447th Newsletter Spring 2011

447th Bomb Group Newsletter
Spring 2011
Inside
this issue
President’s Letter ......................2
447th Directory..........................2
Footlocker..................................3
Memorable Missions .............4-5
Contributions.............................6
New Members...........................6
Reunion Form (England) ..........8
Taps......................................9-11
Up Close .................................10
Family Fun Stuff ......................11
Reunion Form (France) ..........12
France Trip Details ............13-14
Nerd Notes..............................15
Dues Notice.............................15
Photo by Steve Heeb
Check Six................................16
Aluminum Overcast, 2010
n The 447th Bomb Group
newsletter is published quarterly
by the 447th Bomb Group, Inc.,
a 501(c)4 non-profit
organization.
They’ve probably been
stored safely in a shoebox
on the top shelf of the
closet. Or in envelopes
bound by a rubber band in
the desk drawer that no
one opens any more.
The photos and journals
of our WWII vets that
capture the essence of an
era when B-17s roared to
life at Rattlesden.
If you have photos or
other memorabilia, please
help honor our vets and
share these keepsakes with
our 447th family through
the website or newsletter.
Photos from Heeb family archives
Text from mission diary of Robert Adams
Membership Application ..........7
FLIGHTPLAN
FOOTLOCKER
447TH BOMB GROUP PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
This foretells a lasting legacy for us. In
addition to our visit to Rattlesden we
are going to Wissou, France, site of one
447th crew’s courageous saving the
town by guiding the B-17 to nearby
field. A monument to their bravery was
erected and we will participate in a celebration. Eagle Tours, who planned the
great reunion in 2009 will again do the
honors. Registration forms are on pages
8 and 12 of this issue.
From our web site we have received
several inquiries and information from
2nd Gens asking or giving information
pertinent to our group and is included in
this newsletter. We welcome all correspondence and will respond promptly.
I look forward to greeting many (I
hope) that will join me in this event.
As they say in the UK: “Raise a pint
and say Cheers!”
Arnold Kushner
President, 447th Bomb Group
447th Bomb Group Directory
EXECUTIVE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
President
Arnold Kushner
2110 Shannondale Drive
Audubon PA 19403
(610) 382-2092
E-mail: akush1028@aol.com
Vice-President
Norman Bussel
1739 Horton Road
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
(914) 528-7147
E-mail: bussel@verizon.net
Treasurer/Membership Chairperson
Dean Sassaman
201 Jackpine Drive
Michigan City, IN 46360-2713
(219) 874-5117
E-mail: dean447@sbcglobal.net
Secretary
Melanie Bussel
1739 Horton Road
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
(914) 528-7147
E-mail: bussel@verizon.net
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
DIRECTORS
COMMUNICATIONS & ARCHIVES
Director
Russell Chase
3147-D Via Vista
Laguna Woods, CA 92637-8812
(949) 837-8453
E-mail: russelldchase@comline.com
Newsletter Editor
Steve Heeb
1718 24th Ave Ct SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 222-6400
E-mail: 447@insidetrackmagazine.com
Director/PX/Reunion Coordinator
George R. Hoidra
6504 Old Sandy Spring Road
Laurel, MD 20707-2954
(301) 953-2813
E-mail: ghoidra@yahoo.com
Webmaster/Historical Archives
Joseph Ferris, Jr.
5046 Happy Hollow Drive
Manchester, MI 48158
(734) 428-0357
E-mail: joeferrisjr@gmail.com
Director Emeritus
Murray Codman
4341 Redwood Avenue
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-6427
(310) 827- 7277
E-mail: big_shorty@comcast.net
NexGen Representative
Debra Wetherald
PO Box 1976
Fallbrook, CA 92088-1976
(909) 561-6776
E-mail: dgwetherald@aol.com
Honorary Board Member
Roger Watts (UK)
Phone: 011-44-144-973-6687
447th Association (UK)
Ernest Osborne
3 Oliver Road
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP 33 3JH
United Kingdom
Phone: 011-44-128-476-2899
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the NexGen’s of the 447th BG:
I have been monitoring your website
for about four years now and finally a
historian is updating it with information,
stories and photos that are today in the
hands of NexGen’s like me.
My father was Clarence A. Perkins,
Pilot of the Century ship Dead Man’s
Hand (42-31188), which he and his crew
named and flew from the US to the UK
on Sept. 29, 1943.
The history of Dead Man’s Hand is
well documented and chronicled on page
one of the “Aircraft” link on your website, including a list of Lt. Perkins’ entire
crew.
Dad learned to fly as a teenager in the
late 1930s before he enlisted. He learned
to fly old biplanes at a flying school operating out of the Rancho Oro Verde FlyInn Dude Ranch in California’s Mojave
desert that was owned and operated by
the colorful and now legendary pioneer
aviatrix Florence “Pancho” Barnes .
The featured attraction at the dude
ranch was “The Happy Bottom Riding
Club”, a storied “watering hole” and
restaurant owned by Pancho that catered
to airmen at the nearby airfield (later to
become Edwards AFB) as well as her
many Hollywood friends.
Dad had many stories to tell about
Pancho and his exploits at “Happy Bottom” and Pancho’s story is well worth
reading
I am pleased to include a photo of Lt.
Perkins and his crew, taken in front of
another plane Moonbeam (42-32071)
which he and his crew named and flew
often, probably from Foggia, Italy in
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
From the 447th BG website
Greetings 447th BG Vets, 2nd Gens
and friends.
This is the year of our return to Rattlesden. Our UK contingent has looked
forward to this and planned it from the
moment we left in 2009. My 2nd Gen
group (three children and seven grandchildren) are all looking forward to this
lasting experience. For some it will be
their first trip abroad. Several took part
in the reunion in Tucson and made
email buddies with other 447 2nd Gens.
STORIES FROM THE GREATEST GENERATION
This photo of Lt. Clarence Perkins
accompanied a newspaper article about
his 50th mission. That and other items will
be posted on the 447th BG website.
early 1944.
I also have enclosed some of the
newspaper articles I am fortunate to have
about Dad’s flying history. Sorry the
copies are not better.
Other memorabilia includes the receipt
given to him and probably to each crew
member upon acceptance of the aircraft
that they flew to Rattlesden from the US
and a list of his 51 missions. Note that it
was provided from his last assignment
with the 99th BG, 416th squadron, which
operated out of Tortorelia in the Foggia
plains in Italy.
Moonbeam was the plane he flew in
Italy, including during the Operation
Frantic raid on Debrecen, Hungary, on
June 2, 1944. That flight wound them up
on Russian soil for the first time.
Lt. Perkins was credited with having
flown 52 combat missions over an 11-
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month period.
He was a “Lucky Bastard” and piloted
other aircraft listed on your website, including Big Stoop and another Century
ship Scheherazade.
He was awarded the Air Medal five
times.
After his service in the European and
Pacific theatres, he returned to the US to
train new pilots to fly B-17s and B-29s
until the war ended.
Dad passed away in 2005 at the age of
84.
I will be joining the NexGen and I am
currently planning to visit Rattlesden.
Keep up the good work, and thank you
for this now outstanding and historic
website.
I only wish I had discovered it before
Dad passed away. He would have loved
it!
Best regards,
Gary A. Perkins
n A note
of Thanks: I’d like to thank
Gary Perkins for finding us, and for writing about his father. Lt. Clarence A.
Perkins is a member of the Greatest
Generation, and I would have liked to
have known him.
Like so many, our loved ones didn’t
always talk about the war. They didn’t
think we’d understand, and now we
want to learn everything that we can.
The Footlocker is just that – a place
for NexGens to share such stories.
As Dad always says “Keep’em Flyin”
Debbie
dgwetherald@gmail.com
909-561-6776
2011 SPRING ISSUE
From History of 447th BG (Shields)
MEMORABLEMISSIONS
FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE 447TH BG
447th returns to Wissous
n
Those who are attending the 2011
reunion at Rattlesden this July can extend
their trip to include a visit to Wissous.
Separate registration forms for both
gatherings are included on pages 8 and
12 of this newsletter.
e were assigned to bomb
from 19,000 feet with 500lb
GP bombs. Take off was at
W
0722 hours.
Group, Wing and Division assembly
was uneventful. The Group flew low
group in the 4th CBW.
On approaching the target we found it
obscured so the decision was made to hit
the airfield at Evreux/Fauville. Results
of bombing was judged to be “Good”.
Of the 642 heavies dispatched by the
8th AF only 206 dropped their bomb on
air fields as targets of opportunity.
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
Sunday, 6 Feb. 1944
Field Order #149
Mission 15 for the 447th BG
Briefing was at 0500 hours. The
target was again the Air Depot at
Romilly-sur-Seine, France.
The weather was predicted to be
satisfactory so there was no PFF crew
present.
Captain William W. Brown, 709th
Squadron was assigned to lead the
mission flying with Eastman’s crew
(#42-31530).
The other pilots, crews and their
aircraft number were as follows:
The heavies lost four B-17s but accounted for three German fighters. One
of the losses was Lt. A.S. Reed, 708th
Squadron. (see story below)
The Eighth and Ninth Air Forces provided 638 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s for escort. The fighters lost one each P-38 and
P-47 while destroying 11 Luftwaffe
planes in the air and two more on the
ground.
