Reply to post

Researching the 347th of the 99th Bomb Group

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
Tikiman
Cadet
  • Total Posts : 3
  • Reward points : 24
  • Joined:
  • Status: offline
(permalink)
0

Researching the 347th of the 99th Bomb Group

My Grandfather is E.W. "Tex" Morton Tech Sgt. with the 347th Bombardment Squad of the 99th Bomb Group who flew 51 missions from 10 May, 1944 to 13 Sept, 1944.  I know he flew on several different planes, but we have a picture in front of the plane called "El Diablo".  I have a type written transcription from his mission diary detailing all 51 missions: targets, flak, fighters and other significant information, etc.  I can recall stories that he's told over the years, but now I find myself asking more detailed questions at a time when he can't recall due to his medical condition.  If anyone is researching the 347th in that time period and would like to trade information please let me know.  Tex Morton resides in the Veterns Home in St. James, Missouri. 
 
Brian Flowers
Columbia, MO   
post edited by Tikiman -
Quote  #1

4 Replies Related Threads
    jpeters140
    Moderator
    • Total Posts : 7074
    • Reward points : 19504
    • Joined:
    • Location: Columbus, Indiana
    • Status: offline
    Re:Researching the 347th of the 99th Bomb Group (permalink)
    0
    Brian    Here is the information on the 99th Bomb Group Historical Society.
     
    I have sent your posting to Gary Staffo, George Hilton, Jerry Buckingham, and Marty Upchurch for followup.
     
    Jim :-)
     
     
    99th Association, Web site, Reunion details 03/20/2011 12:26:05 PM ([link=javascript:void(showMsgNum(201330))]permalink[/link])

    0
    Association Contacts:

    Gary Staffo (membership)
    6226 Garden Rd
    Springfield, VA 22152-1504
    Phone: 202-586-9577
    E-mail: GStaffo@verizon.net

    Jerry Buckingham (treasurer)
    20 Flathead Dr.
    Cherokee Village, AR 72529
    Phone: 870-257-5535
    E-mail: jabuck@centurytel.net


    George Hilton
    14296 Hwy D.
    Lousiana, MO, 63353
    Phone 573-754-5431
    E-mail: kurlee@netzero.net

    Marty Upchurch
    10025 Miranda Circle
    Fishers, IN, 46038
    Phone 317-727-8538
    E-mail: martyjhawk@aol.com

    Reunion News:

    Contact :
    Marty Upchurch
    99th BGHS Reunion Coordinator
    10025 Miranda Circle
    Fishers IN, 46038
    Phone 317-578-3642
    email martyjhawk@aol.com


    Websites
    http://www.99bombgroup.org/
    http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Runway/9601/Dykes/html

    Books by 99th BG members :

    Beyond Fighter Escort by James Bruno 347th BS
    Tomlin's Crew by J.W. Smallwood 346th BS
    Fortress Fighters by William Somers 348th BS
    Adventures Under FIre by Albert Henke 416th BS
    Stardust Falling by Wes Coss 347th BS
    We Came To Fight by Alvin E. Kotler/Jack Flynn 346th BS
    Brother Bob's War by Ralph W. Ekwall 346th BS

    Book on Six B-17 Bomb Groups in the 15th AAF
    From Foggia to Freedom by Brandon Soales soalebm@yahoo.com Brandon Soales P.O.Box 12 Camden,Ohio, 45311 $12.00 plus $3.00 S&H


    Diamondbacks: The History of the 99th Bomb Group (H), available from Turner Publishing Company, 412 Broadway P.O. BOX 3101, Paducah,KY, 42002-3101, Phone: 270-443-0121.

    James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
    Quote  #2
    Tikiman
    Cadet
    • Total Posts : 3
    • Reward points : 24
    • Joined:
    • Status: offline
    Re:Researching the 347th of the 99th Bomb Group (permalink)
    0
    Thanks Jim!
    I was spurred on to do more research after seeing the new movie Red tails. Some of the B-17's had the 99th tail markings that I recognized.

    I've already picked up some good info by reading older posts. Somebody mentioned that crew members often abbreviated the planes they flew on with the last three digits.....that was the exact info I needed. My Grandfathers diary has several notations like that.
    Quote  #3
    martyjhawk
    Wing Member
    • Total Posts : 985
    • Reward points : 6734
    • Joined:
    • Status: offline
    Re:Researching the 347th of the 99th Bomb Group (permalink)
    0
    Brian,
    Your dad's flight engineer lives near me in Indiana.  I have visited him several times and he has some interesting stories too.  He has a strong tie with the Tuskegee Airmen too.  Before he became a flight engineer, he was an aircraft mechanic for the Airmen at one of their training bases, possibly one of the few really well trained mechanics they had.  
    Marty
    Quote  #4
    Tikiman
    Cadet
    • Total Posts : 3
    • Reward points : 24
    • Joined:
    • Status: offline
    Re:Researching the 347th of the 99th Bomb Group (permalink)
    0
    Marty,
     
    Is this person's lastname "Johns" by chance?  I know my Grandfather kept in touch with a buddy by the name of Mike Johns I believe from Indianna.  I'm told Mike is deceased and I'm not sure what position in the crew he would have been.
     
    According to his flight diary my Grandfather references the following planes:
    879-734-744-097-729-196-925-075-092
     
    From his first mission on 10, May '44 until 25, May '44 he dosen't reference any plane numbers. I'm curious if he would have been on "El Diablo" 42-29513 until 26, May '44 when it appears that it was retired. after this point he begins referencing plane numbers. 
     
    What constitutes a "double mission"?  I see on official document of operational missions some are credited as "double missions".
     
     
     
     
    Quote  #5
    Jump to:
    © 2013 APG vNext Commercial Version 4.3