B-17 American Beauty
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DryMartini
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 3:00 pm
- Location: Palatine, Illinois
- Contact:
Any other information?
Do you have any other information, as to bomb group or squadron?
About what years was he assigned?
There are numerous resources on the web. Many bomb groups
have their own web sites. The 91st and 390th come immediately to mind.
http://www.91stbombgroup.com/
http://www.390th.org/
If you know the group, do a web search for it. Sometimes
you'll be surprised at what you find.
-Bill
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team
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warlord381
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:55 pm
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warlord381
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:55 pm
B-17G American Beauty
For general info,
My father was the radio operator (and gunner) on B-17G American Beauty with the 486 Bomb Group 384 Squadron out of Sudberry near Suffolk England. My father and the original crew flew her over to Europe and after 31-32 missions the bulk of the crew rotated back to the states. I had heard (somewhere) that the American Beauty went down after the bulk of the crew rotated out. But, I have found a picture of the ship in the boneyard in New Mexico so I'm not sure if she survived the war or was brought back as scrap after crashing/ditching. The photo does not indicate any date or period. Counting the bombs near the nose art it looks like she flew over 50 missions total, WOW thats a feat for a B17, Surviving over 50 missions in europe! A 43 ship!!!!!
It's been some time since I investigated my fathers service but when I saw Linda's inquiry of the American Beauty I started researching more, looked again threw my dad's "war" stuff again and reflected on my memories of dad. I remember when I graduated from Air Force basic training and Tech school he said that he wished I hadnt joined but he was damn proud that I did. That was over 20 years ago and only now do I understand. God I cant wait for retirement...
My father never spoke of the war except when he was drinking with war buddies, and when he drank I listened intently...Here are a few of my fathers experiences...
On one mission my fathers plane the American Beauty was flying lead for the group, I dont remember what the target was but after the mission they counted over 400 holes in thier ship. My father was hit in the waist with 88 flak, I still have the shrapnel. A bit blood stained but still with rifleing frm the cannon that fired it, it stands today in a cabinet with my fathers Air Medals. I think he called it black Sunday or black Monday.
After one mission a 384 B17G ship landed on one engine, and after rolling to a stop on the taxiway at Sudberry the one engine that was still running fell off..... Literally, it fell off!!!!!! On the damn ground..........
Several other Forts landed back at base with no tail sections!!!!!! No horizontal stabilizers at all!!!!!! OMG
On one mission my fathers crew found a stowaway on board! A ground crew troop who continuaously requested transfer to the infantry was found on board after takeoff. He had intended to bail out over the dutch coast and hook up with an infantry unit so he could fight on the ground. His requests to be transfered were rejected and he was trying to "get in the action". After take off he was told the ship wasnt going to turn around so my dads crew gave him enough gear to keep him alive during the bomb run and the waist gunners were told to keep an eye on him. After the run and enroute back to the channel he jumped out a waist gunners window! The waist gunners were busy scanning for enemy fighters. Unfortunately he didnt have a chute attached to his harness. They were over 30,000 feet. He probably thought he had a chute but the harness was worn without a chute attached. (The chutes clipped on the front of the harness when the crew was told to bail out). I have the full report in my dad's stuff. My god, what a nightmare. That must have been an unusually long debrief... How do you explain a ground crew member bailing out over the dutch coast after a bomb run!?!?!
On one mission my dad's group was attacked by rocket fighters, I think they were Komets (ME163s maybe). My dad said that everyone on the ship said "what the F@#$ was that?" simultaneously on the intercom... But they made only one pass and headed for home. It turned out that they only had enough fuel to get up to the bombers, make one pass and head for home. Not very effective. One encounter was enough for my dad. He didnt care if he ever saw those things again! "There was no leading those damn things".
My dad had a buddy who was murdered by the Germans at Borkum. This is a hell of a story...http://www.486th.org/Photos/Borkum/Borkum.htm
A buddy of my dad's was shot down and captured in Germany (486BG/384Sq). He allowed me to read the diary he had written secretly while he was a POW...WOW!... When he was captured he went through the normal interogation but the German interogator already knew everything about him. They knew who he was, what squadron and group he was with, who his commanding officers were, etc. There were no questions to answer. He was simply told who he was and who his superiors were and shipped off to the Luftwaffe. (That must have been kind of insulting, being interogated and not having any worthwhile info ). Anyway, his diary told of "Krauts" ripping the barracks apart, dumping the POW's sugar, coffee, etc. on the floor and tearing the bunks apart but not finding anything. God I wish I made a copy of that diary. After I read it my dad gave it back to his buddy.
