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Small AAF Grouping -- Bomb Tags


Got da Penny
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Got da Penny

This was acquired thru a seller on eBay, The auction ended without any bids, :w00t:

 

I sent him a note letting him know i would be interested in this grouping if it had no bidders.

Luckily for me, he was coming to the SOS and was able to bring it along.

 

More time is needed to research everything.

 

 

 

post-633-1330649179.jpg

 

 

 

 

post-633-1330649184.jpg

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manayunkman

Do any of those other tags mention a Col. Bowman and is their mention of him in the unit history ??

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Got da Penny
post-633-1330649248.jpg

post-633-1330649253.jpg

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY, 11 JANUARY 1944

 

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS

 

BURMA-INDIA

 

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 36 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound an encampment containing about 4,900 troops and a large quantity of supplies, causing considerable damage by accurate bombing and strafing.

 

CHINA

 

(Fourteenth Air Force): Before daylight 14 Japanese bombers hit the airfield at Suichwan, China; during the morning 3 medium bombers and 15 fighters follow up with a second strike; 7 P-51's and 5 P-40's intercept the second attack, claiming 3 medium bombers shot down. 8 B-24's bomb the harbor, aluminum plant, and airfield at Takao, Formosa; 1 bombs oil storage at Swatow, China. 4 B-24's mine harbors at Takao and Hong Kong; 1 B-24 is lost.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

 

(Eighth Air Force): Mission 182. Three aviation industry targets in Germany are hit; fierce opposition estimated at 500 Luftwaffe fighters is encountered and 60 bombers and 5 fighters are lost. 1. 177 B-17's are dispatched to Oschersleben; 139 hit the primary and 20 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 174-32-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 83 damaged; casualties are 9 KIA, 11 WIA and 349 MIA. 2. 114 B-17's are dispatched to Halberstadt; 52 hit the primary and 55 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 35-11-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-17's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 18 WIA and 81 MIA. 177 P-47's and 44 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 29-11-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 4 P-47's and 1 P-51 are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA and 2 MIA. Major James H Howard, a P-51 pilot of the 354th Fighter Group, shot down an Me 110 and then found himself the lone escort for a B-17 group being attacked by 30 Luftwaffe aircraft. For the next 30 minutes, he kept turning into the enemy fighters and firing until only one gun was firing; by this time, he was credited with 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft and saved the B-17's. Major Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor. 3. 234 B-17's and 138 B-24's are dispatched to Brunswick; 47 B-17's hit the primary, 114 hit Osnabruck, 25 hit Bielefeld, 22 hit Peine, 10 hit Herford and 1 hit Nienburg; no B-24's hit the primary, 58 hit Meppen, 1 hits Lingen and 7 hit other targets; they claim 19-17-16 Luftwaffe aircraft; 16 B-17's and 2 B-24's are lost, 1 each damaged beyond repair and 47 B-17's and 7 B-24's damaged; casualties are 5 WIA and 176 MIA. This mission is escorted by 49 P-38's and 322 P-47's; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 2 P-47's are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged; casualties are 1 MIA. Among the PFF aircraft are 4 B-24's, this being the first time B-24's are used in this capacity.

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Good stuff! I have a copy of that 447th history. Relatively hard to find and pricy. The crew photo was taken before they went over seas. All the missions are listed in the original group history and there are strike photos from many of the raids also included along with many crew photos. Another interesting bit is that the back of it contains the names and home addresses for the 447th men at the time. As it was a publication for the men of the 447th I imagine they were providing a way for folks to stay in touch.

 

I spent a great deal of time researching Crew #41 lead by Lt. Ashley Guynn.

 

CopyofGuynnCrew1-1.jpg

 

 

Try this website:

 

http://www.447bg.com/

 

There is also a more recent history "History of the 447th Bomb Group" by Doyle Shields that would be worth looking into in my opinion.