The Group started landing at 1335
hours. After de-briefing the crews made
their way back to their barracks for some
sack time.
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K.A. Johnson (#42-31144)
Finfinger (#42-31563)
Kaffun (#42-31160)
Davis (#42-39865)
Marcey (#42-31169)
Chardi (#42-31191)
Keller (#42-31206)
Duke (#42-31155)
Leigh (#42-97501)
Hodges (#42-37497)
Huckins (#42-37842)
Jellinson (#42-31124)
Harris (#42-31186)
Ralston (#42-39874)
Stenvig (#42-39886)
Hopla (#42-31165)
Reed (#42-31145)
Socolofsky (#42-31185)
Widstrom (#42-37866)
Monsieur Rene Moulin’s drawing depicting Clark avoiding a crash into the town of Wissous, France.
Edmund L. Ketvirtis shared this
story of Lt. Reed’s crew.
From Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group
As you will read in the following excerpt from Doyle Shields’ History of the
447th Bomb Group, on the morning of
Feb. 6, 1944, the fleet of Fortresses from
Rattlesden joined up with other bomb
groups of the 8th Air Force and headed
for France.
This summer, more than 67 years later,
veterans of the 447th and their families
will return to the French town of Wissous, where 2nd Lt. Arthur L. Clark took
the controls of a flak-damaged B-17 and
managed to safely avert the town before
crashing.
Strike photo for Feb. 6, 1944; St. Aubin Air Field.
2011 SPRING ISSUE
Before bombs away the plane was hit
with flak, injuring or killing 1st Lt.
Allen S. Reed and the Navigator, 2nd
Lt. James A. Campbell.
The Co-pilot, 2nd Lt.
Arthur L Clark, was flying
the airplane as they approached the French town
of Wissous, 12 miles south
of Paris.
On command of Lt.
Clark, the Bombardier, 2nd
Lt. Thomas G. Wilkins; the
Engineer, T/Sgt. William F.
Davidge; the Radioman,
T/Sgt. Edmund G. Harms;
Waist Gunners, S/Sgts.
Robert T Russ and Benjamin A. Denny; Ball Tur-
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
town.
Lt. Wilkins’ parachute was riddled
with bullets. He was killed by ground
fire or when he hit the ground.
All six of the Gunners survived.
On 13 May 1984, the town of Wissous dedicated a monument
to the four officers. Monsieur Rene Moulin, president emeritus of Comité des
Anciens Élèves de Wissous
(CAEW) provided the
drawing of the monument
(inset at left) and his drawing depicting Lt. Arthur
Clark, Co-Pilot of Lt. Allen
S. Reed’s crew, as he flew
over the town of Wissous
avoiding a crash into the
town (above). A park at the
site of the crash has been
(Shields)
BG
7th
44
ry of
named for Arthur Clark.
From Histo
rett Gunner, S/Sgt. James W. Alexander; and the Tail Gunner, S/Sgt. George
M. Schneider bailed out.
Lt. Clark pulled the airplane up to
avoid hitting the town, but crashed at
1130 in a grove of trees beyond the
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MEMORIESCONTRIBUTIONS
Vintage 447th book great addition to personal collection
SUPPORTING THE 447TH BG ASSOCIATION AND OUR VETERANS
In memory of
Bates, Patricia L. ...............................In memory of Warren F. Bates
Dingivan, Edward D. ...................In memory of Edward A. Dingivan
Palko, Laverne M. .......................................In memory of Gilbert D.
Van Every, Drexel W. .....................In memory of Harold Van Every
General Contributions
Thank
you!
Beste, William H.
Halvorson, Harold S.
Blecha, Milo K.
Hoagland, Jean H.
DeSalvo, Guido
Kanpp, Doland S.
Parker, M.S.
Dingivan, Lawrence R.
Keating, George A.
Pauling, Howard S.
Farson, M. W.
Killpack, John J.
Rago, Julius J.
Flaherty, William F.
Kuhnz, Arnold H.
Strunk, Melvin J.
Flemming, Dana L.
Kuhnz, Arthur H.
Theurer, Harry A.
Flemming, Dean S.
Leferink, Albert
Wood, Colin D.
Gannon, Rosemary
Moon, Arthur H.
Young, Rachel
a local paper (articles mention Hampshire, Southampton, Nottingham, Wiltshire and more.) It has a big photo of Ed
Leighty holding a belt of .50-cal at a
WWII memorabilia exhibition in the
Rattlesden village hall. There is a handwritten date of 5-12-88 on the clipping.
I’ve been poring over the
many (many, many) photos
in the book and am pretty
sure that one of the better
party shots shows my
grandfather Loran Heeb
posing at a table with some
local children. I was looking at all the faces in the
711th squadron parade photos but they are hard to
make out except the front row. There’s
no way I am going to try and lay the
book flat to scan a photo.
