Searches/Queries page 2 . . .

When all else fails, search here for missing loved ones, buddies, or other WWII/Korean War related knowledge.


and that's only half of the story

The 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado is seeking the names, and POC's of any surviving "Original Member" (Mid-1952, through November 1953 era) who joined the Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. If you were a member, or you know someone who was a member, you are requested to contact CW3 David Clark soonest.

In Advance - Thank you.

Cliff Newman
Executive Director
Special Forces Association
PO Box 41436
Fayetteville, NC 28309
(910) 485-5433

To help, contact above or Click Here to email Editor

Independent filmmaker appeals to London WWII Veterans

My name is Mihaal Danziger and I am a filmmaker interested in contacting a WWII veteran living in London for research and an interview for a short documentary. More specifically I am seeking a veteran familiar with the "Kilroy was here" WWII graffiti, for a small project dedicated to commemorating the Kilroy phenomena.

If you are interested in taking part, please contact
the editor.

and that's only half of the story

Found!
Image of KWH dating from WWII

As nose art but that's only part of the story! Click here!


Here's a photo of a 75mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage). My research indicates that all five of the crew members on this particular vehicle won Silver Stars fighting at Cape Gloucester on New Britain. Pretty impressive, huh? I found a bunch of other medal winners who crewed these things
and I think that anyone who rode into combat in them was one tough son of a gun. It seems all their firing was done at point blank ranges, meaning that the enemy was firing their weapons back at them at point blank ranges as well.

Click image for larger view

all their firing was at point blank range

Search for Marines who served on halftracks

Bill Auerbach

I am writing a book on Marines who served on 75mm Self Propelled Guns (halftracks) in the Weapons Companies of Marine Divisions during WW2. I would especially like to contact any of the men from Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, 1st Marine Division who won Silver Stars on Cape Gloucester (Thomas F. Lynch, William H. Barry, George Janiszewski, George Pappas, Francis R.Ryan or a loader named Bratzanski) or anyone who served in these companies on Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Tarawa,

Iwo, etc. Looking for photos, documents, or any other material relating to these units. Those SP mounts had only the thinnest armor and were totally open on top, and I would like to tell the story of the brave men who crewed them. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who could

Contact the Editor if you have any information - Click the star

444th FIS ADC Charleston, SC AFB and the 792nd Aircraft Control. . .

Writer needs you for research

I have just started assembling information about a mid air collision that happened about 70 west of Charleston, SC on Feb 5, 1958 that will ultimately become a novel. A flight of two B-47s departed Homestead AFB at 4:51 Eastern on a round robin training flight of about 9 hours up to the Canadian border and back. Aboard was a 7,600 pound Mark 15 nuclear bomb. The bomb was not equipped with the plutonium capsule necessary for a nuclear explosion but contained about 400 pounds of TNT. Major Howard Richardson was the aircraft commander of Ivory 2, the second aircraft in the flight. Their mission consisted of air refueling over the Gulf of Mexico south of New Orleans, fighter attacks in hostile territory and a simulated bomb drop over Radford, Virginia. The mission was completed as planned and Major Richardson and his tired crew continued south toward Homestead AFB maintaining a distance of 35 miles behind the lead aircraft, Ivory 1. They were out of hostile territory and the remainder of the flight would be routine. At least that is what Richardson and his crew thought. Because of a communication failure, fighter intercepts were authorized after they passed the target at Radford. They could be attacked at any time. In fact preparations were under way at Charleston, SC to attack both B-47s. At 12:08 Hemingway, an Aircraft Control and Warning radar site scrambled 3 F-86s to intercept Ivory 2. They were airborne in 5 minutes and a short time later a director inside the Hemingway radar room issued heading, speed and altitude instructions to the Pug Gold flight, call sign of the F-86s. 15 minutes later all three F-86s had made radar contact with Ivory 2. The lead aircraft made an identification pass on Ivory 2. Pug Gold 2, flown by 1st Lt. Clarence A. Stewart was next to make an intercept. He started his run and called 20 seconds before missile impact. Seconds later Steward felt turbulence, saw contrails in the full moon light and then saw the rear of a B-47, very close. He ducked down, pushed the stick full to the right and forward, but it was too late. His left wing sliced into the right wing of the B-47, demolishing the main wing spar, knocked the auxiliary fuel wing tank off, almost knocked number six engine off and the fuselage and tail section was damaged from pieces of the F-86. Stewart managed to eject a split second before the impact and explosion. Both B-47 pilots saw a bright flash and a loud crunch that made the B-47 shudder. Richardson made a quick decision not to eject and try to fly the crippled B-47 to nearby Hunter AFB. Due to substantial damage to the
B-47 and the runway construction at Hunter, Major Howard Richardson decided it was too risky to land with the bomb on board and decided to jettison the bomb in the bay near Savannah. It has not been recovered. Richardson made a heroic landing at Hunter. The aircraft was a total loss.
I would like to discuss this incident with anyone stationed at the following bases on or before Feb. 5 1958: 444th FIS ADC Charleston, SC AFB, 792nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, North Charleston, SC, base ops or control tower at Homestead and Hunter.

