Varillus Oliver Jones

Post
kjwrad
Squadron Member
Hi, new to the group and apologize in advance for any breaches of etiquette, but I am looking for information like aircraft tail number, crew information, and loss report for a long lost relative. I have his name, (which turned out to be completely different than what we’ve been looking for all these years, we were looking for Anthony or Tony Squires, but turned out we had our cousinry all criss crossed) rank, and service number, and unit (I think), date of death and place of burial in France, and a picture of him. If this is this the place to get started, I will provide information in following posts. If not hopefully some of you kind gentlemen can direct me where to seek info elsewhere. Thanks for any and all assistance!
jhor9
B17 Jock
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,
 
Give as much info as you have. I can assure you that you will get feedback that will amaze you.
C A
Group Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Hi Kevin
 
Welcome aboard. I see that Jules has just beaten me to it! He is correct in what he has said to you. If you can give us the details that you have there are many very helpful people on this site who can help you with information.
 
Regards
 
Chris.
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Ok, here goes. Thanks for the acceptance. I also belong to a BMW (motorcycle) Forum and if you post something incorrectly there, you had better duck and cover, so I usually stay cloaked in lurk mode only. Still learn allot,  but those guys are brutal.
 
Anyway, this is what I have so far. His name is Varillus Oliver Jones. Don’t ask how we got Tony Squires out of that – long story. His Rank is Captain, Service number is O-793117. He Died on Dec 31st 1944. He entered the service from Vermont. He is buried at Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France.
 
I got most of that information from the American Monuments Commission Grave locator web site after genealogy web searches gave us a cousin that new his correct name, from the one and only picture we scanned and e-mailed her of him. It also said he was 12th Air Support Command. I have tried finding that unit, but have come up with zip.
 
Thanks for any help. I would like to put a shadow box together of him with maybe his crew pic, airplane pic, his medals, a set of pilot’s wings, etc. It would mean allot to my Dad. He has told the story for decades about good ole Cousin Tony.
post edited by kjwrad -
Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Hi Kevin,

Have no personal knowledge of the 12th ASC but here is a little info I found on the internet that indicates they worked out of North Africa.

"In the early campaigns in Europe an RAF component was attached to the British Expeditionary Force, and individual squadrons were often attached to divisions and corps. In January 1943, the United States 12th Air Support Command in North Africa was similarly attached to the United States 2d Corps. Such arrangements negated the inherent flexibility of aviation, and centrally controlled Luftwaffe units easily overwhelmed divided Allied air squadrons."

What info in your possession indicates that he was a B-17 pilot?  Have found several obits on line of people who served with the 12ASC and one personal 'rememberance' type story.  General flavor I got was that it was more fighter oriented although nothing specific.

Hal
C A
Group Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Hi Kevin
 
You certainly don't have to worry about asking anything on this site. There are a number of very helpful former crewmembers on this site and also researchers. I come from the latter, but like everybody else who wasn't around during WWII we have all started from scratch and at first have wondered 'where do i start from when it comes to finding information'! I wish that when i first started years ago that i had the internet and this website to help me. It would have made things so much easier.
 
Are you aware of a document called an 'Individual Deceased Personnel File', IDPF for short? This is a document which was started after a serviceman was KIA and can contain a lot of useful information.
 
Here are the details for getting hold of Varillus Oliver Jones IDPF.
 
Individual Deceased Personnel File - this file is maintained by the Department of the Army in Washington, DC. If the veteran you are researching was Killed in Action you will definitely want to obtain this file. This file documents the activities of the Graves Registration Command and the Army to locate, identify, and provide a final resting place for the deceased.





Mailing address


U.S. Army Personnel Command, Public Affairs Office (FOIA)
200 Stovall Street
Alexandria, VA 22332-0404.

Enclosed in the letter the requestor should cite the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and provide full name of the relative, service number, and date of death (or whether the death was during WWII, Korea, or Vietnam).
Return mailing address is required. Please allow up to 20 weeks for the research process. FOIA fees are waived for requests from family members for death/burial records on their loved ones.

