Don, I again reference the AAF Casualty Report.
The pilot was 2/Lt Floyd Schwab, engineer was T/Sgt
Billy D. Gross and tail gunner was S/Sgt Melvin Siegel.
All were POW's sent to a hospital at Rennes with
severe burns. Don't know whether they made it or not.
None are listed in the Sept. 1, 1999 487th Bomb Group
Association roster of active members. <br><br>Bob or Lee, do
you have any additional info on this crew?

Jerry,<br><br>Thank you. I am starting to piece
together information like that you provided. Do you know
of any way to identify the survivors of my uncle's
crew, i.e., the pilot, engineer, TG? I have determined
the names of the crew members who lost their lives
from the 487 "Taps" memorial page. Tonight I saw the
info on the 487 and printed out an application. Thanks
again for responding.

Hi! My name is Jerry Ogle, my father was a member
of the 487th also. According to the AAF Casualty
Report, the B-24 (42-52624) received a direct flak hit,
went into a steep dive and exploded within one minute.
Only three of the crew survived (pilot, engineer &
TG). As for more information, there is a 487th BG page
at www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1393/; a 487th
Bomb Group Association (for the vererans) and a 487th
BG Auxiliary (for all that are interested in
maintaining the history of the 487th).

Here is some further detail on the
reunion...<br><br>487th Bomb Group Association Reunion!!<br><br>August 30
– September 3, 2000<br>~~ Washington DC
~~<br><br>To be held at the Raddison Hotel in Historic
Alexandria, VA Hotel<br>Rates are $89 per night, single or
double occupancy, plus tax. Registration<br>Will be $96
per person and include the following:<br><br>~
Welcoming Package<br>~ Welcoming Reception w/ food, beer,
wine<br>& non alcoholic beverages<br>~ Saturday Night
Dinner/Banquet<br>~ Saturday Night Dance<br>~ Hospitality Room with
snacks, beverage & cocktails<br>~ 2 Morning Coffee and
donuts service<br>~ All associated taxes and
gratuities<br><br>Optional Activities will include:<br><br>~ Ladies
Luncheon<br>~ DC Night Illumination Tour<br>~ Air and Space
Museum Tour<br>~ Mt. Vernon, Alexandria & Arlington
Cemetary Tour<br>(incl. Wreath laying at 487th Memorial
&<br>Tomb of the Unknown Soldier)<br><br>Registration is
due by August 1, 2000. Group airfare is available by
calling Kennewick Travel at (800)323-8728. This is
guaranteed to be the lowest available airfare! The hotel
will be providing complimentary transportation to and
from the hotel as well as parking.<br><br>Come join us
as we share old memories and make new
ones!!!<br><br>For more information:<br>Contact Barney or Sunny
Nolan<br>Email: BTNolan@...

My name is Don Olsen and I am researching the
death of my uncle who lost his life on a mission from
Lavenham on June 7, 1944. His name was August M Olsen Jr.
I am just beginning my search and discovered this
club. I am very interested in getting more information.
Any guidance anyone can give me on how and where to
learn more about the 487 and what my Uncle's life as a
Radio Operator on a B-24 would have been like would be
appreciated. Thanks.

Being the son of a 487th member(Bill
Skoglund),this is a great place to get and give information. Jan
1,00 Stanford vs. Wisconsin. Watch Stanfords #79 left
tackle Jeff Croshagen (my nephew). Just would like
everyone to know and root for Stanford!! I can't wait for
the info on the 487th's get-to-gether this summer.

The reunion dates are now set. From August 30 to
September 3, 2000, the 487th Bomb Group and friends will
meet in the Washington, D.C. area. Accomodations are
in Alexandria, VA.<br><br>More details later, here
and in newsletters.

Hi,<br>Fred Peck,Col, USAF, Ret'd, ex-487th
pilot, died on 11/18/99. He was one of my very best
friends. A Celebration of Fred's life will be held on
12/17. I want to discuss his military career. If anyone
can recall any info about Fred while he was serving
with the 487th BG, I'd certainly appreciate receiving
it. I'm interested in learning about missions he
flew/commanded, or anything else. Thanks. Roger Williams, Haleiwa
HI email: dotrog@...

And a special Thank You to all the veterans of the 487th Bomb Group
(H)!!<br><br>Lee

Dear Mr. Hauenstein,<br><br>Thank you for your
reply. I found the plane name "Dreamboat" in the book
B-24 nose art name directory by Wallace R. Forman.
That is where I obtained the aircraft number. This
book showed this as the only plane of that name
attached to the 487th. This book could very well be
incorrect.<br><br>Thank you again for all your efforts. Your help is much
appreciated.<br><br>Dave

There is a fellow, Joe Baugher, who has collected
a VAST list of military aircraft based on their
serial numbers. If you're interested it might be worth a
look. I'll add it the the 'links'. His web page
is:<br><br><a href=http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/
target=new>http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/</a>

