Author Topic: Speaking of WWII Family Connections... (Read 217 times)

Stringer · « **on:** June 29, 2006, 09:59:00 PM »

Sandman's post regarding his Grandfather got me to looking at my own family connection to WWII.

I had two Uncles that were pilots in WWII.

In this photo my Uncle is standing 3rd from the right and he was the pilot for this B-24 crew and was part of the 461st BG that flew out of Italy. His plane was hit by flack on a mission late in the war and it caused him to land at an emergency field in Hungary due to engine fire. He actually landed behind Russian lines but made it back to his Squadron about a month later.

Later he flew B-47's for SAC.

My other Uncle flew B-25's and I'm still trying to find pictures that my Dad has of him to scan and post.

Saintaw · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2006, 12:16:08 AM »

Nice pic! Looks very "movie like"!

ujustdied · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2006, 01:35:32 AM »

on the top or the bottom 3rd right. any way my grandfather flew the B26 he did 75 combat missions and 25 missions in the korean war. he was a gunner and shot down 2 190s. he prolly my hero right now.

Reynolds · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2006, 03:23:54 AM »

Ive got a great-uncle (ive no picture though

) Was a B-17 pilot, who was shot down behind enemy lines, and when the Krauts started to attack the crash site (Germans, take no offense at the word "kraut", im german too, and i mean it in its fondest connotations!

) He took one of the big MGs off its mounts, and fought off the onlslaught of enemies for several hours, until somehow he was rescued. I beleive his whole crew survived thanks to him, and he received a bronze star!

rpm · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2006, 04:19:22 AM »

No pics, but my Dad was a boatswain's mate in the Coast Guard during WWII and served in both theaters. His ship was credited with a Uboat on convoy patrol in the Atlantic. He was transfered to the Pacific and was coxswain of a Higgins boat at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Dad never really talked about the battles he was in, just the good times with his buddies in between. I found this story, it's a good read. Sounds like the guy was in very close proximity to Dad. The life and times of Marvin J. Perrett: portrait of a World War II Higgins boat coxswain

Nilsen · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2006, 04:59:52 AM »

Grandfater was torpedoed twice in the atlantic.. one time to many.

1942

http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/belize.html

†
Able Seaman
Erling Olaussen

http://www.warsailors.com/freefleet/index.html

SunKing · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2006, 08:32:56 AM »

I also have family history in WW2.

My grandfather on my fathers side was a radio operator in a goonie bird during the 101st drops. His plane was shotdown but the crew was able to bail out. He hide in a French Farm till the Allies reached him. My uncle still has his ripcord ring to this day. My uncle carried it with him through Nam and the rest of his Air Force career.

MY mother was from Denmark. Her father was part of the "Danish Underground Railroad" helping to get Jews out of Germany and the surrounding countries. My grandfather was eventually captured by the Germans and sent to Auschwitz. The camp was liberated days before his execution. I met him a few times and vividly remeber the crude alphanumeric tatoo below his elbow. He never spoke of his experiences.