hcc1944
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Pistol Packin' Mama
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05/07/2008 10:02:06 PM
Hello, group. I'm doing some research on a B-24 nicknamed the Pistol Packin' Mama. My uncle was a bombardier aboard this aircraft, and I'd like to present my findings to him for his 90th birthday this August. From what I've gathered so far, the Pistol Packin' Mama was based in India, and assigned to the 373rd Bombardment Squadron. It participated in a raid with four other B-24s on a cement plant in Hai Phong (now Vietnam) on 09/15/1943. Four of these bombers, including my uncle's, were lost; the fifth returned home, claiming 10 enemy kills. By cross-referencing their serial numbers, I've managed to name three of the four: "Temptation", "Daisy May (or Mae)", and "Mohawk".
Now a search of MACRs on this site shows four planes lost in September of 1943; three from the 308th BG, and one from the 98th BG. The 98th BG was on the other side of the globe for the duration of World War Two. Yet the combat chronologies of both this site, and that of the Air Force Historical Studies Offices (http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil), list four planes downed. I can only assume this fourth mystery plane was the Pistol Packin' Mama. Indeed, my uncle remembers the swarm (50+) of Japanese fighters that attacked his formation, as well as ending up somewhere in Vietnam. He was a POW for approx. 2 years after the crash. The camp was somewhere in Malaysia, so maybe someone has information from that angle. But I'm most interested in learning the crew roster and flight details from that last mission.
So if anyone can help, I'd greatly appreciate it! Oh, my uncle's name is Joseph R. Manella, and he would have been a 2nd Lt. at the time. If you met him, you would remember him. Colorful is not the word. One family legend is that he inspired a minor character in James Clavell's book, "King Rat" - that of 'Skinner Joe', so-named because he could skin a rat (yes, for food) in under a minute!
Anyway, thanks in advance for any assistance.
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b24bestweb
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RE: Pistol Packin' Mama
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05/08/2008 07:44:52 AM
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Dave T
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RE: Pistol Packin' Mama
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05/08/2008 12:20:45 PM
You may already know this but his serial # was O-734953. He graduated from bombardier school at Kirtland, NM class 43-01.
I have a website dedicated to bombardiers, site link below. I'd like to add his info to the site. If you have photos or other info to add please send it to my address below. I'll try to have his data online in time for his birthday.
Dave
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tonystro
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RE: Pistol Packin' Mama
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05/08/2008 03:57:47 PM
Joseph R. Manella
A search of footnot.com MACRs brought back several pages of MACR 2355 documentation. I am attaching what I think are the three most relevant. The first a response from Manella saying he was bombardier for the crew of 'Mohawk' piloted by Johson. Had 'Mohawk' been renamed 'Pistol Packin' Mama', or was 'Mohawk' not flyable that day so they were assigned to anther plane? [image]local://6988/CF2DA7F9450D4A50BAE9BD1C8A336126.jpg[/image] (edited to add question)
<message edited by tonystro on 05/09/2008 07:02:55 AM >
Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner, 491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China "USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com
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tonystro
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RE: Pistol Packin' Mama
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05/08/2008 04:10:58 PM
Joseph R. Manella,
From footnot.com MACR 2355 documentation. The second page I'm attaching is the MACR sheet. [image]local://6988/24C00AEA696B4EE28FF79576A4B4591B.jpg[/image]
Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner, 491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China "USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com
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tonystro
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RE: Pistol Packin' Mama
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05/08/2008 04:12:17 PM
Joseph R. Manella
And finally, an information sheet for/by Joseph R. Manella. [image]local://6988/643704748C174DCB99A71DFC6F4E557C.jpg[/image]
Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner, 491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China "USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com
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