Memorial Day 2010
Mon May 31, 2010 12:41 pm
I wish you each a peaceful Memorial Day, & please remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
Just a few reminders;
USFG Photo
MICRONESIA (Feb. 14, 2008) Petty Officer 1st Class Julius Mcmanus, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, plants an American flag on the site where an American WWII military aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Deep sea divers are assigned to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts. Date 14 February.
USFG Photo
A Douglas AD-4 Skyraider of attack squadron VA-115 Arabs, Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11), bursts into flame as the engine breaks off upon landing aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) on 12 December 1950. The Skyraider had been hit by enemy flak over Korea.
USFG Photo
Crash of a U.S. Navy F4U-4 Corsair from fighter squadron VF-124, Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) on the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34) on 6 March 1953. On that day VF-124 and VA-125 (flying Douglas Skyraiders) bombed depots, trenches and bunkers south of Wonsan and near Hamsong, Korea. In the middle of these strikes the F4U-4 piloted by Lt. Edwin L. Kummer, VF-124, developed engine trouble shortly after take off. Aborting the mission, Kummer tried but was unable to jettison all his ordnance, as one 113 kg (250 lb) bomb "hung-up" on the bomb rack. Unfortunately, as the Corsair hit the deck, the bomb broke loose, bounced up the flight deck and exploded over the No. 3 elevator, killing two sailors and wounding fourteen others. One of the men killed was Photographer Airman Thomas L. McGraw, killed while filming landing operations, while the other was Aviation Electrician Airman Thomas M. Yeager. The explosion riddled the hangar deck below with shrapnel, piercing many of the parked aircraft and flooding the hangar bay with gasoline. Firefighting teams quickly extinguished the fire and isolated the hangar deck, preventing the fire from spreading into the ship. At the same time, Airman Richard D. Donovan ran through the flames, cut the unconscious pilot from his harness and pulled him to safety (see photo). Damage repair crews put the aircraft carrier back in business within hours and Oriskany began launching airstrikes again on 8 March 1953.
USFG Photo
No Description.
USFG Photo
The crew of the USAAF Boeing B-29-40-BW Superfortress (s/n 42-24598) "Waddy's Wagon", 20th Air Force, 73rd Bomb Wing, 497th Bomb Group, 869th Bomb Squadron, the fifth B-29 to take off on the first Tokyo mission from Saipan on 24 November 1944, and first to land back at Isley Field after bombing the target. The crew is posing to duplicate their caricatures in the nose art. The crew (l-r): Capt. Walter "Waddy" Young/pilot, Lt. Jack Vetters/copilot, Lt. John F. Ellis/bombardier , Lt. Paul Garrison/navigator, Sgt. George Avon/radio operator, Lt. Bernard Black/flight engineer, Sgt. Kenneth Mansie/flight technican, Sgt. Lawrence Lee/gunner, Sgt. Wilbur Chapman/gunner, Sgt. Corbett Carnegie/gunner, Sgt. Joseph Gatto/gunner. This aircraft was lost on 9 January 1945.
USFG Photo
A U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat of fighting squadron VF-3 from the USS Yorktown (CV-5) lands on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8), circa 14:30 h, 4 June 1942. The plane "3-F-24" was piloted by Ens. Daniel C. Sheedy and had been damaged by Japanese A6M2 Zero fighters over the Japanese fleet. The aircraft landed hard, causing the right landing gear to collapse and the six 12.7 mm machine guns opened fire for two seconds (note the smoke coming from the guns). The bullets killed three Marines, a sailor of VB-8, and the aft 12.7 cm gun control officer, Lt. Royal R. Ingersoll, son of Adm. Royal E. Ingersoll (CINCLANT). Twenty others were wounded.
USFG Photo
B-52 bomber, piloted by Bud Holland about to crash at Fairchild Air Force Base on June 24, 1994, killing all four crew members. The co-pilot's hatch cover, released too late to allow his escape, can be seen below the fin. The photo was taken by a U.S.A.F photographer for an official "fini-flight" ceremony for Colonel Wolff, one of the crew, that was to have followed the flight.
USFG Photo
When a squadron of P-47 Thunderbolts attacked a gunpowder storage depot, the ensuing explosion destroyed one of their aircraft. The grave for the pilot was made by a refugee French couple, with .50-cal. ammunition for a border.
