The A2A Simulations Community

You have to look close at image below to see the bird mentioned in above post. This shot was taken right after landing at Snetterton. Bevers is in the first row far right. To the left of Bevers and in the middle of second row holding bird are the replacements for Collier and Fleming. The plane in photo is the "Vera Mae", named after Lt. Bevers' wife. She was very popular with the crew and it was they that suggested Bevers name his new plane after her.

Sam




[img][img]http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3043/scanxw9.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

I recently returned from the 96th BG reunion in Dayton Ohio. What a wonderful time I had meeting and talking to these vets. A great bunch of guys all in their eighties now. When they are together they are twenty again and recall things as if it happen only yesterday. Of course the highlite for me was meeting Lt. Lee Bevers.

Sgt. WC Collier's niece was also there to meet Bevers. She was 14 years old when the news of her uncles' death came from the war department. She was close to her uncle and it was a meeting she did not want to miss.

I have a few pics of some of the vets I could post. So if there is an interest in seeing them let me know.


Sam

Please post them Sam.It's a treat that we would all like to see.

_________________
Son of a U.S.A.A.F. 15th Air Force 463rd bomb group 772nd squadron B17 pilot.
Video of my dad on a B-17(So you can kind of meet him-he passed away in 2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOP53TkGtA

I would love to see them!!!

_________________

Below is a group shot with Lt. Bevers in center . On his right is Anne Price, niece of Sgt. WC Collier. To the left of Bevers is his wife Jeann and to her left is Ruth whose husband was a tailgunner. The guy to the far right is Anne's Husband, Ed Price. This pic was shot under a B17 at Wright-Patterson.

Sam




[img][img]http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/859/img0436zh0.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

Left to right. Sgt. Bill Thorns, Engineer and top turret gunner 338 BS. Over 25 missions. Lt. Lee Bevers, pilot of "Dear Mom" and "Vera Mae". Shot down by FW190 on 26th mission over Germany. Spent 13 months as POW. I will continue to post more photos as I get them. Also maybe a little narrative on the reunion as well as more follow up to story.

Sam



[img][img]http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6586/img0440rp1.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

thank you for the shots and the shots to come. I love your thread with all the stories, it's great!!!

_________________

Thanks Point-man.

Below is Anne Price with her husband Ed. Anne is the niece of Sgt. Collier. She has given me permission to post a few things to include some more pics of Collier. If there is a continued interest I will post these later so here again let me know. One is a photo of Collier as a small child.

This shot was near a B29 at Wright -Patterson.

Sam




[img][img]http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4204/img0434nh4.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

In image below is S/Sgt. George Meshko and his wife Nancy. Flt. engineer and top turret gunner. Flew 25 missions and went home. He autographed my 96th BG reunion poster. Under 25 missions he wrote, "Lucky Bastard".

Sam



[img][img]http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/337/img0437aa7.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

Get a load of this baby face kid. Lee Bevers in the cadet program. He went into pilot training on the suggestion of a friend. Bevers made it into the program and his friend didn't. Lee said he had an interest in multi-engine A/C as he did not like flying alone. He wanted to be with a crew.

Sam

[img][img]http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/489/img0002pg9.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

Speaking of baby faces. Picture below is of Sgt. Collier as a small child.



Sam




[img][img]http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6323/imgtf0.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

Another picture of Sgt. Collier taken just prior to going into the service. I believe this was taken in Baltimore, Maryland. He had moved there to work in some related War industry job.

Sam


[img][img]http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8614/img0001gs9.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

These two guys you see here were paratroopers in the 506th PIR. They made the combat jump on Corregidor, in the Phillipines. They were sitting across from us while at lunch at Wright-Patterson museum. Had to meet them as I was in the paratroopers as well. They told me they have been close friends since boot camp and made the combat jump together. Just two old vets that I was honored to meet and talk to.

Sam


[img][img]http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9084/img0447ze5.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

This pic was taken in the Packard museum in Dayton that was part of the tour. The guys you see in the background are all vets of the 96th BG. The car is a '39 Packard that was owned by the movie actor , Errol Flynn. I love that car! I have a few more things to post later if there is still an interest. Bevers' account of mission 26 and being shot down by the FW-190. Also a few more photos and maybe some documents.

So let me know if there is still an interest in some more follow up.

Sam

[img][img]http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/2891/img0455wa7.th.jpg[/img] [/img]

Right on those are great pics sambt.I got to ride in a cherry red Mercedes 300SL once(The one with the gull wing doors) owned by my dad's friend Hermann Schweitzer.I think it's one of the most expensive cars in the world as a collector car.I love those classic cars.
Those other pics are great too.

_________________
Son of a U.S.A.A.F. 15th Air Force 463rd bomb group 772nd squadron B17 pilot.
Video of my dad on a B-17(So you can kind of meet him-he passed away in 2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOP53TkGtA