I am searching for information regarding my fathers unit. The only documentation that I have is his discharge paper and it does not list his unit. My mother doesn't remember. The only information she recalls is that he was based in Bari, Italy. He was a side gunner on a B-24. That is it. His military records were part of those destroyed in the fire in the 1970's, so the government can't help. What I am really looking for is a photo of him with his crew next to his aircraft. I had one but it has been lost. If anybody has any tips on where to locate any of this information, I would truly appreciate it. I have been searching for some time and can't find a thing. Thank you.

Eric Strohecker
Chandler AZ

Have you read our Research guide?   Also, if you provide your father's name people can look a little further for you.
 
Research help:  http://www.armyairforces.com/help.asp
 
Best of luck with your research,
 

Scott Burris, 381st BGMA LTM
ArmyAirForces.com

Eric,
 
Please give us your fathers name.  Also any idea of an approximate time frame, year, months?
 
Hal

Best place to find his unit is from your relatives.  Did he send any letters home?  Did anyone save them?  The return address will have his unit.   Ask your older relatives or their children.  Some folks save those letters.

Bari was HQ for the 15th Air Force.  Go to a 15th Air Force web site, get a list of the bomb groups in the 15th AF, then google up those groups for unit histories.  Then google up the websites for the bomb groups that were stationed at Bari.  Even if you don't luck out, you'll sure get a flavor for what his life was like back then.

Google is your friend.

Son of Ron Macdonald Flying Sgt. 59th OTU RAF (Hurris & Spits, Dieppe raid), Lt. with 346thFS/350thFG North Africa (P-39s). Shot down at Kasserine. Instructor with the 1053 BFTS Randolph, 2138 BU Craig, 2532BU Randolph, & 2543 BU Waco (AT-6s & B-25s).

Eric:
 
I live in Scottsdale, so if you would like I might be able to give you some research ideas.  Email me directly at 445BG@cox.net and I'll get you a phone number.

Mike Simpson
Webmaster & Unit Historian
445th Bomb Group (Heavy)
www.445bg.org
VP, 445th BG, Kassel Mission Historical Society
www.Kasselmission.com

My fathers name was Edward L. Strohecker.  He was in  Europe from Sept. 1, 1944 until Feb. 21, 1945. His discharge papers say that he was in the following campaigns: Rome Arno, Balkans, North Appeniac and Germany.  My  mother told me  that he was on a bombing mission of the Ploesti oil fields. He had told me that he was shot down over Yugoslavia. That's really all that I know. My aunt is the only remaining sibling and she remembers very little. The only letter she has from him was from Florida when he was training at Tyndal Field.  He also trained at Keesler, in Mississippi. My mother and father didn't get married until the late 1950's, so she has no letters from him during the war. I checked this site and wasn't able to find anything. I'm sure that I'm just not looking the right way. I do appreciate any help. Thanks a lot.

Eric,
 
Slowly working my through other sites.  Came across this, just for identification purposes is this your father?
 
Hal
 
"Commentary of Edward L. Strohecker, Jr. on ‘Wake Up America’"
Date: February 28, 1954
Author: Edward L. Strohecker, Jr.
Published for/in: (?)
Content: Transcript of a broadcast in which Strohecker defends McCarthy against individuals like Eleanor Roosevelt who criticize his methods. Claims that the controversy over McCarthy’s methods of investigation is merely a means by which Communists and undercover Communist sympathizers strive to dismantle McCarthy’s crusade against them.

Eric,

Here's another hit.  Any connection here?  Don't know how long ago this was posted but showed her e-mail as C_Stroh@MSN.COM

Hal

In 1976 I lost my father's Army Air Corps lighter from WWII. It is inscribed on the back with his name Edward Lewis Strohecker, Jr and I believe a date and the year 1948. My father was Medal of Honor receipient as he was shot down twice in a Liberator bomber and taken prisoner of war. My father died 10 years ago and I don't have anything that belonged to him. I would love to have this back.
Carolyn Strohecker

I am guessing that he flew on either the B-17 or B-24 from the 15th AAF in the Mediterreanean, in his being shotdown over Yugoslavia.
 
Does this ring a bell?
 
There were six B-17 Bomb Groups and 15 B-24 Bomb Groups in the 15th AAF.
 
I am also guessing that he was an aircraft mechanic gunner, from your reference to the school at Keesler Field. This would mean he flew as a flight engineer.
 
The information I have avaiable is for the B-17s of the 15th AAF and only lists those airmen who were shot down, POWs or KIA.
 
Do you recall if he told you the date he was shot down ?
 
Please, if you recall ANYTHING that he told you,..please tell us as almost anything will help us, help you.
 
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)

That is my sister. I don't know anything about a lighter and he did not receive the Medal of Honor. I'm not sure where she heard that from.

Jim. He flew on a B-24 Liberator, I know that for sure.  When he was shot shot down he was aided by Yugoslav partisans and the U.S. govt had to pay a bounty to have him returned. My mother said it was $10,000, but that sounds like a lot of money for that time. My aunt also told me that he was shot down another time, she thinks it was in Germany. He was never a POW or in any POW camp. He and the other member of his flight crew managed to return to friendly lines.

Yes, that was my father.

Thank you for that information.....now,if someone from the B-24s will chime in, you may have your answer.
 
Just don't get discouraged.
 
Do you recall if he said anything about a town near his base ? That would also assist in narrowing down  the bomb group.
 
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)

Eric,
 
Another question please.  On your fathers discharge papers is his name spelled correctly?  Cannot find him in the National Archives enlistment files.  Many possible reasons, one of which is mis-spelling.  What was his serial number?  Where did he live when he joined the service?
 
Hal

I know my records are not complete, however my data base of over 1,300  individuals of the 98th Bomb Group, involved in shoot downs, bail outs or accident reports does NOT list his name.
 
Herb Harper Former Historian, 98th Vets. 

Hi Hal. His name is spelled correctly, Edward L. Strohecker, Jr. Serial number 33740111. He resided in Wash., D.C. when he enlisted. He was inducted April 21, 1943 at Ft. Myer, VA. Mustered out at Scott Field, IL on Aug. 1, 1945.

Here is what I found. 
 
(1) He flew with Lt Paul S Cash on aircraft 42-78074 from the 738 Bomb Sq, 454 Bomb Gp.  Nickname "Queen of Hearts".  He was shot down on 14 Oct 1944 and returned to duty.  Missing Air Crew Report 9151 covers this loss
 
(1) He again flew with Lt Paul S Cash on aircraft 42-78210 from the 738 Bomb Sq, 454 Bomb Gp.  He was shot down on 20 Jan 1945 and returned to duty.  Missing Air Crew Report 11274 covers this loss
 
Go to the website: www.footnote.com.  You can log in for a seven-day free trial and obtain copies of both of these Missing Air Crew Reports free of charge.
 
This website is great and they are adding MACR's daily
 

Randy Watkins
MSgt, USAF (Ret)

Randy, thank you so much. I have been searching for ages and you find it in hours(minutes?). I'm glad you knew where to look, because I sure didn't! I should be able to find everything I need now. Again, I really appreciate it. Thanks to all of you who searched for me.
 
Eric

I hope you found what you were looking for.  This appears to be a very good website

Randy Watkins
MSgt, USAF (Ret)