Early in the war our flyers were somewhat secure that when they were shot down they would be turned over to the Luftwaffe and put in POW camps and held in "liveable" conditions until the war ended. I remember my father commenting on that point in the war when Hitler declared that no quarter would be given to downed airmen. They would be shot on sight. Up until then my dads crew didnt even carry side arms when going on runs over Germany! They left their .45s at home. If Shot down over Germany they were going to be captured and they knew it. But after Hitler's decree they carried everything they could get thier hands on. I remember him laughing about the weapons and armament they were carrying when they went over Germany. Totally blew their max weight limit. Added to the fact that the ground crew would strip the armor plate from the grounded ships to reinforce the ships that were flying that day. Overloaded with HE, incinerary, and AP bombs I think my dad knew his luck was all used up. My god, what fortitude, to fly like that...
Anyway, these are just a few of my father's experiences during the war. There are more and the story will never be fully told unfortunately since these men of the greatest generation are leaving us so quickly. After 20 years in the Air Force I still cannot imagine the things my father has seen. (and I dont want too.)
Bob
My father was the radio operator (and gunner) on B-17G American Beauty with the 486 Bomb Group 384 Squadron out of Sudberry near Suffolk England. My father and the original crew flew her over to Europe and after 31-32 missions the bulk of the crew rotated back to the states. I had heard (somewhere) that the American Beauty went down after the bulk of the crew rotated out. But, I have found a picture of the ship in the boneyard in New Mexico so I'm not sure if she survived the war or was brought back as scrap after crashing/ditching. The photo does not indicate any date or period. Counting the bombs near the nose art it looks like she flew over 50 missions total, WOW thats a feat for a B17, Surviving over 50 missions in europe! A 43 ship!!!!!
It's been some time since I investigated my fathers service but when I saw Linda's inquiry of the American Beauty I started researching more, looked again threw my dad's "war" stuff again and reflected on my memories of dad. I remember when I graduated from Air Force basic training and Tech school he said that he wished I hadnt joined but he was damn proud that I did. That was over 20 years ago and only now do I understand. God I cant wait for retirement...
My father never spoke of the war except when he was drinking with war buddies, and when he drank I listened intently...Here are a few of my fathers experiences...
On one mission my fathers plane the American Beauty was flying lead for the group, I dont remember what the target was but after the mission they counted over 400 holes in thier ship. My father was hit in the waist with 88 flak, I still have the shrapnel. A bit blood stained but still with rifleing frm the cannon that fired it, it stands today in a cabinet with my fathers Air Medals. I think he called it black Sunday or black Monday.
After one mission a 384 B17G ship landed on one engine, and after rolling to a stop on the taxiway at Sudberry the one engine that was still running fell off..... Literally, it fell off!!!!!! On the damn ground..........
Several other Forts landed back at base with no tail sections!!!!!! No horizontal stabilizers at all!!!!!! OMG
On one mission my fathers crew found a stowaway on board! A ground crew troop who continuaously requested transfer to the infantry was found on board after takeoff. He had intended to bail out over the dutch coast and hook up with an infantry unit so he could fight on the ground. His requests to be transfered were rejected and he was trying to "get in the action". After take off he was told the ship wasnt going to turn around so my dads crew gave him enough gear to keep him alive during the bomb run and the waist gunners were told to keep an eye on him. After the run and enroute back to the channel he jumped out a waist gunners window! The waist gunners were busy scanning for enemy fighters. Unfortunately he didnt have a chute attached to his harness. They were over 30,000 feet. He probably thought he had a chute but the harness was worn without a chute attached. (The chutes clipped on the front of the harness when the crew was told to bail out). I have the full report in my dad's stuff. My god, what a nightmare. That must have been an unusually long debrief... How do you explain a ground crew member bailing out over the dutch coast after a bomb run!?!?!
