|
|
|
|
|
|
"The Air War" Blog Excerpts...
David Arnett
|
After 89 days of combat service, the 492nd Bomb Group was officially disbanded, due in part to the horrific casualties suffered. August 10th is the 67th anniversary of this sad day, a good time to reflect on the sacrifices they made.
|
0
|
Posted Tue, Aug 9, 2011
by David Arnett
|
Paul Arnett
|
The 492nd attacked the oil refineries at Politz for the second time 67 years ago today with the most horrific losses of their existence. Today I'm remembering Sgt Miguel Reyes, a gunner on the Faucher Crew R-12. He was killed that day, but his body was never recovered.
|
2
|
Posted Mon, Jun 20, 2011
by Paul Arnett
|
Rick Centore
|
James S. Brown was killed in action in the skies over Europe but his family knew little about the details of his service. I'm honored to have been able to help them out.
|
1
|
Posted Wed, May 4, 2011
by Rick Centore
|
Rick Centore
|
In 2002, my wife Lynne, my son Mike and I took the ride of a lifetime on a Collings Foundation B-24 Liberator! The experience is still fresh enough in our minds to generate a rush of excitement to this day.
|
2
|
Posted Sun, Feb 6, 2011
by Rick Centore
|
Rick Centore
|
I was on this website reading the B-24J 44-40131 aircraft page. I clicked on "Wider view of above photo" and a second photo also appeared, which was taken on Mission 54 to Erfurt. A B-24 is seen at a lower altitude with its number one engine feathered. The caption states, "We strongly suspect, but cannot confirm that the following photo is also of B-24J 44-40131." Time to do a little detective work.
|
1
|
Posted Sun, Jan 16, 2011
by Rick Centore
|
Rick Centore
|
The Willow Run assembly plant exemplified the industrial power of the United States in World War II.
|
0
|
Posted Tue, Jan 11, 2011
by Rick Centore
|
Rick Centore
|
Last week an article in the Valley Avocate, a local Northampton, Massachusetts publication brought out something that caught my attention and had me saying, "Wow, what a small world!"
|
1
|
Posted Mon, Nov 22, 2010
by Rick Centore
|
Paul Arnett
|
We all witnessed the heroic rescue of the 33 trapped miners in Chile on television. I was totally impressed with the leadership, top to bottom. Especially 2,000 feet at the bottom with the actions of Luis Urzua, the mine shift supervisor. He reminds me of another unsung hero who similarly rose heroicly to the occasion at Stalag Luft III.
|
0
|
Posted Thu, Oct 14, 2010
by Paul Arnett
|
Rick Centore
|
While doing my research for my book "Deadly Decision," I had been trying to find information on Arthur St. Pierre, one of the gunners on my Dad's crew (Pete Val Preda, pilot, Crew 601). Arthur and my Dad were good friends.
|
4
|
Posted Wed, Aug 25, 2010
by Rick Centore
|
Paul Arnett
|
The mission to Bernburg was another bad day for the 492nd resulting in the loss of 12 planes. Sixty-seven men were killed and fifty-two more became POWs. There are a lot of men for us to remember. Today I'm giving extra thought to Billy Sheely, tail gunner on the Smiley Crew 910.
|
4
|
Posted Wed, Jul 7, 2010
by Paul Arnett
|
David Arnett
|
Here's a poetic tribute to Peter Val Preda (pilot, Val Preda Crew 601) sent to us by Peter Mills.
|
0
|
Posted Tue, Jul 6, 2010
by David Arnett
|
Paul Arnett
|
The second Politz mission resulted in the loss of 14 planes on which 76 men were killed and 63 more became POWs. There are a lot of men to remember. Today I'm thinking of Ernest Booth, the engineer on the Abbott Crew 609. His entire crew was killed over the Baltic Sea near Rugden Island.
|
0
|
Posted Sun, Jun 20, 2010
by Paul Arnett
|
Paul Arnett
|
Without Allied superiority of the air and sea, D-Day would not have succeeded. Thousands of airmen and sailors gave their lives during the five years leading up to June 6, 1944, which was the Army's turn to take the fight to the enemy. And that they did!
|
0
|
Posted Sun, Jun 6, 2010
by Paul Arnett
|
Paul Arnett
|
According to top German commanders, 12 May 1944 was the turning point of the war.
|
1
|
Posted Wed, May 12, 2010
by Paul Arnett
|
Paul Arnett
|
Far too often, co-pilots don't get the credit they deserve. When something heroic happens up in the cockpit the pilot becomes the hero while the co-pilot is rarely mentioned.
|
5
|
Posted Mon, May 3, 2010
by Paul Arnett
|
"The Air War" Blog Excerpts...
|
|
|
|
|
|