Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: 1pLUs44 on August 12, 2009, 06:57:22 PM
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Well, we all always knew that my sister's grandfather had been a P-51 pilot during World War 2. But that was all, we knew that he was a pilot, and he had been wounded while flying.
My sister actually had a book, called "1000 Destroyed" which was about the 4th Fighter Group, that she had never read, but her grandfather had read a lot.
Well, interested, my dad happened to open it, and find his writing all over the pages, and in the back, we even found a little note that he had written that said a little about his time in the war. It said:
As it is on the back:
"Thats how it was--
I was with this group from April 14th 1944, until 2100 hours June 18th 1944 (got hit).
(something I cannot read) was commanding the 335th Fighter Sqd. Was my outfit.
GMB (initials)"
I would really like to find out more information about him, where would I find it?
I also have his name and what not on the front:
"Property of
Lt. George M. Bowyers (or Bouyers, can't really tell from the writing)
O - 706343
"
I did a google search, but of course, found a lot of gibberish of nothing.
There's also a roster in the back (can't find him just yet, since we don't know what state he is from) and he has marked names of people he may have knew or had been friends with. Here's a few:
Capt. Van E. Chandler
Capt. Jack L Restivo
As of now, that's all I can find.
At the moment, I am only about 1/4 of the way through the book. Very interesting read.
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Thats the original 1946 edition, the later editions didn't have the roster.
My grandfather is in the roster section too.
Cpl. Edward Roman Jr., New Hartford NY.
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Very cool.
I happened to find him in a 335th Roster.
But I can't find out what he did while in combat or anything.
I hopefully will find out something about him being wounded.
And I found you're grandfather's name in the book, about halfway up the page, at the end of the New York Roster.
Edit: I think that the names he marked off were perhaps friends.
Van E. Chandler went on to become an ace, and Jack Restivo was a ground crew. I still haven't found out much, but this is getting very interesting.
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Might want to try here:
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/index.php (http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/index.php)
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Might want to try here:
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/index.php (http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/index.php)
Searching the directory right now.
Since he was only in for 2 months before being hit, would the plane he flew be on here?
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I've searched it inside and out (all different kinds of spelling, and even looked through ALL of the 335FS list of fighters) and I cannot seem to get a hold of the website director, or however you call it.
Is there a certain way to get a hold of him? Or do I just need to type it out.
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From "Escort to Berlin-The 4th FG in World War 2" by Jeff Ethell and Garry Fry
Lt. George M Bowyer To 335th Squadron 6/6/44 Wounded in Action. Not positive on the dates of the wound, but possibly 6/13th, 18th or 25th 1944. Hit by a slug in the upper right arm. Bone taken from his leg to strengthen the damaged right arm in an operation. Did not return to the 4th FG
There was nothing going on the 13th or 25th and the 4th flew a sweep attacking ground targets in France on the 18th where they lost a couple of 51s to ground fire, so I'd guess that's the day it happened.
If that's a 1946 copy, take good care of it. Pricey to purchase one. It's been reprinted a few times but nothing like an original. Great read.
And if he was there from April to June, he was there during prime time for the 4th FG.
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From "Escort to Berlin-The 4th FG in World War 2" by Jeff Ethell and Garry Fry
Lt. George M Bowyer To 335th Squadron 6/6/44 Wounded in Action. Not positive on the dates of the wound, but possibly 6/13th, 18th or 25th 1944. Hit by a slug in the upper right arm. Bone taken from his leg to strengthen the damaged right arm in an operation. Did not return to the 4th FG
There was nothing going on the 13th or 25th and the 4th flew a sweep attacking ground targets in France on the 18th where they lost a couple of 51s to ground fire, so I'd guess that's the day it happened.
If that's a 1946 copy, take good care of it. Pricey to purchase one. It's been reprinted a few times but nothing like an original. Great read.
And if he was there from April to June, he was there during prime time for the 4th FG.
Thanks a LOT Guppy, that was a LOT of help. And he wrote in the book (in pen) that he was hit on the 18th.
Any chance I could find a picture of what plane he flew?
Thanks a lot for the help.
:salute
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Thanks a LOT Guppy, that was a LOT of help. And he wrote in the book (in pen) that he was hit on the 18th.