I'm afraid I can't add more on Mr. Mason than I
indicated in my first note.<br><br>The plane Dreamboat I
have listed as #41-29535, while you indicate it is
#42-52657. I do see both aircraft numbers as part of the
original deployment to Lavenham. Perhaps my previous
information that tied the name 'Dreamboat' to #41-29535 was
incorrect. I find frequent conflicts like this when
collecting research.<br><br>Perhaps someone else will have
more information.<br><br>Lee Hauenstein (487th
Auxiliary)

Dear Mr. Hauenstein,<br><br>Thank you for your
reply. Richard O. Mason flew in a plane named "Dream
Boat" (plane #42-52657) which was a B-24. I would
appreciate any information you might have of his service,
rank, position in the plane or mission
records.<br><br>Thank you again for the information.<br><br>David
Kratovil<br>P.O. Box 14091 <br>Cleveland, OH
44114-0091<br>Bremen4@...

Check out my new and improved web site dedicated
to the 487th. It is
<a href=http://members.aol.com/lhauenstn/487th/487th.htm
target=new>http://members.aol.com/lhauenstn/487th/487th.htm</a> I am adding it
to the ‘links’ section you can see
on the left of the screen.<br><br>As many of you
know I have been attempting to collect the names and
other information about all who served in the 487th
Bomb Group (H). (A daunting task!) As I collect this
information I've been placing it in a computerized database.
Until now I've been the only one who can see this
information, because it's here on my computer.<br><br>This is
starting to change. I've taken some information from the
lists of 487th crew and aircraft and made it available
on the 'Web'. That’s where that address at the
beginning of this message comes in. Right now I attempt to
show, for every 487th crewman, their name, rank, crew
position, squadron, and aircraft. For aircraft I list the
planes name, type, number, squadron, and
notes.<br><br>You’ll notice that much of the information is pretty
sparse. Here's where I need your help. Take a look in
these lists for the people and aircraft you know. Where
you see incorrect information, please send me
corrections. Where you see omissions, let me know that
also.<br><br>I hope this is only a start, and with your help I
can collect much more complete information. Once I'm
able I'd very much like to show more and different
kinds of information and perhaps get to the point of
allowing you folks to directly correct and add
information.<br><br>Anyway, take a look, let me know what you think. Go
ahead, I can take it!!<br><br>Lee Hauenstein

This is my first time on the 487th Bomb Group
page. I was assigned to the 487th from early 1945 until
Germany surrendered. Our plane was nicknamed "Patches"
because of so many patches from flack. Our pilot was
Arthur Strauss. Good to be here and maybe I can remember
some things to share.

My information on that aircraft, 43-37987, show's
it being piloted by Dick Althouse and the MACR
(Missing AirCraft Report) # 13883, shows it shot down on
10-Apr-45. There is no Richard O. Mason listed on that
crew.<br><br>Is it possible Mason was part of an earlier crew,
before the Althouse crew? Althouse and this aircraft are
listed as part of the 839th squadron, so that part ties
with your information.<br><br>There was, as part of
the original deployment from Alamagordo to Lavenham,
a gunner, S/Sgt Richard O. Mason from Buffalo, NY.
I assume this would be the man you seek. Given he
was with the original deployment, originally flying
B-24's it would make sense he might not have still been
with the 487th on 10-Apr-45.<br><br>I hope some of
this helps.<br><br>Lee Hauenstein<br>487th Auxiliary

I am looking for information on Richard O. Mason
who served in the 487 BG, 839BS aboard the plane
"Mean Widdle Kid"; plane number 43-37987.<br><br>If
anyone knows about him or the plane in which he flew or
his crew mates, I would deeply appreciate any
information.<br><br>Thank You.

I have one of the books that I found at
Q.M.Danbey & Co.,Inc. in April, 1998. It was rather
expensive though. Did a quick check on the net but found
none listed. It is a valuable part of the 487th, but a
lot of the original members' names are missing from
the book.

Sounds like you are looking for several of your
crewmates, if I read your comment correctly. Can you send me
an email at lhauenstn@... with the names of
those you're looking for, and I'll see what I have in
my 'database' and in the 1999 roster.<br><br>Your
comment is cut off on the machine I'm using right now.
All I see is R.K. Hoddinott. I do have his
name/address, but would rather send it to you in
email.<br><br>Lee Hauenstein<br><br>P.S. In exchange, would you do
this for me? In the email let me know the names of all
those in your crew, their crew positions and the plane
you flew. Thanks!

The 'Blue Book' I have was my Dad's. My
understanding is they are quite hard to find, but I believe
some folks have located them. I will make inquiries
via email.<br><br>Can anyone else out there help with
this?<br><br>Lee Hauenstein

Is there anywhere I could find a copy of this Blue Book?

