My father flew with the 310th Bomb Group during WWII.  Only recently have any members of our family been able to get him to talk about his combat experiences.  He was the Pilot of B-25J-25 #44-30141.  I have a copy of his orders to return to the US (Hunter Field, Savannah, GA) after the end of the war in Europe dated 9 July 1945.  It was a flight of three B-25 #43-27508 piloted by 2nd Lt John S Schill from Inglewood, California; #4430119, piloted by 2nd Lt Cleo C. Rowland, from Boise, Idaho and the third piloted by my Dad, 2nd LT Elmore Tonini from Louisville, KY.
 
His crew included Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Richard Schantz from Allentown, PA, BN 2nd Lt Gaston Cullen from Pawtucket, RI; RO Sgt Edward Zavora, Footdale, PA and AE Sgt Louis Migacz from Uniontown, PA.
 
I was wondering if there is any way to find out of any of the crew are still around or if any of the members of this site might remember my dad.  I would also like to get a duplicate set of whatever medals and/or ribbons he is authorized in order to make a presentation to him.  His aircraft nose art said Cleo's Bunny (after my mother Cleona).  Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
 
Ed Tonini

Wow!  I see where I am now back to the rank of cadet...  and to think I just retired from the USAF as a Brigadier General.  I guess with this group (The Greatest Generation) I am truely just a cadet.
 
Ed

Phil --
 
I've noticed that you seem to be the historian of record for the 310th.  I'm afraid as a newbee to this site I don't understand what "awaiting approval" means.  Can you please enlighten me?
 
Ed Tonini

Greetings Ed, er, General Tonini!
I searched the official 57th Bomb Wing Association roster and did not come across any of the names you mentioned. That is *not* unusual, however, because the list is not complete. Also, I posted your message to the 57th's research list server at the following web address:

http://lists.northrock.bm/read/?forum=57th
 
I'll let you know if anyone makes contact.
 
The following probably belongs in the FAQ section of this site. I apologize in advance to the Administrator for repeating it here:

There's a ton of information on this site under "Research" on the upper right of each page. For one time only, your Dad can receive replacements for all (or most) of the medals he's been awarded. Print, fill out and mail the SF-180 form at the following site:

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/index.html

Also see

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/replacement-medals.html 

Including a copy of your Dad's DD-214 will help expedite delivery, but it will probably take months. 

FYI, the 310th BGs batlle streamers are presently flying on the flags of the 310th Space Group at Shriever AFB in Colorado Spings, CO. The 310th SG traces their lineage to the Army's 310th BG and they perform some pretty interesting high tech work.
 
There's a popular thread on this site relating to the 310th BG's 381st Squadron. It's a sort of "oral history" and can be found at the following link:
 
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_78597/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm

Finally, "awaiting approval" means that the post is being reviewed by this site's administration to make sure there is no inappropriate content. This is the world wide web, you know ;-)
 
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
VJ White

http://57thBombWing.com
http://vjwhite.com/JPWhite

Congratulations Mr. Tonini, you hit the jack pot!
 
Although he was unable to match the plane serial numbers to the 310th BG, my Corsican friend and fellow researcher, Dominique Taddei, sent me the following message today:
 
Hi Vinny,
It's me again, i don't know how to enter in the Forum and tell to Mr Tonini that his Father was in the squadron of your Father the 381st BS, give him my email adress and i 'll give him all the informations concerning his first flight and his last Flight with one of my best friend Mr Parfet who lives in Michigan. Ted Parfet went to Corsica and i met him in Paris with his daughter Joan and his son Don.
 
2nd Lt Elmore Tonini flew his first mission the 10th of April 1945 with Lt Bierds on 43-27543 (Form I -A ) and his last mission the 3rd of May 1944 [sic] with Captain Ted Parfet on the 44-28939, but he flew with Lt Bob Zulauf 43-4034 (Sky Larkin), Lt Hines and Lt O'brien.
 
Taddei, Bierds and Zulauf are active members of the 57th Bomb Wing Association. Their writing skills are tremendous and each have publications about combat from Corsica during WWII.  I'll send you a private email with contact information.

