bombs away
Member
Here is a grouping that belonged to Elmer L. FOSS , gunner from the 826th BS, 484th BG, 15th AF.
He made his combat tour from april 44 to july.
He went through very dangerous targets as 3 times Ploesti, Toulon (very close to where I live, military harbor with a huge flak defense), Munich, Bucharest twice, ...
It’s interesting to see that he was credited of 50 missions while he did « only » 37. Some of them were credited for 2 missions (Ploesti for example).
He applied after the war and became bombardier in a B-29 at Spokane Airbase.
Elmer’s brother was a Marine pilot and was the personal pilot of Eisenhower’s helicopter when he was president.
Elmer’s cousin was the famous Joe Foss, Marine fighter pilot, medal of honor, 26 victories in 4 months. What a family !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Foss
The grouping is made of :
- 2 A-2 jackets. One painted and with his nameplate, no label but the Kwik zipper should make me think of a Cable Raincoat (?). The other one is also painted but by Elmer FOSS when painted the house ! His name is stenciled inside. No more label inside.
- officer’s jacket with the 15th AF patch, 1 side cap, 2 pants, 6 shirts, 4 pairs of socks (!), ...
- 2 flight suits type K-1
- suitcase B-4
- photos, documents, dog tag, medals, patches, letters, articles,...
Second A-2, home painted !
Elmer Foss wearing the first A-2 with the gunner’s wings and arabic name painted.:
For your next holiday in Italy, just ask !
His combat missions. The 29th april mission is also the first mission of the 484th BG. Elmer arrived with the original crews.
Article teeling more about Elmer and some of his missions. Combat crews in Italy were living terrible situations, they weren’t in Italy just for holiday in Capri.
Very interesting medical report. These guys were brave men.
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Now a grouping based on an A-2 jacket a lots of documents.
Richard BUTTORFF was a B-17 pilot in the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th BG, 8th AF.
He made his combat tour (30 missions) from april 44 to august. He flew on D-Day over Normandy.
A few pics of his jacket. Very interesting reddish tone. The jacket has seen action !
Richard BUTTORFF first sewn his nameplate in the middle of the chest, but then changed its place to sew it below the bomb squadron’s patch. You can still compare the stitching holes remaining to the ones on the nameplate.
Unfortunately the patch has left. I’ve taken a picture with a repro one just layed over the jacket to see what it was looking like.
Picture of the crew. Lt BUTTORFF is the first from left front row. You understand why the jacket is a size 36 !
****************************************************************************************************
Tim
He made his combat tour from april 44 to july.
He went through very dangerous targets as 3 times Ploesti, Toulon (very close to where I live, military harbor with a huge flak defense), Munich, Bucharest twice, ...
It’s interesting to see that he was credited of 50 missions while he did « only » 37. Some of them were credited for 2 missions (Ploesti for example).
He applied after the war and became bombardier in a B-29 at Spokane Airbase.
Elmer’s brother was a Marine pilot and was the personal pilot of Eisenhower’s helicopter when he was president.
Elmer’s cousin was the famous Joe Foss, Marine fighter pilot, medal of honor, 26 victories in 4 months. What a family !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Foss
The grouping is made of :
- 2 A-2 jackets. One painted and with his nameplate, no label but the Kwik zipper should make me think of a Cable Raincoat (?). The other one is also painted but by Elmer FOSS when painted the house ! His name is stenciled inside. No more label inside.
- officer’s jacket with the 15th AF patch, 1 side cap, 2 pants, 6 shirts, 4 pairs of socks (!), ...
- 2 flight suits type K-1
- suitcase B-4
- photos, documents, dog tag, medals, patches, letters, articles,...
Second A-2, home painted !
Elmer Foss wearing the first A-2 with the gunner’s wings and arabic name painted.:
For your next holiday in Italy, just ask !
His combat missions. The 29th april mission is also the first mission of the 484th BG. Elmer arrived with the original crews.
Article teeling more about Elmer and some of his missions. Combat crews in Italy were living terrible situations, they weren’t in Italy just for holiday in Capri.
Very interesting medical report. These guys were brave men.
************************************************************************************************
Now a grouping based on an A-2 jacket a lots of documents.
Richard BUTTORFF was a B-17 pilot in the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th BG, 8th AF.
He made his combat tour (30 missions) from april 44 to august. He flew on D-Day over Normandy.
A few pics of his jacket. Very interesting reddish tone. The jacket has seen action !
Richard BUTTORFF first sewn his nameplate in the middle of the chest, but then changed its place to sew it below the bomb squadron’s patch. You can still compare the stitching holes remaining to the ones on the nameplate.
Unfortunately the patch has left. I’ve taken a picture with a repro one just layed over the jacket to see what it was looking like.
Picture of the crew. Lt BUTTORFF is the first from left front row. You understand why the jacket is a size 36 !
****************************************************************************************************
Tim