Any chance I could find a picture of what plane he flew?
Thanks a lot for the help.
:salute
I have to believe his logbook is around somewhere. If he hung on to that book, I'd imagine he'd have kept his logbook. That would be the best bet to tie him to a particular airplane. As a new guy he wouldn't have had his 'own' bird yet but would have flown what was available.
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I have to believe his logbook is around somewhere. If he hung on to that book, I'd imagine he'd have kept his logbook. That would be the best bet to tie him to a particular airplane. As a new guy he wouldn't have had his 'own' bird yet but would have flown what was available.
If you look at the 2 names I listed on the first post, could you perhaps link those 2 names to him? One was a fighter ace, and the other was ground crew. I'm about halfway, any writing I find in the book, I will post up here.
This is very cool, since I've never really been able to find anything out about any other family member.
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Purely a semi-educated guess, but it appears Van Chandler was probably assigned to the 4th FG the same time as Bowyer. Chandler went to the 336th FS, of the 4th FG. They may have been in the same replacement pool or flight school. Chandler was from Pennsylvania.
He's third from the left in the back row. This photo was in Garry Fry's first book on the 4th FG called "Debden Eagles". It's also in "1000 Destroyed". Taken January 1, 1945.
Chandler had 5 air to air and 4 ground claims. He had to bail over Allied lines on one occasion. His P51D according to "Escort to Berlin" was VF-U "Wheezy". They don't list a serial number for it.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Chandler.jpg)
The Little Friends website lists 2 P51s for Chandler
43-24877 P-51B 336 VF-U Chandler Lt. Van E Wheezy
44-14388 P-51D 336 VF-U Chandler Lt. Van E Wheezy
Three photos of Chandler and his 51 on that site as well
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=119&Temp=1364&searchString=
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=118&Temp=1363&searchString=
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=39&Temp=617&searchString=
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I believe there's a 4th TFW historical society also .. trackin back to 4th in WW2.
I have that book also :) ..bought it when I was assigned to 4th TFW long ago.
Those guys knew their stuff .. first Red Flag at Nellis, first engagement, they downed all the Aggressors.
They were in F-4's then.
-GE aka Frank
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Purely a semi-educated guess, but it appears Van Chandler was probably assigned to the 4th FG the same time as Bowyer. Chandler went to the 336th FS, of the 4th FG. They may have been in the same replacement pool or flight school. Chandler was from Pennsylvania.
He's third from the left in the back row. This photo was in Garry Fry's first book on the 4th FG called "Debden Eagles". It's also in "1000 Destroyed". Taken January 1, 1945.
Chandler had 5 air to air and 4 ground claims. He had to bail over Allied lines on one occasion. His P51D according to "Escort to Berlin" was VF-U "Wheezy". They don't list a serial number for it.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Chandler.jpg)
The Little Friends website lists 2 P51s for Chandler
43-24877 P-51B 336 VF-U Chandler Lt. Van E Wheezy
44-14388 P-51D 336 VF-U Chandler Lt. Van E Wheezy
Three photos of Chandler and his 51 on that site as well
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=119&Temp=1364&searchString=
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=118&Temp=1363&searchString=
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=39&Temp=617&searchString=
huh, in the book it says he was from Texas, Chandler. Well, on the roster atleast.
Thank you for taking the time to look this up. I talked to my sister, and she's going to ask her grandmother if she has his log-book.
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I have the operational logs of the 4th FG. I will do a little searching and will send you any information I can find.
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Accordng to the logs he joined the 335th on June 7th along with Glynn and Wadsworth.
Well, on June 10th he flew WD-Z as part of a 12 plane patrol led by Major Goodson (336th FS) as #2 wingman to Major Happel.
On June 11th he flew again in WD-G as part of another 12 plane patrol led by Major Happel this time as #2 to Capt. Reid.
On June 13th he flew again in WD-U as part of another 12 plane patrol led by Colonel Donald "Horseback" Blakeslee himself (all bow, this WAS the man). He was #4 in Blakeslee flight of 4, wingman to Lt. Sibbett.
It appears he flew alot of bombing and straffing missions.
