Thanks Carl.

 

Like is a very strong word.

 

Love.

Isn't it just !!! Love then !!

Peter,

Just took the time today to read this topic. I must say, this is one of the best put together topics in honor of one soldier I have ever read.

It really made me feel as if I almost knew Homer. May he Rest in Peace.

Thank you for passing on his legacy to us

Dave

You got it Carl.

 

David,

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

Your comment is appreciated.

 

I must admit though that it was easy to put together with all the info. present.

 

And with all the info. I knew it was important to get it all down.

 

Over the years I've had quite a few KIA groups but this one is the most complete with a poignant story.

I am at a loss for words in attempting to express how much I appreciate your efforts to not just keep this together, but to present it in a way which acquaints us with Homer Mitts, Junior as a person, which then hammers home the enormity of his loss to his family and friends. The photo of his father with the Air Medal... well, it's just utterly heartbreaking. We can sense the quiet devastation of this man's life over 70 years later. We see an awful lot of personal relics and correspondence through this forum, including named medals such as this, but that photo stands as evidence you now own something a bit sacred... it is a tangible reminder of a son's service and a family's grief.

A treasure trove of that scope has the makings of a truly poignant documentary, I believe. Thank you, sincerely, for sharing this in the manner you have.

 

Best regards,

 

Lynn

Lynn,

 

Your words are encouraging to say the least.

 

That is the response I hoped that this story, this life and these things would produce.

 

You and all who have responded to this thread are most welcome.

 

I was excited to have been able to acquire this group and consider it a pure blessing to be able to present it as it was.

 

The group in it's entirety is still in my possession including some items from his brother who served in the Coast Guard during the war.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this thread.

 

Peter

Btt

A day off.

 

Bump

A poignant thread indeed. Thanks so much for sharing all the information.

 

I agree it likely that Homer and his girlfriend probably did break-up (as mentioned earlier), especially as he did not send his originally issued wings to her but to his sister Jean instead (along with his invitation to her to wear them); or course he might have just up and done that anyway regardless so perhaps we will never know.  

 

Also, the spelling of the German pilot's first name is indicated in the thread as Arthur. Some Germans were/are named that and it may certainly be correct. But a more common spelling, at least in my research experience, is Artur rather than Arthur. And according to another website, Artur Beese (believed to be the same person as Arthur) shot down a second B-17 on the same date he was also credited with shooting down Homer's ship. Beese was KIA himself a few months later when he reportedly bailed out of his battle damaged fighter and hit his aircraft's tail, killing him:

 

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/beese.html

 

 

 

 

         

4 hours ago, RSM said:

A poignant thread indeed. Thanks so much for sharing all the information.

 

I agree it likely that Homer and his girlfriend probably did break-up (as mentioned earlier), especially as he did not send his originally issued wings to her but to his sister Jean instead (along with his invitation to her to wear them); or course he might have just up and done that anyway regardless so perhaps we will never know.  

 

Also, the spelling of the German pilot's first name is indicated in the thread as Arthur. Some Germans were/are named that and it may certainly be correct. But a more common spelling, at least in my research experience, is Artur rather than Arthur. And according to another website, Artur Beese (believed to be the same person as Arthur) shot down a second B-17 on the same date he was also credited with shooting down Homer's ship. Beese was KIA himself a few months later when he reportedly bailed out of his battle damaged fighter and hit his aircraft's tail, killing him:

 

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/beese.html

 

 

 

 

         

Thank you RSM for reading this lengthy thread.

 

But what I appreciate even more is the information on Artur Beese.

Thank you for this thread manayunkman. It is very moving, my first time seeing it.

My Dads Brother was killed in training Dec 1943

and this thread hits home thinking about my Dad and my Grandpa and Grandma

and that they must have gone through much the same.

Very Sad thread but a reminder of wars cost in life.

 

I found this page on Hells Belles after she crashed landed.