Anyway, it is a real treasure. I hope all
of the 2nd/3rd gen folks treat their family copies with the respect they deserve.
I just wanted to share how nice it is to
add a copy to our 447th collection.
James Burke: I gave this book to my
father, it was a treasure trove of information that we have used in our research of
Tuxedo Tomie and her air crews. Including answering a nagging question
about the OD/Gray color codes. No one
had been able to provide a color photograph of the OD/Gray 477th scheme that
provided the detail that a person building
a model would need. Same color
scheme as the more popularly photographed silver planes, basically overlay the OD/Gray over the silver and you
have the 477th planes.
I guess cammo isnt much of an issue
when flying huge numbers of loud aircraft leaving massive contrails.
447th Bomb Group Membership Application
Your name: ____________________________ Spouse: ____________________
NEWMEMBERS
GROWING THE 447TH BG ASSOCIATION
Name
Excerpt from thread posted on
477th BG online message board
Steve Heeb: It’s been a couple weeks
but I still can’t get enough of browsing
through the “Pictorial History of the
447 Bombardment Group (H)” that
we bought after Hal Kiena brought to
my attention. It is truly a
treasure. The leather (-like)
cover is in great shape with a
little fading on the exposed
spine. The pages are crisp and
the binding seems as good as
a 1946-vintage book could be.
Wonder how long it was on a
store shelf before it turned up
online.
My copy came from a
bookstore in England and has a little
sticker in front referring to Beaumont’s
Aviation Book Store. Tucked in the back
pages is a nice newspaper clipping from
Connection
Home State
Collier II, Donald E.
2nd Gen
FL
Kidder, John R.
2nd Gen
IN
Wolcott, Noreen Ferris
2nd Gen
MI
Wood, Galen
3rd Gen
KS
Wood, Lucinda
2nd Gen
KS
Wood, Maxey
3rd Gen
KS
Give a friend or
family member
the gift of 447th
membership!
Address:__________________________________________________________
Purchase an annual
Email: _______________________________________
City: _______________________ State: _______ ZIP ____________________
Telephone Number: (______)_____________________
membership to the
447th Bomb Group for a
family member or friend
today! Form on page 7.
Relation to 447th : Veteran [__] Spouse [__] NexGen [___] ______________
Which Squadron: 708 [__] 709 [__] 710 [__] 711 [__] Your job: ___________
DUES are $20.00 per year. Please make checks payable to: 447th Bomb Group
Treasurer Dean Sassaman, 201 Jackpine Drive, Michigan City IN 46360-2713 • (219) 874-5117 dean447@sbcglobal.com
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
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447 TAPS
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
ob (Robert Adams) was a
member of the 447th from November, 44 through April, 45.
He flew his 35 missions and was a
member of the “Lucky Bastard’s Club”
#711. Bob was a good friend and on
helping his family dispose of Bob’s
Ham radio gear I ran across a notebook Bob had kept of his missions in a
small spiral notebook. I copied the
notes and typed them up to share with
Bob’s friends. Doing some research on
his missions I ran across your website
and am taking it upon myself to send
you Bob’s obituary.
Regards,
Dale Lathrop
B
Robert V. Adams
Funeral Mass for Robert V. Adams, 88,
of Harrington, took place Thursday
morning, Dec. 23, at St. Francis Catholic
Church in Harrington. Rosary service was
the previous evening. Father Pat
MacMahon officiated at both services.
Mr. Adams died Dec. 19 in Davenport.
He was born June 11, 1922, in Spokane to
Wade and Johanna Adams – 45 minutes
behind his twin brother Jack. He attended
St. Francis Assisi and St Augustine
schools, West Valley High School and
Gonzaga Prep, all in Spokane, and
graduated in 1940 from Harrington High
School, after the family moved to the
Rocklyn area. He completed courses
needed for college at Harrington, then
studied mechanics engineering at Gonzaga
University.
When the U.S. declared war on Japan he
enlisted in the aviation cadet program at
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2011 SPRING ISSUE
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
Continued on pages 10-11
From the 447th BG archives
Registration application for the Rattlesden
portion of the 447th BG reunion this summer
th
Robert Adams served as
co-pilot on the Baker crew,
which flew missions on several
planes, including B-17
42-97392 Mona’s Marauders
which was one of the 447th
BG’s “Century” ships having
logged 110 combat missions.
Geiger Field, took classes at Montana
State College in Bozeman, Mont., and was
stationed in Nebraska, California, Nevada
and Florida. During a 30-day leave, he
returned to Harrington and became
engaged to Marie Timm. They were
married June 14, 1945 shortly before his
honorable discharge.
