As a former squadron commander of the current-day 76th Airlift Squadron in Ramstein, Germany, I'm doing some research on the 76 Sq. of WWII fame. I have Cecil Barnes book on WWII memories of the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, but it doesn't have much info past April 1945.
In particular, 1 Lt Ralph A. Elston is buried in Epinal, France. He was evidently a glider pilot per references in the Barnes book. The 60th anniversary of his death is 14 May 2005. Can anyone shed any light on the activities of the 76th during May? Especially post VE day? I'd like to share the story of the 76th with the current members and perhaps organize a memorial visit. I'm pursuing records from the National Personnel Records Center and National Archives, but I don't expect much detail there. Thanks for any insight you can add.
v/r
Lt Col McLean

To Colonel Mark MacLean,

I new Ralph Ellston when I was a member of the 76th in the U.S, England and France.
I was a senior NCO in the Operations Section of the 76th and knew the flight crews
quite well. I will be happy to fill you in on Lt. Elston and the 76th - all the way from
Sedalia, Missouri (where the 435th was organized) to Ft. Wayne, Indiana (where most
of us were sent on our way to be discharged). There was an excellent hard-cover book
published about the 435th (75th, 76th, 77th and 78th) - history, itinery, pictures, etc.
I will be happy to fill you in, gery@ocean-view.info.