 

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-30157-dirty-gertie-aka-hells-belles/42-30157-photo/

 

Delivered Cheyenne 21/4/43; Tinker 27/4/43; Smoky Hill 5/5/43; Tinker 24/5/43; Smoky Hill 29/5/43; Dow Fd 1/6/43; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-P] Bassingbourn 10/6/43 DIRTY GERTIE {1m}; battle damaged Kassel 30/7/43, {2m} with Don Van der Heyde, Co-pilot: Don Primeau, Navigator: Harry Warren, Bombardier: Walter Brown, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Pete Comac, Radio Operator: John Klopolsky, Ball turret gunner:      Homer Mitts, Waist gunner:          Bill Wannemacher, Waist gunner: Mack Walton,Tail gunner: Dick Sparman (10 Returned to Duty); enemy aircraft also shot out hydraulics soon after reaching the Channel, it limped back to crash landed base with severe damage, but crew unharmed; Salvaged 25/8/43. HELLS BELLES.

Not sure how I never saw this thread. Just read it all. Incredible story and preservation of history. Very valuable presentation. Thanks for such a great post!

 

Have to ask with the added info on Beese(thanks BSM!), do you know which of these B-17s was Mitts'?

16) Near Berendrecht

17) N Louvain   (B-17 of 385BG, USAAF)

 

Dave

4 hours ago, The Rooster said:

Thank you for this thread manayunkman. It is very moving, my first time seeing it.

My Dads Brother was killed in training Dec 1943

and this thread hits home thinking about my Dad and my Grandpa and Grandma

and that they must have gone through much the same.

Very Sad thread but a reminder of wars cost in life.

 

I found this page on Hells Belles after she crashed landed.

 

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-30157-dirty-gertie-aka-hells-belles/42-30157-photo/

 

Delivered Cheyenne 21/4/43; Tinker 27/4/43; Smoky Hill 5/5/43; Tinker 24/5/43; Smoky Hill 29/5/43; Dow Fd 1/6/43; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-P] Bassingbourn 10/6/43 DIRTY GERTIE {1m}; battle damaged Kassel 30/7/43, {2m} with Don Van der Heyde, Co-pilot: Don Primeau, Navigator: Harry Warren, Bombardier: Walter Brown, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Pete Comac, Radio Operator: John Klopolsky, Ball turret gunner:      Homer Mitts, Waist gunner:          Bill Wannemacher, Waist gunner: Mack Walton,Tail gunner: Dick Sparman (10 Returned to Duty); enemy aircraft also shot out hydraulics soon after reaching the Channel, it limped back to crash landed base with severe damage, but crew unharmed; Salvaged 25/8/43. HELLS BELLES.

Rooster you added some great pictures and information I hadn’t found.

 

  Thank you for sharing about your uncle as well.

2 hours ago, dmar836 said:

Not sure how I never saw this thread. Just read it all. Incredible story and preservation of history. Very valuable presentation. Thanks for such a great post!

 

Have to ask with the added info on Beese(thanks BSM!), do you know which of these B-17s was Mitts'?

16) Near Berendrecht

17) N Louvain   (B-17 of 385BG, USAAF)

 

Dave

Glad you see the value in this life and story David.

 

 Thank you for leaving a comment.

 

 Peter 

On 8/21/2021 at 7:30 AM, manayunkman said:

Thank you RSM for reading this lengthy thread.

 

But what I appreciate even more is the information on Artur Beese.

 

Your descriptions and organization of materials made reading this thread easy and has me coming back for more! So many thanks!

 

I'll have a drink to Homer's memory tonight...

 

Outstanding, in every way - even the thought there may be yet more to discover.

Beginning in 2008 I found myself volunteering to research remembrances for fallen and MIA airmen of the Vietnam period on behalf of Air Force Together We Served. In about two years time I'd compiled as much as I could find in the public record for a few more than 1500 officers and men... daily work, beyond hundreds of hours, everything from photos to ribbons to details of their families and their passing as could be discovered. The project never or seldom got as deep into the personal area as yours has though, but I am reminded every time a member of a family finds the reference and adds a little something to their stories, to be included on that record - of what it means to them to have it remembered. 

On 8/21/2021 at 10:29 AM, dmar836 said:

Not sure how I never saw this thread. Just read it all. Incredible story and preservation of history. Very valuable presentation. Thanks for such a great post!

 

Have to ask with the added info on Beese(thanks BSM!), do you know which of these B-17s was Mitts'?

16) Near Berendrecht

17) N Louvain   (B-17 of 385BG, USAAF)

 

Dave

 

That is a great question. Regrettably, I do not have a definitive answer for you. In an earlier post to this thread (top of Page 4, Post #76: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/256016-dreaded-telegram-what-happens-next-schweinfurt-81743/page/4/&tab=comments#comment-2052527), a letter received by family dated 1946 from HQ, USAAF reported that Mitts' B-17 crashed "near Baelen, Belgium about 30 miles east of Antwerp."