He was hit on the 18th. He is not listed as part of the 12 man patrol but evidently Blakeslee (all bow) led the flight, he too was not listed, and it is possible he was part of Blakeslee's flight, making 16 planes.
Click on Image for larger size.
(http://www.51hangar.net/bowyer/bowyer0618.jpg)
Thats it for June... I will look further.
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I have the operational logs of the 4th FG. I will do a little searching and will send you any information I can find.
I was wondering when you'd show up? Guy talking 4th FG and it takes you a day. You are slipping in your old age Fencer :)
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I was wondering when you'd show up? Guy talking 4th FG and it takes you a day. You are slipping in your old age Fencer :)
Well there was this Team Speak Meeting Thing, this Scenario Thing, and this Real Life Work Thing, and then there was this FSO Thing.. I has been busy.
I checked the 334th and he never flew for them. I am into Mid April with the 336th and no sign of him. He may have flown 4 missions and gotten the golden BB on his 4th.
[edit] Yep, he never flew with the 334th or 336th. He flew 4 missions with the 335th starting after D-Day.
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Do you think he wouldn't have flown into combat his first month? He was in from mid-April till mid-June.
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Do you think he wouldn't have flown into combat his first month? He was in from mid-April till mid-June.
Probably going through group orientation etc, better known as clobber college
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I checked the logs from all three squadrons and there was no mention of his flying any operational sorties. He is first noted as arriving at the 335th FS on June 7th.
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huh, he wrote in the book, he was with the unit from April 14th, 1944, till June 18th, 1944, at 2100 hours. Do you think perhaps he shipped off on April 14th? And then actually got shipped to the 335th on June 7th?
Edit: I looked up the planes, is it possible he flew P-47s during this time?
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No, the 4th FG was entirely equipped with P-51B/Cs or P-51Ds at this time. As best as I can tell he flew 4 missions, all patrols with strafing and bombing. There was no air to air contact on any of his missions.
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No, the 4th FG was entirely equipped with P-51B/Cs or P-51Ds at this time. As best as I can tell he flew 4 missions, all patrols with strafing and bombing. There was no air to air contact on any of his missions.
Huh, I looked up the letters on the side, on the 8th AF website, and I got 2 P-47Ds, and 2 P-51Bs. I'll look a little bit harder. (one 51B, that he flew, I think was captured. Had the right lettering on the side, and the serial # that I looked up.)
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scan the letters?
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scan the letters?
I'll give it a shot, I don't really know how to scan 'em. So, it may take a little bit, so I can figure it out.
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Huh, I looked up the letters on the side, on the 8th AF website, and I got 2 P-47Ds, and 2 P-51Bs. I'll look a little bit harder. (one 51B, that he flew, I think was captured. Had the right lettering on the side, and the serial # that I looked up.)
Aircraft changed code letters almost as much as they changed pilots as time went on. Also the P-47s would of course had the same aircraft codes, there are only 26 letters in the alphabet.. oh and the "bar".
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Aircraft changed code letters almost as much as they changed pilots as time went on. Also the P-47s would of course had the same aircraft codes, there are only 26 letters in the alphabet.. oh and the "bar".
Oh, okay. Thanks a bunch Fencer. My sister is gonna really like the info I got from you.
:salute
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Quoting from "The Debden Warbirds" by Frank E. Speer
"June 18-Col. Blakeslee lead a Fighter Sweep in the area of Combourg where 334 flew top cover while 335 and 336 beat up a horse drawn convoy.
T-2228 Caboose 45, Lt. Bowyer in WD-O landed after we had homed him. He asked for an emergency landing. He was given permission to land immediately. He made a good landing and asked for an ambulance to meet him. He taxied up by the watch office and an ambulance met him. The pilot was helped out of the plane as he had a bullet wound in the arm. The duty MO and another ambulance were sent up immediately."
Frank Speer was a pilot with the 4th and he compiled his information from the squadron diaries of the 334, 335 and 336th FS He also used the Debden Tower diary and combat reports. I don't know where the quote is from but would guess it's from the Debden Tower diary.
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Thanks a bunch. Each different account puts in a little bit more detail into it.
:salute
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Well done gents!