Hello, my Uncle was lost on the "Elusive Elcy", shot down on a raid to Emden, Germany on 9/27/43.  I have a huge amount of memorabilia about my uncle and the Elcy's crew that I am donating to a small museum near my home (the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville, NY) -- they have graciously agreed to accept it as a permanent exhibit.  I have already been in touch with two very nice people related to two of the crew members KIA that day (Paul Muha and Junior Digman) who have kindly sent me pictures for inclusion in the exhibit.  I am VERY interested in contacting anyone related to the other crew members.  I have only two "leads" on the other crew members (one based on info posted in the WWII Registry) and am hoping someone may see this and contact me.  
 
Also, if anyone else has any pictures or info related to the mission on 9/27 that they would be willing to e-mail me, I would be most appreciative!!!     
 
 
 Crew of the "Elusive Elcy" on 9/27/43: 
 

   S/Sgt. William S. Brearton - Radio Operator (Aberdeen, South Dakota) KIA.
   S/Sgt. Paul Muha - Ball Turret Gunner (Lorain, Ohio) KIA
   S/Sgt. Richard Scott, Jr. - Left Waist Gunner (New Castle, Indiana) POW.

 
 
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Best regards,
Margie
 

Samuel Posner was born in 1919.  His Father (Rubin) was a Russian immigrant, his mother was born in the US.  According to the 1930 census he had a sister (Beth Amy) who was a couple years younger. 
 
Who was your Uncle?
 
Andy Mays in Manie

Hi Andy, my Uncle was Patrick J. Bolger.  Thank you for the info about Samuel Posner!  I've looked the families up on "Ancestry.com" and gotten a few leads (on Sgt. Scott and Lt. Nelson).  I'd felt a bit dorky about the idea of writing letters to people "out-of-the-blue" but now that there's a museum exhibit involved I fired off two letters and am keeping my fingers crossed.  Thanks for your help!   

Letters???
 
Call them up.  I've made HUNDREDS of cold calls, looking for airmen or their families.  Not one person has ever been "short" with me.  Even the people that aren't who I'm looking for are interested and wish me luck.
Funny, I couldn't find anything on ancestry about your uncle.
Most of the crew are/were the only boys in the family.  Often, I examine the census reports and can find a brother or two.
 
Andy

The family is only in the 1930 Manhattan census -- they arrived from Ireland in 1927 (they probably wished they'd stayed there since Patrick was killed and my father badly wounded in Italy a month later...).  Here's a twist:  While doing genealogical research I found out that "Bolgers" descended from Flemish hired-hands who supposedly came to Ireland with some-or-the-other invader way back when. And where is Patrick now buried?  In a US Military Cemetery not far from the Flemish area in Belgium.  Ironic I think.    

Patrick J. Bolger


Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 32439400
331st Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy

Entered the Service from: New York
Died: 27-Sep-43
Buried at: Plot D Row 15 Grave 7
Ardennes American Cemetery
Neupre, Belgium

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

Associate member of the Awon
http://www.awon.org/
__________________

Fighters for Victory (357th FG)

Margie & Andy,
 
Just found this (maybe you've seen it already..) http://www.chez.com/franckruffino/My-Site/B-17%2042-5888.htm
 
Take care,
 
Paul

Associate member of the Awon
http://www.awon.org/
__________________

Fighters for Victory (357th FG)

Hi Paul - yes, I sure have seen that Heinz Knoke website.  It gave me quite a start when I found it not long after beginning my research -- not only does it have the crew picture (thrilled to find that!), it's got a picture of the plane at the exact moment the wing came off (that was a bit more information than I bargained for....).  
 
I've so far been able to identify only some of the crew in the crew picture:  Paul Muha is kneeling at bottom left (100% certain of this, ID'd by his brother); my uncle, Patrick Bolger, is next to him, kneeling second from left; Harley Roberts, the Pilot, may be standing behind them at far right (not sure of this, ID is based on a formal picture I have that my uncle sent home -- crew pic is pretty fuzzy so I'm not 100% sure).   I also have a picture of Lt. Junior Digman, who was on the flight as an Observer that day (his first flight according to the MACR), but I doubt he's in this crew picture.  I got his picture from a distant relative who saw my post on RootsWeb a while back. 
 
