Guest Book

I am the nephew of Lt Edward J Mazur, Bombardier on the DRAGGIN WAGGIN, KIA on 8 January, 1945 along with other members of the JK Bivins crew. I was in touch with your organization many years ago, but the link to you was lost. I successfully obtained my late Uncle’s military records through the FOIA. They sent me all that was left after a fire where the records were kept. I was named after my Uncle and have done my best to live up to the name. Enjoying all that he has missed.

Edward Sampson
Vermontville, NY

Grandson of 1st Lt. James E. Kuepper

James Kuepper
New Iberia, LA

My uncle was SSgt George N. Golden and was a nose gunner with the 717th Brzychcy crew. Im working on sorting out a bunch of documents and trying to put together his history. I would like to know the aircraft name they flew.

George Golden
Virginia Beach

It is my supreme honor to be your Bugler for the 449th reunion near Dulles Airport at the Westin Washington Dulles
Hotel on October 14, 2023, and at the USAF Memorial in Arlington, VA on October 15, 2023.
My thanks to Dave Blake for granting me this honor.

With my very best regards, and I am greatly looking forward to meeting all the wonderful folks at this reunion.

Dave Shuma
Warrenton, VA Fauquier County, USA

My father was Frank C. DeFelice; Bombardier in the 719th (Charlie Jacobs crew). My father and Charlie Jacobs re-connected back in 1975 during the time that my mother and father relocated to Austin, Texas. Thank you for creating and maintaining this amazing website; and for keeping their memories alive.

Frank DeFelice
Durham, Connecticut

I am the grand daughter of Francis Potts, part of the Geisel crew. He unfortunately passed when I was little in 81, but had heard stories about his time in the military and have always been so proud. His great grandson, Cadet Pierce Garver, will be graduating Westpoint this May and has chosen to branch Army aviation. I want to Thank you for preserving the history and photographs so I can pass onto my son. The military lingo escapes me and this website clarified much as well as providing a Wonderful photograph. Thank you!

Lisa Garver
Gilbert, AZ

Edwin E OBrien s/sgt 718 passed away 12/29/2022 at the age of 97. He had a wonderful life and talked some of his time in the service. Had to ask about his missons   very humble as many of you guys are..he will be missed

thank you
Tim Obrien

449th B.G.
I have a large collection of autographs, Pictures, stories,etc etc from the 15th AirForce World War II. Including about 1000 items from the 449th and 450th BG.It would be worth someone’s efforts to come see My collection.

Harry Tanner
Sulpher, LA

Amazing website! I had no idea this existed. I was searching for the 449th and found it! My father, George Stewart Bedford flew for the 449th. He was a tail gunner who flew 49 missions and served proudly. In the later stages of his life he wore the 449th emblem and his flight wings on a leather bomber jacket. thank you for keeping the story alive!

Scott Bedford
Hilsborough, CA

Thanks for preserving these archives. My grandfather was Lt. Michael C. Mealey, pilot of the Nancy Jane #2. I’ve heard the story about how his plane was lost during a combat mission and he was taken prisoner my entire life. It’s surreal to read the contemporary reports that were made to document this incident. The sacrifice he made for us affected him for his entire life, until his death in 2005. But he never regretted fighting for his country and for freedom. I’m grateful for the courage of the people like my grandpa, who made our lives possible.

Christopher Walker
Highlands Ranch

Thank you for this wonderful resource! My name is Anne St. Clair, and I am the granddaughter of James W. St. Clair, who was a co-pilot with the Streicher crew for the 718th Squadron of the 449th Bomb Group. I would love to connect with anyone who may have photos or stories of him or his crew.

I am told that my grandfather, James St. Clair, flew B24 Bomber missions to the south of France the days before D-Day to make the German Army think the D-Day invasion was going to be much further south in France than the Normandy Beaches. On D-Day, he flew a mission to the Polesti Oil Fields in Romania, one of his many missions to the Polesti Oil Fields that supplied the German Army with gasoline. James St. Clair was credited with flying 51 B24 missions, a very high number. Early in WWII, a bomber crew was allowed to go home after 25 missions. Later in WWI, a bomber crew member had to be credited with 50 missions before he could return home. The crew got extra credit for a mission if their plane was hit with flak or enemy fire.

I would be eager to learn more. Thank you to all of you and to all of these brave men for their dedicated service.

