doyler Posted January 5, 2015 Share #1 Posted January 5, 2015 Purchased a large photographic album for the 109th and in it this insignia was described as an unofficial unit emblem seen on buildings and walls within the unit then adopted at the unofficial squadron emblem.Not sure a patch was produced as there isnt reffferance to.Trying to look at photos opf the P51s in the book and think this was painted on the sides but hard to see a clear picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted January 5, 2015 Share #2 Posted January 5, 2015 109th was the unit formed from the Minnesota Air Guard unit. They flew recce Mustangs in WW2 and Mustangs postwar well into the 50s. Back as a kid I found a photo of a Mustang pilot in a drawer at my Grandparents. Thought for a while there was a Mustang pilot in the family. Took me years to figure it out but when my son and I volunteered at the Minnesota Air Guard Museum I discovered the very helmet he was wearing in the picture. Wasn't a relative but a guy who grew up in small town South Dakota near my Grandparents home. So if you come across anything in there on Roy Johnnis, give a yell will ya? That units history goes back to the first Air Guard unit in the country recognized on a federal level which was the Minnesota Air Guard 109th Observation Squadron. My Dad took me to an air show back in the late 60s early 70s where there was a restored biplane from the 109th. Sadly it crashed and burned that day, a memory that stands strong. The Air Guard unit had restored it to flight. One of the two on board was killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted January 5, 2015 Thanks for the info.I purchased this in the Minneapolis area.There is a section on pilots and enlisted men as well.Photos are all named and often with home town.Saw one pilot from Minneapolis. Any idea on how uncommon/common the album is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted January 5, 2015 Share #4 Posted January 5, 2015 Wish I could say. Might want to check with the Air Guard Museum. It's been a while since I volunteered there. If you see mention of a pilot from Milbank, South Dakota, that's Roy Johnnis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsmilitary Posted January 5, 2015 Share #5 Posted January 5, 2015 Very nice album Ron! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted January 5, 2015 Thanks Will post a few more pictures later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted January 5, 2015 Listed in the album is the award of the Distinguished Unit Citation for the period of time from 15 February to 20 March for the most extensive photographic operations undertaken over enemy territory. Citing the flying at the vulnerable height of 3500 feet for 20 mile durations over heavily defended coastal instalations foregoing evasive action to fly a straight pattern inspite of predicted constant fire from the batteries and anti aircraft installations.The citation states 83 missions flown by the squadrons under the 6674th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. The album is full of photo collages of these missions to France (Normandy, St.Lo etc) Western Germany and other locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted January 5, 2015 Wish I could say. Might want to check with the Air Guard Museum. It's been a while since I volunteered there. If you see mention of a pilot from Milbank, South Dakota, that's Roy Johnnis. Looking through the listed photos of the pilots not seeing Roy Jonnis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted January 5, 2015 Share #9 Posted January 5, 2015 Very neat item Ron. I've seen similar style "Official Unit Albums" done for other squadrons on ebay over the years. I think they were also ETO recon squadrons. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted January 5, 2015 Share #10 Posted January 5, 2015 Is there a description of the unit's emblem "colors" by any chance ???????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted January 5, 2015 Is there a description of the unit's emblem "colors" by any chance ???????? No colors listed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted January 7, 2015 Share #12 Posted January 7, 2015 Man I just Hate it when they put an emblem in a history book and then don't have it colorized or at least a description of the colors !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As Charlie Brown would say AAaaaaaauuuuuuuuuggghhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldWarPatches Posted January 7, 2015 Share #13 Posted January 7, 2015 I have it in 2 books as an arrowhead, 1942 Air Heraldry by carl Mann and WW II Combat Squadrons by the USAF Historical Division Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Watkins Posted January 7, 2015 Share #14 Posted January 7, 2015 This 'Approved' emblem also appeared in the Dec 1944 edition of The National Geographic (pp. 169), but many AAF units adopted 'unofficial' alternate insignia during WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Leghorn Posted March 30, 2015 Share #15 Posted March 30, 2015 I am searching for photos and information aboutCaptain Franklin B. Tostevin109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron67th Tactical Reconnaissance GroupKIA 20. March 1945 Eigen/ Much - Germany Funeral 13. Dez. 2013 Fort Logan Denver Colorado USACan you help in in this respect.Best regardsThomas Anschütz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Leghorn Posted March 30, 2015 Share #16 Posted March 30, 2015 Purchased a large photographic album for the 109th and in it this insignia was described as an unofficial unit emblem seen on buildings and walls within the unit then adopted at the unofficial squadron emblem.Not sure a patch was produced as there isnt reffferance to.Trying to look at photos opf the P51s in the book and think this was painted on the sides but hard to see a clear picture. 