After finishing gunnery school at Tyndall Fld. In Florida, We reported to Westover Fld. Mass. And this is where we formed our crew. Our pilot was a former guard on the Ohio State football team. We then went to Chatham Fld. At Sav. Ga. For phase training which consisted of camera gunner flts.—tow target firing---formation flying--- all these good things. The first time we had a nite flt. Was to drop dummy bombs on the bombing range. We started our bomb run and the bombider was flying the plane with the bomb sight and all at once he yelled To the pilot take the plane---turn left, turn left nooooo J---turn right now!!!Dave whipped that 24 on it’s right wing in a turning dive and we just missed another B-24 coming in on the same range the wrong way!!!Now needless to say I never enjoyed flying at nite after this. I said to myself this is happening here in the states what the hell is it going to be like when we get overseas.

We finished phase training and went up to Mitchell Fld. Where they gave us a new B-24. We left there and opened up our orders and destination was to the 8th AF via North Atlantic . We were to land at either N.H. Bgr. Or P.I.. before heading to Goose Bay Lab. Now being from P.I. I hoped we would land there, but the way the army works we landed in N.H. and was there for 5 days . We flew right over my home on the way to Goose. After landingat Goose we were taxing on ice and in trying to make a turn slid into a B-17 taking the nose out of it, and crumpled our wing tip. They had to board up the nose of the 17 and fly it back to the states and by god they had a wing tip at Goose and replaced ours. I don’t know if the 17 crew was glad to be going back or ready to kill us. We then flew to Iceland and weathered in there for almost a week before going to Meeks Fld. They took the 24 away from us and we were transported to the 453rd BG at Old Buckingham Eng.

I am researching the US 7th Army campaign in Sicily July/August 1943. Please see my post under 7th Army.

Colin.

For the past two and a half years I have been researching Operation Husky the campaign to capture the island of Sicily from the Axis. I have so far concentrated on the British and Commonwealth 8th Army and the Canadian 1st Division and their actions in eastern Sicily. I have visited Sicily over the last two summers, going to landing and battle sites and war cemeterys.

I return to Sicily in May 2005 and for the second week of my stay will be tracing the path west of the US 7th Army from Agrigento via Corleone to Palemo and then along the northern coast.

I would like to hear from 7th Army veterans, families and friends with any memories etc. on this action.

Colin.

Hi:

While watching a program on TV the other day, I heard about this site. It's called the Wounded Warriors Project. This is their mission:

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded on the principle that veterans are our nation's greatest citizens. The Project seeks to assist those men and women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world. Many of the injuries are traumatic amputations, gunshot wounds, burns and blast injuries that will retire these brave warriors from military service. These wounded soldiers will return to civilian life minus one or more limbs, or with serious wounds or disfiguring scars, and will face greater challenges today obtaining assistance and finding opportunities that would enable them to provide for themselves and their families.

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded to give a voice to this new generation of veterans facing unique issues and problems. The Project fills the vital need for a coordinated, united effort to enable wounded veterans to aid and assist each other and to readjust to civilian life.

Please give them a moment of your time. Thanks!

Guess what? My husband was going through the boxes that we brought home when we closed on my house this month and lo and behold while rummaging through an old button tin, he found a real treasure. I heard, "Honey, you aren't going to believe what I found!" And there in this tin that almost got tossed, were my dad's tags. Oh I was dancing. Tell me that the gods haven't been shining down on my lately. I think I have several guardian angels.

What were the odds????

Still dancing in Alger