Charles D. Richardson


Response

Charles, your Search is here and with the original story.

To read it all, Click HERE

Me-262 artifacts

"Few aircraft in history have fired the imagination like the Messerschmitt Me 262. Born of the desperate circumstances of war, this masterpiece of technology and innovation forever changed the face of aviation when it first appeared in the skies over Europe in 1944.

Considering the short operational life of the aircraft in an already lost cause, the popularity of the Me 262 has endured with surprising fervor. Still, despite the obvious interest, none of these planes have taken to the skies in well over 50 years."

This is from Me-262 Pojects


http://www.militaryaircraft.de/
Click image for larger view
Here's the Search

http://www.militaryaircraft.de/
Click image for larger view
"Hello, I am looking for German aircraft artifacts from WWII such as control sticks, aircraft instruments, gunsights, photos, documents, etc. I am particularly interested in the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet or any other German jet or propeller fighter plane. I have been interested in German planes for many years and have been writing on a book about the Me 262 since about 2003. I am always looking for photos of Me 262s that were taken during or at the end of the war. Thanks! Roger Gaemperle,
Please contact the editor with information

http://www.militaryaircraft.de/
Click image for larger view


Am example of Taschen's Art Books

Click image for larger view

Some believe there are none

Search for a WWII image of Kilroy

I'm still looking for a real WWII photo of Kilroy Was Here, and I need some more help. Do you think a rare soldier with a camera may have taken one in his journeys, and contacting vets to look through their personal albums could be fruitful? I want to include it in a art book I am working on.FOUND! Click here

TASCHEN is a renowned international art book publisher, and the book in which the photo would be included is a large coffee table size art book -- having a Kilroy image printed in the historical title about street art would show people around the world that Kilroy was not a myth, and it was in fact a very effective method, psychologically, personally, territorially etc, of demonstrating presence.

Ethel Seno, Editor
The History of Uncommissioned Public Art
TASCHEN Publishing

Editor's Note: One problem is that cameras were not allowed for combat troops nor were diaries or even some forms of ID. Believe it or not, there are those that say there are no WWII images of Kilroy. See: http://firstmention.com/kilroywashere.aspx. Help us prove the site wrong and help publish a beautiful book that will include the image.

Contact the Editor if you have any information - Click the star

An immediate success

LOST AND FOUND!

My name is Joseph Lasko. I am a young 86 years old and living with my daughter in Myrtle Beach, S.C. I am trying to find anyone who is still with us from the 31st infantry, 124th regiment, service company. It would be great to hear from anyone who served with me during World War II in the


Company Reunion Photo
Click image for a larger view

Philippines or New Guinea or anyone who remembers me. Thanks and God Bless.

