heiks31
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Looking for information on Harold J Heikkila
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12/07/2007 01:41:26 PM
Looking for information on my grandfather Harold J. Heikkila. He flew in a b-24 named "patches" starting in august 1944 (445th). Flew 35+ missions as a tail gunner. I would like to know crew info, pilot, anything at all about him. (this is not the heikkila from Merrill scharmen's crew) there was also a "grant" from kentucky on the crew. Thanks!!
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shooshoobaby
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RE: Looking for information on Harold J Heikkila
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12/07/2007 05:25:19 PM
Luke - There were 2 B - 24s in the 445th BG , 700th Sq. # 42 - 95015 RN T " Patches " Returned U.S. 10/17/45 RFC Altus , Ok. - Scrapped # 42 - 110042 RN F " Patches " Shot Down 9/27/44 If he flew a lot of Missions on Patches , it would be # 42 - 95015. 445th Site : www.445th-bomb-group.com Mike
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heiks31
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RE: Looking for information on Harold J Heikkila
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12/08/2007 08:00:37 AM
He flew almost all of his missions in "patches". He has a log book with altitudes, targets, dates, plane names, etc...he has pictures of their plane, and they all had jackets made up with the their planes name on it.
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Mike.Simpson
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RE: Looking for information on Harold J Heikkila
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12/08/2007 10:28:30 AM
Luke:
Just left a voicemail message for you. According to my records, I show your grandfather flying 37 missions with the 445th Bomb Group. His first mission was on Aug 24, 1944 flying as a gunner on James R. Wilgus' crew with the 700th Bomb Squadron. He flew 22 missions as a member of that crew. His last mission was Feb 26, 1945; flying with Henry A. LaForet. He only flew with those 2 pilots for all of his missions.
Your reference to "Patches" is for a B-24H-20 FO 42-95015 I IS. That translates to a Block 20 model of the B-24H aircraft built by Ford at the Willow Run facility. 42-95015 is the aircraft serial number; the letter 'I' stands for the radio call letter for the plane and 'IS' was the squadron identification letters for the 700th Bomb Squadron. The squadron's radio call sign was 'Displease', so if you wanted to raise your grandfather's aircraft on the radio, you would call to "Displease I Item".
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Jinglelady
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RE: Looking for information on Harold J Heikkila
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05/08/2008 12:33:43 AM
Thought you might enjoy this... [image]local://13136/AA9F58BDAF8042DA8EEE3C7DCC402AF7.jpg[/image] Pilot is 445th BG 700th Squadron pilot Ken Wander.
<message edited by Jinglelady on 05/08/2008 12:35:30 AM >
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