Thanks for writing!!
Regards, Margie   

the CP B RO BTG and RWG are burried in the Ardennes cemetery
 
the 10 killed men were burried in Wittmund cemetery in gemany

ron
http://www.mary-ruth.ontheweb.nl/

My name is Nancy Bosley and my uncle was William Brearton, the radio operator on the Elusive Elcy. I have a photo of him and the crew in front of the aircraft. I have most of Bill's letters to my mother and grandmother sent while he was in the services. I have only the one photo of him from his service days. Bill was an artist and he often included small sketches in his letters. I was born after he was killed, but have always been drawn to him and his life. My aunt, his sister Marjorie is still alive at 97; my mother, Betty Brearton Avery died two years ago at 92. I would love to hear from other relatives of the crew. I will have to look, but I think I have a letter from my gramma from the surviving member of the crew...was it the tail gunner?

Hi Nancy!
 
I was very surprised and delighted to get your email.  Jack Brearton kindly gave your email address to me.  I didn't hold out much hope that it would still be active. 
Richard Scott, jr. was the lone survivor. He is listed as the left waist gunner but it's quite possible that he was in another position.  We're looking forward to finding out what he wrote to your grandmother!
 
Andy Mays in Maine
 
 

Oh Nancy, it's wonderful to hear from you!!  I can't believe Andy Mays found you!  He is a wonder!!  Is the crew picture you have the same one that's on the "Heinz Knoke" website?  If so, where is your Uncle in the picture?  My Uncle was the "Assistant Radio Operator" so I think they may have attended Radio School together -- I'm going to e-mail you a picture from training days so you can see if one of the men is your Uncle.  I also have a letter postmarked 4-28-48 from Mrs. Martin R. Brearton, 215 7th NEast in Aberdeen addressed to my grandmother.  She was writing to see if my grandmother had heard anything about which military cemetery they would eventually be buried in -- I will e-mail you a copy of that as well.  Needless to say, I would love to see Richard Scott's letter if you can find it!  I have been in touch with Paul Muha's grand-nephew and with a distant relative of Lt. Junior Digman.  I think I've also found relatives of Lts. Nelson and Posner -- I just sent them letters so I'm waiting to hear back.   Wow, it's so great to hear from you!  I'll stop rambling-on now and send you those e-mails.  Best regards, Margie       

i have s/sgt Scott listed as a TG

ron
http://www.mary-ruth.ontheweb.nl/

Hi Ron, you're right, I checked the MACR and found I made an error when listing the positions.  I switched two names by mistake -- Richard Scott was indeed the Tail Gunner and it was John J O'Brien who was the Left Waist Gunner.  Thanks!    

Hi Nancy, I wanted to let you know that I've made contact with the family of another crew member.  I just got a call today from a nephew of Lt. Samuel I. Posner, the Navigator (I sent him a letter last week).  Unfortunately, his mother, Lt. Posner's only sibling, passed away some years ago and this gentleman doesn't have any family pictures so is unable to identify Lt. Posner in the crew photo.  However, he's going to call his older sister to see if she's got the family "archives".  The one thing he remembered his mother saying was that his uncle had joined the RCAF not long after the war broke out in Europe.  He flew with the Canadians in England until the US declared war, at which time he joined the USAAF.  The nephew was thrilled to get my letter and the info I sent since he had no details about how his uncle died.  I'm going to send him some more info and will update you if his sister has pictures and/or other info.  

Hi Margie
 
I don't know if you have the 94th BG 'Mission Formation Chart' for the September 27th 1943 mission? If you would like a copy send me a 'PM' with your e-mail address, rather than posting it, and i will send a copy to you.
 
Look forward to hearing from you.
 
Regards
 
Chris.

Chris,
Thank you so very much for sending me the formation chart!! 
 