Response

Joseph, I think you came to the right place and I am pleased! There are few things about this job more satisfying than getting old buddies together. Start by looking at Paul Tillery's story here:

http://www.kilroywashere.org/003-Pages/Tillery-Paul/03-Harm-Tillery.html

Be sure to continue to the photo albums!

Also, check to see if you have any journals at:

http://www.kilroywashere.org/007-Pages/07-Searches.html#124thUnitJournals

Read Dr. Deas' Tribute at:

http://www.kilroywashere.org/009-Pages/09-0Tributes-Stories.html#Deas-Summerfield

I will also forward your letter to Paul Tillery. You may have mutual friends.

Found!

The kilroywashere.org Website referred your inquiry to me. Sure I remember the name Joe Lasko and it's great to hear from you. You are young, as I am 87 and will be 88 May 1st. I was M/Sgt in transportation and Buchman was M/Sgt in the repair shop with W/O Gene Vann. The only one's remaining from Service Comapny that I am aware of are Don Dyer, Broughton Stancil, David Bailey and Harris George. We had Service Company reunions for years but it dwindled down to where that there wasn't enough of us to have a Company reunion. I have a picture of our first reunion which was held in Orlando in 1984 and here is the picture. This should bring back memories.

Regards,

Aubrey Paul Tillery

Need Help from Veterans of St. Lô
about the 803rd Tank Destroyer Bn.
I am historian/author and live in France. I wrote several books about the battle of Normandy. For a year, I have been working on my seventh book about the battle of St. Lô. The text starts July 7, 1944 with the offensive of the XIXth US Army Corps. The American troops needed 12 days to enter St. Lô. Nearly 18,000 Americans soldiers were killed. The 115th US Infantry Regiment with the 29th Reconnaissance Troops entered the city of St. Lô - belonged to the Task Force Cota - with the support of Company B from the 803rd Tank Destroyer Bn. It is this last Company which is of interest to me. All I know is that his commander, Captain Sydney A. Vincent, Jr, was killed when he organized an action with his Tank Destroyers. Did this company have 12 Tank destroyers? I know also that two Tank Destroyers were destroyed. I present you some pictures from this Tank Destroyers in St. Lô. Some of them are known but I would like to get some information about the engagements or every information which allow me to write intelligent captions. For the veterans or historians interested by my questions, know that I am going to St Lô for research the first week of January 2007. This book will be translated in English in June or July 2007. My first one in English is for February 2007: The III. Panzer Korps During the Battle of Koursk. My site is:
http://didierlodieu.site.voila.fr

I thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely yours

Didier Lodieu


National Archives
Click image for larger view
In this picture from we see a Sherman from the 747th Tank Battalion with some G.I.'s probably from the 1st Bn, 115th. You'll see " Cafe Restaurant" painted on a wall to the left.

Here you see the Tank Destroyer with two soldiers killed beside. You'll see agaon the same wall with Cafe Restaurant painted on it. But on this picture, you' discover two or three big holes made by an piece of artillery or a pak (Antitank gun). The shot came from the right. So, this pictures with the TD had been shot after the picture above.

 


National Archives
Click image for larger view

National Archives
Click image for larger view
The famed steeple and ruins of St. Lô
Standing too close to a Tank Destroyer firing!

National Archives
Click image for larger view

keeping a promise I made a long time ago to someone I love. .


Sparlan "Sparky" Ruff Click the image for a larger view

Help Us Find Sparky!

First of all I want to congratulate you on a great website!

I am trying to locate our family friend PFC Sparlan "Sparky" Ruff, WWII Veteran, 2nd Marine Division. I am sending along his photographs. I am including a photo of Sparky and his friend Jim Sledge (2nd Marine Division) taken in Okinawa in the hopes that someone may know Sparky or Jim.

