Local Mystery Help

[normaninvasion]

Hi Everyone,

 

My local paper is asking for help regarding a scrapbook that was found in an attic in Florida and sent up to Ny. They would like to find any family members who would be interested. The scrapbook consists of 100s personal letters and drawings. The only identifiable information is as follows.

 

1. Writer and artist name seems to be Bill Phelps

2. They were found in Orlando, Florida

3. He was in France Nov 15, 1944 and Germany by March 1945

4, He has sons

5. Mentions Castle Butte Montana and other references to Montana

6. Possibly related to a Vera Phelps. Wife?

 

I asked the writer for any other info regarding locations, unit, serial numbers, ect but he couldn't find any other references. All the letters were sent from Europe from 1944-45. Sorry not much more to go on. I don't have Ancestry or any other accounts. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jeff

[aznation]

Some additional info:

 

Column: A WWII mystery — Who made drawings?

by Steve Wick |

07/28/2017 6:00 AM

 

The letters and drawings date to 1944 and 1945, when the writer and artist was stationed in Europe during World War II. There are hundreds of letters and dozens of drawings and, together, they tell the remarkable story of a soldier at war writing home to a family in Florida.

Some of the letters begin ‘Hi, Honey,” and the writer asks about “the boys” and how everyone is doing. Some of the drawings are of cowboys and horses and a fence line. There are references to Montana. The name written on some of the drawings is “Billie Phelps.” Most of the letters are signed “Bill.”

This collection of documents and images is in the possession of Pat and John Kurpetski of Calverton. It was found by their son John in the attic of a house in Orlando, Fla. He gave it to them with the hope that, somehow, the family of the person who wrote the letters and made the drawings could be tracked down.

“We want someone in this person’s family to have them,” Ms. Kurpetski said. “That is our hope — that a daughter or a son or more likely a grandchild of this person can be located and this collection can go to them. It only seems right that it be given to the family.”

A Nov. 15, 1944, letter from France — five months after the D-Day invasion — starts off “Hi, Honey — Got two letters from you yesterday. They were written the same day and explained all about the storm you folks had. Until I got your letters I knew nothing of a storm in Fla.”

A series of letters written from Germany in early March 1945 are signed “lovingly yours, Bill.” He asks about “Ruth” and “Tom” and says he has received letters from “Sam, Jean and Vera Beth.” He goes on: “So you have a pig now?” He says he heard the house was being painted — “so glad you were able to have it done.” He writes he was glad to get a letter from “Edith and Buddy last week” and he asks for more stationery because “I’m using it up kind of fast.”

He signs it “Hello to my boys, love, Bill.”

There are hundreds of handwritten letters in the collection. Nearly all are on paper that is fading and beginning to crumble. If the family of this person can’t be found — could the writer still be alive? — they belong in a museum where they can be preserved from further deterioration. Dozens of names are mentioned in the letters — and some are addressed to a family named Lamb — but there is no firm clue as to the writer’s identity.

Where does one start to find the family of the letter writer?

The drawings that were found with the letters are inside a textbook called “A Laboratory Manual for General Science.” Inside the cover is handwritten: “Billy Phelps,” then what looks like “Vera Phelps” and under that “Castle Butte Montana.”

Inside are dozens of pencil and crayon drawings — of a cowboy holding a rope, a log cabin, a fence line, a corral, a cowboy holding a pistol titled ‘the outlaw’ and signed by Billie Phelps. There are numerous drawings of glamorous women in fancy gowns and dresses. A drawing of a cowboy sitting next to a tree is signed Billie E. Phelps.

Billie must have loved horses, as there are numerous horse drawings. The artist’s imagination seems to be in Montana, while his heart is with a family in Orlando, Fla. “Billie Phelps” seems to be the author of all the letters and the drawings.

Written in ink at the bottom of one page in the book are the words:

How can this heart be mine

yet yours, unless our hearts

are one.

by Cupid’s Arrow

Hopefully, this collection can be reunited with a family.

