Gregory Posted November 23, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 23, 2013 How would you comment this picture of WWII? I do not know who this lady is (she reminds me of some actress, but am not sure) but she wears AAF wings in front of AAF officials who banned those wings for civilians. And of course I have no clue whose child is this little gentleman awarded with -- among others, if I see correctly -- the PH. In the US archives this photo is captioned: Strother Army Airfield, March 12, 1943. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted November 23, 2013 Share #2 Posted November 23, 2013 You would think it is a ceremony awarding next of kin the Posthumous awards.Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted November 23, 2013 Share #3 Posted November 23, 2013 Or, maybe the boy was terminally ill and they were doing a "make a wish" type thing for him????? I thought it might be a NOK ceremony, but the mom and boy both look too happy for that.... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted November 23, 2013 Share #4 Posted November 23, 2013 Award of Posthumous decorations to the family of a KIA aviator is my guess. This type of publicity wascommon during WWII in the U.S. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted November 23, 2013 ...but the mom and boy both look too happy for that.... Agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAF_Collection Posted November 23, 2013 Share #6 Posted November 23, 2013 Award of Posthumous decorations to the family of a KIA aviator is my guess. This type of publicity was common during WWII in the U.S. Bobgee My thoughts as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted November 23, 2013 Share #7 Posted November 23, 2013 The Child's Father may have been a POW. Decorations to POWs were awarded to next of kin in the States. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted November 23, 2013 Share #8 Posted November 23, 2013 It could be KIA/POW. It may have been months or more than a year before the medals were awarded. That could be a smile generated by Pride in a American Hero. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlok Posted November 23, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 23, 2013 She is wearing all black & her "smile" looks quite forced to me, as if she was very much aware of the camera. I would say next of kin as well. Probably a year or more after the aviator was MIA/KIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC Historical Society Posted July 27, 2016 Share #10 Posted July 27, 2016 This picture is of Mrs. Donald Strother and son Colbert. Donald Strother was Cowley County's first casualty of WWII. Strother Army Airfield was named after him. I would have attached a picture of Col. Joseph F. Carroll pinning the medals to Colbert's coat but couldn't figure out how to. Please feel free to e-mail the museum at [email protected] if you have any questions about Strother Army Airfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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