B-17 Bomber Crew Diary PDF Download

Author: Edward J. Giering
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780897450690
Category : World War, 1939-1945
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Author:
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 1553695232
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description
The following are the combined personal diaries of the last World War II combat flight crew of the Boeing B-17-F Flying Fortress named "Out House Mouse". Each of these diaries has been transcribed from the original or from a first generation copy of the original provided to me by the crewmember or his immediate family. My father was 1Lt. E.J. ("Joe") Harvey, the pilot on this crew and it was the transcription of his diary that began this project. Lt. Harvey's notes were hand-printed in block capital letters and an effort has been made to retain that personality in this transcription. For each combat mission, Lt.Harvey also included carefully cut and folded newspaper accounts, which have also been transcribed and where possible, the source newspaper identified. An effort has been made to duplicate the newsprint type, column size and position as much as possible to retain the look of his original diary. From his diary, I learned the names of the other members of his crew and their hometown at that time. Using that information, I've been able to locate all the members of the crew or their family. Six others have provided me with copies of their diary for which I am most grateful and I have included transcriptions of these diaries in this combined record. Because Lt. Harvey provided an entry for every day, even when not flying, and because his diary covers the greatest period of time, from the first of January through the middle of June 1945, his diary provides the date stamp and serves as the basis for all of the other records. This combined chronological record includes the seven available records of all 9 members of this last combat crew of the "Out House Mouse". Thus, this record includes the diary of 2Lt. Phil Darby, the co-pilot, provided by Mr. Darby; the diary of 2Lt. Marty Raber, the bombardier who actually sent me his original diary and his scrapbook for my use in preparing this book; the diary of 2Lt. Paul Katz, the navigator for the crew, provided by his wife, Joan Katz; the diary of S/Sgt Niel C. Jorgenson, the crew's flight engineer, which has been provided by his daughter, Ms. Susan Lunt who also provided the computer scans of the photographs of the flight crew and their signatures at the beginning of this book. The remaining records are the "Mission Sheets" of the ball turret gunner, S/Sgt George H. Odenwaller and the diary of the tail-gunner S/Sgt Walter M. Limberger. Both of these gentlemen provided me with a hand-written reproduction of their diary. The last record of course is that of Lt. Harvey from which all of this has grown. Following the entries of the pilot and co-pilot, the entries from the other five diaries are arranged in a nose-to-tail order of that crewmember's position aboard the "Out House Mouse". Each of these records is separated from the others by a break line (----) with each contributing member identified. In addition, the individual contributions also use a different type font. A sincere effort has been made to replicate the handwriting and format the diarist used in each of the original records. For example, while most of the diary authors established a format for reporting the specific important facts of their missions and recorded these facts in hand-printed letters, Paul Katz wrote his diary in long-hand using a narrative style and addressed it to his wife, Joan. Consequently, for Lt. Katz, I chose a script font to replicate the transcription of his diary. "Mission days" are preceded by a small pilot's wing prior to the diary date and conclude with the transcription of the newspaper account (or accounts) that Lt. Harvey had so carefully cut, folded, and pasted into his diary. Photographs from these articles have been electronically scanned and reproduced here.

Author: James E. O'Connor
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : American diaries
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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The story of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber crew that flew 35 missions over northern Europe during World War II. The diary covers the period Dec. 25, 1943-Dec. 10, 1944. Final entries on Sept. 20, 1995 and Sept. 15, 1999 celebrate the fiftieth and fifty-fourth anniversaries of the surviving crew members at New Melleray Abbey, Dubuque County, Iowa.

Author: Albert C. Henke
Publisher: Leathers Publishing
ISBN: 1585974188
Category : Airplanes, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Author: Robert "Bob." Armstrong
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fighter plane combat
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Author: Gregory Fremont-Barnes
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782000569
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 66

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Book Description
Gregory Fremont-Barnes examines the lives of the American Bomber Crewmen of the Eighth Air Force, 'The Mighty Eighth', who manned, maintained and repaired the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and the B-24 Liberators that flew from the airfields of England. He highlights the physical and psychological strain placed on these men, who required brute strength to control the aircraft on long bombing missions and extraordinary endurance to fly for hours at 20,000 feet at temperatures below freezing in unpressurised cabins. In addition to this, with Luftwaffe fighters and anti-aircraft fire to contend with, it required incredible skill and some luck to return from a mission unscathed. This book is a fitting tribute to these often uncelebrated heroes who took the war deep into the Third Reich, as well as a fascinating historical account of their experiences.

Author: John J. Briol
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780963790903
Category : Air pilots, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Author: Steve Snyder
Publisher: Sea Breeze Publishing LLC
ISBN: 0986076007
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Book Description
Shot Down is about author Steve Snyder¿s father, Howard Snyder, the ten man crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth, and the unique experiences of each man after their plane was knocked out of the sky by German fighters over the French/Belgium border on February 8, 1944. Some men died. Some were captured and became prisoners of war. Some evaded the Germans for awhile but were betrayed, captured, and shot. Some men evaded capture and were missing in action for seven months. The stories are all different and are all remarkable. Through personal letters, oral and written accounts, military records, and interviews ¿ all from people who took part of the events that happened 70 years ago, the stories of the crewmen come alive. Further enhancing their stories are more than 200 time period photographs of the people who were involved and the places where the events took place. Even before the dramatic battle in the air and the subsequent harrowing events on the ground, the story is informative, insightful, and captivating. Prior to the fateful event on February 8, the book covers the men¿s training, their journey to England, life while stationed there, and numerous combat missions. Everything is centered around the 306th Bomb Group stationed at Thurleigh, England of which the crew of the Susan Ruth was a part. To add background and context, many historical facts about the war are entwined throughout the book so that the reader has a feel for and understanding of what was occurring on a broader scale. Thus, it is a fascinating account about brave individuals, featuring pilot Howard Snyder, set within the compelling events of the war in Europe. You will be given an insider¿s seat to the drama surrounding a remarkable group of young airmen and the courageous Belgian people who risked their lives to help them.

Author: Steve Birdsall
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : B-17 (Airplanes)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Author: Helen Walkup Cairns
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781956793048
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Lt. Edwin "Snake" Walkup's diary, edited by his daughter, Helen Walkup Cairns, provides insight into the life of a B-17 bomber crew during 1944 and thus is a valuable primary source.Vivian Rogers-Price, Ph.D.Research Center DirectorNational Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air ForceFlying mostly B-17 bombers from England during WWII, the U.S. Army Air Force lost more than 33,000 aircraft, including bombers and fighters, with more casualties than the U.S. foot soldiers beneath their wings! Edwin "Snake" Walkup was a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. His detailed diary has become a book. "Daddy's Diary," by his daughter Helen, is a story of those times. The events and emotions between missions provide a unique perspective on a pilot's service during the war, while helping us better understand those who served heroically in the air war over Germany during WWII.Bill FrederickMayor of Orlando, FL 1980-1992 and contributor to the WWII Museum in New Orleans of his Army Jeep Collection