USFG Photo
Clervaux, Belgium (Dec. 15, 2004) - Soldiers, Sailors and World War II veterans remember those killed in action during the “Battle of the Bulge” at a wreath laying ceremony at the American GI Statue honoring the Liberation of Clervaux, Belgium. Events serve to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the German offensive action in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg, where American forces suffered some of its largest casualties during WWII. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Ted Banks
USFG Photo
Photo of U.S. Air Force 1st Lt Karl Richter in front of an Republic F-105D Thunderchief. Richter was killed over Vietnam the 28 July 1967. Official USAF biography: "First Lt. Karl Richter's story is one of remarkable courage and perseverance. An Air Force Academy graduate, Richter flew F-105Ds in the 421st TFS, 388th TFW, Korat RTAFB. He flew aggressively and volunteered for the most hazardous missions. In September 1966, he shot down a MiG-17. As he neared the end of his 100-mission tour, Richter asked for and received permission to fly 100 more missions back-to-back. On his second tour, he was awarded an Air Force Cross for a mission on April 20, 1967, in which he vigorously suppressed heavy AAA and SAM defenses. In July 1967, on his 198th mission, Lt. Richter was hit by enemy fire and ejected over sharp limestone rocks known as karst. He was mortally injured when he hit the rocks."
USFG Photo
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Dec. 7, 2004) - More than 200 distinguished visitors and Pearl Harbor survivors attended the 63rd Commemoration of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The commemoration included the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) rendering honors, more than 40 wreath presentations, a 21-gun salute, and a missing man flyover. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jennifer Bailey.
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This is only a very small reminder of those who gave all.
Robbie
Just a few reminders;
USFG Photo
MICRONESIA (Feb. 14, 2008) Petty Officer 1st Class Julius Mcmanus, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, plants an American flag on the site where an American WWII military aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Deep sea divers are assigned to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts. Date 14 February.
USFG Photo
A Douglas AD-4 Skyraider of attack squadron VA-115 Arabs, Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11), bursts into flame as the engine breaks off upon landing aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) on 12 December 1950. The Skyraider had been hit by enemy flak over Korea.
USFG Photo
Crash of a U.S. Navy F4U-4 Corsair from fighter squadron VF-124, Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) on the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34) on 6 March 1953. On that day VF-124 and VA-125 (flying Douglas Skyraiders) bombed depots, trenches and bunkers south of Wonsan and near Hamsong, Korea. In the middle of these strikes the F4U-4 piloted by Lt. Edwin L. Kummer, VF-124, developed engine trouble shortly after take off. Aborting the mission, Kummer tried but was unable to jettison all his ordnance, as one 113 kg (250 lb) bomb "hung-up" on the bomb rack. Unfortunately, as the Corsair hit the deck, the bomb broke loose, bounced up the flight deck and exploded over the No. 3 elevator, killing two sailors and wounding fourteen others. One of the men killed was Photographer Airman Thomas L. McGraw, killed while filming landing operations, while the other was Aviation Electrician Airman Thomas M. Yeager. The explosion riddled the hangar deck below with shrapnel, piercing many of the parked aircraft and flooding the hangar bay with gasoline. Firefighting teams quickly extinguished the fire and isolated the hangar deck, preventing the fire from spreading into the ship. At the same time, Airman Richard D. Donovan ran through the flames, cut the unconscious pilot from his harness and pulled him to safety (see photo). Damage repair crews put the aircraft carrier back in business within hours and Oriskany began launching airstrikes again on 8 March 1953.
USFG Photo
No Description.
USFG Photo
The crew of the USAAF Boeing B-29-40-BW Superfortress (s/n 42-24598) "Waddy's Wagon", 20th Air Force, 73rd Bomb Wing, 497th Bomb Group, 869th Bomb Squadron, the fifth B-29 to take off on the first Tokyo mission from Saipan on 24 November 1944, and first to land back at Isley Field after bombing the target. The crew is posing to duplicate their caricatures in the nose art. The crew (l-r): Capt. Walter "Waddy" Young/pilot, Lt. Jack Vetters/copilot, Lt. John F. Ellis/bombardier , Lt. Paul Garrison/navigator, Sgt. George Avon/radio operator, Lt. Bernard Black/flight engineer, Sgt. Kenneth Mansie/flight technican, Sgt. Lawrence Lee/gunner, Sgt. Wilbur Chapman/gunner, Sgt. Corbett Carnegie/gunner, Sgt. Joseph Gatto/gunner. This aircraft was lost on 9 January 1945.
