Spitfire 944 is a short documentary with an Honorable Mention from the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It was highlighted in May as part of a Memorial Day post by the Sundance website.
The film was spurred by the discover of old 16mm videos taken by a now deceased military doctor in 1944. A relative who found the films was able to Read more
Paul M. Sailer
Loden Books, 2011
The Oranges are Sweet is the story of US Army Air Corps Major Don Beerbower, the leading – though seemingly little known – ace of the 9th Air Forces in the European Theater in 1944. The book describes his upbringing in a small Minnesota town to his decision to enlist as an Aviation Cadet in January 1942, even though he probably could have obtained a deferment due to his family business. Beerbower wanted to be a military pilot, and he began his flying career in February 1942.
The early portion of the book traces his journey through the PT-17 Stearman, BT-13 Valiant, AT-6 Texan, and P-36 Hawk until he became an Army pilot and 2nd Lt on 29 September 1942 – the same day he became a husband. He would go on to fly the P-39 Airacobra, bouncing around the western United States as he trained and became an experienced leader, as well as flying in West Coast defense.
He finally arrived in England in November 1943, joining the 353rd Fighter Squadron as the first fighter group to fly P-51B Mustang.
Less than a year later, in July 1944 the 22-year-old Beerbower was Read more
In a fascinating article from earlier this year, Bear Grylls — of “Man vs Wild” fame — has endorsed a waterproof Bible that will be issued to new military recruits:
The New Zealand Defence Force is issuing new recruits with waterproof Bibles, endorsed by TV adventurer Bear Grylls, in a worldwide military first.
The act of presenting military personnel with Bibles Read more
Last weekend three of the four remaining Doolittle Raiders met at the National Museum of the Air Force to participate in their final toast.
A collection of links, information, and the video from the final ceremony can be seen on the official Air Force site here.
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Ed Wuerker, a 74 year old New Jersey Farmer, fulfilled a lifelong dream when he bought a TBM Avenger in 2005.
Wuerker…plunked down $60,000 and bought it. It has taken eight years to restore and to get the FAA approvals for the plane and his own certifications needed to fly it, but Wuerker recently got it airborne for the first time since it was used to fight forest fires in Canada.
The Avenger is the same aircraft President George H.W. Bush flew — and was shot down in — in WWII.
The plane is more functional than Read more
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, repeated in the Stars and Stripes, documents a recent local Honor Flight that had just returned from helping World War II vets see the World War II memorial in Washington, DC. The article highlights Phil Crenshaw, a World War II chaplain’s assistant:
At 91, Crenshaw is the last living chaplain’s assistant from World War II, as determined by Army Sgt. Maj. Stephen Stott. Crenshaw recently served as chaplain on last week’s South Plains Honor Flight.
Crenshaw was called to active duty in 1943. He shipped out to Okinawa to assist Louis Wunneburger, the chaplain there.
The article makes a reference to an earlier Avalanche-Journal article in which Crenshaw recalled a surprise shipment the chaplain received:
One day, a merchant vessel unexpectedly delivered several boxes to Wunneberger. No one knew where they came from or who sent them.
They contained 1,000 New Testaments — all printed in Japanese. Read more
Retired Army Air Corps Capt Bob Houser recently passed away at the age of 92. Airman Magazine had recently documented his story.
Turns out he had a diary from the war that he refused to let his family see until fairly recently. He finally gave them to his daughter, Beth Houser, who turned them into the book, Scootin’ Thunder — the name of his B-24 Liberator.
Houser also wrote for the Read more
US Air Force Colonel (Retired) George “Bud” Day passed away this weekend at the age of 88. Col Day received the Medal of Honor following his 5 and a half year stint as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, where he bunked with now-Senator John McCain much of the time.
Prior to that, Col Day was enlisted as a US Marine in World War II and an Air Force Pilot during the Korean War. He flew the F-84 Thunderjet in Korea and was flying an F-100 Super Sabre when he was shot down in Vietnam. After he was Read more