uniforms and dads wings

[jarocki]

The man third from left was great grand father (I think), need help in identifying the uniform and era. The wings are SDS from WWII, the number is squadron, he flew B-21? In the Pacific.

 

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[jarocki]

OK, makes sense, I guess the were available at the PX and dad liked them and bought them.

 

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[pippinwhitepaws]

many pilots trained in the southwest...since navagitation was an issue...most communities had the first letter of their town name placed upon a high point near the community...so the men could find their way to an emergency field if necessary
willams AFB in mesa trained crewmen.
davis monthan AFB, tucson trained crewmen.
luke AFB outside of phoenix trained crewmen.
perhaps some came out of yuma also...mostly marine or navy crew.
all the bases but williams are still in operation.

 

[Tnmountains]

I am confused with this thread.

The 15th air force was stationed in Italy during World War TWO, and was responsible for the infamous bombing of Ploesti. They flew mostly B-24 Liberators.

The photograph is much earlier, and while I do NOT know uniforms, my hunch and guess is that they are German or Austrian, circa World War ONE. Check out the officer(?) hats neatly stacked on the floor in front of the table.

Yep that was on my Dads mission list with the 8th air corp. 33 missions

 

[clovis97]

Don't know, it is the only thing I ever found that had an insignia on it. I just assumed they were his. He did some training in AZ before heading over, my understanding AZ was his last place stateside.

You should try to obtain your father's service record through the National Archives. I've never been through the process, but I am told that once you obtain the records, you will know when and where he was throughout the war. You will also learn what rank he held, and what group he was affiliated with, and any transfers he might have had.

These records will also show what medals and citations he earned.

 

[jarocki]

Dad was b-26, got sick in AZ, was assigned to a different squadron. Bought wings before he got sick, ended up going to Pacific instead of Europe.

 

[jarocki]

Just talked to dad and that's what he sort of remembers, dad is 87 and sometimes you can good info, other days, forger it.

 

[clovis97]

Just talked to dad and that's what he sort of remembers, dad is 87 and sometimes you can good info, other days, forger it.

You should focus on getting your dad's story down on paper, or even recording it. You'll thank yourself someday.

My great grandmother wrote all of her stories down while she was in her oldest days. They are a family treasure for us.

 

[jarocki]

I have tried to get dads stories, but like must WWII vets, he just didn't talk about it. They don't view themselves as special, but they were ordinary guys that did an exceptional thing, which makes them exceptional. They left not knowing when they would be back. I myself was military, and the VA sent me to school and I earned a BA in History. With all that I know, getting info from Dad was difficult at best, and now he has a 5 minute memory and the past is hazy. To this day, I still do not know what islands he flew from.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

if you can find out the machine he flew in..one can narrow the spot down...
not all those islands were large enough for anything over a medium bomber..

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_B-26_Pacific.html

 

[jarocki]

He told me yesterday he was in the B-26.

 

[jarocki]

However, according to the articles, it might have been the 25. He was in the tail end of the war and he states he bombed japan, so I just don't know now.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

there it is then...short period of use...
do you have any photographs? tail numbers can also be traced...

 

[jarocki]

I have asked and he stated he could not remember logo. Plausible, but unlikely, one would remember who one was with. He claims he doesn't recall squadron.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

well..the pacific was no picknick...
i'd fail to remember also...probably spent his entire life trying not to remember...lots of those fields were operational, while the Japanese were assaulting the perimeter.


New Guinea, at Guadalcanal, Midway

 

[jarocki]

Not to mention a few others, knowing what I do now about the war in the pacific, I do not doubt your last statement.

 

[jarocki]

Also according to dad, the man in the picture, 3rd from left was my great uncle and yes was in the German military during WWI.