12 replies to this topic

[RickFlack]

The "first" WWII Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (H) to fly combat missions in Europe (Aug'42 with the 8th AAF) and then in North Africa (Nov'42 with the 12th AAF) was the 97th with its four Bomb Squadrons (340th, 341st, 342nd and 414th).  Consequently, this posting is for those history buffs interested in viewing never before seen photos and related documents regarding this unique period in our Aviation Military history.

 

These details are found in a book I authored regarding my father's life primarily focused on his military flying career.  The electronic version of this book is freely available via the internet as a downloadable PDF file.  Being a PDF file, you will note I reference herein and elsewhere both "Book" page numbers and the associated "PDF" page numbers for quick access to a given page(s).

 

To begin reading about this posting's subject matter (First B-17 Combat Bombardment Group to Europe & North Africa), it is recommended you start on Book page number 429 (PDF page number 505), which is at the end of Chapter 6, and read through Chapter 10.  To download a copy of this book, perform the following steps:

 

1. Begin by referring to the following Facebook link: https://facebook.com...02118180261150/.

2. Once there, following the instructions for the latest posting (November 15, 2018 as of this post), which states:

    Click on the following OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

    https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zR9C37ApPzg788u

 

Note it will take several minutes to download and save a copy of this book to your PC as the size of the PDF file is 242,152KB due to all the "images" that have been scanned in high-resolution and inserted into the book for detailed zooming.  Once the PDF has been downloaded and saved to your PC, open with an Adobe reader product of your choice.  If you have any problems or questions, please contact me for assistance at [email protected].

[RickFlack]

I have made important updates as a result of my continued research and refinement of the Operation BOLERO Atlantic Ocean crossing during June/July 1942, which was a WWII military historical first, filled with many challenges and includes in-depth stories from those who made the treacherous crossing.  The details of these updates are summarized in the following Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the November 17, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document (see related details in original posting above):

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zWFSUnP84OvmG3F

[RickFlack]

I have added two new full-page photos to my book.  In addition, I updated text pertaining to the 22-Feb-43 (Mission #62) and 23-Feb-43 (Mission #64), which was the successful bombing of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's Fifth Panzer Troop Concentrations located in Kasserine Pass, Tunisia.  Rudy and his 414th Bomb Squadron were the Fortresses that successfully bombed their assigned target on 22-Feb-43, in spite of the cloud cover; and were the key Fortresses that successfully bombed the same target the next day on 23-Feb-43.

 

These attacks by the 97th were the start of a series of blows by the Allied air forces that were to tip the balance in the struggle and force the retreat of the Axis armies.  Marshall Rommel, whose forces bore the brunt of theses blows reported, "In every battle to come the strength of the Anglo-American air force was to be the deciding factor."

 

The details of these updates are summarized in the following Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the December 6, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document (see related details in original posting above):

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zpZ4TAwtxEuM6Jc

[RickFlack]

I have added eight new pages to my book (Book pages 768►775 -- PDF pages 844►851), which provides a detailed accounting of Operation Flagpole, a precursor to Operation Torch (read Book pages 767 through 778 for a more complete picture).  In addition, I have provided individual links to eight of my completed Appendices.  All of these details are summarized in the following Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the December 14, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zsSxEwbRCKi4ihy

[RickFlack]

I added two new pages to the "main" book (Book 92►93, PDF 168►169) as a result of reviewing and updating Appendix A -- Rudy's High School & Junior College Scrap Book (1932-1937), which was created back in 2010 (read Book pages 92 thru 100 for a more complete picture).  In addition, I have provided "updated" individual links to each of my eight completed Appendices.  All of these details are summarized in the following Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for December 19, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...z3QGHIZloONzXig

[RickFlack]

I added 13 new pages, which includes 10 images to the "main" book and starts on book page number 572 (PDF page 650) and runs through book page number 584 (PDF page 662).  These 13 new pages provide an in-depth look at the Twelve O'Clock High 1948 book and the 1949 movie as detailed in The Twelve O'Clock High Logbook published in 2005.  It is a fabulous read with many online links for accessing comprehensive material.  These details are summarized in the following Facebook link:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the January 24, 2019 posting which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...0eijKjmkmUeSqTG

Edited by RickFlack, 24 January 2019 - 10:40 PM.

