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97th BG Mission #47, 22-Jan-43, El Aouina Airdrome Tunis


RickFlack
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The purpose of "This Date in History" mini-series of publications is to make available historical events in a condensed format since the main source book is 1,142 pages as of January 19, 2018. This is the 13th mini-series publication.

 

On January 22, 1943 Major Rudy Flack flew as the Mission Commander, 414th Bomb Squadron CO, Flight Leader and Pilot for one of the most historic combat missions flown by the Army Air Force during WWII while stationed in Northwest Africa. Major Flack had Margaret Bourke White onboard his Flying Fortress, the B-17F (41-24400) LITTLE BILL, as an observer and photographer for the combat mission to El Aouina Airdrome in Tunis, Tunisia (97th Bomb Group Mission #47).

 

To view the details of the 75th anniversary of the January 22, 1943 mission, access the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, save a copy to your PC and then view the PDF file:

 

https://1drv/ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-nCfHxFYNAA7mykoy

 

To view a copy of the entire book that is nearing completion, access the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, save a copy to your PC and then view the PDF file:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-nCzqU7OQ5sjkAk

 

Please contact me if you require further assistance. Thank you, Rick Flack.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 1 month later...

The "main" book that This Date in History (97th BG Mission #47, 22-Jan-43, El Aouina Airdrome Tunis) was extracted from has been updated and may be freely accessed via the following Facebook link:

 

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

 

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!Ap83jlCuE2S-5Am2U5-n6u03hY3g

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The "main" book from which This Date in History (97th BG Mission #47, 22-Jan-43, El Aouina Airdrome Tunis) was extracted, has been updated and may be freely accessed via the following Facebook link:

 

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

 

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 PPC for viewing this document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-5AuVvX-Nm0xDarlm

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  • 2 weeks later...

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.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/

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  • 3 weeks later...

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.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/

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  • 3 weeks later...

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.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/

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  • 8 months later...

It has been 9 months since I posted an updated “main” book. I have added 327 pages to the “main” book, which includes ~600 new images.

 

To obtain: (1) a copy of the “main” book, (2) a separate all-in-one “appendices” and (3) read related details, go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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  • 1 month later...

It has been one month since I posted my last updated “main” book.  I have updated/added 17 pages to the “main” book.

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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  • 4 weeks later...

It has been nearly one month since I posted my last updated “main” book.  I have added/updated 16 pages to the “main” book.

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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I’ve added 21 new and updated 2 pages containing informative information impacting the content of my “main” book.

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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  • 1 month later...

I have finally made my long awaited updates to the “main” book and to the “All-in-One” Appendices (added four new Appendixes).

 

To read about these exciting updates and to obtain copies of these updated PDF files go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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  • 2 weeks later...

Added informative and interesting LIFE Magazine photos taken by Margaret Bourke-White and others pertaining to the 414th Bomb Squadron and the 97th Bomb Group while stationed in England.

 

To read about these updates and to obtain a copy of the updated “main” book PDF file go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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  • 2 weeks later...

Updated material including new photo for the following subject matter:

 

     ► Rudy’s Anti-Submarine Patrol Missions’ Information

     ► JOHNNY REB B-17E & B-17F Crewmember Information

     ► Rudy’s Mission Table expanded from 10 to 12 Pages

 

To read about these updates and to obtain a copy of the updated “main” book PDF file go to the following Facebook link:

 

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

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 months later...

I have contracted with world renowned WWII historian William “Bill” Beigel (www.ww2research.com) to assist me in locating missing details in my “main” book plus I created my 22nd Appendix.

 

For those who have been following my postings, it has been 5 months since my last one.  For those who are new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bomb Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), and the Flying Fortress Bomb Group who flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bomb Group never before made available, and in particular its 414th Bomb Squadron.  Current readers will enjoy the new updates with dozens of new photos plus an updated “All in One” appendices.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and more details:

 

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

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have contracted with world renowned WWII historian William “Bill” Beigel (www.ww2research.com) to assist me in locating missing details in my “main” book plus I created my 23rd Appendix.