On one mission my dad's group was attacked by rocket fighters, I think they were Komets (ME163s maybe). My dad said that everyone on the ship said "what the F@#$ was that?" simultaneously on the intercom... But they made only one pass and headed for home. It turned out that they only had enough fuel to get up to the bombers, make one pass and head for home. Not very effective. One encounter was enough for my dad. He didnt care if he ever saw those things again! "There was no leading those damn things".
My dad had a buddy who was murdered by the Germans at Borkum. This is a hell of a story...http://www.486th.org/Photos/Borkum/Borkum.htm
A buddy of my dad's was shot down and captured in Germany (486BG/384Sq). He allowed me to read the diary he had written secretly while he was a POW...WOW!... When he was captured he went through the normal interogation but the German interogator already knew everything about him. They knew who he was, what squadron and group he was with, who his commanding officers were, etc. There were no questions to answer. He was simply told who he was and who his superiors were and shipped off to the Luftwaffe. (That must have been kind of insulting, being interogated and not having any worthwhile info ). Anyway, his diary told of "Krauts" ripping the barracks apart, dumping the POW's sugar, coffee, etc. on the floor and tearing the bunks apart but not finding anything. God I wish I made a copy of that diary. After I read it my dad gave it back to his buddy.
Early in the war our flyers were somewhat secure that when they were shot down they would be turned over to the Luftwaffe and put in POW camps and held in "liveable" conditions until the war ended. I remember my father commenting on that point in the war when Hitler declared that no quarter would be given to downed airmen. They would be shot on sight. Up until then my dads crew didnt even carry side arms when going on runs over Germany! They left their .45s at home. If Shot down over Germany they were going to be captured and they knew it. But after Hitler's decree they carried everything they could get thier hands on. I remember him laughing about the weapons and armament they were carrying when they went over Germany. Totally blew their max weight limit. Added to the fact that the ground crew would strip the armor plate from the grounded ships to reinforce the ships that were flying that day. Overloaded with HE, incinerary, and AP bombs I think my dad knew his luck was all used up. My god, what fortitude, to fly like that...
Anyway, these are just a few of my father's experiences during the war. There are more and the story will never be fully told unfortunately since these men of the greatest generation are leaving us so quickly. After 20 years in the Air Force I still cannot imagine the things my father has seen. (and I dont want too.)
Bob
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SPANNERmkV
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:23 pm
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OUTDOORDAVE01
Re: B-17 American Beauty
I'm a good friend of the pilot of American Beauty - Lt Ed Barmasse. He lives in Depew, NY if anyone is interested. Heimrich - I'm sure he would appreciate a picture of his old plane!
Thanks
Thanks
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shadowmorph
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:03 am
Re: B-17 American Beauty
I ran into this board while trying to research the American Beauty. I was going through my father's old pictures and found a very nice side photo of the American Beauty. If you have the contact info of any of the crew, I'd love to send them a scan or reprint of the photo. Also, I'm just sorta starting this - my father died when I was very young, but he was the ball turret gunner on a B-17. I do have all his military paperwork as far as I know. How would I go about trying to figure out WHAT bomber he was assigned to? I'd really like to see if there are any photos of his plane out there. If it helps (or by some stroke of luck someone knows), his name is John A Hunnicutt. I'm guessing he might have flown alongside the American Beauty since I believe the photos he has are ones he actually took.
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warlord381
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:55 pm
Re: B-17 American Beauty
Could you please give me any contact info you have? Lt Barmasse was the second crew to fly American Beauty, I would really like to talk to him and find out what happened to the ship after my dads crew shipped out. I found a pick of the Beauty in the bone yard so I'm not sure if she crashed or ditched or what. My dad thought she went down when the second crew took her over germany when the first crew shipped back home. I know the name Bermesse and I have herd stories of her going down hard in Germany but since she made it to the bone yard I'm not sure wht happened.OUTDOORDAVE01 wrote:I'm a good friend of the pilot of American Beauty - Lt Ed Barmasse. He lives in Depew, NY if anyone is interested. Heimrich - I'm sure he would appreciate a picture of his old plane!
Thanks
Re: B-17 American Beauty
American Beauty was assigned to the 486th Bomb Group stationed at Sudbury, Suffolk, Station 174. My dad was a pilot in the 486th and flew American Beauty on one mission.
