Found the following links thought might be interesting...

• Photo’s Unidentified b24’s has some crew photos with the planes --http://www.b24adlibs.com-a.googlepages.com/unidentifiedb-24s3
• Webshots – family has posted WWII photos from Hawaii / Guadalcanal 1940 – 44 -There is 113 photos in all.  http://news.webshots.com/album/4409690IMGbOddpwR

From you description it sounds like your father was in the same places as my own father at the same time.

Forgive me if you covered this already Linda. What unit was he in and when?

Here are some photos of my fathers experience in the Army Air Corp. He was in from 1940 until 1945.

http://usera.imagecave.com/kegsh01/USAAC/

Thank you. 

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

I believe so as well;  however his military records were burned in the St. Louis fire, the only remaining document is his final pay voucher when he was discharged in Nov 1945 in the amount of $213.97 which was for 3 months!   

I know he enlisted Nov 10 1943 Seattle Washington however he lived in New Mexico. The only thing I have that reflects his military service is a newpaper clipping indicating a commendation by Major General Robert W Douglass Jr who commanded the 7th AAF.  The article states he was assigned to the 7th AAF  engineering section of the 11th heavy bombardment squardron from October 1944 until he was discharged.  To the best of family knowledge he was ground crew building the air strips and also had hand to hand combat.  The article does not have a date to it!

Based on historical timelines he had to be involved somehow in some of  the following: I have highlighted the B29 activity but feel he was part of the invasions in the Phillipines but can not connect just yet!

September 15, 1944 - U.S. Troops invade Morotai and the Paulaus.
October 11, 1944 - U.S. Air raids against Okinawa.
October 18, 1944 - Fourteen B-29s based on the Marianas attack the Japanese base at Truk.
October 20, 1944 - U.S. Sixth Army invades Leyte in the Philippines.
October 23-26 - Battle of Leyte Gulf results in a decisive U.S. Naval victory.
October 25, 1944 - The first suicide air (Kamikaze) attacks occur against U.S. warships in Leyte Gulf.
November 11, 1944 - Iwo Jima bombarded by the U.S. Navy.
November 24, 1944 - Twenty four B-29s bomb the Nakajima aircraft factory near Tokyo.
December 15, 1944 - U.S. Troops invade Mindoro in the Philippines.
December 17, 1944 - The U.S. Army Air Force begins preparations for dropping the Atomic Bomb by establishing the 509th Composite Group to operate the B-29s that will deliver the bomb.
January 3, 1945 - Gen. MacArthur is placed in command of all U.S. ground forces and Adm. Nimitz in command of all naval forces in preparation for planned assaults against Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Japan itself.
January 4, 1945 - British occupy Akyab in Burma.
January 9, 1945 - U.S. Sixth Army invades Lingayen Gulf on Luzon in the Philippines.
January 11, 1945 - Air raid against Japanese bases in Indochina by U.S. Carrier-based planes.
January 28, 1945 - The Burma road is reopened.
February 3, 1945 - U.S. Sixth Army attacks Japanese in Manila.
February 16, 1945 - U.S. Troops recapture Bataan in the Philippines.
February 19, 1945 - U.S. Marines invade Iwo Jima.
March 2, 1945 - U.S. airborne troops recapture Corregidor in the Philippines.
March 3, 1945 - U.S. And Filipino troops take Manila.
March 9/10 - Fifteen square miles of Tokyo erupts in flames after it is fire bombed by 279 B-29s.
March 10, 1945 - U.S. Eighth Army invades Zamboanga Peninsula on Mindanao in the Philippines.
March 20, 1945 - British troops liberate Mandalay, Burma.
March 27, 1945 - B-29s lay mines in Japan's Shimonoseki Strait to interrupt shipping.
April 1, 1945 - The final amphibious landing of the war occurs as the U.S. Tenth Army invades Okinawa.
April 7, 1945 - B-29s fly their first fighter-escorted mission against Japan with P-51 Mustangs based on Iwo Jima; U.S. Carrier-based fighters sink the super battleship YAMATO and several escort vessels which planned to attack U.S. Forces at Okinawa.

Have you written to Phil at the 11 BG H Association?

Here is his address, they are having a reunion in August. He may not write back immediately but if you do catch him he will be at the reunion and may find others who can tell you something.

This is the group who replaced many of the men lost in 1942 from the 42 Sq. in the 11 BG H. It was taken in 1943 I have been able to speak to  three of the men who are still living. 

Phil maybe your best bet, he gave these three mens names and phone numbers to reach them. My father is with them and trained them. He is Heilman.

11bga@cox.net

Attached Image(s)

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

My father received $282.58 cents when he was discharged. He was married by now and sending most of it home to my mother. 

Mom was expecting my sister who was born just before his discharge in 1945.  

Attachment(s)

DonnasBirtheleg.pdf (77.22 KB) - downloaded 7 times

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942