Stanley N. Dwyer-463bg,775sq-shot down May 10, 1944, over Austria, MIA, was my dad's brother. Looking for GEORGE D. MITCHELL, Stanley's crew, POW, and RALPH J. LAUPER, another 775 pilot. THANKS!

Just wanted to say hi. Can't help you much with the 775th, my uncle Gerald Gowen was also shot down on May 10th of 44. His was the next to last plane in the group and only two men made it out. The last one passing away in Oct of 2004. Keep trying the 463rd BG web page may help. Joe Meyers

If you would contact me off-forum, I can give you an address and phone number for one of the men who was on the same bomber as Stanley Dwyer when their plane went down. Perhaps he can give you a hint of how to contact the men you are looking for.

Joel Swindlehurst
463rd Bomb Group Historian
www.463rd.org
Proud son of 1/Lt Leroy J. Swindlehurst (1921-1950)
Navigator, 772nd Sq., 463rd BG

Robert T. Fridley Class 43 G
I am looking for anyone with information on my granduncle, Robert T. Fridley aka "Frid." He was in "D" flight in Primary Flight School at Visalia, California in November 1942. Then Santa Ana Army Air Base. Then "Basic" at Gardener Field, Taft, California. Then "advanced" at Marfa, Texas. He went to B-17 school at Roswell, N.M.  On December 3, 1943 he was assigned to the 463rd Bomb Group in the 775th Squadron. He then moved to Drane Field at Lakeland, Florida. He left the U.S. from Morrison Field, West Palm Beach on February 16, 1944. His final operation base was at Foggia, Italy. He was in tent #31. Robert Fridley got his own crew on #105. His friend was Wayne Gibson. On June 14, 1944 Fridley's plane collided with Lt. Wacker's plane #845. Both planes were lost.
 
More information: http://familygrove.webjaw.com/?cat=56
 
I am currently transcribing letters from my granduncle from his days in training. Have one up from him already. I also have a letter written by Wayne Gibson who trained and served with him and witnessed Fridley go down.
 
Any information will be appreciated. Thanks.

Denise,
 
I thought I would let you know that Russell Christesen of the 775th Sq. recently contacted me that he had flown with your Grand-uncle, Robert Fridley.  He could provide you with some additional information regarding your uncle.  Contact me off forum and I will give you his email address.
 
Joel@463rd.org
 
 
Swindy

Joel Swindlehurst
463rd Bomb Group Historian
www.463rd.org
Proud son of 1/Lt Leroy J. Swindlehurst (1921-1950)
Navigator, 772nd Sq., 463rd BG

Hi,
 
I am looking for members of Lt. Russell Orf's crew. When they were shot down on 24 May 1944. Russel Orf (P), John Wykoff (N), and Carl Janas (B) were killed.  Also on the plane were Max Coddington (UT), James M. Drennan (BT), Cornelius V. Snedeker (LW), Ralph E. Goff (RW), and Thomas R. Bates (TG). Not on that plane but part of the crew was Jack F Paille.
 
Also, I am trying to determine if my father was on Lt Dwight V. Hanson's plane on 10 May 1944. The history of the 775th is a bit ambigous. Max Coddington was on the plane and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Also listed for that mission is that Tail Gunner Melford F. Westrom was wounded. It's not clear if they were on the same plane or not, but Melford Westrom was the original tail gunner on my father's crew and my father provided first aid when he was wounded.
 
Thanks,
Steve Fossey
son of William H. Fossey

THIS GUY IS REPORTED TO BE 86 YEARS OLD-A GOOD POSSIBILITY FOR YOU.

Steve,
 
According to the 775th loading list for the 10 May 1944 mission to Wiener Neustadt, your father was on Russell Orf's crew flying in ship #539 in Fox 5 position in the formation, as was Max Coddington. 
 
Melford Westrom was also on the same aircraft that day and according to the interrogation report, was wounded in the neck, leg and shoulder from flak.
 
According to the interrogation report the damage to their bomber was "oxygen system out, hydraulic system out, nose shot up, bombays out, ball turret, rudder cables almost out, tail full of holes.  Most from flak."
 
 

Joel Swindlehurst
463rd Bomb Group Historian
www.463rd.org
Proud son of 1/Lt Leroy J. Swindlehurst (1921-1950)
Navigator, 772nd Sq., 463rd BG

Joel,
 
Thanks for clearing that up. As a bit of an aside, in the 775th history the third to last crew photo is labeled "Enlisted Men of Lt. Orf's crew". My father wrote the names in L-R, Goff, Fossey, Paille, Westrom, Snedeker, Coddington. 
 
Jim,
 
Thanks for the contact info on those guys. Is that recent contact information? I should have checked the Social Security Deaths Index before I posted (sorry), but I'm only just starting to get into this type of searching. Unfortunately, it appears that Goff, Westrom, Coddington, and Snedeker passed away between 1998 and 2006. Ralph E. Goff of Port Arthur TX is listed having died in August of 2006. Drennan and Bates I still need to check. Jack F. Paille of Louisiana is not on the list. 
 
Thanks,
Steve Fossey
son of William H. Fossey
RO 775th BS
1922-1999

This is a bit O/T for this thread but follows on from a previous message.
 
Joel, you had indicated that the loading list indicated Max Coddington was on Lt. Orf crew for the 10 May 1944 mission to Wiener Neustadt. "Allyn's Irish Orphans" by Carl Cassidy has an entry "...Major General Nathan F. Twining commanding general 15th air force in a special decoration ceremony at Celone Field, 13 May 1944. The Silver Star was awarded 1st. Lt. Dwight V. Hanson Pilot, for his gallantry in leading his squadron on the 10 May mission of Wiener-Neustadt Austria. On that occasion he pulled his squadron out of formation to cover four bombers which had been crippled during the bombing run. Two of the crippled aircraft were forced down but the other two were given protective cover by Lt. Hanson's squadron on the return flight, when attacked by 30-40 enemy fighters and brought safely home. For extraordinary achievement in repairing the hydraulic system and making possible the return of Lt. Hanson's plane from that mission, the Distinguished Flying Cross was presented T/Sgt Max E. Coddington, aerial engineer."
 
Was this award really for the 10 May 1944 mission? I wonder if it may have been for the 23 April 1944 mission to Wiener Neustadt. Max Coddington could not be on both Orf's plane and Hanson's plane on the same mission.
 
Thanks,
Steve
 
PS my father described Lt. Hanson as "a crackerjack pilot".