At this time i haven't heard of the 12th Air Support Command, but will see if i can find anything.
 
Regards
 
Chris.
 
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
ORIGINAL: LUCKY PARTNERS

What info in your possession indicates that he was a B-17 pilot?  General flavor I got was that it was more fighter oriented although nothing specific.

Hal

 
At this point it is all just word of mouth from people I have never met. Considering we were so wrong on the name it would not surprise me if he was infact a pilot of something else.
Could he still be buried in France if he was killed in North Africa?
Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,

I would expect that he died in France.  From what I could find 12/31/44 was a busy day and numerous aircraft were lost that day although I have not researched specific targets or missions.  IDPF would be a good source of info but turnaround time is probably about 6 weeks.  Will continue looking for info.  The name Varillus O. Jones appears in the listings at www.accident-report.com so somewhere there is a report of whatever happened to him.

Hal
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
 








The top pic is the one my Dad had for years and the bottom is one sent back to him by the "cousin" he found on the net.
The other guy in the pic was his brother who died in the Navy. Looks like they are looking at a LOOK or LIFE magazine or something.
Group Burials
Group Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
From the information that I have found, Capt Varillous Jones was assigned to the 415th Night Fighter Squadron.  I have found one document that states Capt Jones was flying a mission as Pilot on a Beaufighter type aircraft and that 2Lt Mervin Sussman was flying as his Radar Observer.  It appears reading the document that they were shot down by a friendly aircraft approximately 30 miles south of Luxeul, France.  They had departed from Ochey, France.  Send me an email to rwatkins@htc.net and I will attach this document and send to you.  I have checked various MACR databases and cannot find a reference for this crash.  You may have to request the IDPF which is taking the Army over 20 weeks to process at this time. 
Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,
 
Found this document on www.footnote.com.  Best viewed by clicking on the thumbnail then clicking again on the resulting image.
 
Hal

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Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,
 
The same source also has another document that mentions Jones.  See item 15 at the bottom of the page.
 
Hal

Attached Image(s)

PA.Dutchman
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
I just want to know how you posted such large photos. I have never been able to get anything past 200 KB posted.
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
ORIGINAL: PA.Dutchman

I just want to know how you posted such large photos. I have never been able to get anything past 200 KB posted.

 
Ahhh, the joy of being technically challenged. My ignorance is truely bliss, I have no idea, really. I don't know too much about how to post stuff. I just got lucky I guess. I know just enough to be dangerous. I think more than anything it has to do with who scanned them in the first time, maybe?
 
I will tell you that I simply pasted the photos from my Dad's e-mail to my desktop, then opened my myspace page (which is only used to post pictures of my motorcycle adventures to the BMW forum) then sucked them into my myspace folder. Once they are there open them up, click properties, cut and paste the URL (I think) what ever the thing is that starts with http:// (make sure to highlight the entire three row address)then paste that info into the picture box text line that comes up when you click on the picture insert button. I actually had to resize them much smaller once they apeared on this forum by moving the little boxes at the edge of each corner. I am sure there is a much more technical and easier way to do it, but it is what works for me. Hope that helps.
PA.Dutchman
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
However you did it they are WONDERFUL!!  Really nicely done, thank you for explaining the process to me.
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
No prob. Glad to help. I have recieved so much assistance here it is overwhelming. I can't believe I have gotten farther in about four hours than my Dad and I have in over twenty years. This forum is awesome!!!Thank You all.
Scott Burris
Benevolent Dictator
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Chris,
 
That old info from our Research Help page has been updated.  I'm not sure where you're seeing the old version at.
 
There's a slight address change and we no longer include a link to the army site since they changed it.
 
For the most recent info click on the Research Help page found here:
http://www.armyairforces.com/ResearchHelp/tabid/99/Default.aspx
 
 
Scott Burris
Benevolent Dictator
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
At this point it is all just word of mouth from people I have never met. Considering we were so wrong on the name it would not surprise me if he was infact a pilot of something else.
Could he still be buried in France if he was killed in North Africa?


