Researching Lt R E Notestine and rescue flights in New Guinea, Port Moresby area, Kokoda Trail, Myola emergency landing area etc.
 
Lt R E Notestine was prominent in introducing light aircraft flights to difficult landing places to rescue downed aircrews and wounded soldiers.
 
He was recommended for a British award to US Personnel, but I have no other detail.
 
Can anyone add to this. Thanks in advance,
Cheers, Wynnum.

Wynnum:
I think I have seen the name somewhere associated with USAAF L-4 "Grasshopper", is this the same person?
 
Terry T.

http://books.google.com/books?id=HRKSjn6IM4MC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=%22Lt.+Notestine%22&source=web&ots=wNuumszqhG&sig=KqZQrQSDpiD9R073xBG1X1D9rWs&hl=en#PPA58,M1

Jim McCabe
My father, Lt. Mike McCabe(deceased 4/26/05), 307th BG, 424th BS, was a Navigator based at Morotai. Mission dates ranged from 2/20/45-8/1/45.

Wynnum -
2 Excellent Books by Ken Wakefield
The Fighting Grasshoppers
Light Planes at War
Mike

NARA Lists Raymond E Notestien..maybe of some help..
 





Name:


Raymond E Notestein



Birth Year:


1918



Race:


White, citizen (White)



Nativity State or Country:


Ohio



State:


Ohio



County or City:


Medina



 


 



Enlistment Date:


14 Apr 1942



Enlistment State:


Ohio



Enlistment City:


Cleveland



Branch:


Air Corps



Branch Code:


Air Corps



Grade:


Private



Grade Code:


Private



Term of Enlistment:


Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law



Component:


Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of



Source:


Civil Life



 


 



Education:


2 years of college



Civil Occupation:


Electric Truck Driver



Marital Status:


Married



Height:


69



Weight:


169

 
 
Terry T.

Gents,
Thanks for the help so far.
The books by Ken Wakefield seem interesting - I'll try to get hold of them.
I'll attach a shot of one of the Stinson Vigilants which Notestine probably flew.
Thanks, Wynnum


[image]local://6416/F0C1A6E3A74941ADAA9DBC7BB506E717.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Wynnum ,
The 25th Liaison Sq. was attached to 5th AF.
Australia 11/43
New Guinea 2/44
Operated  L-4 , L-5 , UC-61, UC-78
Mike

Pray tell, where did you find that photo? Do you have any more like it?

Ryan
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Ryan,
I can find only one other photo - attached.
Description of the earlier post photo
[style="font: 12px arial"]AWM 107135 KOKODA AIRSTRIP, PAPUA. A STINSON AMBULANCE AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS USED FOR THE EVACUATION OF CASUALTIES. SOME TRIPS WERE ALSO MADE FROM NEARBY MYOLA.
[style="font: 12px arial"]AWM P02424.085
[style="font: 12px arial"]Kokoda, Papua, 1942-11. A United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Stinson L-1 Vigilant ambulance aircraft prepares to take off from the Kokoda airstrip, as a group of Australian soldiers looks on (rear). The aircraft is evacuating two sick or wounded Australian soldiers to Port Moresby from the Main Dressing Station (MDS) of the 2/4th Field Ambulance which is established near the airstrip. The Stinson was capable of carrying two patients, one lying and one sitting, on its evacuation flights. A large Red Cross sign and a USAAF star are painted on the aircraft's fuselage (left), the Red Cross indicating the Stinson's medical function. The nose of the aircraft bears a tally sheet of smaller crosses which records the number of medical evacuation missions it has undertaken. (Donor A. Watson)
 
Cheers, Wynnum.

Attached Image(s)

There is a foto of 1st.Lt. Ronald E Notestine on footnote.com. I will see if I can download it here..with me downloading is  crapshoot..

Lt. Notestine was awarded his medal along with a  group of Army Officers  26 Sep 1944.

Lt Notestine died 27 Aug 2000 in Calif, but was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Mich.


No I can't download them if anyone wants them drop me and e-mail and I will send it.


Wynnum, where did you obtain the info the Notestien flew Liaison aircraft?
 
Terry T.

So is that from a book? I'm very fascinated as I've never seen an L-1 with those markings and they are interesting. I'm a member of the Alamo Liaison Squadron and we used to have an L-1 quite a few years back.
www.als-cannonfield.com

Ryan
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webmaster
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http:/http://www.lbirds.com

Terry,
R E Notestine - note the spelling.
He is mentioned in some books related to WWII - fighting at/near Kokoda in New Guinea rescue/evacuation of wounded.
Retreat from Kokoda, Raymond Paull; The First at War - Story of 1st Infantry Battalion - Givney.
See also at Australian Archives - AWM119 control symbol US12 - Recommendations for British Awards to US Personnel.
Cheers, Wynnum.

Wynnum:
I went to the National Australian Archives, they list his name twice, one as a Lt. & once as 1st.Lt., same person.

The photo I have if you wish to have it is the same man..except the R is for Ronald..
 The caption on the backside of the photo reads.

The recipients of decorations which were conferred on behalf of King George VI by the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States during an official presentation ceremony at the British Embassy on 26 Sept 1944.

Front Row L to R
Major. Gen. Frank O'D Hunter; Maj. Gen. Uzal G Ent; Brig. Gen. Haywood S. Hansell; Mrs Eleanoor F Graves, wife of Brig Gen. Davis D. Graves; Brig. Gen. Newton Longfellow; Mr. N. C. Olsen, father of Capt. Roy W. Olsen; Maj. Charles B. Fairlamb; Maj. Ulysses F. Nero; and Maj. Lyman Middleditch.

Back Row L to R:
Lt. R. E. Whittaker; Col. Kenneth B. Hobson; Col. Stewart W. Towle; Col. Archibald R. Mackechnie; Capt. Olan R. Fleming; The Earl of Halifax; T/Sgt. William T. Kent; M/Sgt.Theodore S. Millard; Capt. Carroll A. Taylor; 1st.Lt. Ronald E. Notestine.

You want the picture either find it on footnote.com or drop me an e-mail & I will sent it to you.

Terry

Here's the pic...    



Ryan

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Ryan, Terry,
Thanks for your recent inputs and help. The photo of Notestine is good stuff.
The photo of Vigilant with natives cutting long grass is from "Royal Australian Air Force 1939-42" by Douglas Gillison.
Here is another shot from an un-official booklet of photos of all RAAF aircraft. RAAF did not formally get any Vigilant aircraft. For the purpose of the booklet this photo is bogus. It may have been a RAF Vigilant.
Cheers, Wynnum
PS Ryan, I worked at the Swearingen factory San Antonio for about a month in 1978. Enjoyed my time there.

Attached Image(s)

Thanks for the additional photo and the credit information. From what I know of copyright information and government publications I think that those shots may be public domain now... Do you know otherwise?

Ryan

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Ryan,
Some shot may be from Australian War Memorial, and their policy is you must request approval to copy.
Google Australian War Memorial navigate to search and type in Kokoda and among 2000 results are about five Vigilant shots.
Cheers, Wynnum

Thanks! Will definitely see if I can follow up on this!

Ryan

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