[RickFlack]

I just finished reading the 425-page "The 12 O'clock High Logbook."  As a result, I updated my entire write-up, which added 4 pages to my book.  It is a fabulous read with many online links for accessing comprehensive material.  I just added two new pages to my book with MPEG4 video file links of Rudy and his Family.  All of these details are summarized in the following Facebook link:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the January 30, 2019 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on you PC for viewing this document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...0qSGcEwZd9yEilv

[RickFlack]

I  had to make three corrections to yesterday's 1/30/19 posting so I added one new full-page photo.  To access the updated book, go to the following Facebook link:

 

https://www.facebook...21181802611150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the January 31, 2019 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...0tSr2axjlzo2Msd

[RickFlack]

I made relevant updates to the "main" book's PREFACE.  I added 20 very interesting new images (photos and documents), which appear on the following Book/PDF(x) page numbers (the "x" identifies the number of new images on each page:

 

289/367(1), 378/456(1), 836/914(2), 837/915(1), 964/1042(1), 966/1044(1) 1206/1284(1), 1207/1285(1), 1233/1311(2), 1234/1312(2), 1261/1339(2), 1262/1340(2), 1263/1341(2), 1266/1344(1).

 

To access the updated book, go to the following Facebook link:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the May 19, 2019 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document.

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...Am2U5-n6u03hY3g

[RickFlack]

Let’s honor Memorial Day. I added 12 very interesting new images (photos and documents), which appear on the following Book/PDF pages:

59/137, 60/138, 61/139, 62/140 – 1934 High School Yearbook
71/149, 72/150, 74/152, 75/153 – 1936 SDANA Yearbook
297/375, 298/376, 299/377, 300/378 – 1938 Ship Passenger List

On Book/PDF page number 581/659 I identified six 414th Bomb Squadron members who served with Rudy from 2-Feb-42 thru 5-Mar-43 and who contributed to the writing of “The Hour Has Come Book.” Note the three key 414th BS members/families whose assistance was not solicited, which are identified on Book/PDF page number 584/662.

To access the updated book, go to the following Facebook link:

https://www.facebook....2118180261150/

Once there, follow the instructions for the May 25, 2019 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...AuVvX-Nm0xDarlm

[RickFlack]

I have completed the following three of my last four remaining Appendices with only Appendix H (The Hour Has Come - The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book) remaining. This resulted in updates to the entire “main” book’s Chapter 3 (Rudy’s 1st Flying Lesson and His Education 1931-1937) between “main” Book/PDF pages 55/135 thru 105/185 (includes 14 new images, most with photos), which is likely of interest to mainly family members and close friends.

Having the following three Appendices completed provides historical value to all and having Appendix K and L available as searchable PDF’s is invaluable:

Appendix I – New York Times Magazine – Sunday – September 6, 1942
Appendix K – The CADET 1936 – San Diego Army and Navy Academy (SDANA)
Appendix L – The CADET 1937 – Brown Military Academy – Successor of SDANA

To access the three completed Appendices noted above and the updated “main” book, go to the following Facebook link for all details:

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

[RickFlack]

I completed my last remaining, and long awaited, Appendix N (The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book). Also, I added two new Appendices, which are Rudy’s junior and senior high school yearbooks. From these scanned yearbooks, I captured and added 14 new images (pages) to the “main” book’s Chapter 3 (Rudy’s 1st Flying Lesson and His Education 1931-1937) found on Book/PDF pages 55/135 thru 119/199, which is likely of interest mainly to family members and close friends.

As a result of adding the two new Appendices noted above (Rudy’s junior and senior high school yearbooks), I have re-sequenced and renumbered all 14 appendices chronologically. To access the updated “main” book and all 14 completed Appendices (A thru N) go to the following Facebook link for all details:

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

[RickFlack]

I have added three new Appendices with a forth one coming soon. The Good news is I have now merged the “main” book and the 18 Appendices into one PDF document (3,810 pages, 2GB file size). I made minor updates to the “main” book and added three new images on “main” Book/PDF page numbers 302/382 and 1227/1307, which are most likely of interest to family members and close friends.

To obtain a copy this updated all-in-one book and read related details, go to the following Facebook link:

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/