Hi, Everyone.  This is my first post on this website.  It's a great site, and I've learned lots in the few moments I've taken to troll around. 
 
My dad served with the 319th bomb group during WW-2.  He was never very specific about what he did during the war, but he did mention that he was a tailgunner on a B-26, had been in Africa and in Italy.  I suspect he might have been with Cmdr. Holzapple's group, judging by that information alone.  I have yet to obtain any records from the National Archives, but I am patiently waiting.  I am wondering if there is anyone out there who might have known my dad, and could tell me a story.   I was 22 when my dad died in 1983, and I was too immature to know to ask questions. 
 
I realize this is a longshot!  But how do you know if you don't try?
 
Thanks so much!  This looks like a great community to be a part of!
 
 
 

Cecilia, you can also make a try at the 319th BG website: http://www.319thbombgroup.com/ or even better, go here and ask Ted Baker (Editor) if he can post a request in The SORTIE:http://www.geocities.com/bombgroup17/
(scroll down to bottom of page)
 
Do you know what Squadron he served with ? (437th BS; 438th BS; 439th BS or 440th BS).
You're correct regarding Holzapple: http://www.319thbombgroup.com/Holzap.htm
 

I had to double check the Squadron--it is the 440th.  He wrote this information down in a book that he had about the B-26 during the war that I think was published in the 50's.  I will post the title of the book.  I'm sneaking a few minutes at work to reply, and the book, of course, it at home!!
 
Thanks for your help!
 
 

OK! Will return to your request primo November as I have much info about 319th BG, and a good friend of mine in US knows the squadron well, her father was a Flight Engineer-Gunner in the 440th and served in MTO and at Okinawa so he experienced all three types of aircraft (B-26, B-25 and A-26). Unfortunately I have no access to her e-mail right now as I'm abroad, but will contact a 439th BS Bombardier who knows her well. Guess he has her new address. He wrote me today about some B-26 historical information.
There are several books about 319th BG (Big Tailed Birds), I prefer the combat diary by Esther Oyster as it has much details. Maybe the book you have is "FLAK BAIT" by Devon Francis, it was published in 1949 I think. My copy has belonged to a person who worked at the Martin Factory and has many personal comments in the text based on expert knowledge about the aircraft (guess you get that when building the B-26).

Btw, do you know your father's period of service, you mention North Africa and Italy, they had bases at Sardinia and Corsica after North Africa, and flew many joint missions with 17th BG and 320th BG.
If you check the 320th BG site http://320thbg.org/ you can read misson reports, watch target photos and get an idea of how things were those days....Franz (webmaster) has added Google Earth links to all 320th BG targets, so you can get an idea of how it looks today....

My dad joined up in Janaury of 1943. 
 
There was some story about Joe DiMaggio bumming a cigarette from my dad, but from what I've been able to find out about Joltin' Joe, he never left the US during the war.  So that doesn't help much. 

The book I was referring to is called "Air Force," by Martin Caidin, published in 1957 by Bramhall House, New York.  But I also have "Flak Bait," by Devon Francis.  It is in awful condition, and I am afraid to even open it, let alone dive into it.  I'd love to have it restored some day.  But that's another website!  Thanks for your efforts, I really, really do appreciate it!  My brothers and sister will too.
 
Cecilia

Cecilia Young
Daughter of Master Sgt. George R. Young
319th Bomb Group, 42nd Bomb Wing
Twelfth Air Force

The book by Victor C. Tannehill about 319th BG (ISBN 0960590056) The Big Tailed Birds is rare in the market at the moment (seems to be no available copies around). The 319th BG has done much work on their period in the Pacific in 1945: http://members.cruzio.com/~mgryan/319th/index.html

A B-26 bibliography: http://www.b-26marauderarchive.org/BK/BK2007/BK2007.htm
Tannehill's books about the 12th AF B-26 Marauder units in WWII is published by Boomerang Publishers, Arvada, Colorado.

This book (mentioned before) is rare, but a very detailed account of each mission:
Oyster, Harold E. and Esther M., eds. The 319th in Action: Records of the 319th Bombardment Group. Burch Directory Co., Akron, Ohio 1976; reprint in Texas, 1987.
 
You mention your father's role on the B-26 as a tail gunner. The usual B-26 crew consisted of

• Pilot
  
• Co-Pilot
  
• Bombardier-Navigator
  
• Flight Engineer- Gunner
  
• Radio-Operator- Gunner
  
• Armourer-Gunner (manned tail gun, had responsibility for the a/c guns).

The crew members had several jobs during a mission. First three men were Officers, the other men usually Sergeants.

Cecilia, have checked the 319th BG combat diary, but no mention of George Young. Not all men are mentioned in this book. If you send me a PM with your e-mail address I'll send you some scans of 440th BS Marauders....