Re: B-17 American Beauty
A friend of my father's in Illinois said he was the Flt Engineer / Top Turret Gunner on American Beauty. He had a photo of the aircraft in flight, and I built him a model of that B-17. It was 486th BG, serial 298008, coded 2S G
A drawing of the aircraft appears here <a href="http://www.8thafhs-pa.org/member-profil ... h-bg/"></a>
Jim
A drawing of the aircraft appears here <a href="http://www.8thafhs-pa.org/member-profil ... h-bg/"></a>
Jim
Re: B-17 American Beauty
Hello to all,
I do apologize for not responding to my post I placed in November 2006 about information on a B-17 called "American Beauty"
I, like so many others, am looking for any information confirming my fathers information. Brief information: My Daddy never talked about his service, I was in high school in the 80's before I found out he served. He didn't have a good ending to his enlistment and it left a unsettling taste in his mouth. The first time anyone in the family heard him talk about being in the Army Air Corp was when my nephew gave us a tour of Fort Campbell. "I was stationed here", that's all he said. Daddy was VERY big into family genealogy and researching his family. He understood how written stories were so important for the generations to come. So Daddy wrote a short biography on himself.
I graduated High School in June 1943. In November I turned 17 and with a forged birth certificate joined the Army Air Corps Cadet program. (A mix up with his name registered him as Leroy V. Arsdale, this did not get fixed until his discharge)
On December 1st I reported to Camp Attebury, Indiana induction center. A week later by troop train to Shapherd Field Texas for basic training. From there to Amarillo Texas for preflight school then to Randolph Field Texas. At Randolph I "washed out" of the Cadet program with mathematics problems. I was transferred to Truax Field Wisconsin for radio operator training and then to gunnery school at Las Vegas Nevada Army Air Base in April 1944.
May 1944 I received orders to report to a deportation port in New Roushel, New Your with a 15 day delay-en route giving me my only time off during three years of service. In June 1944 I landed at Great Ashfield Air Drome, Suffold near Cambridge, England and was assigned to the 385th Bomb Group, 551st Bomber Squadron. My last mission was in April 1945. During my tour of duty I flew 23 missions, credited with 13 enemy air craft downed, wounded twice and decorated twice.
It wasn't a good base, most planes were lost around their 15th mission and casualties were high. Loosing a friend a day became common place. Moral was very bad. The base Commander would not allow a NCO Club and the PX was open once day a week, no beer or alcohol drinks, he did not want to corrupt the "boys".
On my 23rd mission I was wounded by flack in my left foot and ankle. { The story the told my sisters and I about a year before his death was they had to ditch the plane. The crew dialed out. Daddy opened his shoot and noticed below him was a crew member that shoot did not open. He pulled his knife, cut his shoot and dove to the guy and pulled his shoot. By the time he opened his shoot is was late and he hit the ground to hard. That furthered the injury to his ankle.} I was sent home on a hospital ship and sent to the Army Hospital in Louisville, my home. After my surgery healed I was sent to Fort McCollum, Alabama, to a company in their second week of basic training. From there to Fort Hood, Texas to an armored division, then to Camp Polk Louisiana to an artillery unit. I became angry at being transferred out of the Air Corps and into the regular Army and rebelled at everything. While on a weekend pass in Leesville I struck and almost killed a full Colonel (I had been on the boxing team). I was given a General Court Martial, stripped of my S/Sgt. rank, all awards and honors and given a Dishonorable Discharge. The Court Martial sentence of Dishonorable Discharge was over turned by the review board and Pvt. Leroy V. Arsdale was sent to a rehabilitation base at Fort MaCullough, New York. While there the mix up in my name was corrected and in March 1946 Leroy V. Arsdale disappeared and Pvt. Lee Roy Van Arsdale was inducted into the Army and given an Honorable Discharge and sent home on 60 days terminal leave. After six months my discharge had not arrived, I notified the Army and I finally received my discharge dated 4 February 1947, minus foreign service, record of wounds, or decoration. I had spent three years, two months and four day in the Army and has done nothing, according to the records.
I'm sure my dad was no angle and he never spoke of all he had done nor has he every told a lie, that I know of, but I can not find anything on him. I sent for his record and do the fire there is nothing. I do have his discharge paper and a warn out paper from Army Air Force Bomber Group ??? Air Force Dover, England. Subject: wearing of ribbons and citations. By order of Col. Ke?????, signed by William G Swa??on Capt. and 1st Lt Henry J Wilkenson.....It list his ribbons, medals, combat missions and so on.
