Dear Mom

Wings of POWER Heavy Bombers and Jets for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004
sambt
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Post by sambt »

JJB17463rdBombGroup wrote: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.
I know what you mean. I have always been a sucker for old cars. I am in the process now of restoring a '54 2dr Lincoln Capri. However not for show as I plan to not let it sit. This car will be a driver.

Sam

sambt
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Post by sambt »

sambt wrote:
JJB17463rdBombGroup wrote: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.
I know what you mean. I have always been a sucker for old cars. I am in the process now of restoring a '54 2dr Lincoln Capri. However not for show as I plan to not let it sit. This car will be a driver.

Sam
Alright you guys. Stop spending your money on WOP planes and Computer upgrades. Send it to me so I can finished this thing in photo below, it's killing me.

Thanks Sam


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sambt
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Post by sambt »

I have a few more Photos and documents that I would like to share as there seems to still be an interest in this thread due to the number of hits. The photo below shows Collier and a buddy out on the town and it looks like they may have had a few. Collier is in the drivers seat and at this time is a Cpl.

I do not know where this was taken for sure. It probably was during gunnery school as he is not wearing wings as yet. I thought there might be an interest in seeing the "diploma" awarding those coveted silver wings of a gunner.




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sambt
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Post by sambt »

Here is the diploma. After this, things would get really serious. I believe Collier started out to be an a/c mechanic and changed his mind and wanted to fly in B17's not work on 'em.

Sam

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sambt
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Post by sambt »

Here is a note from the Air Force sent to Collier's mom. I am not sure exactly who sent it. It could possibly have been the wife of Lt. Bevers, Vera Mae. She wrote letters to all the families of the crew members keeping them abreast of any news of interest to them. This note at least had some details of the action that occured resulting in Colliers' death.

Any Brits browsing this forum check out Collier's full name. Who was that guy he was named after? Did he do anything important? I have the neat little story of Bevers last mission along with a few more photos that I will post later. One is of Vera Mae. She was very well liked by the crew and their families. The plane that was shot down on Bevers' 26 and last mission was the "Vera Mae".

Sam

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MurrayCod
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Post by MurrayCod »

that has been a great read- thanks for sharing.

I've recently finished reading two fascinating old books from the 1950s - one written by Adolf Galland, and another by a different German fighter pilot, both of whom shot down a number of B17s. Those books and your story all help to give a greater appreciation to what went on by bringing in the personal relationships, rather than just watching videos of planes going down in flames.

sambt
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Post by sambt »

MurrayCod wrote:that has been a great read- thanks for sharing.

I've recently finished reading two fascinating old books from the 1950s - one written by Adolf Galland, and another by a different German fighter pilot, both of whom shot down a number of B17s. Those books and your story all help to give a greater appreciation to what went on by bringing in the personal relationships, rather than just watching videos of planes go
ing down in flames.

Thank you for taking the time to post comments on story. It is sad what tradgedy war brings for all sides. I recently met a German lady that is still having bad memories of bombing raids on Germany when she was a small child. Probably B17's. She was a nice lady.

Collier told my Dad just before he shipped out that he was not coming back. He borrowed my Dad's car for one last night on the town before going overseas. My Dad said he put a dent in a fender and left a $20 bill to pay for it. And like you, I also now have a greater appreciation for what went on as well. Thanks again.

Sam

sambt
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Post by sambt »

I talked to Lt. Bevers recently and all is well. I thought you may have an interest in reading his account of being shot down by the FW190 and the events of his capture and release as a POW. This story is from a 96 BG news letter and I will post it in two parts. It is close to the edges but readable.

Sam



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sambt
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Post by sambt »

Here is the second half of story. The plane that was shot down on the mission when Lee became a POW was named the "Vera Mae". This was the name of his wife of just a few months. I have a photo of Lee and Vera Mae when they were engaged to be married taken I believe just after Lee received his wings. Let me know if there is a continued interest in seeing these photos and perhaps a little more follow up.

Sam

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JJB17463rdBombGroup
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Post by JJB17463rdBombGroup »

Yes I would like to see some more pictures Sam.Thankfully my dad was never shot down but I wish he was still here.There is not a day that I haven't thought about him for the past 3 years.
Son of a U.S.A.A.F. 15th Air Force 463rd bomb group 772nd squadron B17 pilot.
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sambt
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Post by sambt »

JJB17463rdBombGroup wrote:Yes I would like to see some more pictures Sam.Thankfully my dad was never shot down but I wish he was still here.There is not a day that I haven't thought about him for the past 3 years.
You must have had a great relationship with your dad. His kind and sadly to say, the generation in which he was raised is rapidly leaving us. In my opinion they were the glue, so to speak, that held our society together. Would you consider to share with us some of his wartime experiences? Some photos would be great as well. If it is too personal I understand.