Sincerely,

Anne St. Clair

My father James A. Mitchell was a member of the 449th Bomb Group stationed in Grottagle, Italy in 1944. He was aboard “Hells A Poppin” but not the day it went down. He was working on Staley’s crew that had loaned the plane to another crew that day. I have quite a few photos of that time as well as information on all of Staley’s crew that I would like to share. I have gone through the FB site and found it really informative.
Please let me know if that is possible.

Dan Mitchell
Chester, CA

Thanks for the great website. My uncle, Frederick C. Ostrom, served as a bombardier in the 449th Bomber Group, Squadron 719, the Shelby MacArthur Crew. I think he flew as many as 52 missions, mostly out of Italy, I gather.

Hans Ostrom
Tacoma, WA

After doing lots of research looking for info of my Uncle”s military career I was told by a B-24 group to check out the 449th BG web site. I read stories about how these men sacrificed for the good of the country.
Couldn’t be any prouder especially for my Uncle, Staff Sargent Harold Fox Jr. (ball turret). I’m attempting to build a replica of the bomber he was shot down in “TWO TON TESSIE” #42-52117. I have most of the INFO except for the three digit numbers on the nose just below the nose turret. Would appreciate any information.

Robert Carley
Livingston, NJ

Hello my grandfather was a nosegunner in the 449th bomb group in stationed in Italy in 1944-45 His name is NADE HABSHEY and he passed October 2012. His wife and my grandmother passed this August 2020. He had an everlasting love for aviation and aircraft. He told me great detailed stories of flying on a B-24 bomber and the He would play documentaries about the B-24 for me as a little kid. He always noted the adrenaline rush from being in the air for the first time fighting in another country. I can only imagine what the experience was like.

David Campione
Casselberry

I am Bruce Ross my dad Hal A Ross was top turret gunner on Richard Bosworth’s crew. He passed away on June 17th. I am so proud of his service. These men were so brave.

Bruce Ross
Nampa, Idaho

September 16 2020 Yes , I am extremely proud of every one of you guys!!!!!
Took a lot of guts to get up and get off the ground and not knowing if you’d return or not.
Myself? I took the easy way out – Navy ROTC at Illinois Tech ’62-67 then three years and three deployments off the coast of Vietnam…..got shot at but no scars to show for it…..USS Saint Paul CA-73 ….Like the B-24s you flew and are gone so are all the all gun cruisers…….made into razor blades or whatever.
Now for the fun part: How did I come across you guys: You see I was born February 18th to an Austrian mom and her German husband in Sierning, Austria. Before she passed away she was fond of telling people that I spent the first couple of days in a bomb shelter under the hospital…….the nurses etc. had left me in the whatever passed for a baby room and my mom in her hospital bed and panicked when the bombs started dropping. My mom got up and got me and after banging on the bomb shelter door got let in. The Austrians weren’t used to bomb raids back then whereas my mom had spent time with my dad in German cities so was somewhat familiar with the procedures……..So long story short 76 years later I started to follow up on her story and lo and behold it appears to be true as on Mission 30 you guys took of with thirty-one B-24H’s to bomb the ball bearing factories in Steyr, Austria ….5 miles or so as the crow flies from where I was born. So Congrats on a good mission as you missed me!!!!!!
We immigrated to the land of the free in ’56 and now I’m semi-retired in Port Charlotte, FL.
How time flies ……There was no Air Force back in ’44 and now you have a Space Force……….
Wishing and praying that you and yours survive this latest threat – COVID-19!!!

Olaf Hansen
Port Charlotte, FL

Related to Chester W. Sorenson, known as ‘Swede’ from the 449th & 716th Squadron’s. He was shot down over Italy on December 28th, 1944 but was recovered and kept flying. So proud of all the men who flew for the 449th! Thank you for collecting this awesome piece of history!

Christine Swanson
Santa Clara, CA

Jan Gage Moody. Daughter of Chester Donald Gage, bombardier serving in the 717th bomb squad.Flew 50 missions and received the distinguished flying cross

Jan Moody
Bentonville, AR

This is a great supplement to the four books on the 449th (and it’s searchable). Our Dad was 1st Lt. Alphonse F. (Al) Hanley. He was the “Red Rider” of “Queen of Hearts” fame, due to his red hair. 50 missions flown (Many with Kennelly as Pilot), from 9 January to 5 July 1944. He was a Pilot in the 716th Squadron. Thank you!

Steve Hanley
Newburgh, IN

Hello,
I am a relative of Lt. Lynford Austin. I was just doing some research for a B-24 model I am going to put up next to his picture. Just wanted to say thank you.

