I'm trying to find out if anyone has ever heard of the planes my Daddy flew . He was in the 340th bg of the 486th. One of the planes I've been told was the Touch of Texas. I'll have to look up the other one that my grandmother told me about. It's in one of her letters. I have his photo album from Corsica and Tunis and would like to know if anyone related to LeMaster and Click are around. They were in a lot of his photos. [signature]

Greetings! Mike Laney is your man. His grandfather was a 486th pilot. Mike is a virtual 486th historian. Unfortunately, his website seems to be down. I recommend you post a message on the 57th Bomb Wing listserver. I'm sure Mike will see your message there. Here's the link: [url "http://lists.northrock.bm/57th"][#0000ff]http://lists.northrock.bm/57th[/#0000ff][/url] Also check out Herman Voss's tribute to Jack Sterett of the 486th: [url "http://www.home.bellsouth.net/P/PWP-486BombSquadron"][#0000ff]http://www.home.bellsouth.net/P/PWP-486BombSquadron[/#0000ff][/url][#008000] [/#008000] Herman's website also contains photos and text describing [size 4][#000033][font "Helvetica"]"Battle Highlights of the 340 BG."[/#000033] Best regards, -vjw- [signature]

Thanks! Herman and I have been chatting for a while now. He is creating a section for my Dad on the web site there. I'm sending him photos as I scan them. I have some memoirs that Daddy wrote down, that I need to send him as well. I'll check out Mike's site when it's up or email him. Charlene [signature]

This is Mike Laney, I am the grandson of Lt. Bill Laney, pilot in the 486th BS...Here is my new web address:

340th BG Research

What was your fathers name? If you have any pictures of this B-25 that will be helpful. I have cobbled together a list of 340th BG, including 486th BS planes building on research by the late Bill Slate and Bob Haney, and have through other squadron members and interested parties!

I have not heard of "Touch of Texas" but lets see if we can make some kind of connection.

I am also working on a book on the 340th, so any photos, stories or items of interest you can contribute would be appreciated!

Regards

mike

Postal__16,



A friend and I have been colorizing the 57th Wing B25J's as based in Corsica.

With the aid of Herman Voss, Donald Keiser, Dominique Taddei and Terrance Coursen we have been able to re-paint a good portion of the 321st, 1 of the 486th, some of the 487th. The repaining is uses the technique of "skining" 3D Combat Sim models for IL2/Forgotten Battles/Aces Expansion/Pacific Fighters by C1: Maddox games.

We have most of the information for all of the bomb squadrons, the only thing we need is time.

Below is a recently completed aircraft depicting Herman Voss' brother in law's aircraft where he flew 13 missions as tail gunner. The aircraft was documented with information gathered by Mr. Voss and his contact Mike Laney.

Mr Voss color link:
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=331&folderid=190994&folderview=thumbs&groupid=97678&ck=


Please visit out site: http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eralph.gimenez/57thWing/
Postal, if you are interested in using our artwork please let us know so we can focus in our effort.

Thanks

Ralph

Hey Ralph.

I be that Mike Laney fellow :-)

One thing, and I do not know if you can do it with your program. All of the 43-4000 block B-25Js came over with the OD over Gray, and side pack guns. Since the side pack guns were not needed for their mission, they were removed and the bare alumimum was exposed where the guns were. I have some photos of 6K showing this if you would like to see.

And that be my grandfathers plane! Great Job...can this skin be used in MS Flight Sim? My dad would love it!

Thanks

Mike

I  found the serial numbers of two of the B25's flown by my Daddy,  Lt. Clair J. Clark .
B25D 41 29995 flown in 1943 to be delivered to a "censored" location. This was noted in one of his orders.

B25(D?) 41-29982 was also mentioned in another of his orders.

Neither of these are the plane he flew over Pontecorvo where he was shot up and had to land literally on a "wing and a prayer".
_________________

I couldn't find either of those serials in my 340th plane database.
 
I did take a look in my grandfathers notebook under friends addresses, anf found:
 
Lt. Clair J. Clark
Holden, Missouri
 
So it is safe to say they knew each other and where friends :-)
 
His name was 2 steps above
 
Donald K. Slayton
R.R. #3
Sparta, Wisc.
 
This is of course Mercury 7 astronaut Deke Slayton, who was also a pilot in the 486th :-)