcribing the ones to my Mother for the period mid-February to mid-August, 1944. He speaks of daily life and the antics those young men as well as the basic day-to-day grind of being a part of the military. It has certainly opened my eyes to what life was like for those young men and given me a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices they – and their loved ones – made so that I could continue my own little life……….. if anyone would like to have a copy of what I have done, it is in a Word document and I can e-mail it to you. Thanks for such a great sight. I have enjoyed reading the comments and the reflections of others. Beverly (Harper) Rutledge 8/6/2008 10:29 AM
I grew up in the late 50’s to 60’s in Mendlesham Suffolk (34th BOMB GROUP) spending my time exploring the many deserted air bases throughout mid Suffolk/Norfolk and hearing stories of when the “Americans were here”. Was even given an American football left to a neighbor who used to do washing for her adopted B-17 crew. I always stop at the memorials to pay my respects to those of the USAAF I did not know. You are still remembered and your many endeavors acknowledged. Thank you. Sincerely, Malcolm Rowe 8/1/2008 5:45 PM
Hi, I recently visited Parham Airfield Museum Control Tower. Very impressed. I wonder if anyone that was once based here or has a connection with the area of Suffolk would be interested in looking at our beautiful county, if so we will welcome you all aboard. http://Suffolk.activeboard.com/ Thanks in advance. John Cooper, Suffolk 7/7/2008 10:44 AM
Dear Sir, I was born in 1946 and have lived most of my life within 3 miles of Parham Airfield as we know it here. My first memories of the airfield were when I was about five years old and went there with my father to see Mr. Kindred who owned the farm land that it was built on. My Dad was a corn/agricultural merchant and needed buildings to store bag corn or barley and wheat in England! Whilst the men loaded sacks into the redundant buildings Mr. Kindreds son Peter and I played in the buildings allover the field, including the control tower which as you know now houses the excellent museum. In later years I joined the Suffolk Police and policed the area and every time I drove across the airfield I thought back to what would be happening on that date during the war, planes taking off, coming back, loading, repairing damaged men and planes. When the decision was made to refurbish the control tower as a museum I called in several times and on one occasion asked if the glasshouse was to be replaced on the roof and was told that there was never one there. I then persuaded the organizers to clamber on to the roof and showed them the cut off bolts which held the glasshouse. I explained that I knew that one was there because as a boy I played in it many times. They agreed and the glass house was replaced. I am looking forward to the fly over by the “Liberty Belle” this coming weekend as with previous visits by B-17’s it will give those of us who have post war memories and knowledge of what went on during the war, more idea of what it really was like, thanks to the guys who were there then we are here to maintain the site as a memorial to those who gave their lives for freedom. Congratulations on the website, excellent! Andrew Cadman, Wickham Market, Suffolk, England 7/5/2008 5:36 PM
Hacheston is a village in Suffolk, UK, that lies next to Parham. This was home to Framlingham airfield where the 390th was stationed. The old village hall in Hacheston is about to be pulled down and in its final days, the villagers wish hold an exhibition of photographic and/or written memories of happenings there. Thank you in anticipation. If you can help in any way, please email me: Derek Routen 7/3/2008 2:30 PM
A/C 42-97983 – This aircraft was in the collision over Hoorn on 7 July 1944. My uncle was the co-pilot, 2Lt Jack Blickensderfer. I am just learning about the incident. Can anyone tell me the name of the aircraft and what the nose art looked like? John Blickensderfer 6/14/2008 12:14 AM
Donna Wessler, daughter of TSgt Carl Marsini, 390th Bomb Group on a B-17G shot down on 22 April 1944, coming back from a bombing run to the Hamm, Germany marshalling yards. Prisoner of War Stalag 17B. My Father married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Caniglia Marsini and had three children Carl Jr (Prisoner of War Vietnam, escaped successfully) , Richard (US Army), and Donna Wessler. Carl Marsini Sr. passed away 2/16/83. His son Carl Jr passed away 12/3/95 of pancreatic cancer caused by complications from Agent Orange. If you would like to get a hold of me, contact me at soccerfreak111@comcast.net 6/10/2008 12:34 PM
A B-17 flew 500 feet over my house yesterday, (6/8/07) which compelled me to begin researching my uncle, John E. Walsh, who was an Engineer and Gunner on the B-17 Da Joker (Serial Number 20613963). He was a member of the 8th, 390th, 571st. His plane was shot down while bombing Merseburg, Germany on 30 November 1944. He had flown 14 Missions between 30 September and 30 November, 1944 when he, the pilot Edwin Booth and two others (Davidson and Jackson) were lost; the rest parachuted out to become POW’s. I would welcome contact from anyone who knew him, or knew someone that did, to hear what you know about his time in the AAF. Thank you, Steven Walsh, Boulder, Colorado stevenbwalsh@hotmail.com 6/9/2008 6:58 PM
June 24th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Great new site!