I have researched Sparky on several sites, including yours and the WWII memorial. He is not listed on the memorial site and I cannot

seem to locate him but plan to keep trying. I also have a picture of him in uniform with friends at Bob Brooks' seven Seas Restaurant in Hollywood, CA, dated July 20, 1946 so I know he made it through the war. I have no idea what state to look in and have tried CA. I have come up dry with Social Security death inquiries. I imagine he would be approximately 78 to 80 years of age if he is still living.

Sparky was a good friend of my mothers. She casually looked for him and others in their circle of friends off and on for years .She


At the Seven Seas Restaurant in Hollywood
Click the image for a larger view

Sparky & Pete in Okinawa
Click the image for a larger view

used to tell me about what a great group of friends they all were during the war years and after. The fun times they shared and the cohesiveness. The group drifted apart but she was able to remain friends with some of her girlfriends and one couple that married out of the original group.

My mom died several years ago and I promised I would try and look up Sparky and one other girlfriend. I found the girlfriend but unfortunately she had passed away. Life has kept me busy so my search until now has been somewhat lax. During the past year I discovered more photos of Sparky and other friends which ignited my search again.

I guess it all boils down to keeping a promise I made a long time ago to

someone I love. Thank you again for making such a wonderful website available. I hope someone out there can help me locate Sparky.
Sincerely,


Lynn Cummings

 

 

 

 


Sparky & Pete in Okinawa
Click the image for a larger view

Sparky & Pete in Okinawa
Click the image for a larger view

Sparky & Jim Sledge. I only know that Jim's name was on the back of the photo depicting them in Okinawa. It would be interesting to learn if he is related to E.B. Sledge, the author. See With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa
Click the image for a larger view

Sparky & Jim Sledge
Click the image for a larger view

Her father was in the U S Navy during the war.

The Search for
Day Star

Walt Parus wrote:

Thank you for your interesting web site. I read about the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. I have previously read a book here in the USA about Danes smuggling people out of the country who were threatened by the Germans. I am inspired by the stories of ordinary people risking their lives to help their neighbors.

I currently work with a woman whose father was in the United States Navy during the war. He said that one


Troops on their way home
of the ships that he served on was a war ship from Denmark called the Day Star. I do not understand how an American sailor could serve on a Danish war ship. Is it possible that some Danish naval vessels were away when the Germans invaded? Or, perhaps they managed to escape during the invasion.

I would appreciate any information that you may have about this particular ship.

Thank you.

Found!

Walt. That is, indeed an interesting sidebar to WWII. It was not at all unusual for that to happen or more often the other way. That is, foreign crews remaining on their ships or volunteering to man American ships. On June 6, 1941, President Roosevelt signed The Ship Requisition Act (Public Law 101 [H.R. 4466] which allowed the Coast Guard to seize vessels for the war effort. At that time there were some 84 inactive large ships of foreign registry in American ports. Some were from countries overrun by Germany, like the Day Star. Others were from Axis powers that were seized when the war started. These ships (though not "war ships") were manned by the Army Transportation Service, with "civilian" mariners; by the U.S. Navy; and the War Shipping Administration.

The Day Star was one of about 40 Danish ships that were eventual acquired and served the war effort very well as a troopship. On August 20, 1941, the U.S. Maritime Commission appealed to Danish seamen to remain aboard their requisitioned vessels. The appeal included wage scales, war bonuses, overtime, insurance for injuries and loss of life, payment of allotments in accordance with the wishes of the seamen, and accrued wages.

If you would like more information on Day Star or other merchant ships during WWII, try:

American Merchant Marine at War

Also, if you would like to contact people who were or relatives of people who were aboard Day Star see:

Contact Dr. Long
Ralph S. Long, Ph.D
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1372647/posts

or see Kenny's story of being aboard her and pictures.
Kenny D. Diggs
http://www.diggsjourney.com/
http://www.diggsjourney.com/ellis_diggs_naval_history.htm

a 1942 Wedding gift

 

Seeking
Jake and Bride
USS Heron




The Silver Tray


The Inscription (1942)

I am seeking information on the USS Heron dated 1942 and, in particular, a sailor named Jake who was married in March of that year.