In the 'Blue Book' (a 'yearbook' sort of book
about the 487th) there is listed a Chester M Ryan with
a WWII address of General Delivery, Maude, OK. I
suspect that's him.<br><br>I didn't have information on
his rank or squadron, so thanks for supplying
that.<br><br>Lee Hauenstein (487th Auxiliary)

My uncle was Chester M. Ryan, I believe he was a
tech sargeant in the 487th Bomb Group, 836th. Does
anyone have info on him? He died of pancreatic cancer in
1971. Would appreciate any memories.<br>Shirley Orr

Here are some actual maintenance complaints
submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the
maintenance crews. "Squawks" are problem listings that pilots
generally leave for maintenance crews to fix before next
flight.<br><br> (P)=PROBLEM (S)=SOLUTION<br><br> (P) Left inside
main tire almost needs replacement<br> (S) Almost
replaced left inside main tire<br><br> (P) Test flight OK,
except autoland very rough<br> (S) Autoland not
installed on this aircraft<br><br> (P) #2 Propeller seeping
prop fluid,<br> (S) #2 Propeller seepage normal - #1
#3 and #4 propellers lack normal seepage<br><br> (P)
Something loose in cockpit<br> (S) Something tightened in
cockpit<br><br> (P) Evidence of leak on right main landing
gear<br> (S) Evidence removed<br><br> (P) DME volume
unbelievably loud<br> (S) Volume set to more believable
level<br><br> (P) Dead bugs on windshield<br> (S) Live bugs on
order<br><br> (P) Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a
200 fpm descent<br> (S) Cannot reproduce problem on
ground<br><br> (P) IFF inoperative<br> (S) IFF always
inoperative in OFF mode<br><br> (P) Friction locks cause
throttle levers to stick<br> (S) That's what they're there
for<br><br> (P) Number three engine missing<br> (S) Engine
found on right wing after brief search<br><br> (P)
Aircraft handles funny<br> (S) Aircraft warned to
straighten up, "fly right" and be serious<br><br> (P) Target
Radar hums<br> (S) Reprogrammed Target Radar with the
words

Greetings,<br><br>I was put up for adoption at
birth, and several<br>years later set out to find out a
little something about my birth parents, mostly to
determine<br>some background on health and geneology as my
wife<br>and I thought about having children. After many years
of searching, I found my birth<br>mother, Ruth
Wilband (maiden name). She informed me that my father was
"Harter B. Hull" and that he was in the Army Air Force
prior to their<br>meeting. He had died in 1975, and I
have very little information about him - however, she
did give me a ring of his (airborne of some
sort,<br>gold and silver, with a prop/wings on the
face).<br>What I am looking for now, is some history about
someone who may have knew him, information on his record
of service, etc. and also anything about<br>the ring
I now wear proudly.<br>Through several Web
searches, I contacted Maurice<br>Rowe, which led me to Lee
Hauenstein, who had confirmed for me that he flew in the
487th out<br>of Lavenham England...thanks again for
this Lee.<br><br> The stats I do know about him are
:<br>Harter B. Hull : born 9 Apr 1924, died Jan 1975,<br>SSN
478-34-3504 Iowa.<br>I have a picture of him as well as a
newsclipping and picture of the ring which I can also send
later if this could help. <br><br>Ideally, I would love
to be put in contact with<br>someone who knew him ,
and could share a little history with me. The
newsclip I have says he<br>was awarded the fifth oak leaf
cluster to the air<br>medal in england<br>flying on a
Flying Fortress...this along with the<br>ring I know
little<br>about is all I currently have - would
greatly<br>appreciate any assistance.<br><br>best
regards<br>mike<br><br>email : B17@...<br>phone : 613-797-3476 or 613
596 0677

HOPE YOU ENJOY MY PHOTOS OF THE 487THBG BASE AT
LAVENHAM. IF YOU ARE COMING OVER TO THE U.K. PLEASE CONTACT
ME. I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HELP IN ANY WAY I CAN.
EMAIL TO STEPHEN WELCH ON UK.AIRFIELDS@...

A link to the 487th Web page has been added to
the 'front page' of this discussion group. Although
it is listed as 'Founders Personal Home Page' it is
not my home page.<br><br>Full credit for the creation
of this excellent tribute to the 487th goes to Tim
Erskine.<br><br>Tim, if you'd like I'll make you a 'Founder' of this
discussion group, then the reference would be technically
correct, right? If you prefer not to have that 'honor'
I'll understand.<br><br>Lee Hauenstein (487th
Auxiliary)

...setting up the News Page to include all the
aviation-related stories, a news clipper search for "WWII" and
weather for London, Savannah and if possible, Ipswich or
Norwich (close enough to Lavenham).<br><br>Tim

I've been running a Yahoo Club for trauma
registrars since June but *this* never occured to
me!<br><br>I'll put a link on the front page of the web
site.<br><br>By the way, setting up the Club is the hard
part...and it's not really that hard.<br><br>Take
care!<br><br>Tim "traumastats" Erskine

Welcome, This is the Yahoo! Message Board for WWII 487th Bomb Group community.