Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: mason22 on November 04, 2004, 09:32:12 PM

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: mason22 on November 04, 2004, 09:32:12 PM

i lost my grandfather this past sunday. The only history i know or have of his military career is what i've been told from my uncle and father. He never went into details about his service time. He was in the Normandy Invasion, was a waste gunner on B17s until they had a crash landing and he suffered a back injury. He was then stationed at HQ in england for the remainder of his service.

I would like to research as much as i can about his military career....not to mention my uncles and fathers service time.

Do any of you know or can anyone point me in a few directions to get started? My uncle says i can get in touch with the military HQ in Missouri....but that was all the detail he could give.

any help would be greatly appreciated.  

grandpa.

Title: These should get you started in right direction
Post by: rod367th on November 04, 2004, 09:37:02 PM

http://www.b-17combatcrewmen.org/


http://www.gunners.net/




http://www.archives.gov/index.html

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: rod367th on November 04, 2004, 09:44:35 PM

If you can find out which group he was in I can then get you in touch with their group leaders. also Forgot to tell you ask your State reps  either congress or House. There is no charge just will take longer. Ask for his miliatay records.

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: mason22 on November 04, 2004, 09:48:48 PM

thank you!

8th or 9th airforce....is about all i know.

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: Rafe35 on November 04, 2004, 09:58:30 PM

http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records.html

Check this out, Mason.....hope this will lead you the way.

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: ET on November 05, 2004, 04:20:15 AM

His discharge and separation documents should give you his serial number and maybe a clue to his assignments.

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: Naso on November 05, 2004, 04:43:03 AM

My Condolences, Mason.

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: Toad on November 05, 2004, 07:16:46 AM

Mason, be advised there was a big fire in the archives back in the 60's or 70's. A lot of the records were lost.

Give it a shot though.

Title: Researching our past Veterans?
Post by: Nefarious on November 05, 2004, 10:50:19 AM

His Serial Number is the best way to start, Rafe pointed you to the best link, after you find his units he served in, then you go to the Unit Associations and such.

In my experiences, I came across lots of material that aided me in my search when my Grandpa Joe passed, a Combat Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. My other grandpa who is still living, likes to tell me storys of his Army years they mostly involve fun times, He served in 45 and during the occupation of Germany.