As most people trying to track down and thread of information on their parents time in the service, anything, hoping to see them standing in the back ground of a photo, anything but I am not able to. He said she flew in the "American Beauty" B-17, he said he navigated and was the gun in the turret on the top (can you tell I don't know my B-17ings). My father was in he early 80's when he pasted and his memory for numbers and names may not have been very clear but still you think I could find something. I can not find an "American Beauty" with the 385th BG, 551st BS, I can not find a loge sheet, mission loge, or crew list with either of his names. He said he had a bubby from the 385th BG named Bob McCullum, can't find him. It was suggest to me that maybe my Daddy made these stories up to cover for something else he didn't want anyone to know. Like maybe he did something really horrible or he wasn't even there. I don't think so, my nephew was in the Army for 22 years. He talked to my dad of the things he has had to do, I think that would have had to open him up if there was anything to hide.
I have discovered a list of planes named "American Beauty", their are seven.
#42-73045 6PR, 20CM
#44-41251 308 BG, 375 BS
#42-95293 392 BG, 578 BS
#41-29530 451 BG, 724 BS
#41-29530 484 BG, 827 BS
#42-73055 5 BG
Linda
I didn't intend to write a book here.
I do apologize for not responding to my post I placed in November 2006 about information on a B-17 called "American Beauty"
I, like so many others, am looking for any information confirming my fathers information. Brief information: My Daddy never talked about his service, I was in high school in the 80's before I found out he served. He didn't have a good ending to his enlistment and it left a unsettling taste in his mouth. The first time anyone in the family heard him talk about being in the Army Air Corp was when my nephew gave us a tour of Fort Campbell. "I was stationed here", that's all he said. Daddy was VERY big into family genealogy and researching his family. He understood how written stories were so important for the generations to come. So Daddy wrote a short biography on himself.
I graduated High School in June 1943. In November I turned 17 and with a forged birth certificate joined the Army Air Corps Cadet program. (A mix up with his name registered him as Leroy V. Arsdale, this did not get fixed until his discharge)
On December 1st I reported to Camp Attebury, Indiana induction center. A week later by troop train to Shapherd Field Texas for basic training. From there to Amarillo Texas for preflight school then to Randolph Field Texas. At Randolph I "washed out" of the Cadet program with mathematics problems. I was transferred to Truax Field Wisconsin for radio operator training and then to gunnery school at Las Vegas Nevada Army Air Base in April 1944.
May 1944 I received orders to report to a deportation port in New Roushel, New Your with a 15 day delay-en route giving me my only time off during three years of service. In June 1944 I landed at Great Ashfield Air Drome, Suffold near Cambridge, England and was assigned to the 385th Bomb Group, 551st Bomber Squadron. My last mission was in April 1945. During my tour of duty I flew 23 missions, credited with 13 enemy air craft downed, wounded twice and decorated twice.
It wasn't a good base, most planes were lost around their 15th mission and casualties were high. Loosing a friend a day became common place. Moral was very bad. The base Commander would not allow a NCO Club and the PX was open once day a week, no beer or alcohol drinks, he did not want to corrupt the "boys".
On my 23rd mission I was wounded by flack in my left foot and ankle. { The story the told my sisters and I about a year before his death was they had to ditch the plane. The crew dialed out. Daddy opened his shoot and noticed below him was a crew member that shoot did not open. He pulled his knife, cut his shoot and dove to the guy and pulled his shoot. By the time he opened his shoot is was late and he hit the ground to hard. That furthered the injury to his ankle.} I was sent home on a hospital ship and sent to the Army Hospital in Louisville, my home. After my surgery healed I was sent to Fort McCollum, Alabama, to a company in their second week of basic training. From there to Fort Hood, Texas to an armored division, then to Camp Polk Louisiana to an artillery unit. I became angry at being transferred out of the Air Corps and into the regular Army and rebelled at everything. While on a weekend pass in Leesville I struck and almost killed a full Colonel (I had been on the boxing team). I was given a General Court Martial, stripped of my S/Sgt. rank, all awards and honors and given a Dishonorable Discharge. The Court Martial sentence of Dishonorable Discharge was over turned by the review board and Pvt. Leroy V. Arsdale was sent to a rehabilitation base at Fort MaCullough, New York. While there the mix up in my name was corrected and in March 1946 Leroy V. Arsdale disappeared and Pvt. Lee Roy Van Arsdale was inducted into the Army and given an Honorable Discharge and sent home on 60 days terminal leave. After six months my discharge had not arrived, I notified the Army and I finally received my discharge dated 4 February 1947, minus foreign service, record of wounds, or decoration. I had spent three years, two months and four day in the Army and has done nothing, according to the records.
