Lt. Clarence L. Boretsky

[Sharon Boretsky]

I stumbled on this web site looking for information about my father, a real P51 WWII pilot! His plane, MEG, is pictured on the site. If anyone that uses this site was a member of the 4th Fighter Group or has any stories to share about my dad, I would love to hear them. He passed away 2 years ago. PLease contact me at sboretsky@bellsouth.net. Thank you.

[NitroFish]

Just a quick search on www.littlefriends.co.uk.

[BiGBMAW]

nice pick

love that term.."little friends"

[Rollins]

Sharon, try posting on the board over at http://www.4thfg.org/ .  My squaddies are very knowledgeable about the 4th.  Hope this helps.

[Fencer51]

Your Dad's crew chief was Don Allen.  Mr. Allen was the source of most the nose art in the 334th Fighter Squadron.  He did the Meg on your dad's P-51B shown above and his P-51D, a profile of which was done by Corkyjr of Aces High for our website.



Last I knew Mr. Allen was still alive.  The last address I have for him is from a 1999 article and is listed as

Donald E. Allen
20340 Mercedes Ave.
Rocky River, OH
44116
 
His art can be viewed here..
http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/don-allen.htm

I would suggest you contact Wade Meyers of http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/ as well.  He has the logs of the 334th FG/4th FG that you can purchase.  I believe you dad flew in the Spring and Summer of 1944 and possibly into the Fall.  I will check and see what else I can find to narrow that down.

[Sharon Boretsky]

WOW! You guys are great! Thanks so much for the leads so far, and if you have more information it will be greatly appreciated and treasured.
Best regards,
Sharon Boretsky

[Fencer51]

Wow I can't believe I forgot this...

Amazon.com Link

This book tells the story of your Dad's fighter squadron from its first days overseas til the end of the war.  I haven't had time to look but I bet he is mentioned in it somewhere...

Oh Corky..

[Guppy35]

Two well known color shots of your Dad's 51D.

[Sharon Boretsky]

Thanks, Fencer. I'll get a copy. We were told years ago that there was a book that included Dad, but we couldn't find it! This may be the one.
Love the suggestions!
s

[Sharon Boretsky]

Dear Guppy 35:
Thanks for the additional Pix, that must be Don Allen sitting on Dad's plane.
This has been a great day!!!!! Sharon

[Guppy35]

Sharon,

There are a number of books on the 4th.

This is what i have on my book shelves at home.

"1000 Destroyed"   by Grover Hall

"Escort to Berlin-The 4th Fighter Group in World War II" by Garry Fry and Jeffrey Ethell

"The Debden Warbirds" By Frank Speer (A former 4th pilot)

"The Debden Eagles"  By Garry Fry

"Tulmut in the Clouds" by James Goodson (4th FG pilot)

"Over-Paid, Over-Sexed and Over Here" by James Goodson and Norman Franks

"Donald's Story"  by Sandra Merrill  (Her uncle was a 4th pilot killed on Christmas Day 1944)

"The Look of Eagles"  by John Godfrey (4th pilot who died of ALS in the late 1950s)

"Don S. Gentile" by Mark Spagnuolo  (Biography of a 4th ace)

"Two Man Air Force" by Phillip Kaplan  (about Don Gentile and Johnny Godfrey)



The 4th Fighter Group and it's pilots are a very popular subject with books continuing to come out on their exploits.  Steve Pisano's biography is out or coming out soon.  He was another 4th pilot.

I'd start with the top three books though as the best overall histories on the 4th and thier pilots.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Sharon Boretsky
Dear Guppy 35:
Thanks for the additional Pix, that must be Don Allen sitting on Dad's plane.
This has been a great day!!!!! Sharon

That is Don Allen on the wing.

[Sharon Boretsky]

Thanks, Guppy 35.
I will take your advise on the reading materials. I have an interesting old newspaper artice from his hometown of Milwaukee about a secret mission Dad flew in Russia, which is the only thing he ever mentioned. True to Boretsky character, the bulk of his input is about the food they were served! s

[Fencer51]

Ah, he was on the Russian Shuttle mission then in late June / Early July.

[Old Sport]

(Left to right top row) Lt. Charles W. Harre, Brownstown Ill.; Capt. Thomas R. Bell, Shawboro, N. C.; Lt. Carl G. Payne, San Antonio, Tex.; Lt. Robert S. Voyles, Belle Fourche, S. D.; Lt. Clarence L. Boretsky, Milwaukee, Wisc.; Lt. Kenneth E. Foster Oil City, Pa.; Lt. Andrew C. Lacy, Sullivan, Ohio; FO Alvin L. Hand, Newton, Pa.

(Left to right second row) Lt. Arthur R. Bowers, Tiskilwa Ill.; Lt. William J. Dvorak, Western Springs, Ill.; Lt. Lewis F. Wells, Quitman, Gal; Lt. Jack D. McFadden, Brookville, Pa.; Lt. Paul E. Burnett, Cushing, Okla:; Lt. Calvin H. Beason, Anderson Ind.; Lt. James W. Ayers, Tulsa, Okla.; Lt. Michael J. Kennedv. Philadelphia, Pa.; Capt. William F. Hedrick, Redondo Beach, Calif.; Lt. Timothy J. Cronin, Oconomowoc, Wisc.; Capt. Ben Q. Ezzell (I.O.), Harlingen, Tex.

(Left to right third row) Lt. Raymond A. Dyer, Glassport. Pa.; Capt. Robert H. Kanaga, Harbor Beach, Mich.; Lt. Kenneth G. Helfrecht, Madison, Wisc.; Lt. Joseph E. Gallant. Chelsea, Mass.; Lt. William O. Antonides, Carbondale, Col.; Capt. David W. Howe, East Hickory, Pa.; Lt. Jerome E. Jahnke, Los Angeles. Calif.; Lt. William B. Hoelscher, Indianapolis, Ind.; Lt. Dollald M. Malmsten, Burwell, Nebr.

(Left to right bottom row) Lt. Conrad J. Ingold (I. O.) l\Tew York, N. Y.; Maj. Louis H. Norley, Conrad, Mont.; commanding Capt. Gerald E. Montgomery, Littlefield, Tex.; Lt. Edward J Woznaik, Girard, Ohio.; Lt. Leo C. Garcin, Bay City, Mich.; Lt. Alan Skirball, Columbus, Ohio; Lt. William C. Spencer, LaGrande, Ore.

From the on-line 1000 Destroyed

By the way, this was January 1945 according to the caption.

Best Regards