My Dad Was A Hero, WWII Options

[EdwardBlume]

PS - thanks to everyone who serve and served. Thanks also to those who have fathers / grandfathers / family in the military - its very cool to know there are others out there with a similar family history.

[Tom_T]

I have no idea how to tastefully create some art on the 914. I have a spare top and perhaps that can be used to make something cool.

How does vinyl work?

Rob, IMHO I'd avoid the vinyl on the bodywork or top & stick with the glass application of smaller decals - so you won't mess up the paint on a later removal, & since you're doing Dad's 914 as a stocker.

The vinyl is just like the vinyl racing numbers you've used - same stuff, but after working to remove the vinyl racing decals off of the ex-racer 74 parts donor shell I have, it's a PITA even with a heat gun & still leaves residue & can nick the paint. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Between Gwen's post 34 pic in color & her #36 with the full noes art, you should be able to create the entire artwork in color using the #36 one to fill in the bottom, then silkscreen or whatever process they use to print the full color logo onto white (white will probably give brighter & more vibrant colors), silver (like the fuselage), or clear vinyl.

[Spoke]

Fantastic way to honor your father.

My hat's off to all who served in the military. I have extreme admiration and awe for those who fought for our country.

Because of all who served, I have been able to live a life of peace. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to shoot people and be shot at. Thank you to all who have served our country.

My dad was also a WWII vet. He spent Dec 1944 in Bastogne surrounded by the enemy. He too never talked about the war. My mom and dad would decorate the house very nicely every Christmas. I learned after his passing from my sister that he swore if he ever got out of Bastogne alive, he would cherish each and every Christmas. And he did.

[GTeener]

I love history and historical research.

Here is some more interesting info about the "Four Fan Fanny" (aka B-24 L 44-41669)

5th BG B-24 L 44-41669, taken at Samar, Philippines. The background with the many coconut trees is the same as a photo taken at Samar. The triangle on the 'Fat Cat Fleet ' B-25D in the background was the command aircraft for Al James, CO of the group. The Fat Cat Fleet included 4 C-47s, one for each squadron, one B-25 and one A-24 for local proficiency flights. The triangle was for the 23rd BS. The two photos of the A-24 don't show a marking on the tail. Info from The Bomber Barons, by Frederick Johnson.
http://www.vpnavy.org/misc_14/vr7history_07_05jun2008.jpg

Also: http://www.b24bestweb.com/fourfanfanny2.htm

Seems it was part of the 31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS) in the 5th Bomber Group (5th BG) of the 13th Air Force (13 AF) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
http://31stbombers.org
http://www.b24bestweb.com/fourfanfanny2.htm

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY: THE 31ST BOMB SQUADRON 1917-1945
http://31stbombers.org/brief_history.htm

Also found some patches that may correlate. The skull & bones is for the 31st BS. The B B character is for the 5th BG "Bomber Barons" & I love the Daffy Duck insignia for:
AAF School, Navigator
Navigator School
Selman Field, Monroe, LA
..but don't know if that's where your dad trained.

[GTeener]

More about the 13th AF here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Air_Force

[EdwardBlume]

Wow... Gwen, you rock! I've never seen the "palm tree" picture before... THANK YOU!

[Tom_T]

Wow... Gwen, you rock! I've never seen the "palm tree" picture before... THANK YOU!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Gwen's got both a knack & love for it,for sure!

Being old school Rob, your Dad's story Has me digging out all my books on WWII Bombers, etc. & reading avidly, to the detriment of sleep! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Richard Casto]

It's always interesting to find out years later who had served in WWII and how they had kept it low key.

My next door neighbor (who passed away years ago) was a battlefield doctor during the Battle of the Bulge. I didn't know that until I was talking to his son at my own fathers funeral. My junior high school janitor (who was a distant relative) was disabled and we never knew why. Turns out he had been in a glider as part D-Day. He was so badly injured during landing that he was put in the "dead" pile for awhile before someone realized he wasn't dead. My mothers uncle was a P-51 pilot, but was shot down and killed (MIA) while strafing a German supply train.

[GTeener]

I love this kind of historical detective work.
Wonder if there are decent paying careers in Genealogy?

[Tom_T]

I love this kind of historical detective work.
Wonder if there are decent paying careers in Genealogy?

Gwen, I don't know if they're great paying - esp. at the CA cost of living, but there are professional genealogists out there. Look at the genealogy websites - esp. at the free volunteer one run by the locals in each state/county (http://usgenweb.org/).