[KASTAUFFER]

The envelopes should have his service number on them. That would be a great help.

 

Kurt

[normaninvasion]

Thanks for the replies and pasting the article. I told the writer that there must be some more info contained in all those letters that would help id. Again thanks for any help.

[Championhilz]

I believe this is the findagrave listing for Vera Phelps - her married name was Lamb:

 

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=lamb&GSfn=vera&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=11&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=26479410&df=all&

[aznation]

This might be your guy.

 

 

s1.tiff

[aznation]

More

 

April 3, 1943

The Courier-Gazette from McKinney, Texas · Page 1

 

Sons Of Mr. And I \ Mrs. Gibson Phelps Are In The Service

 

Gibson (Buddy) Phelps, Jr. and Billie E. Phelps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gibson Phelps of Long Beach. California but formerly of this city, are both Cadets in the Army Air Corps. Gibson. Jr. has recently entered the service and is now stationed at Fresno, California, where he will receive his basic training. He is a graduate of the McKinney High School class of 1941. He then attended Compton Junior College for a year an for the past nine months held a responsible position with the War Department Quartermaster division at Fort MacArthur, California. He moved with his family to California a few years ago. Billie is also a graduate of McKinney High. He enlisted in the Air Corps in April 1942 and began his cadet training at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in September last. Upon finishing his preflight training he was sent to DeerField, Florida, for his primary training and is receiving his basic training at Bainbridge, Georgia. Both of these fine boys were born and reared in McKinney and have a host of friends here to wish them the best of luck and success while in the service. They are grandsons of Mrs. Jennie Phelps of this city. Their mother, Mrs. Gibson Phelps, is a sister of Mrs Fred Apple of this city.

 

 

[aznation]

more.

 

February 8, 1944

The Courier-Gazette from McKinney, Texas · Page 1

 

Lt. Billie E Phelps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gibson Phelps of Long Beach, Cal. has notified friends and relatives here of his safe arrival in England. Lt. Phelps is Pilot and Flight Commander of the “Ruby Lee' a , B-17 Bomber. The bomber bears the name of Lt Phelps wife, who was the former Mrs. Ruby Lee Brown.

[aznation]

more..

 

Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of The Berlin Airlift

 

[aznation]

more...

 

December 9, 1948

Long Beach Independent from Long Beach, California · Page 30

 

THE PHELPS FAMILY ... Wife. Daughter Sandra Lee, Son Billy Jr. L B Pilot's Death Bares Three Dramatic Stories BY HARRY FULTON U. S. air force officials Wednesday announced that Capt. Billy Phelps. Long Beach pilot was killed when an Operation Vittles plane in the Berlin airlift crashed Sunday. Behind that announcement lies the details for three separate stories. One story concerns the colorful career of an American flier who gave his life in service to his country. Another is the story of a woman who spent most of her married life anxiously awaiting news of her husband. The third story relates the grim details of a phase of America's "cold" war with Russia -- the Berlin airlift. Capt. Billy Phelps, 26, a native Texan, enlisted for service in the air corps on April 11, 1942. He won his wings about a year later, and on .December 29, 1943, he left for an overseas base in England. Bad weather greeted his arrival in England. The fog was so thick he ordered his crew to bail out, then crash-landed his plane in a pasture. -- ' 'Then followed 24 missions as a B-17 pilot with the Eighth air force. On May 12, 1944, his plane was shot down over Czechoslovakia, and two days later he was taken prisoner. He was liberated by General Patton's army on April 29, 1945, and returned to the United States. Four months ago he went overseas again to fly with the ATC in the airlift-- but that's another story. Story No. 1 Story No. This is about the widow of Captain Phelps. With their two children, Sandra Lee, 5, and Billy jr., 17 months, Mrs. Ruby Phelps resides at 3601 Gaviota avenue. Although both were born and reared in Texas, Captain and Mrs. Phelps did not meet until they moved to California. They were married May 18, 1941. Less than a year' later, Billy Phelps was in the service and before they realized it he was overseas. On May 12, 1944, I received word from the war department that he had been killed." CAPT. BILLY PHELPS Sensed. Impeding Death feared.arrived. Her husband was "missing" in action. A month later she learned he had been taken prisoner, and in September of that year she accepted an air medal awarded her prisoner husband. Mrs. Phelps also has "flown" the airlift with her husband. "Every day we have been anxiously watching the newspapers for news of activity In the airlift. My husband was stationed at Fassburg and, as far as I know, up to now there had been no fatalities at that base. "Naturally I was uneasy when I read that a Fassburg transport had crashed Sunday morning. I dreaded the ring of the telephone, and I winced every time the doorbell rang. Story No. 3 The grim story of the Berlin airlift is partially told in Captain Phelps' letters to his wife, one of which arrived only two days ago. They are letters from a man who seemingly sensed he was flying to his death. They tell of American flyers flying mission after mission with little or no rest in between. They tell of flights in all sorts of bad weather--often in overworked planes. Once Captain Phelps referred to them as "flying wrecks." Twice before in Germany Captain Phelps had narrow brushes with death. Both times, he told his wife, an engine caught fire and he was forced to crash land. "I almost got killed," he said in his letter. "I had to lie down, and it was two hours before I could pull myself together to fill out a flight report." Mrs. Phelps and her two children are living with her husband's father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W. Gibson Phelps, and a grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Phelps, at the Gaviota address. The family was expecting Captain Phelps home soon after Christmas. "He was waiting for a replacement," his wife said.

