First B-17 Combat Bombardment Group to Europe & North Africa

[RickFlack]

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/

 

[RickFlack]

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/ 

[RickFlack]

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/ 

[RickFlack]

The updates made in this version are primarily typographical error corrections plus other minor updates needed in my March 7, 2021 posting two days ago.  Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain details:

 

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

[RickFlack]

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/ 

[RickFlack]

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/ 

[RickFlack]

This is my latest posting since July 24, 2022.  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, which will take time due to file size of 256 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYcz_VGqeJubp4Iiug?e=xSIkaT

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “All-in-One” Appendices (A thru X), click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 1.45 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc01XZpEmmU7Z8ieA?e=Wk3Ca1

 

Please refer to my February 6, 2021 Facebook posting for 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/

 

[RickFlack]

I updated my 12/6/22 version with todays 12/7/22 release.  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, which will take time due to file size of 271 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc11PPSOIHI-qORZw?e=72T5wM

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “All-in-One” Appendices (A thru X), click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 1.45 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc01XZpEmmU7Z8ieA?e=Wk3Ca1

 

Please refer to my February 6, 2021 Facebook posting for 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/

 

[dmar836]

I'm not very tech savvy and generally resist opting in on many of the Google and other tech giant's "free" offerings due to exposure but I'm gonna try just to get your book. Thanks for having the passion for this and telling your dad's story!

Dave

 

Update:  Downloaded and saved to desktop just fine.  Looking forward to it!

[RickFlack]

Hi Dave, I totally understand your reluctance to access and download anything on the internet as I avoid it like the plague if I don’t know the details first.  Due to the computer file size of the book I am writing about my father’s life story using Microsoft Word (primarily about his military flying career), I had to find a place to store it on the internet to be freely accessible by all.  Not to be techie, but I have to convert my Microsoft Word document (a type of computer file) to a “PDF” file for universal internet access.  In my case, I use my Microsoft Outlook (my hotmail.com email account) OneDrive “cloud storage” facility, which is accessible to all via the internet by simply providing a “link” given to me by OneDrive.  Some of this basic techie stuff is explained at the beginning of my book in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT section on pages iii and iv.  I hope I have provided an understandable explanation and thank you for trusting how to access my book and its physically separate “All-in-One” Appendices.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance at either [email protected] or [email protected] (or call or text me on my cell phone at 206-669-5229).  Sincerely, Fredrick Richard “Rick” Flack.

[AirForceBrat]

Hi Mr. Flack. 
     My dad was a bombardier in a B-17, he was stationed in East Anglia in the U.K. I have no idea what unit he was with, do you have any insight as to how i could possibly out more information?

airforce brat

[RickFlack]

If you can provide: (1) your dad's full name, (2) his date and city/state of birth, (3) if deceased, his date and city/state of death, (4) his military serial number and (5) what year(s) he was stationed in England.  Base on your response, I will be able to provide suggestions.  Thanks, Rick Flack.

[RickFlack]

I posted my latest 12/19/22 version release.  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, which will take time due to file size of 271 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc3dvrjB6kQRuQAUg?e=4sTzQm

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “All-in-One” Appendices (A thru X), click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 1.45 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc01XZpEmmU7Z8ieA?e=Wk3Ca1

 

For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the uncompressed (high resolution) version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 921 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hMQlRQUFvsVA2rToPw?e=tDFzbx

 

For those who have a Facebook account, click on the following Facebook link (or search for “Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack”) to obtain these and other details:

 

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

 

[RickFlack]

I posted my latest 12/19/22 version release.  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, which will take time due to file size of 271 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc3dvrjB6kQRuQAUg?e=4sTzQm

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “All-in-One” Appendices (A thru X), click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 1.45 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc01XZpEmmU7Z8ieA?e=Wk3Ca1

 

For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the uncompressed (high resolution) version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 921 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hMQlRQUFvsVA2rToPw?e=tDFzbx

 

For those who have a Facebook account, click on the following Facebook link (or search for “Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack”) to obtain these and other details:

 

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

 

[RickFlack]

My latest 1/26/23 version release includes the following updates in my “main” book on Book/PDF pages noted in “purple” text, which includes 34 new pages containing 12 new images (plus a major bonus, Appendix Y):

 

Book:   386 – PDF: 482 . . . . 1937-38 Paul Tibbets and Rudy Flack’s Cadet Flying School hours

Book:   387 – PDF: 483 . . . . 1937-38 Tibbets: 3-Individual Flight Records plus 1-page write-up

Book:   941 – PDF: 1037 . . . 414th echelon #2 B-17E’s (4) land at Grafton-Underwood on 7/26/42

Book:   943 – PDF: 1039 . . . Last 414th echelon #2 B-17E lands at Grafton-Underwood on 8/1/42

Book:   962 – PDF: 1058 . . . Was B.G. Frank Armstrong in England between 11/8-11/18 1944?