I live in Australia and purchased from an antique shop 25 years ago a silver tray and cocktail stands engraved 'To Jake and Bride' from the crew of the USS Heron
24-3-42. (Obviously a wedding gift.)

I would like to find Jake's family and return this to them.

Note: Contact the Editor if you have any information - Click the star

Palazzago (Bergamo - Northern Italy).

Were you in the Italian Campaign (1943-45)?

If you were in or have friends who were in the Italian campaign, please contact me. If you have memories about that period (that, here we call "Liberation War") or if you may have pictures of that time (1943-1945), please let me know. It will be used for our next exhibition to be held in Palazzago next 25th April 2005 (the 60th anniversary of Italy Liberation.)


Italian Ministry of Justice Mr. Castelli (close to the flags), Mr. Jacobelli (smiling) , the regional assessor of Cultures Mr. Albertoni. Mr. Orlandi (the last on the right) who followed the graphics exibition.
Click Image for a larger view


Dr. Michele Jacobelli

Also, I have heard of many inhabitants of Palazzago during the war helped many allied prisoners (POW) in Italy (and escaped from prison camps after 8th september 1943) to reach the Switzerland borders. It would be fine to find some of Veterans helped by some people of Palazzago!

Dr. Michele Jacobelli
Palazzago, (Bergamo) Italy


Editor's Note: I first met Dr. Jacobelli this year as he was preparing his exhibition for D-Day 6 June 2004. It was "to honour the American, British, Canadian soldiers who died to liberate our Countries".

KilroyWasHere.org, along with the D-day Museum, Imperial War Museum from London, D-Day - Normandie 44 : Etat des Lieux, Tony Leone, Les Cruise, James Ray Lemaire, Bob Wallace, Roy Pirah, many surviving veterans and others did what we could to help. His exhibition was such a big success that the President of the Italian Republic expressed appreciation to the Municipal Administration of Palazzago:
" On the occasion of the exhibition D-day 60th anniversary of the Landing in Normandy. The duty of the memory makes stronger the bond between the past and the present of our Republic strengthening in the common conscience the consciousness of democracy basic values: peace, justice, integration among different identities of peoples."

General Secretary of Republic Presidency


The exhibit was recognized throughout Italy and, indeed, the world on TV. Put the URLs below into Google. When it finds the site, click translate.

For TV see: www.rai.it . You will see, on the left: NEWS and then RAI1 RAI3 RAI3, GR1 GR2 GR3, TG e Meteo regionali You choose the word LOMBARDIA And then the NEWS in Italian starts using Real Player. If you want you can push the cursor of the player at 3/4 and, after the news about a singer, you will see the inside of our Town Council Hall with the exhibition. The music RAI put on seems to be the one of "DANCE WITH THE WOLVES".

Note: Contact the Editor if you have any information for Dr. Jacobelli - Click Here

Searching for the untold story

 

 

Search for Admiral Moon

 

 


Aftermath of Operation Tiger, April 28, 1944 Image courtesy U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum

Rear Admiral Donald Pardee Moon, USN, hero of many battles and the invasion of Normandy died under unusual circumstances. Reportedly, he committed suicide. Generally accepted history tells us that on the fifth of August, laden with combat fatigue from Normandy, and because of what was officially termed "combat-related stress," and with the ill-fated Exercise Tiger preying on his mind, he placed a 45 automatic in his mouth and fired. See Orus Kinney's personal account, E-Boats Attack D-day Rehearsal in England:
an update to his Nazi Smart Bombs story. Admiral Moon was replaced by Rear Admiral Spencer Lewis, USN.

On D-day, three American Task Forces were assigned. Those under Admiral Hall and Admiral Moon were the assault forces. The third, a follow-up, to sail a little later, was under Commodore Edgar. A fourth American unit, under Admiral Wilkes, Commander of Landing Craft and Bases, would remain in England until the time came for it to move in.