 

Just checked my copy of the Shields book. It lists the crew for Lt Francis Bonham

 

Lt. Francis Bonham-Pilot

Lt. James Anderson-Co-pilot

Lt. George Schroeder-Navigator

Lt. Theodore Bush-Bombardier

Sgt. Kenneth Runkle-Engineer

Sgt. George Bauer-Radio Operator

Sgt. Edward Parry-Armorer

Sgt. Wencil Schleis-Gunner

Sgt. Lynn Dollar-Gunner

Sgt. John Segrest-Gunner

 

 

Forgot to add that Bonham's crew would have been one of the original crews to go overseas when the 447th moved to England.

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So this grouping is a put together fake? LOL. Just kidding. An awesome set and those pins are hard to come by especially with such detailed stories on each tag and linked to a guy and a unit.

Envious!

Dave

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Simply outstanding, Carey! That is a great group. Love the bomb tags, especially with the pins and the descriptions on them. Congrats! :thumbsup:

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Got da Penny

Thanks for the comments guys. This is my first grouping and i thought i got a really great price for it.

If sold individually by piece, this would cost DOUBLE what i paid for it. :D

 

 

My favorite is the SUPER HTF ------- > "Round" Bomb Tag.

 

I was able to buy my FIRST Round Tag, 2 months ago with another regular tag on eBay.

 

CS

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  • 3 years later...
Lynn Dollar Jr

attachicon.gifMarch_1_2012_003.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can not believe I found this, my Dad , Lynn Dollar , is listed as one of Lt Col Bonham's crew members at this site ......

 

http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=AssignmentExt&ID=258910

 

He was the belly turret gunner. My Dad spoke of flying with Bonham.

 

I'm very interested in this picture, cause I think Dad is pictured here. He passed on in 1996, so I all I have is memory to work with, but I know he trained in Nebraska, and I'm almost sure he flew over seas with Bonham as their pilot.

 

Doe anyone know where the list of crew members in this thread came from ? What is " Shields book " ?

 

I was searching the net Friday, thinking of my Dad, and was looking for his MACR , and ran across the page about Bonham. Dad thought highly of Bonham.

 

The 447th began missions in December 43, Dad's first mission was Dec 30, a run over Ludwigshafen. He flew 22 missions before they were shot down over Rheine Airfield on 8 April, 1944. The crew bailed and all went to POW camps, Dad went to Austria, to Stalag17B, where he stayed till they were liberated in May 45 .

 

This is just fantastic to maybe find a pic of my Dad with his crew, btw, he is the third from the right, the shortest . Dad was 5-5 or 5-6 on a tall day, ya had to be little to fit into the belly turret .

 

Also, I still have Dad's " Pictorial History of the 447th " , Dad marked all of his bombing runs.

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Lynn Dollar Jr

TUESDAY, 11 JANUARY 1944

 

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS

 

BURMA-INDIA

 

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 36 A-36's, P-51's, and P-40's pound an encampment containing about 4,900 troops and a large quantity of supplies, causing considerable damage by accurate bombing and strafing.

 

CHINA

 

(Fourteenth Air Force): Before daylight 14 Japanese bombers hit the airfield at Suichwan, China; during the morning 3 medium bombers and 15 fighters follow up with a second strike; 7 P-51's and 5 P-40's intercept the second attack, claiming 3 medium bombers shot down. 8 B-24's bomb the harbor, aluminum plant, and airfield at Takao, Formosa; 1 bombs oil storage at Swatow, China. 4 B-24's mine harbors at Takao and Hong Kong; 1 B-24 is lost.

