Any model related goals?

Eight crewmembers of B17F, 42-29929, bailed out, June 14, 1944, when No. 2 and No. 3 engines failed approximately 35 miles south of Salina, Kansas. The aircraft was on a seven plane formation high altitude bombing mission from Ardmore to Wichita to Salina to Kansas City to Ardmore. The aircraft piloted by 2nd Lt. Padrial B. Evans and 2nd Lt. Harold R. McGahan, landed safely at Smokey Hill Army Air Field. The navigator, 2nd Lt. Joe M. Pavin, and bombardier, 2nd Lt. John N. Dozier, landed in a wheat field owned by Thomas Tucker about five miles north of the airfield. Pavin received a sprained ankle; Dozier received internal injuries to his back. Flight engineer, Sgt. Charles E. Koegel, who bailed through the front escape hatch, received a sprained ankle. The tail-gunner, Cpl. Franklin J. Brown was the first man to exit the waist position. He landed in a cornfield, was picked up and joined the crew at a farmer's home. Cpl. Robert K. Winther, ball turret gunner, was the second man out. The left waist gunner, Sgt. George J. Ferenchak, was third. Just prior to leaving the aircraft, he observed that radio operator, Sgt. Edward M. Ragsdale, was making final adjustments to his chute harness. The right waist gunner, Cpl. Ernest L. Crawford was the fourth man to jump. None of the gunners were injured. Sgt. Ragsdale was not observed leaving the aircraft by these men. He was declared missing until his body and open parachute were located a day or so later. His parachute was fully deployed. Having exited the aircraft last, the heavy gloves and flight jacket might have caused problems in his pulling the rip cord soon enough to slow his fall. Fast Forward Note: Mr. and Mrs. John Paul Ragsdale were featured in Life Magazine, November 20, 1944, along with several other parents who had lost son/s in WWII. At the time of the story,"Families Speak for Their War Dead" a son, Lt. John Paul Jr., had been killed earlier on a bombing mission over Germany. Sgt. Ragsdale had died parachuting in Kansas five-months prior to the story. Another son, 19, was also an Army flier. It is unknown if the remaining son survived the War. Mr. Ragsdale was a veteran of WWI. In the previous month of October alone, 19,183 Americans had died. Roosevelt and Truman had just been reelected as President and Vice-President previous to this issue of Life.

-from the Ardmore site above.

Bish

 

 

ManCityFan

Hey Bish, I am pretty sure it says Full House...twice.  I went to the website, and couldn't find my father listed as a crew member.

I am going to have to dive deep into my attic.  I am almost positive this picture is a smaller copy of an original.  I think the original lists the members of the crew, and if I can find the name of the pilot, that would be helpful.  I also know my dad kept a diary during the war, and if I could find that, he listed the missions he was on.

Thanks for doing the research,

D

 

 

 

 

I enjoy doing stuff like this. In fact, i have just come across somtyhing i had not seen before. Another B-17G called Full House but of a differant BG and this time in 1944. I had not known aircraft to carry the same name, i always thought they would add a II. So, it seems there were at least 3 with that name.

It would be interesting if you could find your dad's diary. But i am going to take a guess here. You didn't mention that your dad spoke to you about flying in B-24's. If thats the case, it could explain a lot.

The groups of course needed replacments, for those lost in action as well as those who had gone home after their tour. So i am guessing that your dad didn't come to England with the 34th, but joined later, as a trained B-17 crew most likely after Sept 44.

Its likely that the aircraft in the pic was what they trained on in the states and may have been a Vet of the 8th AAF itself, sent back home after being replaced by a newer model.

Been interesting to see what your dad's diary says.

 

Hey Bish.  My father was definitely in a B-17, and he had a lot of affection for that aircraft.  He also had affection for the P-51s that flew with them.  

Obviously this is not the plane he was in while in England.  Memory did not serve me well regarding that conversation.

I will look for the diary.  I found it when I was a teenager, but all I can remember is him saying a nice English lady taught him how to kiss and that they did supply drops in the Netherlands.  I do seem to remember him saying they bombed submarine pens, and that was the worst flak he had ever seen.  

He had nothing but nice things to say about how he was treated in England.

Thanks GMorrison for the research.  This is getting really interesting.

D

A lot of popular aircraft names made it onto more than a few noses.

I think I've seen at least three or four different "ruptured duck" ones.

This business of II or III, or XXVII, is when a pilot, or more often a Crew Chief, cycles through a few.

Exactly. A generic name like Full House or Hard To Get is going to appear on several aircraft more than likely. Whereas a name for a sweetheart like Glamorous Glennis or such will get suffix on any aircraft that pilot is assigned to fly beyond the original.

My mother- in - laws family name was Billi.

My f- in- law went to USAAF Technical school. He owned a Beaufighter named "Miss Billi", a P-61 named "Miss Billi II" and was headed for the PTO and a B-29 when VE Day happened.

Later in life he went everywhere in his RV "Miss Billi III".

To finish a Pocher Mercedes 1930's cabrio that my wife bought me on gaining my first major management job in 1988!

All of the chassis/engine/gearbox/brake cables etc and running gear is finished, but the upholstery that is supplied just won't fit right onto the two sprung seat bases. I bought a new set of upholsetery last year, but still haven't got round to it!

ManCityFan

 

 

Bish

 

 

ManCityFan

Hey Bish, I am pretty sure it says Full House...twice.  I went to the website, and couldn't find my father listed as a crew member.

I am going to have to dive deep into my attic.  I am almost positive this picture is a smaller copy of an original.  I think the original lists the members of the crew, and if I can find the name of the pilot, that would be helpful.  I also know my dad kept a diary during the war, and if I could find that, he listed the missions he was on.

Thanks for doing the research,

D

 

 

 

 

I enjoy doing stuff like this. In fact, i have just come across somtyhing i had not seen before. Another B-17G called Full House but of a differant BG and this time in 1944. I had not known aircraft to carry the same name, i always thought they would add a II. So, it seems there were at least 3 with that name.

It would be interesting if you could find your dad's diary. But i am going to take a guess here. You didn't mention that your dad spoke to you about flying in B-24's. If thats the case, it could explain a lot.

The groups of course needed replacments, for those lost in action as well as those who had gone home after their tour. So i am guessing that your dad didn't come to England with the 34th, but joined later, as a trained B-17 crew most likely after Sept 44.

Its likely that the aircraft in the pic was what they trained on in the states and may have been a Vet of the 8th AAF itself, sent back home after being replaced by a newer model.

Been interesting to see what your dad's diary says.

 

 

 

 

Hey Bish.  My father was definitely in a B-17, and he had a lot of affection for that aircraft.  He also had affection for the P-51s that flew with them.  

Obviously this is not the plane he was in while in England.  Memory did not serve me well regarding that conversation.

I will look for the diary.  I found it when I was a teenager, but all I can remember is him saying a nice English lady taught him how to kiss and that they did supply drops in the Netherlands.  I do seem to remember him saying they bombed submarine pens, and that was the worst flak he had ever seen.  

He had nothing but nice things to say about how he was treated in England.

Thanks GMorrison for the research.  This is getting really interesting.

D

 

You do have been to be careful when talking to vets, and i speake as one myself. When they are recounting events from many years ago, especially given the circumstances they were in, things can get a little mixed up. I bet if i was talking about things i did 20 odd years ago in Ireland, i would get confused.

But your comment about dropping supplies into the Netherlands makes sense. That was Operation Chowhound (Op manna for the RAF) which took place in late April/May 1945. The Dutch were on the verge of a famine and with the agrement of German forces, the Allies dropped food supplies.

So given what you said earlier about your dad flying, i think you said 23 missions, that would confirm he arrived in England either late 44 or early 45.

You can read about the supply opertions here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_Manna_and_Chowhound

Keyda81

Wow!  I need you guys to do my research!  Lol.  I suppose it helps in knowing where to look.  Google and Wikipedia are my go tos for now.  I have scrounged up quite a bit of info lately.  I have some pictures of most of the aircraft, but not all.   A lot of the pictures are in black and white too, so how do you guys go about finding out what colors things were?

 

That the key Keyda, its not about knowing every thing, but knowing where to look. Its somthing you just pick up over time. I had not looked at that serial website for ages, but as soon as i saw the post, i knew where to go to.

GMorrison

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/3875

https://home.brightok.net/~gsimmons/memorial2.htm

Here's more reference to the same aircraft.

AR for Ardmore Army Air Field, Ardmore OK. I don't think this particular aircraft ever went overseas.

 

Good find GM. Thats the one thats missing from the serial website and it has to be the same one from Dwaynes pic.

I wounder if a crew that trained on it then went to England and gave there B-17G the same name.

Like Tojo, my long-term goal is to build my stash before I can't build anymore.  But in the short term, my goal is to at least get my stash under 100 kits (I have over 150 right now).  I also have a goal of a diorama of as many German jet and rocket powered WW II planes as possible (I currently have kits of the Me-262, the He-162 Salamander, the Ba-349 Natter, the Arado 234, and the Messerschmitt P-1101 - should make quite a diorama!).

Hmmm. I'm with Tojo. finish what I have....., except it strangely keeps growing. 

I have a much smaller stash than most of you, and I get a bit nervous if it gets down to low, say under a dozen kits.  I feel like a dozen or more is a good number to have.  I like to have choices, lol.  Prop or jet, USAF, Navy, Marines, or Army. 

Still waiting on a reply back from the base.  I want to make sure there aren't any holes in my research.  I can not for the life of me seem to find a picture of a C-46 Commando that was stationed here.  I'm trying to be as accurate as I can possibly stand, and get the proper registration numbers and markings.  I know this will entail making my own decals, which is fine as long as I have the proper reference.

Keyda no doubt you've read the wiki page. It has a list no doubt quite incomplete of some squadrons.