I'm sure my dad was no angle and he never spoke of all he had done nor has he every told a lie, that I know of, but I can not find anything on him. I sent for his record and do the fire there is nothing. I do have his discharge paper and a warn out paper from Army Air Force Bomber Group ??? Air Force Dover, England. Subject: wearing of ribbons and citations. By order of Col. Ke?????, signed by William G Swa??on Capt. and 1st Lt Henry J Wilkenson.....It list his ribbons, medals, combat missions and so on.
As most people trying to track down and thread of information on their parents time in the service, anything, hoping to see them standing in the back ground of a photo, anything but I am not able to. He said she flew in the "American Beauty" B-17, he said he navigated and was the gun in the turret on the top (can you tell I don't know my B-17ings). My father was in he early 80's when he pasted and his memory for numbers and names may not have been very clear but still you think I could find something. I can not find an "American Beauty" with the 385th BG, 551st BS, I can not find a loge sheet, mission loge, or crew list with either of his names. He said he had a bubby from the 385th BG named Bob McCullum, can't find him. It was suggest to me that maybe my Daddy made these stories up to cover for something else he didn't want anyone to know. Like maybe he did something really horrible or he wasn't even there. I don't think so, my nephew was in the Army for 22 years. He talked to my dad of the things he has had to do, I think that would have had to open him up if there was anything to hide.
I have discovered a list of planes named "American Beauty", their are seven.
#42-73045 6PR, 20CM
#44-41251 308 BG, 375 BS
#42-95293 392 BG, 578 BS
#41-29530 451 BG, 724 BS
#41-29530 484 BG, 827 BS
#42-73055 5 BG
LindaI didn't intend to write a book here.
Re: B-17 American Beauty
Hi, New member here!
I dabble in creating digital artwork and living just 5 miles from the former RAF Sudbury, home of the 486th BG, I want to create an image dedicated to the Group and am researching it to get as accurate an image as possible. I have already made an image of the 55th FG mustangs flying escort to the 486th that is available to buy on ebay (this is not an advert, just to show you an example of my work).
I have just finished a set of 3 images showing the 55th FG as the group were based at RAF Wormingford. This airfield is now farmland, owned and farmed by my father-in-law and I started looking into the history of it and felt I wanted to create images for local historians and for a memorial wall in a local pub that was frequented by aircrew during the war. I have just been online searching images and info for 'American Beauty' and I stumbled across this forum (what a great site)..... Thanks for all the stories shared. I would be grateful if anyone has any other accounts/info or photos of the airfield? I know some people may be reluctant to share their precious memories of lost relatives but please be aware I only intend to create these images of WWII heroes in action as a dedication to the brave young men that fought and paid the ultimate price for the freedom of future generations.
if you feel you can be of any assistance, please get in touch and i'll send you a copy of the completed image.
Regards,
Nic.
I dabble in creating digital artwork and living just 5 miles from the former RAF Sudbury, home of the 486th BG, I want to create an image dedicated to the Group and am researching it to get as accurate an image as possible. I have already made an image of the 55th FG mustangs flying escort to the 486th that is available to buy on ebay (this is not an advert, just to show you an example of my work).
I have just finished a set of 3 images showing the 55th FG as the group were based at RAF Wormingford. This airfield is now farmland, owned and farmed by my father-in-law and I started looking into the history of it and felt I wanted to create images for local historians and for a memorial wall in a local pub that was frequented by aircrew during the war. I have just been online searching images and info for 'American Beauty' and I stumbled across this forum (what a great site)..... Thanks for all the stories shared. I would be grateful if anyone has any other accounts/info or photos of the airfield? I know some people may be reluctant to share their precious memories of lost relatives but please be aware I only intend to create these images of WWII heroes in action as a dedication to the brave young men that fought and paid the ultimate price for the freedom of future generations.
if you feel you can be of any assistance, please get in touch and i'll send you a copy of the completed image.