 

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

 

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

 

(Eighth Air Force): Mission 182. Three aviation industry targets in Germany are hit; fierce opposition estimated at 500 Luftwaffe fighters is encountered and 60 bombers and 5 fighters are lost. 1. 177 B-17's are dispatched to Oschersleben; 139 hit the primary and 20 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 174-32-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 83 damaged; casualties are 9 KIA, 11 WIA and 349 MIA. 2. 114 B-17's are dispatched to Halberstadt; 52 hit the primary and 55 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 35-11-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-17's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 18 WIA and 81 MIA. 177 P-47's and 44 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 29-11-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 4 P-47's and 1 P-51 are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA and 2 MIA. Major James H Howard, a P-51 pilot of the 354th Fighter Group, shot down an Me 110 and then found himself the lone escort for a B-17 group being attacked by 30 Luftwaffe aircraft. For the next 30 minutes, he kept turning into the enemy fighters and firing until only one gun was firing; by this time, he was credited with 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft and saved the B-17's. Major Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor. 3. 234 B-17's and 138 B-24's are dispatched to Brunswick; 47 B-17's hit the primary, 114 hit Osnabruck, 25 hit Bielefeld, 22 hit Peine, 10 hit Herford and 1 hit Nienburg; no B-24's hit the primary, 58 hit Meppen, 1 hits Lingen and 7 hit other targets; they claim 19-17-16 Luftwaffe aircraft; 16 B-17's and 2 B-24's are lost, 1 each damaged beyond repair and 47 B-17's and 7 B-24's damaged; casualties are 5 WIA and 176 MIA. This mission is escorted by 49 P-38's and 322 P-47's; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 2 P-47's are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged; casualties are 1 MIA. Among the PFF aircraft are 4 B-24's, this being the first time B-24's are used in this capacity.

 

I have located Doyle Shields book and its a great source for retracing my Dad's missions, especially who the pilot was, as he flew with several different pilots . But from what I can tell so far, he flew mostly with Bonham.

 

At the very bottom of the above post , there is this , what is a " PFF " ? Shields using the abbreviation a lot, and my Dad was part of " PFF crew " .

 

Among the PFF aircraft are 4 B-24's, this being the first time B-24's are used in this capacity

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Lynn Dollar Jr

PFF ---- I am guessing ---->Primary Flight Formation

 

 

Actually, I've found out , it means " pathfinder " .

 

I've been hoping you would read this thread, do you still have that picture ? If so , is there anything on the back ?

 

I've been using Shields book and my Dad's Pictorial History to find out more about Bonham's missions. My Dad spoke highly of him.

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Got da Penny

I am moving and the items have been in storage for awhile. Sorry, i dont think anything is on back. but, if i get to it. i can update then. stay tuned.

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Lynn Dollar Jr

I am moving and the items have been in storage for awhile. Sorry, i dont think anything is on back. but, if i get to it. i can update then. stay tuned.

 

 

Thanks, my Dad had no pictures of his crew, course, when his plane went down, anything he accumulated was back in the barracks and who knows what happened to it. So the only war momentos he came home with, were what he had in Stalag 17B.

 

But I'm almost positive that's him in that picture, from what I can make out.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Lynn Dollar Jr

If anyone interested in a bit more info on Bonham, I've compiled a list of my Dad's missions, which includes the pilot and aircraft serial number. I've not looked at what Bonham did after 8 April , 1944. But he was promoted quickly from 1st LT to Capt and finished war as Lt Col .

 

This info came from my Dad's copy of the " Pictorial History of the 447th " , verified using the load lists compiled here http://447bg.smugmug.com/ by Hal Kiena ( who has done great work , btw , its much appreciated ) also using Doyle Shields history of the 447th, and info from the site maintained by the 447th Bomb Group Association .

 

And Got Da Penny, it would be greatly appreciated if you could post a better scan of the crew pic above. All the people I've listed would like to add that to their sites .

 

 

My Dad's missions .....................