 

 

 

[aznation]

more...

 

 

[aznation]

If this isn't the right person, I apologize for adding so much. Moderator/s can remove if such is the case. Thanks...

[normaninvasion]

NZ thank you for all that hard work, but don't believe this is the man as your guy has a California connection and was a POW.

 

The only other clue the writer provided me was there was a saved copy of a March 07 1945 Stars and Stripes, headlines being 3rd Army Tanks take Pilsen and 7th Army meets resistance...... Still not much to go on

 

WOW, I don't know how I missed that Champion!!!!!! I've gone over this thread twice and missed your reply!!!! That is a connection I bet!!! Thank you

[familytreevets]

Champion is right on. I had found that as well. She and her Phelps family was in Montana (Yellowstone, near Castle Butte) in the 1920 Census. I found that her given name is Vera Elizabeth so "Vera Beth" written in the science book is another connection. BTW, the science book was published in 1912 so that finds the timeframe. What is missing in the find a grave list of names and the 1920 Census is a William or any variation, such as a possible middle name. And I've not yet found any of that Phelps family in the 1930 Census. Searching for other Phelps families to see is he was a cousin of Vera.

 

I've found a William Phelps who enlisted in the U.S. Army in Seattle, Washington in the right timeframe. Trying to make a connection.

 

Still digging deep. Getting closer.

[familytreevets]

Vera had a brother named Everett. He had a son named William E Phelps. They all lived in the same Montana township. The earliest year I can give for William's birth is 1928. So he would have been 16 Y.O., on the cusp of 17 Y.O., in 1944. So some of this "fits". Other things don't, like having two kids when 16-17 Y.O.

 

Vera's father Aaron moved his family to Florida about 1935. He is listed as an orange grove owner/grower. Vera stayed, married a Palmer, and passed away in that same area. Aaron and wife "Louie" died there as well. William's wife (?) lived in Florida during 1944-1945. That would fit since his grandfather, grandmother and Aunt Vera lived there. They would have been able to provide support. But, as well, her family could have lived there.

 

I found only dead ends after that time period.

 

Someone would have to have the address where the papers were found to follow the trail from present to back in time.

[normaninvasion]

Familytree, Thank you for your help. I didn't see your post until now and didn't hear anymore from the writer.

 

As an update, the family has been located. http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2017/10/78202/column-a-wwii-letter-mystery-is-finally-solved/

 

Again thank you all for taking the time to help.