Hi, My mother in law recently discovered an old suitcase with some WWII records from my father in law's service as a B 24 pilot. Included are his flying log books, his daily private journal, some other paperwork (appears to be mustering out) and some photos. One of the photos shows a B 24 with the name Silver Shark and its nose art. He died about 20 years ago without ever sharing any war stories with his children (I met and married a daughter after he was gone). What I have pieced together so far is that he was sent from a S.C. base to Italy (possibly with a stop over in Africa) sometime Dec 1944. He was shot down some time in Jan 45 and held captive by the Russians for some months in a box car (according to 97 yr old MOM) before being swapped perhaps for some american liberated russians and being returned to Italy. Some of the info we have may require deciphering; the wartime diary is very cryptic especially about movements. Some preliminary research pointed me to this bomb group as a possible unit he was with. His service # was131550551. Any correspondance of mutual interest encouraged. Thanks
Wayne