WWII Veterans Panel at the AirVenture Museum this Sat.
Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:32 pm
FYI - The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, WI is hosting a WWII Veterans Panel discussion this Saturday October 1 in conjunction with our inaugural "EAA ScaleVenture" static model show and contest. The model show runs from 9am to 5pm, while the veterans panel runs from 2pm to 4pm. We just had another veteran confirm his attendance this morning, bringing the total to four:
William Bergner, who was a B-17 Flying Fortress radar operator and technician with the 327th Bomb Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. Grounded by the squadron flight surgeon while in England, Bergner spent the duration of his overseas tour installing and repairing radar sets in B-17s.
William Meier, who was a B-17 Flying Fortress bombardier assigned to the 413th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.
William Hartshorn, who was a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. He was shot down on his 26th mission on Sept. 18, 1944, while flying in support of Operation Market Garden.
Victor Bast, who was also a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.
Bill Hartshorn and Vic Bast flew together in the 61st and were both flying on the mission in which Bill was shot down. They haven't seen each other in 30+ years, so it should make for a pretty special reunion. There's also a pretty good chance that we'll have another guest, Col. John Gibbons, who flew with the 350th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group.
If you are in the area and looking for something to do, come on out and join us Saturday.
Zack
William Bergner, who was a B-17 Flying Fortress radar operator and technician with the 327th Bomb Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. Grounded by the squadron flight surgeon while in England, Bergner spent the duration of his overseas tour installing and repairing radar sets in B-17s.
William Meier, who was a B-17 Flying Fortress bombardier assigned to the 413th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.
William Hartshorn, who was a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. He was shot down on his 26th mission on Sept. 18, 1944, while flying in support of Operation Market Garden.
Victor Bast, who was also a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.
Bill Hartshorn and Vic Bast flew together in the 61st and were both flying on the mission in which Bill was shot down. They haven't seen each other in 30+ years, so it should make for a pretty special reunion. There's also a pretty good chance that we'll have another guest, Col. John Gibbons, who flew with the 350th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group.
If you are in the area and looking for something to do, come on out and join us Saturday.
Zack
Re: WWII Veterans Panel at the AirVenture Museum this Sat.
Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:29 pm
Sounds very interesting! I wish I could make it up there.
Re: WWII Veterans Panel at the AirVenture Museum this Sat.
Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:00 pm
Since I last posted, I've had three more veterans confirm their attendance for the WWII Veterans Panel Discussion on Saturday. In addition to Bill Bergner, Bill Hartshorn, Bill Meier, and Vic Bast, we will also have Chet Gardeski, who was a B-17 flight engineer with the 422nd Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb Group; John Gibbons, who was a B-17 pilot with the 350th Bomb Squadron of the "Bloody Hundredth" 100th Bomb Group; and John Rosenberg, who was a B-24 tail gunner with the 526th Bomb Squadron of the 392nd Bomb Group. It is shaping up to be a fantastic event and I hope some of you can come.
Re: WWII Veterans Panel at the AirVenture Museum this Sat.
Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:18 pm
1Lt Vic Bast and 63rd FS P-47M 1945.