Before Normandy, Admiral Moon was operational commander for Operation Tiger, a rehearsal for the D-day landings that ended in disaster and tragedy. A German E-Boat (German fast Patrol Torpedo boat similar to our PT boats) attack took place resulting in the loss of more than 700 allied soldiers. It was considered by many, inexplicable that the operation took take place in the full knowledge that there was a potent E-boat threat in the area and that the Germans were actually at sea on the night of the April 27. Admiral Moon, though not charged, received a lot of hostility from both the British and Americans.

Admiral Moon was the highest-ranking serviceman to commit suicide during World War II. But it was kept very quiet, because they didn't want the enemy to know.

This is what the history books tell us but did he? Was he? Jonathan Alter, researching the story is not so sure. He wrote:

I am seeking any concrete information regarding the death of Admiral Moon - witness accounts, documents or anything that will shed some light on it. There has been a lot of scuttlebutt out there, some saying that Moon committed suicide but the suicide story doesn't ring true. Who actually saw it? When? How? What happened to Moon's body? There are just too many holes in the suicide story - too many unknowns. I have been in contact with veterans who served under or with Moon. They can't believe the suicide story and wonder what really happened. To this day, there has been no concrete proof as to the manner of death. We need the names of those involved in the investigation. We need to know how the supposed "verdict" of suicide was arrived at! We need to know if a Captain Henry Moran, USN or Sec. of Navy James Forrestal were involved. What were the roles of Captain Rutledge B. Tompkins or Lt. Cmdr. Robert H. Thayer? Who found Moon dead? Who visited him in the 24 hours before his death? Was a Board of Inquiry held? What was done with Moon's body? What were the transport arrangements? Where is he buried?

My primary purpose is to clear the name of Admiral Moon of the stigma of suicide. It is the right thing to do. Once that is done, I will, first, inform the USS Bayfield veterans and all those who have helped me in this quest. After all that, I may consider writing a book or building a web-site.

Thanks, Jonathan

Note: If you have any information about Adm. Moon, please click here!

World War II Victory Garden

Images Wanted of Miami Beach During WWII

We are constructing a community garden honoring the idea of the World War II Victory Garden in Miami Beach that has an Art in Public Places component depicting the military and families that helped domestic training activities in Miami Beach during WWII. Please email any digital images to stacylotspeich@miamibeachfl.gov Garden ribbon cutting is Pearl Harbor Day 2003.

Thanks.

Stacy Kilroy Lotspeich
Senior Capital Project Planner
City of Miami Beach
Capital Improvement Projects Office
tel: (305) 673-7071 fax: (305) 673-7073

Mailing Address:
City of Miami Beach
Capital Improvement Projects Office
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139

My Dad

 

Remember this Pub in 1942?


Click any image for a larger view


The Western Vaults, pub in Aberystwyth, Thelma


My Mum and sisters (1942)

Is there anyone out there who was or,who knows anyone who was, stationed in or near to Aberystwyth, West Wales during WWII. I would be most grateful if you could contact me please.

My name is Thelma Mahon I was born in Whiston Hospital near Liverpool on 13th February 1943. I have been searching for my father since I discovered eight years ago, after my mum passed

away, that he was in the Canadian Army. He was stationed in, or, close to Aberystwyth, West Wales in 1942 where he met my mum May Hedges, she had moved there to be close to my two sisters Norma and Vivienne who had been evacuated there from Liverpool.

My sisters, met him quite a few times and say that if they saw a photograph they would recognize him. Their relationship went on for some time, apparently he visited my mum when she returned to Liverpool in late 1942. During his visit he met some of my mum's relatives.

