SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (Randy Burton)

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:57:12 GMT

It looks like your dad arrived at Polebrook in the fall of 1943. From your dad's last mission you have the following crew list:

22 Dec. 1943 - Osnabruck, Germany
42-39778 DS-A Lucky Ball
ATO 11:14
P 2Lt Lewis J. Maginn
CP 2Lt Walter H. Brooks
N 2Lt James D. McMorrow KIA
B 2Lt Wallace J. Rufeisen
TT S/Sgt David R. Shrom
RO S/Sgt Boyd E. Baker
LW Sgt Albert R. Meyer KIA
RW Sgt Edward H. Bucceri KIA
BT S/Sgt Docite Nadeau KIA
TG S/Sgt Clarence A. Rowlison KIA

His earlier missions are: (Crew members are listed where different from above mission.)

26 Nov 1943 - Bremen, Germany
42-39778 DS-A Lucky Ball
Actual Time Out 08:23
Actual Time Returned 15:17
TT Sgt Thomas F. Harkins
RO Sgt Lester W. McClure
BT Sgt Walter R. Snyder
TG Sgt James F. Phillips
(This is probably the "original" crew.)

29 Nov 1943 - Bremen, Germany
42-39778 DS-A Lucky Ball
ATO 11:11 - ATR 16:03:30
Mission was recalled by group leader, after a number of ships aborted because of weather.
(Same crew as 26 Nov.)

1 Dec 1943 - Solingen, Germany
42-37731 TU-A
(Crew was to take 42-29821 YB-F Argonaut, but plane failed to take off. No ATO for 731-A given. Plane landed at Framlingham.)
RO Sgt Lester W. McClure
RW S/Sgt John S. Emigh
TG Sgt James F. Phillips KIA
(Phillips oxygen supply failed.)

5 Dec 1943 - Paris, France (No bombs dropped, 10/10 overcast.)
42-39778 DS-A Lucky Ball
ATO 08:31 - ATR 13:45
RO Sgt Lester W. McClure
BT Sgt John W. Reed
TG S/Sgt Richard S. Drews

13 Dec 1943 - Kiel, Germany
42-37832 RQ-N Casa de Embriagos
ATO 08:42 - ATR 15:37
RO Sgt Lester W. McClure
BT Sgt Walter R. Snyder
TG Sgt James Mansfield (509th)

16 Dec 1943 - Bremen (Recalled - Overcast, no bombs dropped.)
42-29858 YB-G Murder Incorporated
ATO 08:41 - ATR 15:04
RO Sgt Lester W. McClure
BT Sgt Walter R. Snyder
TG SSgt John H. Swistak

20 Dec 1943 - Bremem, Germany
42-29877 DS-X Speed Ball
ATO 08:32 - ATR 11:07
(Crew aborted - TG sick)
RO Sgt Lester W. McClure
BT Sgt Walter R. Snyder
TG SSgt Kenneth E. O'Brien

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (brent.morris)

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:52:25 GMT

Don Meyers,
Hal's crew listing indicates your Dad was from Roswell, NM.
Did he grow up there and do you still have family there?

FYI, I grew up there. Attended Military Heights Elementary School, East Jr. High, Roswell High, NM Military Institute and Goddard High Schools.

My Dad was a B-52 pilot stationed at Walker AFB there and retired from the AF at Roswell in 1966, a year before the airbase was closed by President Johnson & MacNamara. Seems a NM Senator voted against Johnson's Great Society bill so as you know, politicians usually get even. Walker AFB was closed and Roswell became a ghost town.

You may find this ironic, but my neighbor here in Las Vegas, her father, a B-24 navigator & guest of the Swedes as an intern during WWII, was the last AF officer to leave Walker AFB, and lock the gates forever when it was finally closed.
Small world isn't it?

Brent Morris
North Las Vegas, NV
captainbmorris@hotmail.com

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (brent.morris)

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:26:29 GMT

ShooShooBaby,
Thanks for the information on the Bits & Pieces. I didn't expect so much help and sources. Really appreciate it.

At least now, I know how many books there are and what to search for, if the books are out there or at Penn State. Perhaps I can even locate Paul Andrew and with a little luck, purchase copies if he has extras.

