Just found you all

Posted:
By: Mary Lou Million Viglione
On: 05/15/2003

Discovered the web site in "The Poop" and wish it was active when my Dad was still alive. Checked the serial no. on the tail of the plane on the web site. I believe it is my Dad's plane. That really brought tears to my eyes. I've applied for membership to carry on since my parents have gone forever aloft. What a great web site.

Re: Just found you all

Posted:
By: Donald Byers
On: 05/15/2003

Let me be the first to welcome you to the 401st Bomb Group. If you have information that may contribute to this site to make it even better please use this forum. If your Dad has a log of planes he has flown then check the crew list and all the missions that have a serial number but no nickname and see if you can help us identify these planes. Also hope that you may consider joining us at the 2004 reunion.

As we all morn the loss of the heros of the second world war we are with you.

Donald Byers
Sgt Donald C. Byers KIA 24 Aug 1944 (my uncle)

Re: Just found you all

Posted:
By: Mary Lou Viglione
On: 05/21/2003

The plane on the website 339125M is the serial no. of Der GrossArschvogel. I have a blown up copy of the entire picture taken while they were on a mission. The picture also lists their missions. I'm not sure who all was instrumental in getting the picture blown up with the missions. My Dad, Larry Million, met with a number of his former crew at the 92 reunion in Virginia. The last I knew Otto Schlagel, Russ Lockhart and Bob Grilley are still alive. I'm not sure about Jay Carper. I saw Lockhart's name on one of the lists on this website. In a nose art book we had bought for my Dad we found a picture of the nose art for the plane on the back of a flight jacket. We bought Dad a new jacket (his old one was long gone) and a local artist reproduced the painting on his new jacket. He proudly wore this jacket on his "33rd Mission", our opportunity to get him one last ride on a B17, less than a year before he lost his battle with cancer. That ride was the most precious gift we could give him. I treasure the jacket and all the memories Dad left with me. We do have quite a few pictures from Deenethorpe as well. Unfortunately, Dad was never able to find a picture of his plane that showed the nose art.

I've rambled enough!!!

Thanks for your reponse.

Picture

Posted:
By: Donald Byers
On: 05/22/2003

A picture of this aircraft possibly a crew picture taken with the plane is availabe from the national Archives. You can contact them by e-mail. Go to my site at the following URL: http://donald-byers.com
on the Menu go to the obtain information then the menu will drop down with mouse over select National Archives then click e-mail for getting the picture. Follow the information. As indicated about $25-$30 for a 5X7. A paper copy will first be deliver.

Don Byers

Re: Picture

Posted:
By: Melba L. Hixon
On: 05/23/2003

I followed the information above but my e-mails were returned as undeliverable, host unknown. Any suggestions? Great Home page!

Re: Picture

Posted:
By: Donald Byers
On: 06/03/2003

It's working now.

Don