kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/23/2007 11:18:44 AM
I am looking for anyone who knew Dixson Wands, 452nd BG/729BS in 1942-1944. His plane went down over England April 21, 1944. He flew the Little Chum a B-17 that day in poor weather. He died from the crash - he was my step-uncle. Have met the daughters of a crewmember Kenneth Seibert who survived the crash. Ken died last year. I am looking for the whearabouts of Charles Anderson who also survived that day. The 452nd BGAssn has the same address I was given by the daughters of Ken Seibert. Does anyone know a current address? I am hoping someone can share a story or share Dixson's personality with me. This all started when my mother asked me to find the info on Dixson. Up until 2 weeks ago, I did not know of him. We are still trying to locate Dixson's son - Jack Raymond Wands, if anyone knows him. Thank you for any help you can give.
<message edited by kcap on 10/23/2007 11:19:51 AM >
|
|
AMIAP
-
Total Posts
:
459
-
Reward points
:
331
- Joined: 06/28/2004
- Location: Poland
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/23/2007 02:08:29 PM
Karen:
Unfortunately, I do not know this address.
As far as I know Wands' crew flew "Little Chum" (#42-39971) to Poznan, Poland on April 9, 1944 and to Krzesiny near Poznan, Poland on April 11, 1944.
I hope it will be of some use.
Regards,
Mike
|
|
hkellerjr
-
Total Posts
:
513
-
Reward points
:
615
- Joined: 09/23/2003
- Location: Front Royal, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/24/2007 10:25:13 AM
42-39971: Del Long Beach 23/10/43; Walla Walla 9/11/43; ass 729BS/452BG Deopham Green 18/11/43; c/l Horham A/fd. UK; 6KIA 4WIA; sal 24/4/44. LITTLE CHUM Have you tried contacting Mr. Hank North, 452 BG Secretary at hanknorth@core.com? He may be able to provide some additonal assistance.
Howard Keller (LTC, USA, Ret)
|
|
hkellerjr
-
Total Posts
:
513
-
Reward points
:
615
- Joined: 09/23/2003
- Location: Front Royal, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/25/2007 09:04:20 AM
There were four survivors of the crash on 21 April 1944:
2Lt William Wroblewski, Navigator
S/Sgt Charles E. Anderson, R. W. Gunner
S/Sgt Ralph Goschey, L. W. Gunner
S/Sgt Kenneth Siebert, Tail Gunner
Howard Keller (LTC, USA, Ret)
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/25/2007 11:25:07 AM
Hello Howard:
Wrobleski died in another plane crash 4 years later. Goschey died I believe in 1998. Seibert died last year. We can not find Charles E. Anderson's present address. He used to list his address in Westchester, Illinois. Thank you for continuing to take an interest.
Karen
|
|
hkellerjr
-
Total Posts
:
513
-
Reward points
:
615
- Joined: 09/23/2003
- Location: Front Royal, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/29/2007 08:09:49 AM
Karen,
Some additional information on the crew. The Wands crew was part of the original 452d crews. This is important, as it normally means they were very well trained individually and just as important as a crew. The crew flew 22 missions between 5 Feb 44 and 20 Apr 44. Of the 22 missions flown, five were to Berlin on 3,4,6,8, and 9 March 1944. If you would like mission list, please send my your email address and I will forward.
Did you have any luck in contacting Mr. Hank North for a current address?
Thank you, Howard
Howard Keller (LTC, USA, Ret)
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/29/2007 10:19:07 AM
I sent you an email, Howard. Thanks for a better picture of how skilled the crew was. I am very proud of all of them. I know that Dixson did his best to keep that plane flying, I am just so sorry I never knew him. I still hear songs from the 40's in my head when I think of him. I would love the mission list when you have the time. Again, thank you for your efforts.
Karen
|
|
shooshoobaby
-
Total Posts
:
4083
-
Reward points
:
899
- Joined: 01/28/2006
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/29/2007 11:06:14 AM
Karen- FYI
Photo of # 42 - 39971 - E " Little Chum "
National Air and Space Museum Library
Photo # A61657AC
Mike
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/29/2007 11:44:14 AM
How can I see the photo? How do I access their web site to locate that photo? Thanks,
Karen
|
|
shooshoobaby
-
Total Posts
:
4083
-
Reward points
:
899
- Joined: 01/28/2006
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/29/2007 12:20:35 PM
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
11/01/2007 12:27:53 PM
Just wanted to let all of you know that the last known crewmember of the Little Chum, Charles Anderson, died in 2006. Unless another crew member from another crew in the 452nd BG/729th BS sees my messages, I will not know of Dixson's peronality and interests. I wish I could have known him. Karen
<message edited by kcap on 11/01/2007 09:12:59 PM >
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
11/16/2007 10:29:39 PM
I wanted to let you know that I found Jack Raymond Wands, Dixson's son. He has called my mother in California and they plan to meet in the near future. He knew little of his father, as he was killed when Jack was an infant. Mildred, Dixson's wife died two years ago. I hope to get to know Jack as well. Mike - I was unable to locate the picture at the National Air and Space Museum library. I tried searching with the photo number as well as a general search. I guess I need more help. Should I call them?
Thank you,
Karen
|
|
dirkpitt311
-
Total Posts
:
8
-
Reward points
:
0
- Joined: 09/28/2006
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
01/28/2008 03:26:13 AM
Karen: While surfing around I found this picture of 42-39971. Regards, Rick Miller nephew/LTC Robert F Kerr 452/728
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
01/28/2008 12:15:30 PM
Many thanks for the crash photo of the Little Chum, Rick. I had seen that photo in a book by Russell Zorn and Ian McLachlan. I appreciate your help. If you ever come across a photo of the plane alone, on flightline or in the air, I would love to purchase it. Again, thank you.
Karen
|
|
Dragman10
-
Total Posts
:
4
-
Reward points
:
40
- Joined: 10/07/2008
- Location: Milford, Ma
-
Status: offline
|
Re: RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/08/2008 08:23:26 PM
Hi Karen,
My name is Jeff and I just started researching my great uncles role in all of this and someone posted your thread to me, along with pictures of the B17 42-39971 in flight. I think my great uncle was on that plane and was not a survivor. I'm not sure how to post my thread to you but you may try looking up my username and look at the links from there. My username is dragman10. Please let me know if this helps.
Goodluck, Jeff
|
|
kcap
-
Total Posts
:
9
-
Reward points
:
289
- Joined: 10/16/2007
- Location: Winchester, VA
-
Status: offline
|
Re: RE: 1Lt Dixson Wands pilot 42-39971 Info
-
10/08/2008 09:31:20 PM
Hi Jeff, I just viewed the picture showing the Little Chum and want to thank you for responding. I have had the crew photo of the "guys" as my wallpaper since last October and have grown to love the crew. I have met and visited several family members of 2 of the crew and visited my step-uncle's son and grandson on emails. Would love to talk to you more - do you have a crew photo? I can send you a copy if you need one. I have spent a lot of time on these guys and feel they are all family by now. Karen kcapellman@hotmail.com
|
|