 

Although I do not know the WWII era layout of the Antwerp area, Berendrecht is located close to present day Antwerp, to the north. And far closer than 30 miles away. Which probably rules that one out.

 

The other location, N Louvain, might mean north of Louvain, as indicated by the "N"? Unsure on that. Meanwhile, Baelen is a little town located about 65 miles from Louvain (via highway and not as the crow flies, but it is still a significant distance); Baelen is located east of Louvain. Not north.

 

But the differing towns (Baelen and Louvain) being reported as crash locations don't quite fit with one another, either. Given how far apart they are and in my opinion, which is subject to change given additional details, if any. Unfortunately, I have no primary source materials from the WWII Luftwaffe regarding either of these engagements (the two B-17s credited to Artur Beese on 17 August 1943) and while some have been digitized, it is unknown whether materials related to this engagement are available anyplace or not. I am willing to look though if anybody has ideas on this, particularly internet-based research sites (German language is okay).

 

Without having primary source materials to base such research on, all I could do here was to link the Artur Beese information found on the Aces of the Luftwaffe website. As other details of Beese found there are accurate (including unit assignment), it lends credibility to the rest of the information presented. But the towns not matching or being in very close proximity to each other is unexplained.

 

Perhaps manayunkman can shed more light on this?

Excellent thread, great work on preserving this history!

Great thread and a riveting story.  From  personal experience I can say the "dreaded letter" resonates through families for generations.

 

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for all the research, guys!

Dave

On 8/30/2021 at 4:35 AM, RSM said:

 

That is a great question. Regrettably, I do not have a definitive answer for you. In an earlier post to this thread (top of Page 4, Post #76: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/256016-dreaded-telegram-what-happens-next-schweinfurt-81743/page/4/&tab=comments#comment-2052527), a letter received by family dated 1946 from HQ, USAAF reported that Mitts' B-17 crashed "near Baelen, Belgium about 30 miles east of Antwerp."

 

Although I do not know the WWII era layout of the Antwerp area, Berendrecht is located close to present day Antwerp, to the north. And far closer than 30 miles away. Which probably rules that one out.

 

The other location, N Louvain, might mean north of Louvain, as indicated by the "N"? Unsure on that. Meanwhile, Baelen is a little town located about 65 miles from Louvain (via highway and not as the crow flies, but it is still a significant distance); Baelen is located east of Louvain. Not north.

 

But the differing towns (Baelen and Louvain) being reported as crash locations don't quite fit with one another, either. Given how far apart they are and in my opinion, which is subject to change given additional details, if any. Unfortunately, I have no primary source materials from the WWII Luftwaffe regarding either of these engagements (the two B-17s credited to Artur Beese on 17 August 1943) and while some have been digitized, it is unknown whether materials related to this engagement are available anyplace or not. I am willing to look though if anybody has ideas on this, particularly internet-based research sites (German language is okay).

 

Without having primary source materials to base such research on, all I could do here was to link the Artur Beese information found on the Aces of the Luftwaffe website. As other details of Beese found there are accurate (including unit assignment), it lends credibility to the rest of the information presented. But the towns not matching or being in very close proximity to each other is unexplained.

 

Perhaps manayunkman can shed more light on this?

All the information i have was shared.

 

Ive never had the time to do further research.

 

 

 

 

A quick google search on Edgar Yelle pulled this photo up. Thought it would be interesting to add. The B-17 they’d eventually go down in is the one in the background here.

 

Great write up, thank you so much for sharing! 
 

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/7892

 

Patrick

On 10/21/2021 at 12:34 PM, patrick_usmc said:

A quick google search on Edgar Yelle pulled this photo up. Thought it would be interesting to add. The B-17 they’d eventually go down in is the one in the background here.

 

Great write up, thank you so much for sharing! 
 

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/7892

 

Patrick

 

Patrick,

 

Thank you for posting that picture. I appreciate getting any information about Homer. 
 

Peter

In remembrance 

Outstanding tribute!

 

 They say you die twice,

 Once when you take your last breath, And when the last person say's your name for the Last Time.

RIP Homer Mitts!

Fantastic job of keeping his memory alive.

 

Semper Fi

Phil