Nobody seems to know the last time my mum saw him. There was a pub in Aberystwyth called the The Western Vaults where a lot of the military used to drink. Maybe this will ring a bell with somebody. I have tried numerous ways of tracing him and written lots of letters, I hope this is the lucky one. Just a photograph of him, or, to know if I have any half brothers or sisters would give me some peace of mind.

Maybe it's too late now and he is no longer with us but, I have to keep trying for the sake of my grandchildren. So please, please if there is anyone out there who knew of this relationship, or knew any RCA personnel who were stationed in or around the area could contact me.

Note: Contact the Editor if you have any information for Thelma - Click Here

My brother's Dad

Searching for William

His name is William R. Hill, he was from California. He was stationed in Marfa, Texas in 1944 at the air base. He was a photographer. His plane that he was on was shot down in Europe either in 1944 or 1945. He was killed before my brother was born March 12, 1945.

If you have any information on him it would
be great.Our family knows nothing about him at all but I think my brother deserves to know something about his family since my Mother either doesn't know anything
about them or will not share the information.

Dorothy McPheeters


Normandy Landings

The Birmingham Sailor

Orus Kinney wrote:

“Hey sand mountain, where are you from?” The voice came from above me, from a sailor standing in a LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) which was resting on its rack about five feet above main deck. The LCVP was rigged to lay a smoke screen.

It was the second or third day of the Normandy D-Day Invasion. We were aboard the USS Bayfield. The ship’s intercom system had announced that enemy planes were approaching: so, the LCVP was being prepared to be lifted over the side and into the water to lay a screen.

“I’m from Horton, near Albertville, Alabama”, I answered. My duty station was in a forecastle right near the LCVP rack. My Lieutenant was lying under the smoke screen boat, catching a nap and I had come out to notify him about the alert.

“I’m from near Birmingham”(He gave me a name of one of the nearby suburbs). He said that he noticed me because I had “Sand Mountain” written across the back of my denim shirt. I had used Clorox to do the writing.

“Let’s get together after the air raid is over,” I suggested as I and the lieutenant went into the forecastle. After the “All Clear” was sounded, I went outside, on main deck, to wait for the B’ham Sailor and his LCVP to be lifted back up to the rack.

Was I ever surprised, the LCVP was still on its rack. It did not gone over the side, it did not lay a smoke screen. “What happened?” I asked. “What happened to the sailor that was in the boat?”

One of the several officers and men gathered around the LCVP answered me. “ A small caliber shell exploded in the boat, small pieces of shrapnel hit him in the knees and legs”.

I saw the splinters protruding from the bottom of the boat where the shell exited and a dent in the main deck where the nose of the projectile hit, right were my lieutenant’s head was when I rousted him from his rest.

I heard an explosion during the air raid; it was nearby and rocked the ship. There was a lot of noise from the anti-aircraft guns and I did not hear the noise of the explosion that was about twenty feet from me.

I never saw the B’ham Sailor again, I never learned his name. I wonder if he still lives in the Birmingham area, or what or where?

Orus also wrote the story of the Nazi Smart Bombs (site 3)


USS KINZER (APD-91)

Graham Smith wrote:

I Would like to contact anyone who served aboard the USS KINZER (APD-91) during WWII or afterwards until about May 1946.