Regards,
Nic.
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Re: B-17 American Beauty
This is the part of the eulogy my father Lee Roy Van Arsdale ( Leroy V. Arsdale) #15364468, wrote for his funeral. I hope someone will be able to provide any information on my father’s life in the military. He has had several name mix ups. At one time he was stripped of his record and Dishonorably Discharged however the decision was overturned but his honors, awards, wounds and foreign records are still missing.
Graduated from High School in June 1943. In November I turned 17 and with forged birth certificate joined the Army Air Corps Cadet program. Not only did my life change but so did my name Lee Roy Van Arsdale became Leroy Arsdale.
On December 1st 1943 I reported to Camp Atterbury Indiana induction center, there the name mix-up started. A week late by troop train to Sheppard Field Texas for basic training. From there to Amarillo Texas for preflight school then to Randolph Field Texas. At Randolph I washed out of the Cadet program with mathematics problems and was transferred to Truax Field Wisconsin for radio man training and then to gunnery school at Las Vegas Nevada Army Air Base in April 1944.
The latter part of May 1944 I received orders to report to deportation port in New Rochelle New York with 15 day delay-enroute giving me my only time off during three years of service. In June 1944 I landed at Great Ashfield Air Drome, Suffolk near Cambridge England and was assigned to the 385th Bomb Group, 551 Bomber Squadron. My last mission was in April 1945. During my tour of duty I flew 23 missions and credited with 13 enemy aircraft downed, wounded twice and decorated twice.
It wasn't a good base, most planes were lost around their 15th mission and casualties were high. Losing a friend a day became common place. Moral was very bad. The base Commander wouldn’t allow an NCO Club and the PX was opened one day week, no beer or alcohol drinks, he did not want to “corrupt the boys”. The nearest village Stowmarket was very small with only few people, no pub or any recreation facilities. Cambridge was about 20 miles to the East and London 90 miles South but off base passes were few.
On my 23rd mission I was wounded by flak in my left foot and ankle and was sent home on a hospital ship and sent to the Army Hospital in Louisville, my home. After my surgery healed I was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama to a company in their second week of basic training from there to Fort Hood, Texas to an armored division then to Camp Polk, Louisiana to an artillery unit. I became angry at being transferred out of the Air Corps and into the regular Army and rebelled at everything. While on weekend pass in Leesville I struck full Colonel and was given a General Court Martial, stripped of my S/Sgt rank, all awards and honors and given Dishonorable Discharge. The Court Martial sentence of Dishonorable Discharge was over turned by the review board and Pvt. Leroy Arsdale was sent to rehabilitation base at Fort McCollum, New York. While there the mix up in my name was corrected and in March 1946 Leroy V. Arsdale disappeared and Pvt Lee Roy Van Arsadale was inducted into the Army and given an Honorable Discharge and sent home on 60 days terminal leave. After six months my discharge had not arrived. I notified the Army and finally received my discharge dated February 1947 minus foreign service record of wounds or decorations. I had spent three years two months and four days in the Army and had done nothing according to the records.
I had hoped to find some connection between my dad and the 358th but have been unsuccessful. Nothing, not a thread. I send off for his records and got nothing. I do have his discharge papers. I also had in 09 written to the historian for the 358th and he had nothing and suggested my dad my have been making it up to glorify his involvement or cover up something else. Not my day, good or bad he wouldn't do that, he had too much respect. I look at pictures on the net hoping to find him in the background. Anything else I should try would be so helpful to my sisters and I.
Linda
Graduated from High School in June 1943. In November I turned 17 and with forged birth certificate joined the Army Air Corps Cadet program. Not only did my life change but so did my name Lee Roy Van Arsdale became Leroy Arsdale.
On December 1st 1943 I reported to Camp Atterbury Indiana induction center, there the name mix-up started. A week late by troop train to Sheppard Field Texas for basic training. From there to Amarillo Texas for preflight school then to Randolph Field Texas. At Randolph I washed out of the Cadet program with mathematics problems and was transferred to Truax Field Wisconsin for radio man training and then to gunnery school at Las Vegas Nevada Army Air Base in April 1944.