Sean Romans
Palm Bay, FL

Hi .. My uncle Virgil Kitchens was a gunner on the Betty Jean. He was shot down on January 19, 1944. The way my aunt told it, he was able to avoid capture and made it to Switzerland. I have several of his pictures that were taken in Nebraska 1943 of the Betty Jean and crew prior to their deploying to ETO. Love the site, thank you. I wished Uncle Virgil could have lived to see this.

Chris Selman
Ooltewah, TN

Hello- I noticed a few posts referencing an incident involving three planes from the 449th 717th that occurred on April 2, 1944. Three planes were lost when the lead plane was hit by flak and the debris took down two others. My uncle, Jake Kury was the pilot of the Peerless Clipper, one of the planes that went down. A number of years ago, I did research to find out what happened that day. Up to that point, our family had no information on what happened. I contacted surviving members of the fourth plane in the formation and received a number of first hand accounts, including a letter from Col. Sass, the CO. I am happy to share what I have found.

Patti Long
Lebenon, PA

Love the website. My grandfather loved his crew and talked a lot about his experience with the 449th.

Derrick Weimer
Xenia, Ohio

I’d like to know more about the mission that my grandmother’s first husband (Leonard Resnick O-805674) was flying when he was killed.  As far as I know he died on 5 APR 1944 while flying with the 449th.  My grandmother told me that he was shot in the neck and was the only casualty from his crew.  She was told this by the other pilot who returned with the rest of the crew after their tour.  My dear grandmother died a few years ago.  She told me bits and pieces of the story over the years but I’d like to to know the mission details.

I am a retired Marine FA-18 pilot and I am curious about this man who meant so much to my grandmother.  I found out from my research that we both have the same award-the Air Medal.  I want to know more.

Thanks!

Joshua Zager

Len Madalyn Resnick

What a wonderful website! Congratulations from the 345th Bomb Group Association.

Air Apaches

Mary Roby
Roanoke, VA

I am one of the sons of George E Bender. Thank you for building this site, my dad almost never spoke of the War, so I know very little about his life at that time. This helps!

John Bender
Denver

Looking at my dads (Lewis Fletcher, 449th-718) photos and English/Italian dictionary might be something you could use. I gave some stuff to the B-24 museum in Pueblo CO, too bad they don’t have a plane….

Keep up the great work, didn’t know you existed until today.

Tom, born right after he came happily home at the end of the war

Thomas Fletcher
Arvada, CO

What a great website. I learned so much about my uncle Cecil Kirkland who died July 2nd, 1944. He was reinterred and is buried in his home town of Waco, Texas.
Thank you,

Gary Seesing
Prairie Village, Kansas

Kirkland – Texas National Guard

Hello, my father Howard Bourdon was the navigator on the Suzan Jane. He was very proud of his time serving in the 717th squadron. He flew 35 missions including the famous 4/4 /44 raid on the Bucharest marshaling yard. Thank you for keeping alive the memory of all those brave men of the 449th

Glenn Bourdon
Tarpon Springs , Fl

After seeing WWII footage of the B-24 on the TV I decided to dig out my grandpa’s old stuff and that led me to this site. Thank you brave men!

Tyler Crew

Jeff Lawless
Marshall, AR

my father’s cousin, sgt. paul biggart, of ww2 was in the 449th bomb group. he was shot down and killed feb, 25, 1944 near regensberg, germany. i read on your website that there was a crew reunion in 1983 in Austria with the other plane’s pilot that shot them down. are there any photos or written accounts of this? my father is no longer living. i assume everyone from the crew are deceased? i am interested in delving further into this part of my family history. any information would be greatly appreciated. thank you.

Odessa Lasalle

[no return email was provided – please contact 449historian@gmail.com]

B-24 Liberator 449th Bomb Group My Achin Back S/Sgt Rudy Moreno- tail gunner

My uncle passed away on a mission. Thank you for keeping this available.

Dan Moreno
Sonora, CA

75 years ago (24 MAR 44) the Thunder Bay Babe crew took their last flight as US Hero’s.  May they all Rest in Peace.

Eileen Smith
West Chester, PA

My uncle, Corporal Merle Franklin of the 716th squadron, was a ball turret gunner on the Princess Helen which was lost on 11/16/1944. The crew or aircraft were never found. I only know of my uncle from stories passed on from my dad. My dad tried for years until his death in 1990 to discover what happened to the crew but was unsuccessful. I am proud of all who served and those that supported them.

