Varillus Oliver Jones

Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (EAugy1)

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:26:47 GMT

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

Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (airwar)

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:46:13 GMT

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.

Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (brickhistory)

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:44:21 GMT

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"

Re: RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 01:49:45 GMT

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!

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:27:25 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:53:54 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (C A)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:29:36 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (C A)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:24:52 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (vic-513)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:07:29 GMT

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

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:05:58 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (SHAEF1944)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:15:35 GMT

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

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:15:02 GMT

Wow, that is some good stuff. I was just asking my Dad for more VT info when I got the message about this. Thanks

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (Lucky Partners)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:47:53 GMT

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=

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:36:00 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (Lucky Partners)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:22:19 GMT

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

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (Lucky Partners)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:59:23 GMT

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

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (Scott Burris)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:26:05 GMT

Post it again. Minor issue is resolved.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (SHAEF1944)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:19:08 GMT

Scott ? I've posted some info and a pic twice on this thread, and it's gone both times. Something wrong with it ?

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (kjwrad)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:09:20 GMT

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.

RE: Looking for information on B-17 Pilot (Scott Burris)

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:39:53 GMT

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 " />.