http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

I am so excited that D. will be home soon. I just got back from a training event in Missouri. It was really nice because I got to see my Grandfather.  My grandfather is a WWII hero.  Below is some historical information about this brave man:

Born: 1925 Saline Co, Blackburn, MO, Married: Una C. 7-28-1945 to 1968, they had one daughter.

AF ID # 37536845

    During WWII he was a B24 Liberator Left waist Gunner 50 Cal with the 15th AF, 55th Bomb Wing, 464th Bomb Group (H), Foggia, Italy.  Upon arriving in Italy he asked to be reassigned to another crew due to personal conflict between he and the crew.  He became a substitute crewman on flight crews.  On the day he was shot down Monday, Jun 26 1944, Vienna Austria he rejoined his original crew to substitute for himself.  This was the crew's first mission and his 10th mission (He was promoted to SSG on 16 June 1944).
    The plane sustained an impact only inches away from my grandfather which damaged the ability for the plane to increase it's elevation.  The men on the plane spent a great deal of time discussing their options and determined the plane would not be able to climb over the alps.  They reviewed the procedures for a parachute exit and as my grandfather exited the plane he watched another bomber spiraling to the earth in flames.  He and the other men jumped without injury.  He was captured by farmers in Austria and taken to
local police station, identified himself as American and turned over to Germans. 
This was the 39th mission of the 464th BG  - to target the Florisdorf Oil Refinery and Oil Sidings
 Col Marshall Bonner, the Group Commander, was lost during same mission on 26 June 1944.

Grandpa's POW Site: Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16 4 Mar 1946

On 6 Feb 1945, with other American Airmen marched 600 miles in 86 days during one of the cruelest winters on record.  After his liberation, he went to Paris, France with another young Airman who was from a neighboring town of Marshall, MO and during his R&R there he had his first intimate experience with a woman.

The 464th Bomb Group in World War II in Action over the Third Reich by Michael Hill:  Monday, 26 June 1944: 677 B-17s and B-24s attack targets in the Vienna, Austria area, hitting an aircraft factory at Schwechat, marshaling yard at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and oil refineries at Korneuburg, Vienna/Floridsdorf, Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, Winterhafen, and Lobau; fighters fly 260+ sorties in support; an estimated 150 to 175 enemy fighters attack the formations; nearly 30 US aircraft (mostly bombers) are lost; US claims total 60+ enemy fighters.

Also experienced in:  Heavy Bomber Twin Tail and B17
34 Medals (Unknown)--Air Medal w/1 cluster, Purple Heart w/2 clusters, American Campaign Medal, EAME Campaign Medal, Army of Ocupation Medal, GCMx5, OSM, POW Medal, Victory Medal, NDSM
Entered Army Aircorps Service: July 28 1943 Leavenworth, KA to
Left Service: Honorable discharge: Jan 28 1960 Salina, KS, Shiling AFB
AF ID # 37536845


Mar 1952 to Jul/Aug 1953 Supply Sergeant Stationed at HQ Squadron, Ashiya AB, Kyushu Island, Japan

Interesting web sites:
http://www.b24.net/pow/march.htm

http://www.zplace2b.com/464th/sitemp.htm

http://www.birdsnest.com/464th/poem.htm

What I'd like to find out about Grandpa:

Squadron Assignment while with 464th (Unk).

Plane name (Unk) and nose insignia (Unk).

Personal Friends in his unit: POW Camp (Tech SGT, E-7 Richard Finley -radio operator [Army Air Corps] from KC), during Death March.
.