Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Mr. Horowitz
Another thanks to you for your service! What was the name (nose art), squadron code, and serial number of your plane? Was it OD or natural metal?
Thanks again,
Chris

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Tom

kills were ME109 and FW190

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

COTS

I never saw Spits, and P51s were not in our theater yet. Our escorts were P38s and P47s when we had escorts

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

Jules

Welcome on board ! I am delighted to see you on this forum, too ! - Your first-hand information you already shared on the Flypast Forum is invaluable and highly appreciated. Looking forward to reading your posts.

Best regards from Switzerland
Martin Kyburz / Swiss Mustangs

Tom

I only recall 2 kills on a mission to Weiner Neustadt, Nov 1 ,1943.

You may be interested in this account!!!
A mission that my group earned a unit Presidentiol citation took place on July 5. 1943, pre invasion of Sicily.

28 planes of the 99th BG went to bomb an airfield at Gerbini, Sicily. They destroyed 20 planes on the ground, they were attacked by over 100 enemy fighters. They were credited with shooting down 49 fighters, with many others damaged. My sqdn lost 3 of 6 aircraft (50%). A waist gunner in one the 3 remaining planes was credited with shooting down 7 enemy planes. About 2 weeks later there was a ceremony at our base, where 2 Generals presented him with a DSC medal, promoted him to 2nd Lt. and transferred him out of the group. He was one of the Air forces ace's

I did not fly on that mission.

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

First of all, thank you for your service to our country.

I am interested in the old Army Air Fields, especially in Texas. Where did you receive your basic and advanced pilot training?

Hiya Mr. H!

I'll join the long line of folks who would like to thank you and your pals for your service to our country!


I'd like to ask a few things...

What specific ship, if any, was assigned to you and your crew; what was the name and how often did you actually fly it?

Did your group and/or squadron have any other types of aircraft which were used as hacks or for utility or 'other' purposes?

You mentioned that your escort, when present, usually consisted of P-38s and P-47s... did you ever see any P-40s?

What did you do to pass the time when not flying?

This one isn't necessarily related to the war... did you have favorite radio show?


Looking forward to your response!


Fade to Black...

[quote="rkski"]First of all, thank you for your service to our country.

I am interested in the old Army Air Fields, especially in Texas. Where did you receive your basic and advanced pilot training?[/quote]

rkski
My basic training was at Shaw fld, Sumpter,S.C. and my advanced was at Moody fld, Valdosta,GA'

I took Nav training at Hondo,TX and I also flew out of Randolf or Kelly fld in AT6, in order to get my 4 hours flight time, to get flight pay, while I was in Nav school.

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

Black Wolf,

I got a brand new plane at Salina, KS #393 which we names LUCKY LADY. we flew via S.America to N.Africa. AfteI joined the 348th Sqdn. I flew 393 about 10 times. During my 50 flights I flew in 13 different planes

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

Black Hawk
When we moved to Italy there were Wimpy Wellington planes on the other side of the field. They flew night missions by Brits

I never saw P40s in Europe

Non Op time I would go into towm or read, play cards, somehow we kept busy

On the radio we would listen to Axis Sally, great music during the big band era, also telling where our next mission would be, and how we would be bombed by German planes. Sha would single out different units

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

[quote="tom d. friedman"]do you know or remember what all of your gunner's 6 combat kills were?? best, tom[/quote]

The only kill that I remember was 1 that my ball gunner got over Weiner Neustadt in Nov 1943. This was the most important target after Ploesti, in the underbelly of Europe

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

[quote="Tom Crawford"]First of all, thankyou for you service, those were bleak days, especially in 43. I notice by researching your previous postings, you were based in Tunis. Did you have anything to do with running Rommell out of North Africa or did you arrive afterwards? In any event your bomb
group probably supported the allied invasion of Sicily and then the landings in Italy. Did your group get involved in the Romanian oil refinery raids, Phoenesti(?) or was that strickly B-24's? Take a minute and tell us all a story, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
Tom[/quote]



A NO CREDIT MISSION
Group got word of a meeting of some German Generals. 6 planes from my sqdn were to make a sneak attack. We flew on the deck over water, when close to the target, we were to climb to 6oooft and lay our eggs. Nearing the target area, one of my engine caught fire. I saw the other planes distancing themselves away from me, thinking that I would blow up,I turned and headed for home, a crew member callled and asked if they should bail out. I told them that it would be futile, because we were too low, also we were in enemy waters. The only thing that they could do was to pray. Apparantly the prayers were heard by the big boy up above, because the fire went out. After landing I saw thar the rear stabilizer was burned pretty badly.

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

Sir, I repeat many of the previous lads respect. You did an amazing job in a very bad environment. My father flew P-47's in CBI with the 60th FS of the 33rd FG but never saw what you went through.

My question regards the amount of ammunition you were able to carry. TV and movies glorify your defenses with what seems like hours of machine gun time. I think that it was minutes at best for each gunner, which scares me even more as once that was gone, you were totally defenseless. Can you shed some light on the real situation?

Thank you again. I hope that this becomes a very popular and long discussion.

Do you have a website where some of your photos and memoribilia can be seen? Your history definitely needs to be captured and preserved for all generations to come. I am sorry that my father is gone before I could document his. I now work off his scrapbooks and letters home but would have really enjoyed the first person approach to fill in the many gaps.

Kindest Regards and Thank You!

Scott Dennison

That's Dad in India in the small picture.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

[quote="sdennison"]Sir, I repeat many of the previous lads respect. You did an amazing job in a very bad environment. My father flew P-47's in CBI with the 60th FS of the 33rd FG but never saw what you went through.

My question regards the amount of ammunition you were able to carry. TV and movies glorify your defenses with what seems like hours of machine gun time. I think that it was minutes at best for each gunner, which scares me even more as once that was gone, you were totally defenseless. Can you shed some light on the real situation?

Thank you again. I hope that this becomes a very popular and long discussion.

Do you have a website where some of your photos and memoribilia can be seen? Your history definitely needs to be captured and preserved for all generations to come. I am sorry that my father is gone before I could document his. I now work off his scrapbooks and letters home but would have really enjoyed the first person approach to fill in the many gaps.

Kindest Regards and Thank You!

Scott Dennison

That's Dad in India in the small picture.[/quote]

Scott, I know that on 1 mission my crew used 6000 rds of 50 cal. I don't know what the maximum amount was. I know that the gunners had to fire in bursts, because prolonged firing would burn out the barrel, some gunners carried spares. I never fired a 50 cal machine gun.

I don't know how to put pictures on the website, but if you send me your e-mail address, I have a few pictures that I can get to you. my address is

jhor9@comcast.net

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944

Scott,
Thanx for the info re the zoom site. I am on it , when I have more time I will play with it

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WW2 B17 pilot 99th B.G. N.Africa- Italy 12-15th A.F , 50 combat sorties, from July 1943 to Feb 1944