Book: 1159 – PDF: 1255 . . . Classic case where an author & famed airman falsely report stories

Book: 1442 – PDF: 1538 . . . March 1943, Rudy’s next three successor 414th Squadron CO’s verified

Book: 1524 – PDF: 1620 . . . Capt. C. L. Thacker and Major R. E. Flack identified in updated photo

Book: 1657 – PDF: 1753 . . . One sentence reference added regarding a Tibbets character trait

Book: 1777 – PDF: 1873 . . . Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr. Claim to Fame . . . I Report, You Decide

 

The bonus is I have added Appendix Y – The ‘KISSY-ME KOWBOY’ – Life of Clarence Lewis Thacker.  This is a must read and further exemplifies the context of the next paragraph.

 

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, which will take time due to file size of 272 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc5o9fpFAJHyADKUA?e=m2QM4p 

 

To obtain a copy of the updated “All-in-One” Appendices (A thru Y), click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 1.47 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc7xW5-W3rZEns0nQ?e=RFlbqc 

 

For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the uncompressed (high resolution) version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 921 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hMQlRQUFvsVA2rToPw?e=tDFzbx 

 

For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the new “Appendix Y – The ‘KISSY-ME KOWBOY’ – Life of Clarence Lewis Thacker”, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 5.02 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc6-zu9Ra8y1BLIEg?e=z874G6 

 

For those who have a Facebook account, click on the following Facebook link (or search for “Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack”) to obtain these and other details:

 

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

 

[RickFlack]

My latest “main” book 3/6/23 version release updates are found on the Book/PDF pages listed below (updated text shown in “purple”), which includes 68 “new or updated” pages containing 41 “new or updated” images.  Major BONUS ☼ ☼ ☼ new Appendix Z – VIII Bomber Command Loading Lists for Aug’42–Oct’42, the contents of which (Combat Loading Lists) I have been seeking since I began drafting my book in 2010:

 

Book:  Acknowledgement  i . Added Donald L. Miller, author of “Masters of the Air”

Book:  Acknowledgement iv . Added 26th Appendix (Z)

Book:   808 – PDF: 908 . . . . Status updates about the 97th BG gathering historical info

Book:   965 – PDF: 1065 . . . More evidence Sy Bartlett didn’t fly on 17-Aug-42 Mission #1

Book: 1067 – PDF: 1167 . . . Capt. Flack’s mission #2 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1070 – PDF: 1170 . . . Capt. Flack’s mission #4 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1137 – PDF: 1237 . . . Capt. Flack’s mission #6 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1138 – PDF: 1238 . . . Capt. Flack’s mission #8 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1143 – PDF: 1243 . . . Major Flack’s mission #8.5 Intro updated with latest info

Book: 1147 – PDF: 1247 . . . Major Flack’s mission #9 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1154 – PDF: 1254 . . . Major Flack’s mission #10 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1159 – PDF: 1259 . . . Famous WWII airmen provides false quotes to author (17-pages)

Book: 1176 – PDF: 1276 . . . Major Flack’s mission #11 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1190 – PDF: 1290 . . . Major Flack’s mission #12 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1193 – PDF: 1293 . . . Three Squadron Loading Lists added plus photo updated (4 pages)

Book: 1198 – PDF: 1298 . . . Major Flack’s mission #13 Intro updated based on Appendix Z

Book: 1200 – PDF: 1300 . . . Added write-up plus four Squadron Loading Lists (3 pages)

Book: 1204 – PDF: 1304 . . . Added Mission #14 write-up & Squadron Loading Lists (2 pages)

Book: 1205 – PDF: 1305 . . . Updated Mission #15 into & added Squadron Loading Lists (4 pages)

Book: 1223 – PDF: 1323 . . . Mission #16 intro updates (2 new pages with 2 new images)

Book: 1233 – PDF: 1333 . . . Mission #16 Custom Table updated plus19 new pages/images

Book: 1713 – PDF: 1813 . . . Paul Tibbets Combat Mission text and table updated (24 to 25)

Book: 2076 – PDF: 2176 . . . Three mail exchanges with author of bestseller “Masters of the Air”

 

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, which may take a little time as file size is 278 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc__sb6Uod2gqbewg?e=trmSE1

 

To obtain a copy of the newly created Appendix Z – VIII Bomber Command Incomplete Loading Lists for Aug’42–Oct’42, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which should take very little time as file size is only 20.2 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc-swetfrZWwx5IpA?e=pszT8f

 

To obtain a copy of the “All-in-One” Appendices A–Y (Appendix Z will be added later), click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 1.47 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc7xW5-W3rZEns0nQ?e=RFlbqc

 

For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the uncompressed (high resolution) version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 921 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document:

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hMQlRQUFvsVA2rToPw?e=tDFzbx

 

For those who have a Facebook account, click on the following Facebook link (or search for “Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack”) to obtain these and other details:

 

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