Best regards,
VJ White

http://57thBombWing.com
http://vjwhite.com/JPWhite

Mr Tonini, as Vinny wrote you, your Father was in the 381st BS, i think that he started his flight missions out of Fano and has never been at Ghisonaccia -Gare. Corsica.
His first mission was the 10th of April 1945 and finished the 3rd of May 1945 (and not 44)
The 10th of April he was with 1st Lt Bierds 43-27543 then the same day in the afternoon he flew with 1st Lt Bob Zulauf on the 43-4034 Sky Larkin, the 11th Lt Bierds 327543 - 11th Lt Bierds 327674 - 13th Lt Hines 43-4044 -15th Lt Hines 327494 - 16th Lt Hines 43-32611 - 24th Lt O'Brien 43-27674 - Th 3rd of May 1945 he flew with my friend Captain Parfet on the 44 - 28939 Mission Bolzano to Pieve di Cadore 180packages of nickels.
When the war ended , your Father went back to the US of A with Rowlands who was in the 380th BS, they got a plane which was not in the 310th BG but perhaps in the 319th or in the 321st BG. Sincerly Dominique Taddei from Corsica

Mr Tonini,
according to the Maxwell AFB reels, i was wrong in my previous message, your Father arrived at Ghisonaccia-Gare Corsica the 1st of April 1945 with several Officers, 1st Lt George A . Mattmiller, 2nd Lts Floyd K Anderson, Edwin E Belding, Hector D Blair, Merle R Cox, Gaston J Cullen, James J Diblasio, Edward H. Knapp, Alfred T Leonard, Frederick I. Livaich, Ronald W Madley, George W Mooney, Max E Mulhollan, Marcus J. Muller, Leslie Myles, Richard F.Shantz, Eddie F Schmidt, Ernest T Smith, William H Smith, Homer N Stephenson, Elmore W. Tonini, Wendell H Wiser and William W Woods. The 7th of April the 310th personnel started its departure to Fano in Italy.
The last mission from Ghisonaccia- Gare (Corsica) took off the 6th of April 1945, the next missions took off from Fano Italy, the first one was the 8th of April, the 9th of April your Father was the copilot of the 1st Lt J Wood, the Bombardier was the 2nd Lt L.V Bates, the Radio Gunner S/Sgt J.J Osochowsky, the Gunner S/Sgt E.J Dobrowolski and strangely the tail gunner was a 1st Lt S Stemboroski.
The B-25 was the 43-36133.
The 10th of April he flew two missions etc.
Dominique Taddei
 

Thanks to everyone for the prompt response.  I really appreciate this forum and the work you all are doing.  I've already requested Dad's DD-214 and will be contacting Dominique Taddei shortly.  By the way, back in 1997 I was in charge of one of the USAF 50th anniversay celebrations.  We were able to get over 100 current and vintage AF aircraft to sit static and fly in our 8 hour long airshow.  One of the AC was a B-25.  I was able to get my Dad on a one hour flight.  It was one of the best days of my life...  he really enjoyed it as well.
 
Ed Tonini

Attached find a photo of Sky Larkin, courtesy of Dominique. (1 of 2)

Attached Image(s)

http://57thBombWing.com
http://vjwhite.com/JPWhite

Attached find a color photo of Form 1A, courtesy of Dominique. (2 of 2)

Attached Image(s)

http://57thBombWing.com
http://vjwhite.com/JPWhite

Don Kaiser, whose father, Quentin C. Kaiser served in the 489th Sgdn of the 340th BG, has posted a collection of photos and memorabilia from men who served in the four squadrons (379th, 380th, 381st, 428th) of the 310thBG.
 
The following link includes the 310th collection:
 
http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/310th.html
 
The link below includes Don's 381st Squadron collection: 
http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/310381.html
 
where you'll find an interesting story by Bill Bierds about the 381st's insignia. Your Dad will probably recognize some of the names, people and places.
Take care!
VJ White

http://57thBombWing.com
http://vjwhite.com/JPWhite