Some genealogy is far more difficult than others, due to the lack of old records, e.g.: for Afro-Americans & Indians/Native Americans where records just weren't kept early on. I've had a heck of a time with my Cherokee/Seneca side of the family because they just didn't keep good records, didn't care about them for Indians back in the early 1800's & before, & some key courthouses burned down. Too time consuming to pursue until I retire & have more time to travel back east & research primary source records & talk to family more widely.

[GTeener]

I love this kind of historical detective work.
Wonder if there are decent paying careers in Genealogy?

Gwen, I don't know if they're great paying - esp. at the CA cost of living, but there are professional genealogists out there. Look at the genealogy websites - esp. at the free volunteer one run by the locals in each state/county (http://usgenweb.org/).

Some genealogy is far more difficult than others, due to the lack of old records, e.g.: for Afro-Americans & Indians/Native Americans where records just weren't kept early on. I've had a heck of a time with my Cherokee/Seneca side of the family because they just didn't keep good records, didn't care about them for Indians back in the early 1800's & before, & some key courthouses burned down. Too time consuming to pursue until I retire & have more time to travel back east & research primary source records & talk to family more widely.

Seems like there are a lot of resources out there. Just another hobby/fascination...

[GTeener]

Wow... Gwen, you rock! I've never seen the "palm tree" picture before... THANK YOU!

5th BG B-24 L 44-41669, taken at Samar, Philippines

I'm wondering if this is the end of the line for poor "Four Fan Fanny"? I found a serial number web page and there was a big hole between 41666 thru 41672 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Tom_T]

Wow... Gwen, you rock! I've never seen the "palm tree" picture before... THANK YOU!

5th BG B-24 L 44-41669, taken at Samar, Philippines

I'm wondering if this is the end of the line for poor "Four Fan Fanny"? I found a serial number web page and there was a big hole between 41666 thru 41672 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Gwen - some records were lost, or are in archives not yet put into on-line sources. Fanny could've also been rotated home or to the rear & not seen service through the end of the war, or lost in action with a crew after Rob's Dad's crew.

Also, the Naval or Air Corps/Air Force Bureau airframe nos. track a specific aircraft (like a VIN), whereas aircrews have been known to transfer their old nose art to their new aircraft assigned, in some cases to multiple aircraft - rather than starting a new nose art for a new ship. It was up the the pilot/captain &/or entire aircrew (usually the latter on multi-man crew bombers & reccon, etc. aircraft). Sometimes the new ship would get a II or III etc. attached to it.

Several of the top WWII AAF fighter aces had multiple ships with the same name/nose art & often I (implied), II, III, IV, etc. Why primarily the top aces - they were the ones who survived longest, & often after having one or more ships shot up so badly that they were scrapped & given replacement ships.

BTW - from the folks who do the genealogy professionally whom I've met, they make decent livings full time (sometimes part time in the case of retirees), but I wouldn't think it compares to the high tech Silly-cone Valley fat pay! That's all I meant by that, so it could be a full timer or a part time 2nd or retirement job too.

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
///////

[EdwardBlume]

My Dad finished WWII and came home November 1945. Its my understanding that hey did NOT fly FFF home but a different plane.

Gwen, any chance you could help me try and get my Dad's military record? From what I know, he enlisted sometime between 1935 - 1937, was in WWII, the Korean War, retired from Vandenburg AFB, and worked in the Post Office.

As next of kin, I can request his information, but the response I got when I tried was that his official record was destroyed in a fire.

[EdwardBlume]

Wow... Gwen, you rock! I've never seen the "palm tree" picture before... THANK YOU!

5th BG B-24 L 44-41669, taken at Samar, Philippines

I'm wondering if this is the end of the line for poor "Four Fan Fanny"? I found a serial number web page and there was a big hole between 41666 thru 41672 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

They flew home from the Philippines through Hickam Field (Hawaii) and then CA.

What is "41666 thru 41672"?

[Tom_T]

What is "41666 thru 41672"?

Rob she's referencing a list of the B-24 "Airframe Bureau Numbers," on which the series above that included your Dad's FFF was missing. Think of it as a list of VINs for the aircraft.

Great research work on Gwens' part I must say!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Tom_T]

My Dad finished WWII and came home November 1945. Its my understanding that hey did NOT fly FFF home but a different plane.

Gwen, any chance you could help me try and get my Dad's military record? From what I know, he enlisted sometime between 1935 - 1937, was in WWII, the Korean War, retired from Vandenburg AFB, and worked in the Post Office.

As next of kin, I can request his information, but the response I got when I tried was that his official record was destroyed in a fire.

Rob - if she's willing, PM or email her your Dad's dog tag nos. (or SSN), units in which he served over the years, etc., & any docs which you have on him, but keep those private between you two, not here in this post.