All the best.

Brent

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (shooshoobaby)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:04:51 GMT

Brent - Bits and Pieces is a 4 Volume Set.
The 1st Volume of Bits and Pieces is titled:
Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth
It lists most A/C of all 8th AF Bomb Groups by Group and Serial #
with History of most listed.
It also has an Index of A/C Names and a Bibliography
of where an A/C Picture can be found.
These are not totally complete as New Books have been published
and Photos and Information have surfaced after Bits and Pieces
was Published - Vol. 1-1995 and 2,3,4 - 1997.
All Research Materials for these Books are now Archived
at the Penn State University Library.
Mike

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (Bruce Carson)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:59:34 GMT

Brent:
I believe Hal is correct - the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) -- that 10-digit number and bar code that uniquely identifies books published internationally and whose purpose is to identify one title from one specific publisher, thus allowing for more efficient marketing of .... blah blah blah ... sorry - Paul Andrews is the writer, publisher and distributor and hence the only source is his garage.

Covers all 8th AF Groups / squadrons / planes and crewmen and their MACR status -- I wish it also covered the other numbered AF's but no.

Cheers
BC

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (brent.morris)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:35:37 GMT

OK Hal,
I will await your second e-mail address.

Brent

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (LUCKY PARTNERS)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:52:24 GMT

Brent,

Unfortunately there is no ISBN. I have checked each of the books and no dice. This project was undertaken for the Eighth Air Force Memorial Museum Foundation and I believe that Paul Andrews and William Adams did everything from the research to the printing and binding to the distribution. If you do an internet search for the Foundation about the only thing that comes up is the following link:
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/hcla/eighthairforce/collection.html
which says that the Foundation is now an arm of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society. But my foggy memory says that it use to be an independent organization.

The books cover the entire Eighth Air Force and span almost 2000 pages of material. I have two sets, one for everyday work and the other for a back up.

Hal

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (PJP51)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:18:23 GMT

From the ABMC website:

Albert R. Meyer

Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 38438162
511th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy

Entered the Service from: New Mexico
Died: 22-Dec-43
Buried at: Plot F Row 1 Grave 21
Cambridge American Cemetery
Cambridge, England

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (brent.morris)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:06:13 GMT

Hal, Vic, and Bruce,
Thanks so much for the Bits & Pieces information to find & order a copy if still available.

If you have the ISBN number, usually found on the publisher's page near the copyright info, that would help me considerably to locate the book, if it is out there on the Internet.

I do a lot of research as you say and have quite a number of 8th AF & BG historical books.  My father, a 351st BG B-17 pilot, started the collection when he retired from the AF in 1966 and when I inherited his collection in 89, I expanded it considerably.

It has been my goal to collect the BG history for all the 8th AF Bomb Groups and others if possible. Some of the books are well written & include names of the entire BG personnel assigned, crew photos, etc., at this or that English airbase during WWII but others are incomplete or sadly lacking.  No doubt Bits & Pieces would help fill in some of the blanks about the crew members.

Does the B & P book include all the 8th AF Bomb Groups and their crews or is it limited to a few BG's?

It's too bad no author or publishing company has taken the time to produce a comprehensive list of all the 8th AF Bomb Groups, their Squadrons with a complete list of personnel assigned to each BG, aircrews, etc. at a their respective WWII base.

Something similar to Roger Freeman's work that lists all the B-17s manufactured, aircraft delivery date, where delivery was taken, intermediate & final bases assigned, the aircrafts' pilot, the crew's and aircrafts' name & ultimate fate is what I had in mind.

If you ever need help researching aircraft, personnel, units, etc., feel free to contact me over this website or at my business or home e-mail addresses. I was an Army and Coast Guard pilot for 15 years so I have a reasonably good idea of how the service is organized and how to acquire historical military information. I also work for the AF as a civil engineer now so have access to other military resources.

Hal, I will wait to hear from you if you have any luck contacting Paul Andrews. If not successful, let me know please, and I will help you, Vic & Bruce attempt to locate him if they plan too search as well.

If that does not work, then perhaps a continued search for the book might prove successful. Just need that ISBN number. Thanks again fellows.

