hhc1stidf Posted July 6, 2009 Share #1 Posted July 6, 2009 I found this picture couple of years back of a Glider Pilot class in Victorville California. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted July 6, 2009 I started to do some research on the names listed below the photograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted July 6, 2009 Listed is Jack Coogan. I had no idea he served in WW II. I even located a National Geographic Magazine showing his glider unit in the China Burma India Theater. Here is the pic in the class photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted July 6, 2009 Share #4 Posted July 6, 2009 Uncle Fester himself. That's really cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted July 6, 2009 Share #5 Posted July 6, 2009 Well whaddya know! That's awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtbrown Posted July 6, 2009 Share #6 Posted July 6, 2009 From Wikipedia: Coogan enlisted in the US Army in March 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he requested a transfer to US Army Air Forces as a glider pilot because of his civilian flying experience. After graduating from glider school, he was made a Flight Officer and he volunteered for hazardous duty with the 1st Air Commando Group. In December 1943, the unit was sent to India. He flew British troops, the Chindits, under General Orde Wingate on 5 March 1944, landing them at night in a small jungle clearing 100 miles behind Japanese lines in the Burma campaign. From what I have heard, he would really get PO'd about being treated like a movie star and especially when questioned about his previous marriage to Betty Grable. Tom :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted July 6, 2009 Share #7 Posted July 6, 2009 That is a great class photo. Thanks for posting. Here are 2 other threads where Coogan has been discussed. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...l=Jackie+Coogan http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...l=Jackie+Coogan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted July 6, 2009 Share #8 Posted July 6, 2009 Comic strip artist Milt Caniff of "Terry and the Pirates" fame supposedly used Jackie Coogan and his 1st Air Commandos as a basis for the comic strip character's exploits during World War II. Coogan was also supposedly used as a basis for Caniff's next cartoon concept- Steve Canyon after Caniff quit drawing his "Terry and the Pirates' strip in 1946. I've had the honor of knowing an Air Commando and even interviewed a couple of them back when the National Glider Pilots Association was still having regular reunions. Everyone I ever talked to about Coogan said that he never lloked for publicity and that he was an excellent officer. The only time you could ever make him mad was when his acting career was brought up. The one big negative that i did get on Coogan was that several years after the war, the Glider Pilots Association invited Coogan to be the keynote speaker at one of their reunions. Coogan's agent responded to the invitation by sending a listing the prices demanded for a public appearance by "Uncle Fester." Needless to say, Coogan wasn't the keynote speaker. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgone Posted July 8, 2009 Share #9 Posted July 8, 2009 The one big negative that i did get on Coogan was that several years after the war, the Glider Pilots Association invited Coogan to be the keynote speaker at one of their reunions. Coogan's agent responded to the invitation by sending a listing the prices demanded for a public appearance by "Uncle Fester." Needless to say, Coogan wasn't the keynote speaker.Allan Even with that negative ending, you've got to admire his life: Movie star at 7. Married to BETTY GRABLE! Accomplished WW2 US Army Glider Pilot. TV Star. Could screw a light bulb into his mouth and have it light up! :w00t: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11-Bull Posted July 8, 2009 Share #10 Posted July 8, 2009 In fairness about the reunion "snub", the Addams Family TV show aired 1964-1966 some 20 years after Coogan's service. His agent probably responded to the request with a standard appearance fee letter not knowing Jackie's history with the GPA. Coogan probably never knew of the invite, or found out about it much later. Some celebrities hire agents because they cannot say no to anybody. Some do it to get the most money out of everything they are involved with. Just an observation by someone who was briefly involved in the "biz" (and found it repulsive). Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted July 8, 2009 Share #11 Posted July 8, 2009 I believe his A-2 is on display at Wright Patterson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_Andrews Posted July 8, 2009 Share #12 Posted July 8, 2009 In the class photo, Coogan wears officer's insignia -- MINUS rank (no bars that I can see). BUT if Flight Officer was a Warrant grade, why is he not wearing the WARRANT OFFICER cap device and, in place of Air Corps branch of service insignia, the smaller-sized Warrant birds? Was there a REGULATION that allowed Flight Officers to dispense with the Warrant bird and use Lieutenant-like cap device and branch insignia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radmanpatches Posted July 8, 2009 Share #13 Posted July 8, 2009 I go through and read the forum everyday, you never know what you are going to learn! Thanks for sharing! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted July 9, 2009 Share #14 Posted July 9, 2009 In the class photo, Coogan wears officer's insignia -- MINUS rank (no bars that I can see). BUT if Flight Officer was a Warrant grade, why is he not wearing the WARRANT OFFICER cap device and, in place of Air Corps branch of service insignia, the smaller-sized Warrant birds? Was there a REGULATION that allowed Flight Officers to dispense with the Warrant bird and use Lieutenant-like cap device and branch insignia? I think this was a gray area as far as insignia and such...probably not in the regulations but not frowned upon, I have a small glider pilot group and he happened to be the author of a book about glider pilots and something like that was mentioned in the book if I remember correctly...mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted July 9, 2009 Names Listed below the photograph: Kneeling : left to right Emil A. Bilodeau, | Ned H. Yarter, | john H. Price, JR., | Jack J. Crawford, JR. | Edward Ferber | Dwight Q. Nelson, | K.O. Jones | Herman C. Gaddis | Ralph Burson | Goerge Thurman Dwyre | Everett T Creasy | William joseph Le Breton | Charles B. Liston | Francis J. Doty | John L. Kotsch | Louis F. Murphy | Bert Humphrey | Earl W. McAnally | Robert Gray Hamilton | Jack Coogan | John E. Gotham | Leonard Borris First Row Standing: left to right Lloyd M. Whitlock | Joe J. Baczuk | James H. Ryan | Robt. C. Karhan | Clifford L. Mueller | Richard I. lapsensohn | Morris L. Johnson | Lem W. Boone, JR. | A. L Fischer | A. S. Davis | Franklin H. Fornear | Virgil G. Davis | John F. Boersig | LT. Milton C. Klugh | Capt. R. W. Hedleston | LT. Edmond kelly | LT. Lee G. Kokernot | Joeph F. Thompson, JR. | Gordon Hooten | Leon T. Workman | R. J. Kester | Robert H. Coe | William Kostiak | Wendell A. Briner | Herbert G. Smiley | LloydR. Nuckolls | George A. De Witt | Arthur D. Smith | Bateman F. Keefe Second Row Standing: left to right James M. Bue | Walter M. Courter | John R. Jackson | Harold I. Moyer | Warren C. Miller | James E. Sever | John T. Rouse | J. F. Euchner | Charles Mokiao | Al. J. Vogel | Wendel H. DRE?KE | William T. Brayton | William D. Corbett | Kenneth P. Vogelheim | Franklin J. Vogelheim | Jerome F. Le Vasseur | Ted W. Walters | Bud Silverman | Robert L. Duffy | John Hancock | Don O’ Hara | Charles F. Scott, JR. | Rex H. Grable | Garnett F. Holland | Walter A. Link | John W. Branch | George W. Kracke | Orville E. stephens | Clifford M. Thompson | Fritz Wilson | Roy W. Sample Third Row Standing: left to right F. V. Wever | Henry R. Benefiel | Harvey Kirkendall | Sam T. Bull | James Rutter | Marion O. Case Goerge E. Becker | John Beale | Elmer C. Johnson | Thomas C. Daly | Philip E. Kafka | Harry P. Thomas, JR. | Robert E. Everett | Oscar V. Barkman, JR. | Edward J. Pirrung | George E. Boyle James W. Campbell | George A. Christenson | Craig A. Combs | Wm. Kelly | Ellis H Shively | Robert W. Kerr | Jule C. Rybolt | Harry W. Andrews | Frank Blood | Paul West | Robert E. Bassel | Victor Indrizzo | John A. Johnson. “THAT’S ALL FOLKS” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbornetigers Posted April 25, 2011 Share #16 Posted April 25, 2011 I found this picture couple of years back of a Glider Pilot class in Victorville California. My father is in this picture, Joseph Baczuk, 2nd from the left, first row standing. He was not good friends with Jackie Coogan, but said he was the real deal, one of the few movie stars who just wanted to do his job. I'm also trying to find information on my fathers friend next to him - Lloyd Whitlock, and a c-47 tow pilot named Paul Dahl. If you now anything, please respond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted April 25, 2011 Share #17 Posted April 25, 2011 I believe his A-2 is on display at Wright Patterson. I took this photograph many years ago at the Silent Wings Museum when it was at Terrell, Texas. The museum moved to Lubbock, Texas, according to their web site. http://www.silentwingsmuseum.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhc1stidf Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted April 25, 2011 My father is in this picture, Joseph Baczuk, 2nd from the left, first row standing. He was not good friends with Jackie Coogan, but said he was the real deal, one of the few movie stars who just wanted to do his job. I'm also trying to find information on my fathers friend next to him - Lloyd Whitlock, and a c-47 tow pilot named Paul Dahl. If you now anything, please respond. Sorry! I have no information about Mr Lloyd Whitlock or Paul Dahl All I found was this photo. I did some internet research and found; In Memoriam Lloyd M. Whitlock This is the best I could find. I will try to do some more research Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted April 25, 2011 Share #19 Posted April 25, 2011 he was the funniest on the adams family by far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts