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Dale A Anderson
7/10/2002 5:12:41 PM | I have recently recieved info that the Crew Members of Flak
Rat II , C Wilsons crew which was shot down on 5/30/44 called
their ship "Patches" all of the info that I have recieved
from members of Wilsons crew say they flew on "Patches" and That
Flak RatII was a second nickname. Can anyone else help here?
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Scott McElvain
7/22/2002 9:57:24 PM | According to "Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth" by Project Bits and Pieces, Flak Rat II was serial number 297440 and was shot down with Wilson's crew. The nickname Patches has not been connected to a specific serial number. It is quite possible that a crew would have a nickname for the plane besides its nose art. Some crews had a nickname for the own crew. Will see if I can ind out any more......
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Dale Anderson
7/23/2002 2:12:35 PM | Thanks for the help. Three members of Wilsons crew have
told me that Flak RatII was called "Patches". It would be
nice if we could connect these two together. Serial#
297440 may in fact have had two nicknames. Also how
can I find out more about Project Bits and pieces?
Thanks, Dale Anderson.
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Scott McElvain
7/23/2002 11:38:35 PM | Project Bits and Pieces is an effort by the Eighth Air Force Memorial Museum Foundation to fill in the cracks when it comes to identifying and keeping track of B-17s and B-24s. Their address is Project Bits and Pieces, P.O. Box 3010, Warrenton, VA 22186-1710. I think they might have a website. You can probably get a copy through them. I have a copy for the First Air Division. Not sure if any other divisions are covered in other volumes. Paul Andrews and William Adams are the individuals responsible.
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Virginia Senande
8/17/2007 9:32:28 PM | Not sure if John A Gray was one of the crew members you spoke to, but he was my grandfather and said that his plane "Patches" was shot down on 5-30-1944. He was the radio operator on Wilson's crew.
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Virginia Senande
8/17/2007 9:41:20 PM | Actually, I just realized that my grandfather, JA Gray, replaced your father on Wilson's crew after your father was wounded.
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