Brent Morris
North Las Vegas, NV
captainbmorris@hotmail.com
brent.morris@nellis.af.mil

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (Bruce Carson)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:47:12 GMT

Attached is a helpful ORDER FORM for Paul Andrews "Bits & Pieces" BUT alas - I do not know if it is still current.

Cheers

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (LUCKY PARTNERS)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:44:24 GMT

Vic,

Actually I was referring to a post by Shooshoobaby about 4 months ago. I just sent an email to Paul at the last address I had and it was returned as undeliverable. Somewhere I have his telephone number If I can find it I will give him a call. If all else fails I will send him a letter. Will post his answer if I manage to reach him.

Regards,
Hal

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (vic-513)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:22:52 GMT

Hal,

I don't have any personal knowledge that B&P is no longer available but have corresponded with several people who were looking for it and that was the information I got. I got my copies about 5 years ago and have used them extensively and I know of a number of others who post information from them on a regular basis. I have found them to be very useful but had to take them out of the binders and put them in looseleaf binders. It has worked out very well, especially being able to remove each page when needed rather than having to mess with the large books. I think Paul needs to do a little advertising if he has more available.

Vic

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (LUCKY PARTNERS)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:43:50 GMT

Brent,

I have not had personal contact with Paul Andrews for several years. A while ago another member of this forum stated that Bits & Pieces was no longer available. In my last conversation with Paul he said that he had 'a garage full of books' still to sell. I have information including Paul's mailing address and email address. It is in PDF form so I cannot post it here but will e-mail it to you. If others are interested I will convert it to JPG to post here although it is about 6 pages long. The B&P listings are quite extensive and have been very useful to me over the years. As far as conflicts with other sources of information regarding individual crewmen goes, I cannot answer that. What I posted about this crew came directly from B&P.

Hal

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (Bruce Carson)

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 09:02:26 GMT

Contact Paul Andrews - author of Project Bits And Pieces - The 447th BG web site contains a .pdf file which outlines the various Bits and Pieces volumes & an order form with Paul's E-Mail. Truly an excellent - 'must have' for research.

www.447bg.com/data/BP.pd

Cheers
BC

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (vic-513)

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:17:44 GMT

Brent,

Project Bits and Pieces is a 4-volume set by Paul M. Andrews and William H. Adams. I may be mistaken but don't believe it is available anymore. It is a good reference covering the Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth, The Mighty Eighth Roll of Honor, The Mighty Eighth Combat Chronology and The Mighty Eighth Combat Chronology Supplement. This is not a work that you read but use for researching planes and crews or crewmen that were KIA, MIA, POWs, RTDs, EVDs, etc. Gives MACR numbers and other useful research information. You can probably do a Google search and find an address but it may no longer be valid. Sometimes you can find copies available on Amazon or other like sources.

Vic

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (brent.morris)

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:56:48 GMT

Hal,
Can you provide more information about the book, Bits & Pieces, you used to help Don Meyer's with information about his father's crew such as the author's name, ISBN number, publishing company and when published?

And is the book still in print?

Others have referred to this book in the past on this website but I've not found it with various book search attempts.

Appreciate your help in advance.

Brent Morris
North Las Vegas, NV
captainbmorris@hotmail.com

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (brent.morris)

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:28:11 GMT

Hal,
The crew information you sent Don Meyer's about his dad's crew shows that the surviving members after B-17 Lucky Ball's ditching in the channel became POW's.

Lt Maginn's report describing the events of crew's ditching (provided by Bruce Carson), indicate the 5 surviving crewmembers were picked up by Air Sea Rescue boat.

Weren't these British vessels? If Maginn & the others were picked up by the British, then why were they listed as POW's. in the info you found & offered?

Just wish to clear up the ambiguity. Thanks.

Brent Morris
North Las Vegas, NV
captainbmorris@hotmail.com

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (romelda)

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:40:55 GMT

Bruce,

Thank you so much for the information regarding the last flight of the Lucky Ball. I will order a copy of the book.

Don

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (romelda)

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:36:48 GMT

Randy,

Thank you for your help. I'm greatful for all the information you sent.

Don

RE: SGT Albert R. Meyer Lucky Ball (romelda)

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:31:51 GMT

Ron,

Thank you for your help.

Don