447th Bomb Group Association
447th Stories
These documents are a selection of first hand accounts of missions, diaries and various other writings of 447th veterans. We are always looking for new material to add, so please contact us at 447bombgroup@gmail.com so we can include your records.
This story was written in 1998 by Mr.
Alan Cook,
co-pilot of the Rohde crew of the 711th Squadron
and provided for the collection by Mr. Ernst "Bob" Rohde.
by John Stockham, navigator on the Rohde Crew
an addendum to "The Story of Umbriago"
3. Harley Tuck's Wartime Diary
Harley Tuck's Wartime Diary stands as one of the most remarkable pieces of writing to come out of the 447th. In its detail is a wealth of information about the early days of the group, and about the man, himself.
The diary was originally transcribed by Mr. Tuck's son, Harley Tuck, Jr., and has appeared from time to time on the Internet. We are thrilled and honored to provide the diary with a permanent home in our collection here.
Sgt. Harley Tuck was Radio Operator/Gunner on the Gilleran crew, 708th Bomb Squadron, arriving at Rattlesden in November 1943, and flying until shot down and captured on 22 April, 1944.
Some rememberances by L. W. "MAC" McFARLAND
Sgt Arthur Cooper was a member of the Robert Jacobs crew, assigned to the 710th Squadron on the 15th of June, 1944. After each member of the crew had flown at least one combat orientation mission, the crew flew its first mission together on July 11, 1944 to Munich.
Lt Pete Ebersole arrived at Rattlesden
on December 22, 1944 as copilot
of the Coleman crew (709th). This is Ebersole's flying log; first a
day-by-day
account of his time in the service, followed by comments on his hours
of flying time.
2nd Lt. Joseph Gentner arrived at Rattlesden in November 1943, as navigator on the Hitchcock crew. The diary records his 31 missions with the 447th.
8. Navigator Leonard Hessenauer
After routine orientation upon arriving at Rattlesden, Lt. Lowell Simmons flew his combat orientation mission on June 21, 1944 as co-pilot with Lt. Gerald Carter. The aircraft, 42-97932, was hit by flak. Simmons was killed, the rest of the Carter crew captured. Simmons' original crew flew 35 missions with several first pilots.
Twin brothers Joseph and George Klaput served on the James Hodges crew in the 711th Squadron as tail gunner and ball turret gunner. They are believed to be the only set of twins to serve together during the war.
Sgt. Lloyd Hall flew as engineer with the Hysong crew in the 708th Squadron between August and December, 1944.
Pilot Lt. Donald McDermott arrived at Rattlesden in July, 1944, and flew 35 missions with the 710th.
Lt. Herbert "Gene" McNabb served as Bombardier with the Hoffman crew in the 710th Squadron between September and December 1944.
Richard Pitt, Jr. was Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner on the Clarence Aaberg crew, one of the first replacement crews at Rattelsden. Tragically, Aaberg was killed on his second mission -- as described below. His place was taken by Lt. George Hoffmeister, co-pilot from the original Keller crew. After Hoffmeister completed his tour requirement, co-pilot Thomas Moriarty took over the left-hand seat in May '44.
This diary was kept by Edward E. Beaty, pilot, 710th Sqdn, 447th Bomb Group until he completed his bomber missions in May, 1944. These comments were entered in a small black pocket notebook, usually the night after a mission or the next morning.
Sgt. Louis J. Torretta was the tail gunner on the Robert Morley crew, and part of the original deployment from Harvard AAB to Rattlesden in November 1943.
16. Into Combat with the 447th Bomb Group
This story was first published by the Old Dominion Squadron of Commemorative Air Force, and later appeared in the Spring 1999 issue of the 447th Bomb Group Newsletter. It is reprinted here with the permission of Mr. Oscar J. Quintin.
17. Three Views
Diaries from the Polansky Crew 6/44 - 10/44.
18. "My Gal Sal" B-17G, 239882
A tribute to "Jack" Martin Gruber, pilot of "My Gal", by his daughter and his remembrances of serving with the 447th BG.
19. Walter Hauptman
A tribute to the Co-Pilot on the Putnam Crew.
20. Rautio Diary
A diary from S/Sgt Lauri K. Rautio, Ball Turret Gunner on the Mayhew Crew
21. William Albert “Pete” Davidson Memoirs
An incredible transcript taken from a recorded interview with a 711th Pilot.