Looking for surviving crew or any of their family. My dad was radio operator/gunner Warren Irving, 336th bomb squadron, June-Oct. 1943. I have a scrapbook, journals and an unpublished book of his, names and memories to share. Crew names: pilot Lt. Harry L. O'Neal, co-pilot Lt. Frank V. Sances, navigator Lt. Drapper H. Hand, bombardier Lt. Joseph F. Krepley, top turret gunner T/Sgt. Ernest H. Rape, ball turret operator S/Sgt. Charles Zakszeski, waist gunners S/Sgt. Charles W. Stafford, Alfred B Nabholz, tail gunner S/Sgt. Stanley P. Michaels. I'd appreciate any help locating these people or family members and would be happy to hear any references to the "Yankee Queen" and her 50 missions. [signature]

Krepley graduated from Victorville, CA bombardier class 42-17. [signature]

Thanks for replying, Dave. Everywhere I go seems to lead to a dead end. I'm one of the lucky ones who has a plethora of old, highly interesting information but at the same time can't figure out what to do with it. I've found a fairly recent link to a son of Joseph Krepley's, but the email address is 3 years old and no longer any good. All the newspaper clippings are disintegrating, taking along stories and names. My dad's (unpublished) book and journals are great reads, but I'm not sure if anyone besides my family would be interested. Still, if I don't do something with them soon, they will exist no more. If anyone has any suggestions for me, I would be grateful! [signature]

I am one of the researchers for the 95th Bomb Group. I'd be happy to help you in your search for information. Please contact me directly at edschuf@discover-net.net (please put 95th BG in the subject line so I'm alerted to the fact that the e-mail deals with research.) I am interested in all the materials you have plus might be able to help you get in contact with someone from your father's crew. Helynn Schufletowski daughter of S/Sgt Gerald Hoefert 336th Squadron 95th Bomb Group [signature]

A special thanks to all who have assisted me in my research project! Via the internet, I have found 7 families of my dad's crew of 10! I am still searching for the other three but really appreciate the tremendous reception by the relatives of those discovered so far. I have passed on a wealth of information and am no longer concerned about my father's things eventually winding up as a stack of disconnected facts and faces in a dusty corner of some antique shop! My heart is full of pride and peace. Best wishes to all for a safe and blessed holiday season. [signature]

time consuming but will save your info forever..... if you or you know of someone  with a computer you could scan each page and then keep them on your hard drive and on cd's . I repair and build computers so I  keep just about everything backed up on cd's    hope this has helped....p.s.  I'd love to read those stories!! My dad was in the 336th but have no info on what he did or who he served with. just his discharge papers.

My dad was in the 336th bomb squadron. He was in Europe in May 1943 - June 1945.  His name is Robrt E. Cunningham.  Battles and campaignes are listed as Air Offensive Europe,  Normandy,  Northern France, Ardennes  and Rhineland. Don't have much more than that. Just the discharge papers. Would like more info on what he did and men he served with. I hope this has helped a little.

Dear Judy:
 
Don't know if you got the message about my new e-mail address.....
 
vetsdaughter95thbg@yahoo.com
 
Anyway, PLEASE start scanning those objects and saving the images to a CD.  If you don't have the capability to do that, go to Kinko's or some other copy shop.  They will treat the items with "kid gloves" and you'll be able to have a "renewable" resource with all the information on it.  If you would trust me with the items, you could ship them to me via insured FedEx or UPS and I could scan them for you.  When I wasn't working with them, I'd keep the items in my fire-proof safe.  I'd return them to you just as soon as I'd finished scanning everything via FedEx. 
 
Helynn Schufletowski
Group Historian
95th BG
 
P.S.  Please don't let these things get any more brittle or yellow before you do something.  What you have is PRICELESS!  A window into the history of the 95th BG.  They could hold the clues to some of the research questions we've been unable to answer.

I am the Granddaughter of Alfred B. Nabholz who served on the Yankee Queen and I would be very interested on any information anyone would be able to give me about him and/or his missions during that time. My uncle has his scrapbook with some clippings and his medals and such, i'm not sure what is all in there since unfortunately that is down in Arkansas and I live in Wisconsin. I hear it is in very fragile shape but i can try to contact my uncle and get some information from it. But until then i'd appreciate anything anyone else can give me.
Thank you,
Paula

My grandfather Alfred B. Nabholz served on the Yankee Queen and I would appreciate any information anyone could give me about him or the missions he served. Thank you for your time and help.
Paula

As a follow-up on this thread, after nearly 6 years, I've finally located all crew members/families of the Yankee Queen (42-3283).  The tail gunner changed his last name after WWII, which made the process a bit trickier.   This journey has been amazing and certainly much more than time well spent.  A heartfelt thanks goes to all who guided me along the way, answered questions and steered me in helpful directions.  Now, extended family members are finding me!  This was only one B-17 crew among so many, but I am very proud to know that the service of these particular men will be respectfully remembered. 

Judy

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