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 am
Regards from the Ohio team that is building our own B-17 here in Urbana.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
My father, Jonas Merrell Harper (usually called “Jonnie” while he was in the UK), served with the Eighth Air Force, 390th — with the 571st Bomb Squadron. While I must say that there are not a huge number of complete names in his letters, I have just completed summarizing/transcribing the ones to my Mother for the period mid-February to mid-August, 1944. He speaks of daily life and the antics those young men as well as the basic day-to-day grind of being a part of the military. It has certainly opened my eyes to what life was like for those young men and given me a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices they – and their loved ones – made so that I could continue my own little life……….. if anyone would like to have a copy of what I have done, it is in a Word document and I can e-mail it to you. Thanks for such a great sight. I have enjoyed reading the comments and the reflections of others. Beverly (Harper) Rutledge 8/6/2008 10:29 AM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
I grew up in the late 50’s to 60’s in Mendlesham Suffolk (34th BOMB GROUP) spending my time exploring the many deserted air bases throughout mid Suffolk/Norfolk and hearing stories of when the “Americans were here”. Was even given an American football left to a neighbor who used to do washing for her adopted B-17 crew. I always stop at the memorials to pay my respects to those of the USAAF I did not know. You are still remembered and your many endeavors acknowledged. Thank you. Sincerely, Malcolm Rowe 8/1/2008 5:45 PM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Hi, I recently visited Parham Airfield Museum Control Tower. Very impressed. I wonder if anyone that was once based here or has a connection with the area of Suffolk would be interested in looking at our beautiful county, if so we will welcome you all aboard. http://Suffolk.activeboard.com/ Thanks in advance. John Cooper, Suffolk 7/7/2008 10:44 AM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Dear Sir, I was born in 1946 and have lived most of my life within 3 miles of Parham Airfield as we know it here. My first memories of the airfield were when I was about five years old and went there with my father to see Mr. Kindred who owned the farm land that it was built on. My Dad was a corn/agricultural merchant and needed buildings to store bag corn or barley and wheat in England! Whilst the men loaded sacks into the redundant buildings Mr. Kindreds son Peter and I played in the buildings allover the field, including the control tower which as you know now houses the excellent museum. In later years I joined the Suffolk Police and policed the area and every time I drove across the airfield I thought back to what would be happening on that date during the war, planes taking off, coming back, loading, repairing damaged men and planes. When the decision was made to refurbish the control tower as a museum I called in several times and on one occasion asked if the glasshouse was to be replaced on the roof and was told that there was never one there. I then persuaded the organizers to clamber on to the roof and showed them the cut off bolts which held the glasshouse. I explained that I knew that one was there because as a boy I played in it many times. They agreed and the glass house was replaced. I am looking forward to the fly over by the “Liberty Belle” this coming weekend as with previous visits by B-17’s it will give those of us who have post war memories and knowledge of what went on during the war, more idea of what it really was like, thanks to the guys who were there then we are here to maintain the site as a memorial to those who gave their lives for freedom. Congratulations on the website, excellent! Andrew Cadman, Wickham Market, Suffolk, England 7/5/2008 5:36 PM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Hacheston is a village in Suffolk, UK, that lies next to Parham. This was home to Framlingham airfield where the 390th was stationed. The old village hall in Hacheston is about to be pulled down and in its final days, the villagers wish hold an exhibition of photographic and/or written memories of happenings there. Thank you in anticipation. If you can help in any way, please email me: Derek Routen 7/3/2008 2:30 PM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:34 am
A/C 42-97983 – This aircraft was in the collision over Hoorn on 7 July 1944. My uncle was the co-pilot, 2Lt Jack Blickensderfer. I am just learning about the incident. Can anyone tell me the name of the aircraft and what the nose art looked like? John Blickensderfer 6/14/2008 12:14 AM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Donna Wessler, daughter of TSgt Carl Marsini, 390th Bomb Group on a B-17G shot down on 22 April 1944, coming back from a bombing run to the Hamm, Germany marshalling yards. Prisoner of War Stalag 17B. My Father married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Caniglia Marsini and had three children Carl Jr (Prisoner of War Vietnam, escaped successfully) , Richard (US Army), and Donna Wessler. Carl Marsini Sr. passed away 2/16/83. His son Carl Jr passed away 12/3/95 of pancreatic cancer caused by complications from Agent Orange. If you would like to get a hold of me, contact me at soccerfreak111@comcast.net 6/10/2008 12:34 PM
August 20th, 2008 at 1:34 am
A B-17 flew 500 feet over my house yesterday, (6/8/07) which compelled me to begin researching my uncle, John E. Walsh, who was an Engineer and Gunner on the B-17 Da Joker (Serial Number 20613963). He was a member of the 8th, 390th, 571st. His plane was shot down while bombing Merseburg, Germany on 30 November 1944. He had flown 14 Missions between 30 September and 30 November, 1944 when he, the pilot Edwin Booth and two others (Davidson and Jackson) were lost; the rest parachuted out to become POW’s. I would welcome contact from anyone who knew him, or knew someone that did, to hear what you know about his time in the AAF. Thank you, Steven Walsh, Boulder, Colorado stevenbwalsh@hotmail.com 6/9/2008 6:58 PM