I was thrilled to learn that you live in Bury St. Edmunds and are researching the 94th Bomber Group.  You are the second kind resident of Bury St. Edmunds who has helped my family gather information about my uncle.  The first, believe it or not, was a person named "E.J. Clarke" who lived at "Pear Tree Farm, Hartest," who wrote my family a letter in 1951 and returned my uncle's dog tag!   According to the letter, the Clarke family was "on holiday at Snettesham, a coastal village near Hunstanton in the 'Wash', which is bordered by the North Sea" -- my Uncle's dogtag, this nice person said, "was brought up by the tide, my son picking it up whilst paddling". They went on to say that the dogtag must have washed over from the crash site since the coastal area in England where they found it was a forbidden zone during the war, thus making it unlikely that my uncle lost it while there.  I guess this is possible since the plane exploded in mid-air near Norden, Germany, which is near the coast -- and the dogtag does look rather charred to me.  I think it's absolutely amazing that his dogtag was found this way, and even more so that it was a family from Bury St. Edmunds who found it!  Please "PM" me if you would like a copy of the letter -- I would be more than happy to send it to you!  Thank you again for the chart....  Best regards, Margie  

Hi Margie
 
You are welcome to the copy of the formation chart and i'm very happy to fill in this part regarding your Uncle and his crew.
 
That is also a wonderful story regarding your Uncle's dog tag and just goes to show what a small world we live in. I would imagine that your Uncle's dog tag had an address for his next to kin which made it possible for it to be returned to his family. Later on in WWII the address details were not on the dog tags. You are also correct in saying that the coastal areas were out of bounds, especially the east and south coasts of England.
 
If possible i would very much like a copy of the letter and will send you an e-mail. Many thanks for the offer.
 
Regards
 
Chris.

Dear Margie,
I am Samuel Posner's niece. My brother, Dr. Steven Erlanger, told me of a phone call and request for military photographs of Uncle Bobby. "Bobby" is the affectionate name his family always used. I am proud to be named for him. I have just returned from the printer with photographs that I have reprinted. I am happy to share anything that I have or know that might be useful. I have a younger brother Thomas (Tom) Erlanger who lives in Armonk, New York.
I can tell you Samuel's father, my grandfather's information is correct except his name is spelled Ruben. Bobby's mother, my grandmother, was Jeanne Landau Posner. She was born in New York City, Thompkins Square, on January 15, 1898. She lived to be 95. My mother, Bobby's younger sister, was Beth Amy Posner.  She married my father, Martin Sydney Erlanger.  Both are deceased.  I can say Uncle Bobby stories remain a beloved memory.  The stories that we do have are an important of our family lore.
My husband Michael found your website by Googling B17 Elusive Elcy.  We saw the photograph that I have of the crew outside the plane. I am not sure I can add anything significant to you search, but I am glad to know of your endevor. I can send you the photographs directly and would love to be informed of any exhibits or anything that relates to this effort. My email address is bobilee13@aol.com.  Is all the communication to be through this website? I look forward to hearing from you.
 

Dear Margie,
 
 I am Samuel Posner's niece. My brother Dr. Steven Erlanger told me of a phone call and request for military photographs of Uncle Bobby. "Bobby" is the affectionate name his family always used. I am proud to be named for him. I have just returned from the printer with photographs that I have, reprinted for your use. I am happy to share anything that I have or know that might be useful. I have a younger brother, Thomas (Tom) Erlanger, who lives in Armonk, New York.
 .
I can tell you Samuel's father's information is correct except his name is spelled Ruben. Ruben was my grandfather. Samuel’s mother, my grandmother, was Jeanne Landau Posner. She was born in New York City (Tompkins’s Square) on January 15, 1898. She lived to be 95 years old. Bobby’s younger sister, my mother, was Beth Amy Posner.  She married Martin Sydney Erlanger.  They are both deceased. I can say Uncle Bobby stories remain a beloved memory. The stories that we do have are an important part of our family lore.
 
 I can send you the photographs directly and would love to be informed of any exhibits or anything that relates to this effort. My email address is bobilee13@aol,com.
 
 My husband, Michael found your website by Goggling B17 Elusive Elcy.  We saw the photograph that I have of the crew outside the plane. I am not sure I can add anything significant to your search but am glad to know of your endeavor
Is all communication to be through this website?  I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Barbara Kaplan