Margaret,
The crew photo that you sent was Stan Samuelsons crew. Stan is in the back row on the left, he flew Never Satisfied from the U.S. as part of the original group. He and Dean and one other pilot were my tentmates.I don't recognize anyone else. Dean might have flown with him several times later as copilot. Your dad came over the same time as Samuelson. I think your dad came over as Stans copilot, since he was in the earlier picture until he checked out as 1st pilot, then had Dean assighned as his copilot.

I notice that the plane didn't have any bomb mission markings painted on the plane, so it was early in their tour, or even before they flew missions. Stan was the artist that did the painting. Notice Never Satisfied behind my picture, I flew the plane about 3 or 4 times. The plane flew about 100 missions before it was scrapped.

Stan finished his 50 missions, went home, and  got married. Shortly after ward he flew B 29s in the Pacific. On his 18th mission he was shot down over Tokyo and was KIA.

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44

Jules.
 
Thanks for your insights.  I did think that this was early in the "career' of the Never Satisfied.  Do you know if there are ony other photos of Samuelson?    I have some other photos which indicate that Claire Driscoll and Will Downs may be in this photo as well.
 
Margaret

Margaret
New York

Jules,
 
Another point of interest.  Below is the crew that I believe Dad flew to North Africa with in early 1943:
 
2nd Lt John G Caraberis (Pilot)
2nd Lt Thomas J Davis Jr (Co-pilot)
2nd Lt Claire E Driscoll (Navigator)
2nd Lt WM A Down (Bombardier)
Sgt Lawrence B Sills (Engineer)
Sgt Andrew W McCrossen (Asst Engineer)
Sgt Fleming G Matthews (Radio Oper)
Sgt Edward J Boardman (Asst Radio Oper)
Sgt Jerome G Heydon (Gunner)
 
I believe that Samuelson was part of a somewhat later group.  Am trying to pointpoint approximately when that photo might have been taken and who else might be in it. 
 
Another point of nterest...We have been told that there were actually two Never Satisfied's.  Have you heard anything to that effect?
 
Margaret
 
 
 
 

Margaret
New York

Dick Drain's 5th Wing History shows two "NEVER SATISFIED".
 
463rd BG    44-6261
 
99th qnd 483rd   42-5388
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

ORIGINAL: Odyssey

Jules,

Another point of interest.  Below is the crew that I believe Dad flew to North Africa with in early 1943:

2nd Lt John G Caraberis (Pilot)
2nd Lt Thomas J Davis Jr (Co-pilot)
2nd Lt Claire E Driscoll (Navigator)
2nd Lt WM A Down (Bombardier)
Sgt Lawrence B Sills (Engineer)
Sgt Andrew W McCrossen (Asst Engineer)
Sgt Fleming G Matthews (Radio Oper)
Sgt Edward J Boardman (Asst Radio Oper)
Sgt Jerome G Heydon (Gunner)

I believe that Samuelson was part of a somewhat later group.  Am trying to pointpoint approximately when that photo might have been taken and who else might be in it. 

Another point of nterest...We have been told that there were actually two Never Satisfied's.  Have you heard anything to that effect?


Margaret,
As I noted earlier I didn't know who Stanley's copilot was coming from the U.S. He did come over with the original group
 
Yes, I believe that I might have a picture of Samuelson.
 
I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but T.J. Davis was in the hospital for a time, before i got in the group.
Eventually, he became operations officer and had some clout. However, he was the worst leader I encountered during my tour. He made radical changes while leading the sqdn making it very difficult to maintain tight formation.
Nuff said 

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44

Jules,
 
I hear what you are saying.  I think that your tentmate Dean and Dad were probably flying together fairly soon after Dean got to North Africa.  I know that Dad flew with Driscoll and Down for a while.  It's hard to understand how the assignments of crew and planes worked so it's hard to track their missions.  It's too bad that there is so little info on the first 100 missions of the 348th BS...Maybe Jim Peters can shed some light on why the paucity of info on my Dad's Bomb Squadron...
 
Ragards,
 
Margaret

Margaret
New York

Margaret...A possible explanation is that for the first three months, I think it was, until the ground crews arrived, (they went by sea),  the aircrews had to fly missions, then clear any discrepancies, and refuel and load thier own bombs...possibly the last thing on anyone's mind was to record ANYTHING...they had to do it all themselves.
 
Just a WAG on my part.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Jim is probably right re the 1st several months. My knowledge only extends to pilots and copilots. I know nothing of other crew members

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44

ORIGINAL: Odyssey

Jules,

I hear what you are saying.  I think that your tentmate Dean and Dad were probably flying together fairly soon after Dean got to North Africa.  I know that Dad flew with Driscoll and Down for a while.  It's hard to understand how the assignments of crew and planes worked so it's hard to track their missions.  It's too bad that there is so little info on the first 100 missions of the 348th BS...Maybe Jim Peters can shed some light on why the paucity of info on my Dad's Bomb Squadron...

Ragards,

Margaret

 
I believe that Dean, Frye and  I joined the sqdn at the same time. We were replacements for the 3 planes shot down on July 5th. I believe that Dean started flying with your dad right away, since we 3 flew as copilots for awhile.

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44

Thanks Jules.  I think you are right about that.
 
Margaret

Margaret
New York

Hello Jules,
 
Hope you are OK in sunny FL.  The whether here on Lake Ontario is quite brisk!
 
Am sending you another photo in hopes you can identify this airman.  Am not sure whether it was taken in North Africa or previously.  Isn't it true that Sammy Samuelson did a lot of the lettering for the Nose Art on the 99th B-17's?  I don't think the attached photo is of him, but maybe you know who it might be...
 
Regards,
 
Margaret

[image]local://upfiles/14324/487525BB3A9248F2B35B5D29B64D78C0.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Margaret
New York

Margaret,
Yesterday the temp here was 80, I can't take cold weather anymore, this is for me.
Yes, thats Sammy , we were tent mates, yes he did most of the nose artwork in the group.
I think that I told you before that Stan went to the Pacifc piloting a B 29, on his 18th mission he was shot down over Tokyo, all were KIA.
Your messege today must be ESP, because I just ran across the snapshot that I think your dad was either the barber or the barbers suject. If you send me your address I'd be glad to send it to you.
Regards
Jules

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44

Dear Jules,
 
Am sending you another photo, taken in Navarin in April '43.  I think it is Samuelson with Will Down and Claire Driscoll.  They are negotiating the purchase of a straw mat from a local merchant.  Can you confirm who they are?
 
I think I have the photo of the barber that you mentioned.  Not sure if my Dad is actually one of the subjects.
I have some other photos and look forward to your helping me identify them.  Would appreciate any help you can provide! 
 
So glad you are available to consult!
 
Regards,
 
Margaret
 
 

[image]local://upfiles/14324/6EEBFBA63F204C7892604C329E2A6788.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Margaret
New York

Margaret,
 
I don't recognize any of the 3 men, but the arab and his camel look familiar.
 
Jules

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44