2015_0104milstuff329130003.JPG 2015_0104milstuff329130005.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Leghorn Posted March 30, 2015 Share #17 Posted March 30, 2015 Purchased a large photographic album for the 109th and in it this insignia was described as an unofficial unit emblem seen on buildings and walls within the unit then adopted at the unofficial squadron emblem.Not sure a patch was produced as there isnt reffferance to.Trying to look at photos opf the P51s in the book and think this was painted on the sides but hard to see a clear picture. 2015_0104milstuff329130003.JPG 2015_0104milstuff329130005.JPG I am searching for photos and information about CO Captain Franklin B. Tostevin 109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group KIA 20. March 1945 Eigen/ Much - Germany Can you help in in this respect ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share #18 Posted March 30, 2015 Dont recall the name in the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfly Posted April 26, 2015 Share #19 Posted April 26, 2015 My father, Lt. Sherman F. Childers, flew with the 109th in the ETO. I also have the squadron scrapbook plus all of his personal military records from that period including missions flown (76), bases flown from and photo targets including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge where he earned his DFC. I have photo's of him and his P-51 "Oh Johnie" along with the squadron patch but cannot upload them. The patch has the very distinctive arrow head. Sherm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Leghorn Posted April 26, 2015 Share #20 Posted April 26, 2015 Dear Sherm, thank you very much for your message ! Your father , Lt. Sherman F. Childers and Captain Franklin B. Tostevin flew together in the same squadron. Please could you look for information and pictures about Franklin and his missions in the 109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. If you search via internet you will find a lot information about Captain Tostevin. Herzliche Grüße aus Much Germany Thomas Thomas Anschütz Colonel M.D. German Air Force Reserve Birkenweg 6 53804 Much Germany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stearman_325 Posted August 14, 2015 Share #21 Posted August 14, 2015 Hi Sherm, I've been searching for information about the 109th TRS and came across your post. I have a friend named Dick Button who flew 78 missions with the 109th. I recently scanned his entire photo album and his log book. I also have a card that lists the combat time of each pilot dated 10 May, 1945. After reading your post I looked at that card and sure enough Childers is listed in B Flight. I recently put together an A2 jacket for Dick with a name tag, 1st Lt rank, Army Air Forces shoulder transfer and a really nice leather 9th AirForce patch. That's how I came to find your post. I was trying to figure out what their squadron patch looked like. Anyway, is your father still alive? Dick will be 93 next month and is moving pretty slow. We're planning a trip to the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton with him in the next few weeks. I would love to hear about your father and share photos with you. I'll post some here once I figure out how to do it. Hope to hear back from you. Dick and I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stearman_325 Posted August 14, 2015 Share #22 Posted August 14, 2015 Here are a couple more pictures of Dick in his F-6........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stearman_325 Posted August 14, 2015 Share #23 Posted August 14, 2015 Thanks Will post a few more pictures later. I would love to see some more pictures from this album if you're still willing to share them. I will post more pictures from Dick's album soon. They're on a CD at my house. Thanks!! Kevin Here's one more that I have on my computer here at work. This was when Dick was still flying a "B" Model Mustang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share #24 Posted August 27, 2015 I would love to see some more pictures from this album if you're still willing to share them. I will post more pictures from Dick's album soon. They're on a CD at my house. Thanks!! Kevin Here's one more that I have on my computer here at work. This was when Dick was still flying a "B" Model Mustang. B_Model.jpg THose are great photos I no longer have the album.Another forum member who collects 9th AF made me a trade on the album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crawfordcecil Posted August 14, 2016 Share #25 Posted August 14, 2016 My dad served with this unit from 1942 to 1945. His name is Corporal Cecil M. Crawford. Would love to know more of the unit and share info I have with all interested in this unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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