I will post a photo of Lee and Vera Mae next. If there is a continued interest more on the co-pilot Willis Jones, so let me know guys.

Sam
Last edited by sambt on 23 Jun 2007, 06:00, edited 1 time in total.

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JJB17463rdBombGroup
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Post by JJB17463rdBombGroup »

Sam there is a thread about my dad here.
http://shockwaveproductions.com/forum/v ... php?t=7389

His missions can be found at the 463rd B.G. Historical Society's website.
And some pictures can be found there too especially of the B-17's he piloted.I just sent in 250 megabytes of scanned pictures and a short video clip of my dad for the planned 3rd Pictoral History of the 463rd CD.There is a lot of detail on those missions in the 772nd Squadron The Men The Memories book but I can't repeat them here.The new WOP II B-17 on the front of Shockwave's website is a B-17 in the 463rd B.G. 774th B.S.
My dad Copiloted a B-17 during transition to Pilot that looked very similar to "JOKER" but it was called Miss Fury.His favorite B-17 was "Lassie and her Lads".

Here is the 463rd's website.
http://www.463rd.org
Here is my dad's crew.
http://www.463rd.org/crewsHtoK/jarmon.htm
Here are some of the B-17's of the 463rd.A few of them can be matched from the Pilot's log as the ones my dad piloted.
http://www.463rd.org/bombers/index.htm
He was lucky to finish 35 sorties(50 missions).I think only about 1 in 3 463rd crew members completed their tours of duty without being shot down.

I agree they were the glue that held our society together.
I feel lost without him but at least my mom is still alive.
She riveted the dorsel fins on B-17's in a Tacoma WA subcontractor plant and for a while worked on B-29's.

Thankfully AC or A/C on the Shockwave forums is still with us.
Yes we would like to see more pictures and stories.That's great.
Son of a U.S.A.A.F. 15th Air Force 463rd bomb group 772nd squadron B17 pilot.
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sambt
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Post by sambt »

Thanks for those links. I will enjoy browsing them.

Below is a photo of Lt. Bevers and his soon to be bride, Vera Mae. We were discussing in above post the WW2 generation and the impact they have had on our society. This young woman at her age apparently had a great sense of responsibility as well. She took it upon herself to support her husband while he was away at war. Bevers was an aircraft CO and responsible for the members of his crew. Vera Mae wrote letters to the families of crew members. It was her way of doing something on the home front. I am sure she was active in other war time duties as well.

She wrote several letters to the Collier family. On one of the first crew pictures she took the time to write all the names and where they were from on the photo and sent them out to family members. I have a copy of one of the crew shots with all the names written in her beautiful handwriting. When Bevers received his new B17 after losing "Dear Mom" his crew wanted Bevers to name the new plane "Vera Mae".

Remember the next time you see an old grey haired granny. She was also a part of the "Greatest Generation", and probably built B17's.

Sam


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sambt
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Post by sambt »

Here is a picture of Lee Bevers in his cadet uniform. Lee said that he enlisted instead of waiting to be drafted. He thought that he would have a better chance in choosing where he wanted to go. He was thinking about being an aircraft mechanic and when the cadet program became available he applied and was accepted for flight training.

At the 96 BG reunion Lee said that if he had it to do over again he probably would not choose to Fly. The stress of flying B17's in combat and the horrors of that type warfare was hard to endure for long periods of time. Flying 25 missions and going home was the goal of most airmen.

When I post a story by the co-pilot Willis Jones, he also has a few things to say about it as well. The next post I think you may be interested in seeing the diplomas awarded to those finishing the B17 Airplane Mechanics School.

Sam

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sambt
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Post by sambt »

This picture of Collier was taken in war time Baltimore Maryland before entering service. Becoming an aircraft mechanic was a popular choice for many sevicemen that had an interest in airplanes. Lee Bevers gave this choice some thought before choosing flight training. I believe also that Chuck Yeager was a graduate of A/C mechanic School . I thought you may have an interest in seeing the diplomas issued to graduates.

Sam


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Last edited by sambt on 08 Oct 2007, 23:14, edited 1 time in total.

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