Daniel Franklin
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Glad I found your website. I’ve been looking for anything on my uncle 2nd Lt. JOHN L. CRICKENBERGER who was in the Wehling crew. I’ve been wondering if his plane may have had any nose art? Would anyone on your site know that? I do have a couple of photos of him in uniform and sort of a small journal he kept during his missions.

Bob Crickenberger

Would Like any information reference plane name/number for the Prelaz Crew. My late Father-in-law Edmund F. Szypulski was a 2nd Lt. serving as a Navigator with the Prelaz Crew.

John DIBACCO
STEUBENVILLE, OH

I’m the daughter of Walter E. Gray,tail gunner. I’m looking for his airplane Miss Deflack of the 449thBomb Group. Could you tell me if it is in a museum. He was so proud to serve his country with all the great men on his team.

Miss DeFlak
Zink Crew

Kathleen (Gray) Ramsey
Hanna City, IL,,U,S,A

MSgt Michael George. First Sergeant for the 449th Air Expeditionary Group; Djibouti, Africa. Proud to be carrying on the heritage of the Flying Horseman here on the Horn of Africa!

Michael George
South Plainfield, NJ

Donna Brunson. Researching Paul Lhevinne, Lost on April 2, 1944. Starr Crew 449th, 117th. He was the son of my husband’s grandfather. Our family never knew what happened to him. Thank you for this site and for all of the history you have made available to the public! We now know what happened to Paul and where he was buried.

[Starr Crew]
[MACR 2636]

Donna Brunson
Clarkdale, AZ USA

I am the son of Anderson, Ralph M; 14119900; 719 Squadron. Ralph was part of the Rosander, Toivo J.G. crew. Ralph departed for Grotagilie Italy on January 19, 1945 and departed from Italy on May 25, 1945. I would like to be in contact with anyone who may known or who served with my Dad during his time in the Army Air Corp. Ralph was from Savannah, GA, married to Opal Lee Moore in November 1942. I believe he was an Airplane Armorer Gunner 612. He enlisted June 5, 1942 and was mustered out October 16, 1945 at the rank of Sgt.
Thanks from a grateful son,

Ronald Anderson
Columbia, MO USA

My father Joseph Druzak was a proud member of the 449th Bomb Group during WW2 where he served as a Pilot of a B-24. He sadly passed away last fall and I am sure he would have wanted to let fellow 449’ers know of his passing and how proud he was to be a fellow member.

Bob Druzak

Fabulous Site here, thanks for all of the hard work compiling all of this info on the 449th, my father would have been proud to have viewed this site, he was 2lt John J Rhoades – B24 copilot shot down over Ploesti oil raid mission, captured and spent time as a POW in Rumania.

[Grimmer Crew]
[MACR 4205]

Steve Rhoades
San Diego , CA

What a truly awesome web site and my congratulations to those who have designed it and maintain it. My father, Glenn E. Rogers, was a member of the 449th and I have wealth of his military pictures and files on hand.

Mike Rogers
Blue Ridge, GA

I hope you all have a GREAT time in New Orleans in September! Long live The Flying Horsemen.

Dave Blake
Bonner Springs, Kansas

Hello, I’m the grandson of Sgt. Oliver Clyde Roye, he was with the 449th. I have hundreds of pictures of bombings, planes and other related material. Upon the recent death of my father, I’ve decided to donate the photos to a museum or the 449th. I feel these photos belong to the world, not just me.

Sincerely, David Roye

OMG – my first visit to the new site and I am so impressed. I miss everything being so far away in Moldova. But this got me right into the swing of it all. Such fond memories. The website has so many good things already. Great job EVERYBODY!!!

Denise Riegel
Cahul, Maldova

Would like pictures of Capt OT Dawson and Ed Westlake. Will upload photos of Westlake’s flight compass and many things of OT Dawson. Even have his 201 file. He is the nephew of my grandmother.

Damon Johns
Hot Springs, AR

We are a group of American and Bulgarian historians living in Northern Bulgaria collecting local rememberances and related history of the Air War in the Ploesti, Giurgiu (Romania) and Rousse/Ryce/Ruschuk and Shumen (POW camp) (Bulgaria) areas

We are successfully collecting and recording recollections and photographs of POW’s and KIA’s in this area.

Anyone with requests or contributions regarding aircrews lost in the Northern Bulgaria area, please contact the undersigned.

Hayward S. Melville
hagavard@gmail.com
Rousse, Bulgaria
US Phone#: 707-678-4573