Warbird Information Exchange

One for the WIX brain trust...my Mom had a decorative wreath full of trinkets in her bathroom when I was growing up, and it had what looked like an old copy of the USAAC New Testament on it. This summer she got rid of the wreath but kept the Bible for me.



OK, so here's the strange part--inside the cover is the following:



Looks like it says "George J(?) Belch" followed by an address. At the bottom, the notation "Plane Crash Baimbridge Ga, July 12 1944" sounds pretty interesting. Any idea of what crash this may be speaking of?

-Brandon

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

According to the Aviation Archeology website George Isham Belch was killed July 12, 1944 in the crash of a BT-13 (42-89069) 7 miles NNW of Bainbridge, GA following a stall and spin. From a cursory glance around the internet: Born in Massillon, Ohio on June 9, 1922 to George Herman Belch and Octa Marie Leib. He was also an alumni of Clemson Univ.

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Victory By Valor (Motto of the 20th Fighter Group)

No kidding...I had Googled the name and date, but didn't come across anything.

Thanks much for the help, Loco!


-Brandon

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

It looks like everything was written by the same person.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

My pleasure.

Cheers!
Syd

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Victory By Valor (Motto of the 20th Fighter Group)

Good point, I noticed that myself. I wonder if it wasn't removed from his things, the inscription added, and then sent to his family after the accident. Pure speculation of course.

Judging by the other things that were in that old wreath, a bunch of fairly random items were picked up at flea markets and glued in.


-Brandon

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

Or the bible could've been given to him by his parents, who personalized it then added the crash information later.

Cheers!
Syd

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Victory By Valor (Motto of the 20th Fighter Group)