He was a B-17 pilot and flew across
various locations in Canada, Europe and
the U.S., and recalled a flight in April 1945
to view war damage in Germany during
which the plane never got higher than 500
feet.
“We flew so low over Paris, France, that
I looked up at the Eiffel tower as we
circled it and saw the Arc of Triumph, flew
“We flew so low
over Paris, France,
that I looked up at the
Eiffel tower as we circled
it and saw the
Arc of Triumph,
flew down the Rhine in
Germany and saw all the
castles built there.”
— Written by Robert Adams
describing low-level flight to survey
war damage in April 1945
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down the Rhine in Germany and saw all
the castles built there,” he wrote.
After the war, he worked as a machinist
in Spokane for about five years before
beginning to farm about 320 acres in the
Harrington area purchased by his fatherin-law in 1950, while continuing to work
in Spokane as a television serviceman, tool
and die maker for Columbia Electric and
as an electrician for the Mead aluminum
plant, where he helped build new pot-lines.
Harrington became the family’s permanent
home in 1964.
He was a member of the St. Francis
Catholic Church, Ham Radio Operators
(W70HI), Harrington Lions Club and Gun
Club and the Lincoln County Emergency
Ham Radio Response Team. He enjoyed
traveling to Hawaii, Mexico and Canada.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
sister Marguerite Brown, and twin brother
Dr. Jack Adams. Besides his wife of 65
years, he leaves two children, Mary Louise
(and Guy) Rutherford of Spokane Valley,
and John Adams of Harrington; four
grandchildren, Kelley and Andy Boyd and
Jacob Adams, all of Coulee City, Joshua
Adams of Harrington and Jennifer Adams
of Spokane; three great-grandchildren,
Brayton, Adyson and Haydon; a brother,
Joe Adams of Portland, Ore.; and
numerous nieces and nephews.
2011 SPRING ISSUE
Jasper L. Anderson (TG);
Edward Walsh (ROG);
Photo by Steve Heeb
Joseph Horton (P);
Doran E. Swartzmiller (CP);
John Bushik (WG).
Kneeling, from left:
Leo Conlin (BTG);
Clyde Bateman (ENG);
George Dolan (N);
Jacob Goldman (B).
looking forward to the cockpit.
n Not to be morbid about it, but
we’ve all lost friends over the last
few years. The tales of World
War II are being buried every
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day.
It’s your responsibility to make
sure that your legacy is not lost
forever. One way to do this is to
grab a grandchild with a
computer videocam or camera
and re-count your 447th exploits.
Or get an old-fashioned tape
recorder and record your stories.
You’d be amazed at what your
wife and kids don’t
know about what you
did.
Copies can be
sent to the
Veterans’ History
Project at the
Library of Congress
or the 8th Air Force
Museum in Savannah.
Do it NOW!
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
Jasper Lee “Jack” Anderson
ROANOKE, Va. Jasper Lee “Jack”
Anderson, 90, was called away from his
loving family on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010.
Born in Virgie, Ky., he was the son of Marion
and Garnet Anderson. He is survived by his
daughter, Jacque Kitts and husband Warren,
of Roanoke; sons, Jimmie and wife Pat of
Manakin-Sabot, Va., Ken and wife Donna of
Augusta, Ga., and Kerry and wife Kandi, of
Mechanicsville, Va.; grandchildren, Dana
Kitts Lane and husband Jeff, Kelly Kitts
Dooley and husband Tim, Megan and
Matthew Anderson, and Ross and Jeremy
Anderson; step- grandchildren, Heather,
Chase, and Amanda Aldridge; and greatgranddaughter, Noel Dooley. Mr. Anderson is
also survived by two brothers, Frank and wife
Margie and Raymond and wife Joyce; one
sister, Pauline Loustenau; as well as several
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nieces and nephews. He was preceded in
death by his parents; his wife of 63 years,
Anita Sykes Anderson; brother, George
Anderson; and sister, Helen Anderson Turner.
Mr. Anderson enjoyed a diverse career over
his lifetime, which included positions as a
railroad brakeman, coal miner, and machinist
until he retired in 1971.
He was a proud member of the Greatest
Generation, a decorated veteran of both
World War II and the Korean conflict. He was
the last surviving crew member of his B-17
Bomber, “Double Trouble”, assigned to the
8th Air Force where he contributed to 35
successful bombing missions over Germany.
He survived two crash landings in Lille, and
Chantilly, France. He remained in the U.S.
Air Force until 1961.
Mr. Anderson was always known for his
keen sense of humor and as an outstanding
story teller with a witty saying for any
occasion. He was further known as kindhearted with a special kindness for children.