She may be able to find more unit based info like what she's found on FFF, even if his overall service records were destroyed in a fire. You might also try accessing military records by going into the National Archives in San Bruno up by you, since their intranet computers are tied in nationally & IIRC they have more info that way than via internet general access. However, fully accessible digital records are a long way off.

Another source is the Mormon records/genealogy archives in SLC - accessible online, as well as the GenWeb.com (free), Ancestry.com & other pay genealogy websites which also have/search military records, as well as genealogical family trees.

Also if he was in the National Guard in CA, they have records at their HQ their by SLO - IIRC from an HS classmate of mine in the higher-ups there told me a while back.

Happy Hunting Bud! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
.. well - researching! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[GTeener]

They flew home from the Philippines through Hickam Field (Hawaii) and then CA.

What is "41666 thru 41672"?

Rob,
I was curious to find out what happened to the plane Four Fan Fanny.
From what I can tell, it was part of the Consolidated (Mfg co) production group model identifier B-24L-15-CO Liberator serial number range 44-41649 thru 44-41748 .

According to this website that I found today: http://www.doug-and-dusty.id.au/liberator.htm the remaining Liberators in that production group were given to the RAAF; but, 44-41669 is not on the inventory list, so it must have been lost before then (?) or for some other reason not included.

The definitive Liberators for RAAF service were the B-24J, L, and M versions, the first of which was delivered in May of 1944. 287 Liberators were ultimately taken on charge by the RAAF, with 168 of them being allocated under the terms of Lend-Lease. They were assigned the serial number A72-31/198 and A72-300/405. Some of these were delivered to No 7 OTU for training, but most of the others were delivered to operational units for combat.

44-41649/41748 Consolidated B-24L-15-CO Liberator
41653 to RAAF as A72-96 - soc 12-52.
41654 to RAAF as A72-101 - soc 12-52.
41656 to RAAF as A72-110 - soc 12-52.
41657 to RAAF as A72-124 - w/o in crash 2-45.
41658 to RAAF as A72-139 - sold 6-50.
41663/41664 to RAAF as A72-111/112
A72-111 soc 12-52.
A72-112 w/o in crash 2-45.
41665 to RAAF as A72-140 - soc 12-52
41666 to RAAF as A72-121 - soc 12-52.
41677 to RAAF as A72-141 - soc 12-52.
41682 to RAAF as A72-142 - soc 12-52.

[GTeener]

They flew home from the Philippines through Hickam Field (Hawaii) and then CA.

What is "41666 thru 41672"?

Rob,
I was curious to find out what happened to the plane Four Fan Fanny.
From what I can tell, it was part of the Consolidated (Mfg co) production group model identifier B-24L-15-CO Liberator serial number range 44-41649 thru 44-41748. See http://liberatorcrew.com/06_B-24_Specs.htm for details.

According to this website that I found today: http://www.doug-and-dusty.id.au/liberator.htm the remaining Liberators in that production group were given to the RAAF; but, 44-41669 is not on the inventory list, so it must have been lost before then (?) or for some other reason not included.

The definitive Liberators for RAAF service were the B-24J, L, and M versions, the first of which was delivered in May of 1944. 287 Liberators were ultimately taken on charge by the RAAF, with 168 of them being allocated under the terms of Lend-Lease. They were assigned the serial number A72-31/198 and A72-300/405. Some of these were delivered to No 7 OTU for training, but most of the others were delivered to operational units for combat.

44-41649/41748 Consolidated B-24L-15-CO Liberator
41653 to RAAF as A72-96 - soc 12-52.
41654 to RAAF as A72-101 - soc 12-52.
41656 to RAAF as A72-110 - soc 12-52.
41657 to RAAF as A72-124 - w/o in crash 2-45.
41658 to RAAF as A72-139 - sold 6-50.
41663/41664 to RAAF as A72-111/112
A72-111 soc 12-52.
A72-112 w/o in crash 2-45.
41665 to RAAF as A72-140 - soc 12-52
41666 to RAAF as A72-121 - soc 12-52.
41677 to RAAF as A72-141 - soc 12-52.
41682 to RAAF as A72-142 - soc 12-52.

[GTeener]

My Dad finished WWII and came home November 1945. Its my understanding that hey did NOT fly FFF home but a different plane.

Gwen, any chance you could help me try and get my Dad's military record? From what I know, he enlisted sometime between 1935 - 1937, was in WWII, the Korean War, retired from Vandenburg AFB, and worked in the Post Office.

As next of kin, I can request his information, but the response I got when I tried was that his official record was destroyed in a fire.

Sure. Try poking around this website first:
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/