I find the footnotes for a Wiki article to be pretty useful. Or lack thereof, which usually means that the article isn't valuable.

There's quite a few for the base, including a couple that look like military base histories.

As a more general research tool, I like Google images. They come with their own links which often go straight to the source.

GMorrison

Keyda no doubt you've read the wiki page. It has a list no doubt quite incomplete of some squadrons.

I find the footnotes for a Wiki article to be pretty useful. Or lack thereof, which usually means that the article isn't valuable.

There's quite a few for the base, including a couple that look like military base histories.

As a more general research tool, I like Google images. They come with their own links which often go straight to the source.

 

Yep, I've read the wiki page several times, lol.  Googled images as well.  I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.  So I guess I'll just be waiting until I hear back from the base, and if all else fails go with what I have.

I just want to finish something. It's been a couple of years since I've put up a finished model. I started Trump's Leopold back in December, but after six months on it I just lost interest. I started on Bandai's Y-Wing fighter a couple of weeks ago. It's my first syfy kit and so far, the best fitting kit I've ever built. Hopefully it's small enough to keep my attention long enough to complete it.

I plan on building every version of the F4U Corsair, including all of the "Only One Built" projects, like the XF4U, the XF4U-3, etc. I'm also toying with building all versions of the A6M Zero, and have a few kits in the stash already for that, but haven't decided firmly as of yet.

My plan is to build every jet the Marine Corps operated from Vietnam on as well as the vehicle I operated in the Marines, the AAVP7A1 RAM/RS and probably an M1A1, maybe even an LAV despite them being junior Amtrakers.  Cuz, you know....YAT-YAS....

Mopar Madness

To stop buying new kits and build what I have!  Yeah right! 

 

Preach on brother.....

PatW

To finish a Pocher Mercedes 1930's cabrio that my wife bought me on gaining my first major management job in 1988!

All of the chassis/engine/gearbox/brake cables etc and running gear is finished, but the upholstery that is supplied just won't fit right onto the two sprung seat bases. I bought a new set of upholsetery last year, but still haven't got round to it! 

I have a feeling you mean the real 1:1 car, not a kit, correct? If so, WAY COOL!!!! 

Gary Mason

laskdjn

My plan is to build every jet the Marine Corps operated from Vietnam on as well as the vehicle I operated in the Marines, the AAVP7A1 RAM/RS and probably an M1A1, maybe even an LAV despite them being junior Amtrakers.  Cuz, you know....YAT-YAS.... 

I give up - what does "YAT-YAS" mean?

To build a kit all the way through without braking it!! LOL  I would like to continue to learn and improve on my skills. Plus, keep adding to my stash with different sizes and genre's of kits. I am at 74 kits.

Devil Dawg

 

 

laskdjn

My plan is to build every jet the Marine Corps operated from Vietnam on as well as the vehicle I operated in the Marines, the AAVP7A1 RAM/RS and probably an M1A1, maybe even an LAV despite them being junior Amtrakers.  Cuz, you know....YAT-YAS.... 

 

 

 

I give up - what does "YAT-YAS" mean?

 

You Ain't Tracks - You Ain't S#@&/)

Well, gotta say,

laskdjn

 

Devil Dawg

 

 

laskdjn

My plan is to build every jet the Marine Corps operated from Vietnam on as well as the vehicle I operated in the Marines, the AAVP7A1 RAM/RS and probably an M1A1, maybe even an LAV despite them being junior Amtrakers.  Cuz, you know....YAT-YAS....  

 

I give up - what does "YAT-YAS" mean? 

 

You Ain't Tracks - You Ain't S#@&/) 

Well, gotta say, that's one I haven't heard before!

Devil Dawg

 

Well, gotta say, that's one I haven't heard before!

 

We said that at every parade! 

At this point, my goals are simple:

Improve my skills as a modeler;

Finish more models in a timely fashion, which means;

Spend more time working on models;

Figure out where to put the completed ones!

Nothing to lofty for me.

I am trying a scratch build of the Harbinger, a Hammerhead class frigate from Star Wars the Old Republic. I am planning a 1/1000 scale model which will be about 31 cm in length.

In 1983 while serving in the U.S. Navy I was stationed with an A-7 squadron and we were aboard the USS Carl Vinson for her maiden cruise which was a cruise around the world.

Two years ago I built 1 aircraft for every squadron aboard during the cruise. This year my project is to build the aircraft carrier as she was at the start of the cruise. I started the project in May and am hoping to have it completed by December. I went a little on the extreme side by illuminating the ship. So far I have over 500' of fiber optics and about 40 LED's. Starting on building the 86 aircraft for the ship.

You can follow the build here: http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/175008.aspx

Many, to  start and finish my 1/24 Mosquito (Airfix), my 1/32 P51 amd F4U ( Tamiya), and then a 1/350 USS Enterprise Carrier with all the AM goodies you can throw at it. 

Looks like my goal is going to be harder to complete.  I have tried emailng the base several times about aircraft histories, and I've gotten no response.