 

Dec 30 , Ludwigshafen , Bonham 42-31148
Jan 7, Ludwigshafen, Bonham 42-37855
Jan 11 , Brunswick, Bonham 42-37855
Jan 29 Frankfurt, Major McRay , flying with Bonham's crew in 42-37855
Jan 30 Brunswick , JG Jellisons, #204
Feb 3, Wilhemshaven, Bonham 42-37855
Feb 4 , Frankfurt, KA Johnson , #206 , ( flew with regular crew members Parry, Shroeder, Schleis )
Feb 20 Tutow, Shields says this mission was an airfield near Rostock, and for the first time , James Anderson is the pilot , Shields says plane is #155
Feb 21, Diepholz, Anderson #31155
Feb 24, Rostock, Anderson #31155 , Shields says they also went to Tutow on this mission
Feb 25, Regensberg, Maj E J McRay with Bonham's crew A/C #097
Feb 29, Brunswick, Anderson #31155
Mar 3, Berlin, Anderson #31155
Mar 4, Berlin , Anderson #31155 This was the end of #31155, they barely made it back over the channel, Dad said they unbolted the ball turret and dropped it out to lighten the plane. Here's a report http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/5222 ( though they have the wrong date of the mission ) Waist Gunner Ed Parry was KIA , when chute failed to open
Mar 8, Berlin , Anderson # 624
Mar 9, Berlin , Anderson #497
Mar 18, Munich, Anderson #497
Mar 22, Berlin , Shields says Captain Francis Bonham # 104 ( he had already earned promotion from Lt ) flying with PFF crew ( I think Dads crew was a pathfinder in other missions ) , this was entirely different crew other than Bonham. I vaguely recall Dad speaking of Bonham choosing him to fly mission )
Mar 31, Ludwigshafen ( Doyle Shields shows this mission on April 1 , I got the date from " Pictorial History " ) Anderson #842
April 8, Rheine , Anderson #842
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Lynn Dollar Jr

Updated edited list, since this message software will not allow me to edit my post

 

 

Dec 30 , Ludwigshafen , Bonham 42-31148 " Morning Star "
Jan 7, Ludwigshafen, Bonham 42-37855 " Mr Terrrific "
Jan 11 , Brunswick, Bonham 42-37855 " Mr Terrific "
Jan 29 Frankfurt, Major McRay , flying with Bonham's crew in 42-37855 " Mr Terrific "
Jan 30 Brunswick , JG Jellisons, #204 No name
Feb 3, Wilhemshaven, Bonham 42-37855 " Mr Terrific "
Feb 4 , Frankfurt, KA Johnson , #206 " Journey's End " , ( flew with regular crew members Parry, Shroeder, Schleis )
Feb 20 Tutow, Shields says this mission was an airfield near Rostock, and for the first time , James Anderson is the pilot , Shields says plane is #31155 No Name
Feb 21, Diepholz, Anderson #31155 No Name
Feb 24, Rostock, Anderson #31155 , No Name , Shields says they also went to Tutow on this mission
Feb 25, Regensberg, Maj E J McRay with Bonham's crew A/C #097 No Name
Feb 29, Brunswick, Anderson #31155 No Name
Mar 3, Berlin, Anderson #31155 No Name
Mar 4, Berlin , Anderson #31155 This was the end of #31155, they barely made it back over the channel, Dad said they unbolted the ball turret and dropped it out to lighten the plane. Here's a report http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/5222 ( though they have the wrong date of the mission ) Waist Gunner Ed Parry was KIA , when chute failed to open
Mar 8, Berlin , Anderson # 624 Devil's Mate II
Mar 9, Berlin , Anderson #497 Tuxedo Tommie ( pic below )
Mar 18, Munich, Anderson #497 Tuxedo Tommie
Mar 22, Berlin , Shields says Captain Francis Bonham ( he had already earned promotion from Lt ) , # 31104 , no name ,flying with PFF crew ( I think Dads crew was a pathfinder in other missions ) , this was entirely different crew other than Bonham. I vaguely recall Dad speaking of Bonham choosing him to fly mission )
Mar 31, Ludwigshafen ( Doyle Shields shows this mission on April 1 , I got the date from " Pictorial History " ) Anderson #37842 Miss Boo
April 8, Rheine , Anderson #37842 Miss Boo
179385_143581612369747_5232623_n.jpg?oh=
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