He led a long life full of friends, family, and
accomplish-ments.
His memory will be cherished. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests donations be
made in his name to any veteran’s
organization of their choice. Funeral services
will be at Oakeys South Chapel with Rev. C.
Nelson Harris officiating. Entombment will
follow in The Chapel of Light Mausoleum at
Evergreen Burial Park.
2011 SPRING ISSUE
THE DINGIVAN CREW: Standing, from left: Lt. George Moore, Capt. Elwyn Warfle,
Capt. Charles W. Jackson, Capt. Edward A. Dingivan, Lt. Michael Walsh and Capt. Homer
Stranger. Kneeling, from left: M/Sgt Frank Rumola, T/Sgt Barney Langdon, T/Sgt Leon
Butler and T/Sgt Samuel Catton.
Terence W. Dingivan, Annandale, VA,
Brian Dingivan, Peachtree City, GA, four
step-daughters, Sandra Gillis, Brockton,
MA, Cynthia Kosidlak, Hernando, FL,
Cheryl Demeule, Raymond, NH, Allyson
Lee, Millis, MA, 19 grandchildren, nine
great grandchildren, one step-sister Gloria
Turko, Londonderry. He was predeceased
by his first wife, Julia F. Dingivan in 1993.
A Mass of Christian burial was
celebrated Dec. 6 at St. Jude Parish in
Londonderry. Following cremation, Mr.
Dingivan was placed in the columbarium
at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in
Pooler, GA.
Memorial contributions may be made to
the St. Jude Parish Building Fund or to The
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
Family fun stuff
Photo by Melanie Bussel
The catwalk in Liberty Belle’s bomb bay,
asper L. Anderson served with
the 447th bomb group, 709th
squadron, as the tail gunner in
Joesph Horton’s crew. I am enclosing
his obituary to be posted in the “Taps”
section of your website. My father
and I had long discussions about his
time at Rattlesden and it would honor
him and myself to have this posted.
Sincerely
Kerry L. Anderson, 2nd gen!
From the 447th BG archives
Standing, from left:
Edward A. Dingivan, 90, of
Londonderry, NH, died Dec. 2, 2010 at the
Parkland Medical Center, following a fall
at his home. He was born on Dec. 8, 1919
in New York, NY, a son of the late Edward
F. and Frances A. (Wallace) Dingivan.
He was a resident of Londonderry for 16
years, formerly living in Camp Springs,
MD. Mr. Dingivan was employed as a NY
State Police officer and was assigned to
President Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park.
He later joined the US Air Force where
he became a pilot with the Eighth Air
Force 447th Bomb Group during World
War II.
After his retirement from the Air Force,
he went on to become a Vice President of
NACA, National Air Carriers Association,
negotiating civil air rights throughout the
world. He later became Vice President in
charge of public relations for Republic
Airlines, later known as Northwest and
now known as Delta.
He is survived by his wife Priscilla T.
(Truesdale) Dingivan of Londonderry, two
daughters
Carole
Armbruster,
Albuquerque, NM, and Maureen
Lewandowski, Upper Marlboro, MD; five
sons Edward D. Dingivan, San Antonio,
TX, Lawrence Dingivan, Salt Lake City,
UT, Dennis Dingivan, Peachtree City, GA,
Photo by Michelle Heeb
INSIDE A FORTRESS
From the 447th BG archives
UPCLOSE
Edward A. Dingivan
HATS OFF TO EVA
Meet Eva(ngeline) the
Katrina-rescued
Rottweiler adopted by
Norm and Melanie Bussel
five years ago. When
they got her she was
skinny, sick, unspayed
and unhousebroken. She
That’s Mitchell Rattlesden Heeb (yes, his real name) in the arms of your
had been on her own
newsletter editor Steve Heeb during Fuddy Duddy’s visit to Seattle in
and feral for 3-4 months.
June 2005. Mitchell is the great-grandson of 447th veteran Loran Heeb.
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
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2011 SPRING ISSUE
447th Reunion 2011
Wissous celebration and D-Day Beaches
Tuesday July 19th – Sunday July 24th 2011
Optional
trip to
France
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
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2011 SPRING ISSUE
Day 1 Tuesday July 19th
Day 3 Thursday July 21st
Day 5 Saturday July 23rd
Morning departure from the Ramada
Hotel, Bury St Edmunds by coach to
Portsmouth. From there we take the
ferry to Cherbourg, Normandy. Janet
your tour guide, the coach and luggage
travels with us.
On the ferry there will be a reserved
area for the group with reclining seats.
The crossing takes four hours. On
board are bars, restaurants, film theatre, sun deck area and onboard shopping.
On arrival in France we drive south
to the town of St Lo, one of the key
cities to the opening of the Falaise
Gap.
Overnight and breakfast at Mercure
Hotel in central St Lo.
This morning we travel east to visit
Arromanches. The town overlooks the
surviving Mulberry harbour and is important in the understanding of the operations that followed 6th June 1944.
The American artificial harbour built
off Omaha no longer survives.
We continue to the medieval town of
Bayeux. Time to explore this historical
town with its magnificent cathedral
and of course the famous Bayeux Tapestry. After lunch in the town the coach
will head south towards Paris..
Evening at leisure.
Overnight and breakfast at Hilton
Hotel, Orly.
Today we will join the mayor and
townspeople of Wissous at the memorial to Lts Campbell, Clark, Reed and
Wilkins in the park ‘L’Espace Arthur
Clark’ and pay our respects to these
brave men who on February 6th 1944
showed selfless bravery by crash
landing in order to avoid the town.
Time will then be spent in Wissous
with friends of the 447th who always
welcome back veterans and their families with great affection.
Overnight and breakfast at Hilton
Hotel, Orly.
Day 4 Friday July 22nd
Day 2 Wednesday July 20th
Day in Paris, Janet will make sure
you see the highlights of this romantic
city. Your panoramic tour will include
the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Place de la
Concorde, Champs Elysées and the
Arc de Triomphe. Cross Alexander III
Bridge with its wonderful views of the
Seine, to see Les Invalides and iconic
Eiffel Tower. Climb the steps from the
artist area of Montmarte to white
domed basilica, the Sacre Coeur. From
here see all of Paris spread below you.
Overnight and breakfast at Hilton
Hotel, Orly.
Early morning departure for Paris
Charles de Gaulle Airport for return
flights to the USA.
End of Eagle Tour services.
Today we explore the US sector of
the Normandy Landing Beaches. Visits will include Utah Beach, St Mere
Eglise, Colleville American Cemetery,
Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach.
Return to St Lo for evening at
leisure. You will enjoy exploring the
town and the chance to try out the
French cuisine. The hotel’s dining
room offers interesting menus.
Overnight and breakfast at Mercure
Hotel in central St Lo.
Price and more information
on back of this page
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Day 6 Sunday July 24th
Option
The onward journey for the coach is
to return to Bury St Edmunds. There is
an option for you take advantage of
this should you wish to fly home from
the UK. The coach can drop at London
Gatwick airport (there are connections
to Heathrow and central London from
here). Please note this will require an
additional night’s accommodation to
link up with flights to the USA on
Monday July 25th. Do NOT book
flights from London for July 24th.
2011 SPRING ISSUE
Land Price
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
US$1390.00 pp sharing a twin/double room
CANCELLATION INSURANCE:
Eagle Tours strongly recommend that
our tour participants purchase trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
in the amount of the land cost of the
tour.
Your tour price includes:
• 2 nights in Mercure Hotel, St Lo
including breakfast.
• 3 nights in Hilton Hotel, Orly including breakfast.
• Ferry crossing.
• English Tour Director, French
speaking accompanies you each day.
• Daily travel in an air-conditioned
coach.
• Porterage for ONE LARGE SUITCASE ONLY.
Your tour price does not include:
• Entrances to museums.
• Hotel accommodation on Sunday
July 24th if returning to USA on July
25th.
• Tips to guides and drivers.
• Tips to hotel staff.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT
YOU TAKE TRIP CANCELLATION
INSURANCE.
For further information:
E-mail: infoeagletours@aol.com
Phone:
Brigid Goodson 0044 1628 526581
Jo Stevenson 0044 1628 520563
Contact Address:
The Compasses
Wooburn Common
Buckinghamshire HP10 0JS
UK
Reservations
A deposit of $500 per person shall
be payable to Eagle Tours by March
31, 2011. Final payment of the balance
is due by 15th May 2011.
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
CHANGES BY EAGLE TOURS:
At the time of publication all information in our brochure has been checked
and is, to the best of our knowledge,
correct. However for reasons beyond
our control changes may need to be
made to hotels, venues and programmes.
CANCELLATION BY EAGLE
TOURS: Eagle Tours reserves the right
to cancel any tour prior to departure for
any reason, including insufficient numbers. Should this happen full refunds
will be made without obligation although Eagle Tours cannot be held responsible for any additional costs already incurred by participants.
The tour price is based on a number of
people travelling together. If the booking falls below the minimum required,
passengers will be advised of any additional costs for that departure date and
asked if they wish to pay this amount or
cancel, upon which any deposits and
payments will be fully refunded.
CANCELLATION BY CUSTOMERS: If a participant cancels, the
following refunds will be available only
upon written notice of cancellation to
Eagle Tours:
More than 6 weeks before tour departure, an administration charge of $90 per
person will be retained.
