"Air Force" strikes again....in a wierd kind of wa

[Dan Johnson]

So I'm now over the top fascinated with the early shark fin B-17s because of all this Mary Ann talk. The more I look at them the more I realize they just look better then the later birds.

And I want to learn more about the little bit of wartime combat they saw. So I track down a copy of "Queen's Die Proudly" by W.L. White.

It shows up today. Cost me about 10 bucks. I open it up and it's signed;

Captain Roderick M. Stewart Jr. A.C. (Aircraft Commander)
19th Bomb Group 1942

The bells start ringing. Who is this guy and was he really with the 19th?

Naturally, based on the ghost of Mary Ann, it turns out he was with the 7th BG first and flew one of the B-17s into Pearl Harbor on December 7th.

Apparently he flew 40 missions in the Pacific with the 19th BG and later was Squadron Commander of the 333rd BS, 94th BG flying 20 missions from England between October 44 and March 1945, finishing up as a Lt. Col, with 2 DFCs and a Silver Star among his awards.

Kinda freaky, but a nice little piece of history, from a Pearl Harbor shark fin B17 pilot and then some, to go in my library.

Still waiting on the Hendricks Field book

Dan

[DryMartini]

What a great coincidence, and a great find!
It's a good book. You'll enjoy it.

[pokryshkin]

Dear Dan,,
Why you lucky......!
I was able to read a copy of it back in '74/'75 when working as a Temp. in EAL's Central Ticket Files.

I remember them discussing "Swoose" and Kurtz's 40-3099 "Old 99" destroyed on Clark Field. Just the tail standing, but when Kurtz got to the aircraft, the crew were in a line, running to the aircraft (?) when the bomb hit (chapter titled "8 in a line" if memory serves).

This is all I recall right now.

Regards, best wishes, and congratulations again!
Dan K.

[Dan Johnson]

You do realize, that the way this is going, we're going to find out that Roderick Stewart actually flew 8584 while it was with the 7th BG.

It only seems right

[pokryshkin]

At this point, it wouldn't surprise me one bit!

On a serious note, I would like to write this whole thing up as an article to publish somewhere, giving due recognition and credit to all who have slaved over this investigation.

I am formally requesting permission from you, the"Sutter" of the gold S/Ns, and all the rest, including our host, Scott Thompson, to write this up. Please feel free to email me at "katzusa3@yahoo.com" to let me know about this.

I had desultorily started writing about Soviet Airacobra aces, and someone else beat me to it; I'd started something else or other, and let it also get away.

I'm asking all of you for your permission to do this, with due credit and recognition to all investigators and our website and its able administrator.
Please let me know.

Dan K.

[Dan Johnson]

Go for it Dan. You've got lots of time in this. I just got lucky. I do intend to keep hunting to see if I can find more out about 8584 and anyone who might have crewed her before or after Mary Ann.

Once I get my hooks in these kind of things I want to know all I can find out. The little story always makes me look for the bigger one behind it.

I'm more then happy to help, but please do write it up. It's your baby.

[pokryshkin]

Bless ye, Dan!!!
Thank you!!
May your EVERY good wish come true - you, and all who love you!!

I'm getting ready to continue with the article I'd started: "Searching for Mary Ann".

Thanks again.

If I can EVER do anything, write, call, email, whatever, just let me know!!!

Yours,
Dan K.