Hello, I had a question -- actually, I have a lot of questions. My grandfather was Kenneth Campbell, MD. He served in the 17th BG. He died in the 60s, way before I was born, and when my Dad was still a kid, so we're not clear on a lot of things.

From some postcards we have that he sent home, I know that he had some sort of responsibility in the dispensary. He was also promoted during the war, but I know that while he was in North Africa he was a Captain. I have a photo of him in Tunisia (I think) wearing his railroad tracks.

Anyway, I was hoping maybe someone on here who was either a vet or knew something about USAAF Medical staff might be able to give me more information on what his job may have been, or where exactly he would have fit in to a command structure. Any help is appreciated.

Attached are pics that I have of my grandfather. On the back of the second is written. "Capt. Campbell and guide, Cairo."

Ken, I checked the roster of 34th BS 17th BG but did not find your grandfather there, so he must have been in one of the three other squadrons (37th BS, 95th BS or 432nd BS). 17th BG came to Telergma in Algeria in December 1942, and moved to Sedrata in Algeria in May 1943, then to Djedeida in Tunisia in June 1943 and to Villacidro on Sardinia in November 1943. If you have any photo of a Marauder that might have belonged to your grandfather's unit showing nose-art, or serial on tail (battle numbers were not in use at that time) it might help trying to ID the unit. You can also send a mail to 17th BG:
http://www.geocities.com/bombgroup17/ , they had their 2007 reunion about a month ago together with 319th BG and 320th BG.
 
If we look to 34th BS organization we find the following "Squadron Gears":

• Executive Officers
  
• Operations Officers
  
• Flight Surgeons (Captains)
  
• Engineering Officers
  
• Communications Officers
  
• Armament Officers
  
• Ordnance Officers
  
• Intelligence Officers
  
• Supply Officers
  
• Chemical Warfare Officer
  
• First Sergeants
  
• Line Chiefs
  
• Section Heads

This photo was with my grandfather's things. I don't believe he is in the photo (though he may be the man on the far left of the photo. It shows nose art, but I don't know if the bomber shown is a B26 (sorry, I'm not good at that stuff.)




[image]local://upfiles/14129/1276B180F26A43F4881F26F03A9DB779.jpg[/image]

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AND THANK YOU!!!!

Ken, I'm almost certain that this aircraft is a B-17 bomber (Heavy, four engines). The drop shaped belly antenna and the three struts on undercarriage + side windows + tail dragger (nose is raised) points all to that.
Have added a 17th BG B-26 Marauder to help you ID other eventual a/c among your photos.
 

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The only other photos featuring aircraft that I have are a shot of a row of B26s covered with snow in Sardinia, and that famous photo of the B26 with it's right engine coming apart in flak, shot from the waist window of another B26. Not sure if that helps. Unfortunately, I won't be able to look for more photos until Christmas, when I visit my family, but I know there are pictures of my grandfather with generals and colonels and such brass. That may help.

Ken, regarding the B-17 photo, is it possible to read the name on the nose art? Someone here at the forum might have knowledge of that plane.

You mention a row of snow covered B-26 in Sardinia; I do not think they encountered snow there. In September 1944 the 17th BG moved to Poretta, Corsica for a short period, then to Dijon in France in November 1944 until June 1945.

The winter 1944-45 was cold and they had much snow in Dijon. Attached here a photo from winter in Dijon.

The Marauder you mention was shot down over Toulon on August 20th 1944, belonged to 95th BS. Recently I posted a photo of this Marauder here: http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_131873/tm.htm

34th BS Medical section in May 1945:

• Spitzer, Golusky, Cakebread, Berkland, Scavetti, Cobb; maybe these names are written down on some photo?

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No, unfortunately those names are unfamiliar. You are right about the snow covered planes - here they are. And I jacked up the resolution on the B17 photo, and I believe it says "FLICKA". I know the movie "My Friend Flicka" came out in 1943, for what it's worth. It IS difficult to read what the nose says.

Thank you so much for your help. I am thinking that maybe if the photo of the crippled b26 was from the 95th, maybe that was the sqaudron my grandfather was in? It's a bit of a longhsot, I know, since that photo is so incredibly popular. But I can't imagine why my grandfather would have a copy like that otherwise.

Thanks again!




[image]local://upfiles/14129/6ADDF9C9A1D94C8F809BCBBDE89F8673.jpg[/image]

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Well done, Ken!
This is most certainly the 17th BG flight line in Dijon Winter 1944-45, but might as well be 320th BG, too, as they were based there at same time. The design of Battle Numbers on tail would help distinguish them (scan at high res).
 
Anyway, I checked my 17th BG photo folder, and found a crashed B-17 photographed in Telergma, Algeria, in Spring 1943, named "Susy Q". It had  a number 6 on tail (attachment). So your B-17 photo might as well be from one of the B-17 units in 12th AF 5th BW in North Africa. Possible units should be:

• 2nd BG (heavy)
  
• 97th BG (heavy)
  
• 99th BG (heavy)
  
• 301st BG (heavy)

As all these groups have forums here you might post at those with the photo asking for help to ID that plane.
Maybe your grandfather had some friends in one of those groups? Also found (by Google) that James Doolittle had a
B-17, too. As you know, many US aircraft were named also after movie characters etc, not just pin-ups....so your hypothesis about "FLICKA" is sound.

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Unfortunately, you can't see the tails all that well in the originals (which I don't have in my possession right now.)  I'm trying to track down more photos -- but family politics enter into it. I will definitely take your advice about asking about the B17.

My hypothesis is that maybe Capt. Campbell treated one of the men, or maybe one was a medical officer in another unit, and his friend (as you think as well).

When I have more info, I will post it.

Thanks for your help!

I boosted the resolution on the flight line pic, and lo and behold, it looks like the only clear tail that you can make out MAY have a large 3 on it. Or it's clumped snow. It's so hard to see.

Does that make any sense, or am I seeing things in the snow?

Blown-up pic:

[image]local://upfiles/14129/CE2150319B9443B2BAD5996A9EFF67BE.jpg[/image]

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hello
i think maybe that's the tail markings of 2nd bg
http://www.markstyling.com/mto_b17s/MTO.39.jpg
 
 
 

sorry
i must be very tired
you are talking about b26
and i was searching b17 group marking
excuse me !