Within 6 weeks of departure, the following cancellation charges apply:
6 weeks to 1 month before departure:
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25% of the tour price.
1month to 2 weeks before the tour departure: 75% of the tour price.
Less than 2 weeks before departure:
no refund.
There is no refund for ‘no shows’.
Refunds cannot be made to any passenger who does not complete the tour.
No refunds shall be issued for occasional missed meals, sightseeing tours
or any unused services.
RESPONSIBILITY: The responsibility of Eagle Tours and/or their agents
is limited. Eagle Tours act only as
agents for the suppliers of tour transportation, sightseeing, hotel accommodation and other services related to this
tour programme. Eagle Tours does not
own, manage, control or operate any
transportation vehicle, any hotel or
restaurant or any other supplier of services related to this programme. All tickets, receipts, coupons and vouchers are
issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier. By accepting the coupons and tickets or utilising the services, tour participants agree
that Eagle Tours accepts no responsibility for losses, injury, damage or additional expenses to the tour participants
or their belongings or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation or other services resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrences beyond the control of Eagle
Tours including breakdown of equipment, sickness, weather, strikes, theft, or
other causes. All such losses or expenses
will be borne by the tour participant.
Eagle Tours reserve the right to substitute hotels or restaurants or sites where
visits are scheduled and to alter the itinerary or reverse the order of the visits.
Eagle Tours are neither responsible nor
liable for defaults of those not directly
under the control of Eagle Tours.
2011 SPRING ISSUE
NERDNOTES
Please remember
to pay your dues
every year
TIME TO GET YOUR GEEK ON
n
Melanie Bussel
Computers! I spend a lot of time
swearing at mine, but still they’re indispensable in this instantcommunication
age.
Even though I have my
cell phone programmed to not receive or send text
messages, I still use email to contact friends
and family, and to send
out instant alerts to various
groups I’m associated with.
It would be very helpful if everyone
who has access to the Internet provides
a current e-mail address to the 447th.
It can be one of your kids or grandkids, if you don’t use a
computer.
Please send your email address to Dean
Sasseman by snail
mail or e-mail to:
Dean Sassaman
201 Jackpine Drive
Pottawattomie Park IN
46360-2713
Dean447@sbcglobal.net
447th patches for sale online
most likely to be knock offs
There have been several PX requests
over the past few years for both 447th
Group and Squadron patches.
We ran out of the
original reproductions several
years ago and it
was deemed not
cost effective to
reproduce a new
batch.
There
are
patches for sale
on e-bay at outrageous prices and it
should be noted that 99 percent of
them are “knock-offs” or cheap inaccurate copies.
You may want to
warn the members of this before they go
spending $55 for
an
incorrect
patch that we
used to sell (the
correct version)
in the PX for $6.
Just a thought.
George Hoidra
Dear Comrade-in-Arms,
I can recall when my calendar was
marked by more social events than
medical appointments. Now, it’s just
the opposite and I sometimes forget
to keep up-to-date on other matters
that are very important to me.
Like my dues for the 447th Bomb
Group. If I don’t send in my check as
soon as I receive my notice, it simply
slips my mind. I’m sure that’s what
happened to you this year. You set
aside your notice and forgot that you
intended to send in your dues.
Our service with the 8th Air Force
during WW II helped to achieve one
of the greatest victories in our
country’s history. This is an honor
that we want to perpetuate, and we
are so fortunate that many of our
sons and daughters have stepped
forward to help run the 447th
organization as we get older and our
energies wane.
It’s really not expensive to keep our
group active, but we do need your
dues in order to keep sending you the
447th newsletter and pay some of
the costs of our reunions, both in the
U.S. and in England.
Please send in your dues of $20.00
now, while you have this request in
hand. No one knows better than I,
how easy it is to forget. Help us to
keep alive the memory of all those
who flew with us, “into the wild blue
yonder.”
With warmest personal regards,
Dean Sassaman
Treasurer, 447th Bomb Group
Be aware that 447th BG group and squadron patches
found on on-line auctions may or may not be authentic.
4 4 7 th B G N E W S L E T T E R
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2011 SPRING ISSUE
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
447TH BOMB GROUP, INC.
Membership Chairman
Dean Sassaman
201 Jackpine Drive
Michigan City, IN 46360-2713
CHECKSIX
Photo by Steve Heeb
FINAL PHOTO FOR THE MONTH
Nose jobs
That ’s seven beautiful
plexi noses all in a row –
with yet another B-17
flying a sortie over the
airfield at the time – as a
total of eight flying B-17s
(and a ninth still under
construction) converged
on the historic Willows
Run
Airport
for
the
Gathering of Fortresses air
show last August.