SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

"Doctor's orders": A therapy project. It's a big project, and I need big help.

1403 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2005
"Doctor's orders": A therapy project. It's a big project, and I need big help.
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 10, 2005 6:31 PM
I am doing research for an upcoming project. My project will be to model the plane that my grandfather flew in during the Great War. This close friend will be honored during the San Diego B-24 liberator conference. I would like to present him with a model that I built for him.

For those interested in helping me:

Subject: Walter R. Hinds
Rank (at seperation): Major
Unit:491st

Purpose: To honor my hero. Walter R. Hinds helps me remember who I am during my times of stress, and I would like to return the favor.

What I need: I need his information for the Battle for Germany, but more specifically, which plane(s) he may have flew in during the Battle for Germany.

What I know so far: Major Walter R. Hinds flew with the 491st, "Ringmasters," during the Battle for Germany. According to his account, he was shot down multiple times by the Germans during his unit's many missions. After a failed attempt to eggress from his burning plane, he was then taken into the custody of the Germans. Walter then spent some time in a German POW camp. He was then liberated by Patton's 8th army.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards,
John
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
Posted by philp on Sunday, July 10, 2005 8:04 PM
John,
The 491st BG has a website but I couldn't find any mention of his name. There is a page with crew pics so if you have a shot of him, you may be able to match it up.
http://www.491st.org/crews/crews.html

Another good site is
http://www.b24bestweb.com/
but again, didn't find any mention of him.
Phil Peterson IPMS #8739 Join the Map http://www.frappr.com/finescalemodeler
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 10, 2005 8:25 PM
Your first step is probably to get the shootdown date (or even better the aircraft serial number) the head to a site like
http://www.armyairforces.com/
and try to look up the MACR number (Missing Aircrew Report) with that number, you can request the actual report from the National Archives. At very least, the ACR wil give the aircraft serial number, crew members, group and squadron the A/C was assigned to (which in some cases may be different that the group and squadron the aircrew was assigned to).
Alternately, you could look up his service number and get his military records from the archives then reconstruct the other info.

Al
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 10, 2005 9:27 PM
Guys....
I can't thank you enough for your suggestions. I was stumped when I saw that I couldn't recognize his face on the website that you all suggested. I will find his service number, which he does not remember, and go from there. If I beg the government, trust me on this as I have experience with the marines, maybe they will submit to my request. It's the very least that they can do after all that I have been through lately.Disapprove [V]
Sorry for my rant....but sometimes I write on instinct alone.Big Smile [:D]

Cpl. Hinds, USMC
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 10, 2005 9:46 PM
He was part of the 854th.....that narrows it down. I recognize the nose art from his patch.
Ringmasters is definately the tailart.
I will check back in with more progress later.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 10, 2005 11:47 PM
John,
If you have his name and DOB it's not going to be a problem getting his serial number. Getting his service records won't be a problem either (though you'll probably have to pay a fee because grandchild is not a relationship which entitles you to a free copy) if they exist. The only problem might be that a fire destroyed some of the Army's WW2 service records.

Good luck.


Al
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 11, 2005 12:03 AM
John, just went on NARA's website and I believe I found your grandfather in the POW records, it lists a Walter R Hinds Jr serial #O2065915 a member of the 491 Heavy Bombarment Group returned to US control in 1945 after being held at Stalagluft 4.

Al
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 11, 2005 12:12 AM
I won't forget about your help. Thank you so much. This is real important to me for my battle for germany project.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 11, 2005 12:25 AM
What makes the most sense to me is the "Lambsy Divey" crew. I believe that this may be the noseart based on a nursery rhyme he would always sing to me in order to put me to sleep. I should mention that he is a music professor who obviously loves songs. He always wanted me to learn this song on the piano. I wonder if maybe the lambsy divey was either his plane or a plane that he had communicated with during battle. Possibly for help.....
I am also going to try to find out what his awards and decorations are, but I think I can do that on my own with the help that was given so far.
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.