He could very well have been a B-17 pilot and then transitioned to Night Fighters.   I know of other instances where B-17 pilots finished their combat tours and went on to fly other aircraft.   They were probably frustrated fighter pilots (aren't all pilots?) to start with .
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
ORIGINAL: Scott Burris
He could very well have been a B-17 pilot and then transitioned to Night Fighters.   I know of other instances where B-17 pilots finished their combat tours and went on to fly other aircraft.   They were probably frustrated fighter pilots (aren't all pilots?) to start with .

 
Thanks for that piece of consideration. That is a possibility. Heck, I work at the Fixed Wing Army National Gaurd Aviation Training Site (FWAATS). We teach the C-12, C-23, and the C-26, and I do see my share of guys come through one aircraft course and come back through for another, and yes, most of them are frustrating, uh, I mean frustrated.
 
I hope I can find out when and where he entered service and recieved training and in what aircraft he flew etc. It would mean allot to my family to discover that type of info. I have already started a binder.
post edited by kjwrad -
SHAEF1944
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Scott ?  I've posted some info and a pic twice on this thread, and it's gone both times. Something wrong with it ?
Scott Burris
Benevolent Dictator
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Post it again.  Minor issue is resolved.
Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,
 
Re: Scott's comment about transitioning from B-17's to fighters.  From the MACR I posted earlier we know that as early as June 7, 1944 he was the CO of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron (item 15 at the bottom of the report).
 
Hal
Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
One more piece to the puzzle, although the ABMC web site says Jones came from Vermont the casualty listings for the state of Vermont do not appear to include his name.  Do you have any other source of information indicating where he was from?
 
http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ww2/army-casualties/vermont.html#info
 
Hal
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
No other information available, ABMC is where I found that info as well. I do beleive that is where he would come in from though, as much of my father's family is from VT.
Lucky Partners
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,
 
OK, found the missing piece.  He is listed on Ancestry.com.  Says he was born in 1919.  Enlisted in the Air Corps Jan 19, 1942.  Lived in Windham, Vermont.  Enlisted in Rutland, Vermont.  Was 5'9" tall and weighed 168 pounds.  Here is the link but don't know if it will work if you're not signed in.
 
Hal
 
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=WWIIenlist%2c&rank=0&gsfn=VARILLUS+O.&gsln=JONES&sx=&gs1co=2%2cUSA&gs1pl=1%2cAll+States&year=&yearend=1944&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-i&o_iid=21416&o_lid=21416&indiv=1&pf=1&recid=3723267&h=&fh=0&ct=&fsk=&bsk=
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Wow, that is some good stuff. I was just asking my Dad for more VT info when I got the message about this. Thanks
SHAEF1944
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
415th NFS jacket with lots of goodies.
Guy who has the patch website says he has an original 415th " Donald Duck " squadron patch for $195.
Click the link below if interested. ( I dont know the guy and have no association with him )
Not and expert on original patches, but does not seem terribly over-priced for such a rare unit, based on prices I've seen for some other squadron patches.  Also, there are some folks out there who will do custom patch painting as another option if you would like to include a patch. Have them do one of the 415th D. Duck design.  No idea of cost.
 
http://members.aol.com/brimiljeep/WebPages/PLxAAFSqPatchAAF370.html
 
 

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kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
ORIGINAL: SHAEF1944

415th NFS jacket with lots of goodies.
Guy who has the patch website says he has an original 415th " Donald Duck " squadron patch 

http://members.aol.com/brimiljeep/WebPages/PLxAAFSqPatchAAF370.html





 
 
