I don't know if this is true but it is said to be. A 4-engine bomber base at Sebring Florida men were sitting around talking, when the radio started receiving a call saying "coming in on one engine, coming in on one engine". The field got ready for the plane, soon in comes a plane -- one engine. It was a fighter – a one-engine plane. Now if this were true, the commandant of the field would have to wait until the 1-engine plane pilot got out and took his flight clothes off and make sure the pilot did not out-rank him. We had some high-ranking pilots in WW2

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Posted

U.S. Military officer and en-listed men Rank

I had this problem twice in Air Cadet and Army Infantry

1--As a cadet I was flying Stearman and Texan going for the gold, that is wings and commision BANG WHAM they found they had too many pilots. They said I could go to any school I wanted. I looked down the list, not at the job but at the location that was close-est to to my home town that had the most beautiful girl in thr world MY WIFE.. The job was teletype but one dreary night they said pack up your clothes YOU are going to the Infantry.They needed cannon fodder in front lines.

2--As Infantry man in occupation of Taegu,Korea, our Sergeant was sent home for dis-charge. I was picked to take his place. The first day our company was out picking up butts and cleaning area. They told me to see that it was done then BANG WHAM I was told they had too many Sergeant and that is the story of life.

cadetat6

Hi:

If anyone read the latest post in "New Additions" dated 10-11-04, then you know about the CIB and the Bronze Star Medal. Anyway, in order to get his medals replaced and to apply for the Bronze Star, I have to send in a copy of his discharge papers. Well, that's no problem. But for some reason, my dad's CIB wasn't on his discharge papers. I don't know why. I have the CIB in my possession and know he received it in the Ardennes/Alsace Campaign. Can anyone give me some advice and info on this? Greatly appreciated.

I have his:

• European Theatre Ribbon
• American Theatre Ribbon
• Good Conduct Medal
• CIB
• Victory Medal
• Expert Sniper Badge (Rifle and Bayonet)

• Good Conduct Medal
• European Theatre Ribbon
• Victory Medal

Additional. Just discussing the dates on the phone with Paul T, and it appears that the Army may have screwed up on the arrival/departure dates too. For instance, they have him leaving in 21 April 43 for North Africa, but not arriving until 2 Sep 43. Just some inconsistencies like this leave me wondering.

A truly tragic event occurred here in Michigan today. There was a devastating fire at the Yankee Airforce Museum. You can read more about it here. How very, very sad for all of us.

Yankee Airforce Musuem Fire

Addendum 10-22-04...

I should have added a very important fact the other day when I initially posted this. My mother and my husband's mother worked at the Willow Run plant building bombers during the war. Hail, hail to Rosie and her riveters. The great woman who held down the home front.

As some of you may know, one of my new friends, an historian, has lent me the book that I have been feverishly searching for, Overseas with the 540th Engineers. He is giving me the opportunity to scan and copy all the pages, so at least I will have a copy on the ol' computer. This will enable me upload the pages to our site. They are hundreds of photos and text to go along with them.

The book covers the 540th E-Men from their first steps on the shores of North Africa to their last days in Germany in 1945. It's a real treasure and hopefully someday I will find a copy for my collection. There are great pics of bridges being built, mines being diffused, roads being improved, landings in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Southern France, etc. There are also photos of each platoon and much, much more.

Hopefully I will be able to share these with you very soon. It is quite an undertaking to copy an entire book and then crop and improve each image before I upload them to the web, so please be patient. It will be worth the wait.