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Bob Johnson
8/1/2011 10:15:22 AM | I understand that the ground crews were with the unit from start to finish. Is there a list of these ground crews available. If so does it list the aircraft they were on?
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donaldbyers
8/1/2011 11:42:14 AM | There is no real list of names but through out some of the information we have does list some names. These are mostly related to number of missions without a mechanical problem. It does not list the aircraft they worked on. I will try to get those people listed on the web site in the future as I am currently in the process of updating the crews with all the new data from the NARA.
Don Byers
Group Historian
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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Phoenix
8/1/2011 2:19:27 PM | I wish you all the luck in the world with your groundcrew listings Don, once again we see the 'Unsung Heroes' like many since going unnoticed and being in the shadow of 'the glamour boys'. One day the world will wake up to the fact that without 'the grease monkeys, cooks and bottle washers' nothing would or will happen.
improvise, adapt, overcome
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donaldbyers
8/2/2011 12:50:10 PM | I know what you are saying and promise to work on that.
Don
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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Bob Johnson
8/2/2011 4:10:48 PM | My 30 years in the Air Force was as a mechanic. I flew as a flight mechanic for ten years then gave that up to be a crew chief. The pilots relied upon me and my knowledge of the plane since they knew very little about how it worked they just knew how to fly. They really appreciated me and thanked me many times. I moved on to fighters as a crew chief and it was the same with the pilots. A lot of thanks for giving them a jet well maintained. I'm sure it was the same in the 401st. The flyers got the glory while the ground crews worked long hours to get the planes in the air. The people on the ground are heroes too. These people deserves as much credit for winning the air war as did the flyers. I hope a list eventually becomes available.
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donaldbyers
8/2/2011 4:30:10 PM | Dale & Bob,
Your points are well taken and have not fallen on def ears. My father was in Supply in both WWII & Korea and never left the states. The death of his brother on 24 Aug 1944 as a toggler in the 613th BS hit the family very hard. Part of our historic project was to get as much information as we could to come up with additional information. I am in the process right now in doing my fist pass through 254 Missions flown by the 401st Bomb Group and entering missing names and first names of all flight crews. My second pass will be putting all the crews as they were flown on each mission.
If I can find time between all of this I will try to compile some information on the ground crews. 
Don Byers
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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cco23i
8/6/2011 2:40:07 PM | AMEN Bob, that's why we started a ground crew living history unit. I too was a crew chief for 27 years and felt it was time the fellows who came before us were recognized for their hard work.
Scott
Msgt. Scott Dunkirk
aka: da' chief
AZ ground crew living history unit Inc.
"Yes sir, it's suppose to look like that".
www.arizonagroundcrew.org
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Phoenix
8/7/2011 4:09:12 AM | Scott and Bob,
I spent 26 years in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft technician, never felt appreciated, seldom got any recognition, often treated like something unpleasant the aircrew had just trod in, so groundcrew recognition is a subject very close to my heart and yes I do have an axe to grind!
All the best
D. McC
improvise, adapt, overcome
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cco23i
8/7/2011 8:22:31 PM | "Phoenix":
Scott and Bob,
I spent 26 years in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft technician, never felt appreciated, seldom got any recognition, often treated like something unpleasant the aircrew had just trod in, so groundcrew recognition is a subject very close to my heart and yes I do have an axe to grind!
All the best
D. McC
I fully understand, I know how ya' feel. After 27 years of being stepped on it got old. THAT's why I want the ground crews from WW2 to be recognized. Here's a couple shots from a film shoot we had.
Scott
Yup, I'm sitting on the wing.
Msgt. Scott Dunkirk
aka: da' chief
AZ ground crew living history unit Inc.
"Yes sir, it's suppose to look like that".
www.arizonagroundcrew.org
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TimAuger
11/23/2011 11:14:12 AM | Any Luck with the list? Here is a picture of my dad (kneeling, 1st on left) with the ground crew for "Betty J" 42-31072 IN-K. This photo was on the back of the PFG issue 131 dated Spring 2006. When I was a very young kid (early 60's) we had a dog named Duffy. I never had a clue where the name came form until I saw this picture and read the names below the picture.
Regards, Tim
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TimAuger
11/23/2011 1:05:31 PM | Some of the plane names that I remember dad mentioning....Duffy's Tavern, Pistol Packin Mama, Pakawalup, Homesick Angel, Mary Alice, Madame Queen, Fitch's Bandwagon, Homing Pigeon and Little Cheeser. Not sure how solid my memory is about these though.
Regards, Tim Auger
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