USFG Photo
A U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat of fighting squadron VF-3 from the USS Yorktown (CV-5) lands on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8), circa 14:30 h, 4 June 1942. The plane "3-F-24" was piloted by Ens. Daniel C. Sheedy and had been damaged by Japanese A6M2 Zero fighters over the Japanese fleet. The aircraft landed hard, causing the right landing gear to collapse and the six 12.7 mm machine guns opened fire for two seconds (note the smoke coming from the guns). The bullets killed three Marines, a sailor of VB-8, and the aft 12.7 cm gun control officer, Lt. Royal R. Ingersoll, son of Adm. Royal E. Ingersoll (CINCLANT). Twenty others were wounded.
USFG Photo
B-52 bomber, piloted by Bud Holland about to crash at Fairchild Air Force Base on June 24, 1994, killing all four crew members. The co-pilot's hatch cover, released too late to allow his escape, can be seen below the fin. The photo was taken by a U.S.A.F photographer for an official "fini-flight" ceremony for Colonel Wolff, one of the crew, that was to have followed the flight.
USFG Photo
When a squadron of P-47 Thunderbolts attacked a gunpowder storage depot, the ensuing explosion destroyed one of their aircraft. The grave for the pilot was made by a refugee French couple, with .50-cal. ammunition for a border.
USFG Photo
Clervaux, Belgium (Dec. 15, 2004) - Soldiers, Sailors and World War II veterans remember those killed in action during the “Battle of the Bulge” at a wreath laying ceremony at the American GI Statue honoring the Liberation of Clervaux, Belgium. Events serve to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the German offensive action in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg, where American forces suffered some of its largest casualties during WWII. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Ted Banks
USFG Photo
Photo of U.S. Air Force 1st Lt Karl Richter in front of an Republic F-105D Thunderchief. Richter was killed over Vietnam the 28 July 1967. Official USAF biography: "First Lt. Karl Richter's story is one of remarkable courage and perseverance. An Air Force Academy graduate, Richter flew F-105Ds in the 421st TFS, 388th TFW, Korat RTAFB. He flew aggressively and volunteered for the most hazardous missions. In September 1966, he shot down a MiG-17. As he neared the end of his 100-mission tour, Richter asked for and received permission to fly 100 more missions back-to-back. On his second tour, he was awarded an Air Force Cross for a mission on April 20, 1967, in which he vigorously suppressed heavy AAA and SAM defenses. In July 1967, on his 198th mission, Lt. Richter was hit by enemy fire and ejected over sharp limestone rocks known as karst. He was mortally injured when he hit the rocks."
USFG Photo
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Dec. 7, 2004) - More than 200 distinguished visitors and Pearl Harbor survivors attended the 63rd Commemoration of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The commemoration included the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) rendering honors, more than 40 wreath presentations, a 21-gun salute, and a missing man flyover. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jennifer Bailey.
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This is only a very small reminder of those who gave all.
Robbie
Re: Memorial Day 2010
Mon May 31, 2010 5:54 pm
Thank you for a post like this. I salute all our troops who didn't make it back. War time or peace time. People should be ashamed. I saw this post and read only 80 people opened it up. And not 1 reply. Embarrassing. Thanks Robbie.
Larry
Larry
Re: Memorial Day 2010
Mon May 31, 2010 6:16 pm
Thanks for the thread. To the general population, today is probably just another day off and an excuse to get drunk at the family BBQ, but to me it has much deeper meaning. Today I remember all of our Veterans and ones who did not make it home so I could be here today typing this post. My hats off to everyone that has served - past, present and future. All of you have my heartfelt gratitude.
Re: Memorial Day 2010
Mon May 31, 2010 8:48 pm
I would like to thank Col. Jerry Driscoll former POW, F-105 and F4 pilot as our keynote speaker at the Wayzata Legion post 118 in minnesota, Memorial Ceremonies, He is a member at our post and Proud we our. Rember those that have past before us. Pappy