I believe that my father, Alvin Mittelman was with the 5th BG(H) at Hickam and Espirito Santo (he might have been in the 11th BG at this point).  He enlisted June 5, 1941 and was at Hickam on Dec 7, 1941. The only conversation I ever had with him about his WWII service was in the late 80's at an 11th BG(H) reunion in St. Louis. I can't find the notes that I wrote during the conversation. What I recall is:
- he was a Waist Gunner and flew on both B-17 D's & E's
- he participated in the Battle of Midway and said that he was credited with downing a Zero
- he flew missions in the South Pacific on four different aircraft (he named three but I don't recall the names) (he may have been with the 11th BG (H) for a portion of this period).
- One of the aircraft was shot down during a mission up the Slot. He and two others survived and were picked up by a destroyer. They were returned to the New Hebrides after being MIA for two months
- Another aircraft was landed in the lagoon off the end of the Runway (I thought this was at Espirito Santo, my brother thinks it was a different island). Another attendee at the reunion said that he had dove on this aircraft the previous summer.
- he left the South Pacific on a hospital ship before his unit returned to the states to transition to B-24s
From a conversation with his brother last summer:
- The first pilot that my father flew with at Hickam was Colin Kelly
- My father left the South Pacific approx Mar, 1943
- He was discharged from the Springfield (IL) Army Hospital approx Jul, 1943

I'm looking for anyone that might have known him, might know which aircraft he flew in or might know the location of the aircraft in the lagoon.

Thanks

There aren't too many of us with family in the 11 BG H in that part of the Pacific at that time who come here.

Phil Gudenschwager is the man you want to contact. He is Treasure/Sec. of the 11 BG H Association. His email address is 11bga@cox.net.

My father was in the same places as your father about the same times. Phil lost a brother in the same theater of war.

These are photos of the 11 BG H the 42 Sq. before the Attack at Hickam on 12/7/1941.

Write Phil, the unit is soon going to have their reunion so he maybe busy. But he can help you to join the 11 BG H and they have copies of the Unit Book, "Grey Geese Calling" you can purchase as a member of the organization because your father was in the unit. 

I have had three friends enlarge or blow up the photos and find their fathers or brothers in the Unit Photos. Phils' brother, my father and a couple other family members were found by enlarging the photos and going over them carefully.

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

Thanks,

I'll contact Phil.  I know that my father went to several 11th BG reunions.  I think I have a copy of "Grey Geese Calling" that my father picked up at the St. Louis reunion in the late 80's.  I've looked through your photo's and haven't been able to find him.

Seth

my Father:
Pvt Alvin Mittelman
B-17 Waist Gunner
Hawaiian AF - Hickam Field 1941-42
South Pacific (5th BG(H) or 11th BG(H)?) 1942-43

This is from 1943, I spoke to three of the men in this photo.

But the name Mittleman is not on any of the photos I have from my father.

This was taken in 1943.

Do you have your fathers service number or serial number? If you do there are things you can get as his next of kin. He maybe entitled to the Presidential Unit Citation. I was able to get all my fathers medals it took time but you can get them as he son. 

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

I've got a copy of the Presidental Unit Citation that the 11th received for its time in the South Pacific.  His having the citation is what leads me to think that he spent time with the 11th.  After his discharge my father was an actor.  One of the Broadway plays he was in performed at the White House.  He brought his copy with him and President Truman signed it.

Seth

my Father:
Pvt Alvin Mittelman
B-17 Waist Gunner
Hawaiian AF - Hickam Field 1941-42
South Pacific (5th BG(H) or 11th BG(H)?) 1942-43

I have a copy of the book "One Damned Island After Another", the book states that the 11 TH BG  H was recommended for the Presidential Citation by the Naval Command in the Pacific Theater. The US Marine Unit received the same medal that the Air Corp supported during this campaign

It continues to be the only time in US Military History that one branch of our Armed Services Recommended and Awarded this medal to another branch of the Armed Services, the 11 BG H the 42 Squadron.

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

And of course I should have posted this too it is the Medal.

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

I should have asked you sooner do you have your father serial number? I think I told you, it takes time but you can get his medals and his separation papers free.

A lot of files were burned in the Great Fire of 1970 something. But you can get his Separation papers that will give you something to go on. Plus with the number you can apply for his medals.

It takes time but it is well worth it. I plan to give them to his grandsons when they settle down. They knew him and loved him. My older son did a History Project by interviewing my father about the Attack on Hickam. He got a A+ for it.  

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

Looking through my fathers memorabilia I found a badge from the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association that says Hickam Field 31st Bomb Sq.

Regarding the following:

"One of the aircraft was shot down during a mission up the Slot. He and two others survived and were picked up by a destroyer. They were returned to the New Hebrides after being MIA for two months." 

I do not know if it is the same incident, but there is a report of a similar mission in which a bomber was shot down and the crew did not return for 66 days.  From Fortress Against the Sun, Gene Eric Salecker (2001) pp. 337-9.

"Although the 11th BG was relieved from duty and the fight for the 'Canal was effectively over, the 5th BG continued to fly search missions over the Northern Solomons.  At 3:00 A.M. on February 9, Capt. Thomas J. Classen, B-17F (41-24450),  My Ever Lovin' Dove, took off from Guadalcanal to seaerch an area far to the northeast . . ."
Salecker goes on to describe the mission, and an encounter with 6-8 zeros, a water landing and 16 days at sea.  It concludes by indicating that Classen and three of his crew reached American lines after 66 days.

The book is a very good source for information on the AAC in the Pacific in the early part of the war.
Michael

After I posted my last message, I re-read your posting and I noted the following:

"Another attendee at the reunion said that he had dove on this aircraft the previous summer. "

This would tend to support the idea that your father was on "My Ever Lov'n Dove".

Michael

I found a link <http://www.bomberlegends.com/pdf/BL_Mag_v2-1-OneIsland.pdf >to an account from one of the "My Ever Lov'n Dove" survivors that listed the crew.  My father was not on that flight.