 

For those following my postings, it has only been 3 weeks since my last one.  For those new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), who flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bombardment Group never before made available, and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron.  Current readers will enjoy the new updates plus an updated “All in One” appendices.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and other details:

 

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

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For those following my postings, it has only been 1 week since my last one.  For those new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), who flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bombardment Group never before made available, and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and other details:

 

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

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

For those following my postings, it has only been 3+ weeks since my last one.  For those new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), who within the US Army Air Force flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel during WWII intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bombardment Group never before made available, and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron.  The updates made in this version release are primarily intended for family members related to Rudy’s parents.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain details:

 

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

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  • 1 month later...

For those following my postings, it has been 7+ weeks since my last one.  For those new to my postings, you will find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations with the Eight Air Force (and the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the Twelfth Air Force), who within the US Army Air Force Flying Fortress Bomb Groups flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel in WWII intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  The 97th flew the first 8 combat missions (August 17, 1942 thru August 29, 1942) for the Eight Air Force before next Bombardment Group (301st) participated in an Eight Air Force combat mission with the 97th on September 5, 1942.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th never before made available; and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain details:

 

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

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  • 1 year later...

For those following my postings, it’s been 15 months since my last update due to updating/selling our home of 33 years and moving 2,500 miles.  Can you say major spring cleaning!  For those new to my postings, you will find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations with the Eight Air Force (and the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the Twelfth Air Force), who within the US Army Air Force Flying Fortress Bomb Groups flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel in WWII intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  The 97th flew the first 8 combat missions (August 17, 1942 thru August 29, 1942) for the Eight Air Force before next Bombardment Group (301st) participated in an Eight Air Force combat mission with the 97th on September 5, 1942.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th never before made available; and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron.

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYV5Wla4LRJX5R1nsQ?e=AAW2hr 

 

Please refer to my February 6, 2021 Facebook posting for additional downloadable links.  For example, the latest “All-in-One Appendix” and a standalone copy of the uncompressed version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and other details:

 

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

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  • 3 weeks later...

Does your book include any references to Frank Armstrong, who was in the 97th BG?  Frank Armstrong was the great uncle of a good friend of mine, and he has a number of Frank's wartime military items.  He would likely be interested in your book if it included information about Frank.  Best wishes.

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Thank you for your question Tim.  If you have not already please download and save a copy of the latest version (July 24, 2022) of my “main” book to your PC for fast viewing purposes by clicking on the following Microsoft OneDrive link:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYV5Wla4LRJX5R1nsQ?e=AAW2hr 

 

Frank Armstrong is cited numerous times throughout my book.  There are several photos as well appearing on Book/PDF page numbers 973/1069, 993/1089, 1056/1152, 1131/1227, 1608/1704 and 1641/1737).  Simply search the PDF document for “Armstrong” and you will find nine occurrences in the Preface.  Next, skip to Chapter 7 to continue and you will find 67 citations, 43 in Chapter 8, 8 in Chapter 9 and 37 in Chapter 10.  Based on Individual Flight Records found in official military archives, Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr. recorded his August 17, 1942 combat bombing mission “Duty” assignment as the copilot (CP) in his original monthly flight logs, which is recorded after the flight was completed.  Refer to my Book/PDF page number 1621/1717 for a copy of Paul Tibbets’ original August 1942 monthly flight log, page-1.  I am waiting for delivery of the Individual Flight Records for Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr.  If Col. Armstrong recorded his “Duty” assignment as pilot (P) for the August 17, 1942 combat bombing mission, this will confirm who the pilot was and who the copilot was.  Consequently, during my next “main” book version update, I will correct all applicable references to the 97th Bombardment Group’s August 17, 1942 combat bombing mission #1.

 

Please feel free to have your friend contact me directly via my primary and/or secondary email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

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