Boy, that would make for a sharp display, huh? I would love to do something like a full mannequin in period uniform and jacket with all the gear but the $$$ say NO. I have the same dilemma right now. I am trying to put together a somewhat newer version, a mid 80s to mid 90s Army Crew chief. I have the flight suit with name tag and patches, SPH-4 helmet, vest, gloves , boots and an OH-58 Tail Rotor for him to hold, but no mannequin to put it all together with. Oh well, someday maybe. The wife would’nt let me put him in the house anyway. I would have to keep him at work. I always thought it would be cool though.
vic-513
Division Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Kevin,
 
Varillus O. Jones enlisted on Jan 19, 1942 at Rutland, Vermont. Place of residence was Windham County, Vermont. Enlistment serial number was 11038523. He received the serial number you listed when he was commissioned. This information is from the NARA database found at www.archives.gov/aad/
 
Vic
C A
Group Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Hi Scott
 
The earlier posting for the IDPF details i copied and pasted from an earlier e-mail. I was wondering where the research section had gone since the website upgrade!
 
Regards
 
Chris.
C A
Group Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Hi SHAEF1944

I had the same problem yesterday. The first message wouldn't post and then went totally. It went ok the second time around. The first time a message saying' you do not have permission' popped up! Strange.

Regards

Chris.
post edited by C A -
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Thanks Vic, Things are starting to come together. This is very exciting! I can't wiat to find out when and where all the other pieces will fall into place.
kjwrad
Squadron Member
RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Wow, Guess what I just found out? Harold F. Augspurger, the guy who signed the previously posted KIA report for Sussman, that aslo mentions Varillus as pilot, works/volunteers at the Air Force museum and lives in Dayton, OH. That is where the Beaufighter is done up in the 415th paint scheme and is on display. It is a tribute to Augspurger who at one time was the 415th Commander and won the DFC for shooting down an HE 111 with a bunch of German officers on board. I contacted the museum and they said he still volunteers there. I think I will send him a letter to see if he remembers anything about Varillus O. Jones.
kjwrad
Squadron Member
Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Sad to report that Harold Augspurger passed away a few months ago. I did get to meet with him and share some of the materials I had collected about Varillus. Many of those items were thanks to you guys and others that pointed me in direction that paid off big time. He was a charming gentleman that did remeber Varillus. He signed a rare 415th NFS book that I had aquired. I am still trying to gather more info on Varillus O. Jones such as where he recieved his flight training etc. Keep up the good work!
brickhistory
Squadron Member
Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Dr. Augsperger was indeed a fine gentleman and very interested in keeping the stories of the USAAF night fighters in the forefront. 
 
RIP to him.
 
I am curious, however, as to the title of the "rare 415th NFS book" you referenced?
 
I'm a big fan of US Beaufighters and very interested to read more.
 
Cheers,
 
Brick
author "Beaufighters in the Night:  417th Night Fighter Squadron, USAAF"
airwar
MDE
Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Beaufighter 415 NFS,31th December 1944,Airstrip A-96 Ochey,France.
Aircraft crashed between Noroy and Lievans,France.
 
Captain Varillus O.Jones,0793117,pilot
2/Lt.Mervin H.Sussman,01692661,Radar/Observer
 
The aircraft took off from Airstrip A-96,Ochey,France,31 December 1944 on a Night Intruder Mission.They were vectored on an unidentifed aircraft at 19.06 hours,at 19.24 hours Captain Jones reported the aircraft as friendlt,but had been fired upon.
 
The radio log showed the aircraft crashing shortly after this about 30 miles South of Luxeul,France.A searching party was sent out from the 67th Military Police Station in Vesoul,France.They located the crash between Noroy and Lievans,France.The aircraft had exploded and was burning.2/Lt.Sussmans body was found and positive indentification made.
 
2/Lt.Sussman was buried by a Jewish Chaplain,Captain Harold I.Saperstein in the US Cemetery at Epinal,France,plot 2a,row 24,grave 3883.
EAugy1
Cadet
Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot
Hello, 
I am Harold's granddaughter. I just wanted to say that it was very nice to read such a nice statement about him. He was indeed a charming gentlemen (and an excellent dancer) who is sorely missed.
Good luck in your research, 
Ellen Augspurger
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