The USS KINZER (APD-91) was commissioned in Charleston, SC in Nov. 1944, went
on shakedown cruise to Bermuda, returning to Norfolk in December and departed again for the Panama Canal in early January, 1945. She traversed the canal, up the west coast with stops in San Diego, and San Francisco, (Treasure Island). She escorted a Liberty ship to Pearl Harbor then went out to Guam via Kwajalein. In March 1945 she arrived in a bay between Samar and Leyte, PI. She departed the area and met up with other DD's and about 100 LST's headed for Okinawa. We took Kerama Rhetto island just off Okinawa on March 26th. The participated in the full invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. The KINZER was assigned night time recon mission in the small island around Okinawa and during the daylight hours was on ASW patrols. We escorted the USS SHEA (DMS-26, I think) to Guam after she was hit by a BAKA bomb. We returned to Okinawa and stayed until mid July when returned to Long Beach, Cal. for refitting. The refitting was preparing to participate in invasion of home islands of Japan. While there, the atomic bombs were dropped and the war ended. The KINZER was then ordered back to WESTPAC for further duty. We made several trips to small island areas to bring troops back to Guam for staging. We then headed to Manila, PI in October. Later we went to Haiphone, French Indo China where we met up with eight APA's. Each APA embarked 2000 Chinese Nationalist troops and we escorted them up the east coast of China to Chinwangtao, North China arriving about 7 November 1945. The dangerous part of this trip was passing the mouth of the Yangtse river where mine sweepers had cleared the area of mines. Many of the mines floated out to sea. As an escort vessle and being first in line we had to keep a sharp eye for these mines. We exploded and sank several dozen. The night time was the worst as you could not see the mines visually. The Chinese troops were disembarked in Chinwangtao and the APA's departed. We were left behind to act as port authority for future armies arriving during the year. Many more Chinese armies arrived via APA's. LST's etc. We stayed there until May 1946 with one side trip to Taku Roads for refueling and one trip to Shanghai for R&R. We finally headed Stateside in May 1946, stopping in Tsingtao to pick up troops headed home. We arrived in Long Beach in late May. I understand the KINZER was later mothballed.

Found!

Dear Editor; My name is Gilbert E. Wyatt SM1/C Ex Navy. Graham Smith wrote a piece about the Kinzer. I would like to get in touch with him? I was aboard the Kinzer when she left Norfolk in January, 1945 for the Panama Canal Stayed on her all through the invasion of Okinawa. During that operation, we did a reconnoiter behind enemy lines , with the USS Lindsey (DM32) She was guarding the Kinzer , when hit by 2 Kamikaze on April 12, 1945. I'm certain of this because my brother was killed on the Lindsey as I watched. My CO relieved me of all duties and when we arrived in Long Beach Ca I was immediately Transferred to the Receiving Station Terminal Island and discharged there. I would like to know if you remember this part? The Kinzer is now in the Chinese Navy.

Found!

Dear Editor:

My name is Doug Richardson and, as a member of the boat crew, we boarded the Kinzer, APD-91 at Pearl Harbor. We had trained as Scouts and Raiders in Ft. Pierce, Florida and in California. We went with the on-board Marine Recon company on missions to some islands in the southern Pacific. My various names were known as “Red Light” and “Pee Wee”. I remember the typhoon that sank so many ships and shooting down our first kamikaze. I left the ship as a Coxwain in 1946. Some of my buddies were Mellet, O’Brien, Stilwell and Comden.


Veterans and POWs. . .

Shannyn Bishop-Potter wrote:

I am a political science student at George Mason University. My grandfather proudly served in WWII, and my father is a retired Air Force officer. I am doing two independent studies on veterans and POWs of WWII and Vietnam, respectively. I would appreciate any information you can give me, as well as any contacts whom I may interview or email for their feedback. Thanks so much for your time!

Shannyn Bishop-Potter


Response

Dear Shannyn, Will do what I can. Will put your letter in our "Searches" page. See:

http://www.kilroywashere.org/007-Pages/07-Searches.html

In the meantime, since you are interested in POW camps, read our story about a German POW camp in Jackson MS. It might change your mind about all POW camps.

http://www.kilroywashere.org/004-Pages/JAN-Area/04-D-Jackson-POW.html

We might get a actual prisoner to respond for an interview, Also see page one of

http://www.kilroywashere.org/

Click the star to read about the British government giving 10,000 pounds to every British man woman or child that was a prisoner of the Japanese.

Note to readers: If you are willing to be interviewed about your experiences, please contact the editor. Click here or on the link at the bottom of the page!

Back to Searches, page 1    

 



Send your Lost or Found information to:

WebMaster/Editor




Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind

Site search Web search