The latter part of May 1944 I received orders to report to deportation port in New Rochelle New York with 15 day delay-enroute giving me my only time off during three years of service. In June 1944 I landed at Great Ashfield Air Drome, Suffolk near Cambridge England and was assigned to the 385th Bomb Group, 551 Bomber Squadron. My last mission was in April 1945. During my tour of duty I flew 23 missions and credited with 13 enemy aircraft downed, wounded twice and decorated twice.
It wasn't a good base, most planes were lost around their 15th mission and casualties were high. Losing a friend a day became common place. Moral was very bad. The base Commander wouldn’t allow an NCO Club and the PX was opened one day week, no beer or alcohol drinks, he did not want to “corrupt the boys”. The nearest village Stowmarket was very small with only few people, no pub or any recreation facilities. Cambridge was about 20 miles to the East and London 90 miles South but off base passes were few.
On my 23rd mission I was wounded by flak in my left foot and ankle and was sent home on a hospital ship and sent to the Army Hospital in Louisville, my home. After my surgery healed I was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama to a company in their second week of basic training from there to Fort Hood, Texas to an armored division then to Camp Polk, Louisiana to an artillery unit. I became angry at being transferred out of the Air Corps and into the regular Army and rebelled at everything. While on weekend pass in Leesville I struck full Colonel and was given a General Court Martial, stripped of my S/Sgt rank, all awards and honors and given Dishonorable Discharge. The Court Martial sentence of Dishonorable Discharge was over turned by the review board and Pvt. Leroy Arsdale was sent to rehabilitation base at Fort McCollum, New York. While there the mix up in my name was corrected and in March 1946 Leroy V. Arsdale disappeared and Pvt Lee Roy Van Arsadale was inducted into the Army and given an Honorable Discharge and sent home on 60 days terminal leave. After six months my discharge had not arrived. I notified the Army and finally received my discharge dated February 1947 minus foreign service record of wounds or decorations. I had spent three years two months and four days in the Army and had done nothing according to the records.
I had hoped to find some connection between my dad and the 358th but have been unsuccessful. Nothing, not a thread. I send off for his records and got nothing. I do have his discharge papers. I also had in 09 written to the historian for the 358th and he had nothing and suggested my dad my have been making it up to glorify his involvement or cover up something else. Not my day, good or bad he wouldn't do that, he had too much respect. I look at pictures on the net hoping to find him in the background. Anything else I should try would be so helpful to my sisters and I.
Linda
Re: B-17 American Beauty
All, I recently found out my cousin Dudley Shaw's B-17 "name" was American Beauty (not American Rose). He was a pilot on the second crew. He took over on the airframe's 31st mission and flew 31 missions. So I'm pretty certain American Beauty flew at least 62 missions. To answer questions in earlier posts, She returned to the states intact and was sent to the boneyard for scrap. I've just started trying to do a little research with his daughter who has a wealth of knowledge as Dudley passed away several years ago. She doesn't do a lot on line but is interested in sharing information. I also have an uncle that flew P-51s and another uncle that died in a B-17 as the belly gunner.
One sight I found has a picture from the right side of an aircraft they say is the serial # of American Beauty and the art work shows Uncle Sam with a woman painted standing in front on him. Did the American Beauty have a different art work on the right and left nose? My cousin's pictures are all from the left side. If you google American Rose images, my cousin is the gentlemen on the far left in the one that has a crew picture.
His first mission is captured in a photograph in Edward Jablonski's book. His friend, Capt Paris, died when his B-17, to the left front and low in the box formation, took a flak rocket through the open bomb bay doors. All on board were lost.
Dudley meet his wife in England. She was an ambulance driver. They met in the local pub after his first mission.
Thanks for the add. Looking forward to learning more about my relatives.
One sight I found has a picture from the right side of an aircraft they say is the serial # of American Beauty and the art work shows Uncle Sam with a woman painted standing in front on him. Did the American Beauty have a different art work on the right and left nose? My cousin's pictures are all from the left side. If you google American Rose images, my cousin is the gentlemen on the far left in the one that has a crew picture.
His first mission is captured in a photograph in Edward Jablonski's book. His friend, Capt Paris, died when his B-17, to the left front and low in the box formation, took a flak rocket through the open bomb bay doors. All on board were lost.
Dudley meet his wife in England. She was an ambulance driver. They met in the local pub after his first mission.
Thanks for the add. Looking forward to learning more about my relatives.