709th BS

[shedonwanna]

Here is a vintage 709th BS on a nicely grained panel. This one is part of the Hill AF Museum collection in Ogden, Utah. I thought everyone would like to see the jacket as well as the patch.

 

[TankBuster]

I love that patch. Here is one from my collection. It was from a Navigator with the 709th. The picture of him wearing the jacket was taken after crash landing in England. They had a rough mission to Berlin, and were shot up pretty bad. He was the only crew member that was injured. His injury was minor, although he missed a few missions and had to finish his tour with another crew. He also was a member of the Caterpillar Club after bailing out of his plane over France after another bad mission to Berlin. He joked that he was glad those were the only 2 missions to Berlin that he had to fly. He thought the third one would get him! I got to know Carl very well since he only lived about 3 hours away. Parkinsons disease set in, and he passed away not too long ago. A real hero!

 

[Mac]

That's a great patch (both of them) and a grand jacket.

Jeff, what contract is that jacket?

Thanks for showing it.

Mac

 

[dujardin]

many thanks Jeff,
great jacket, splendid artwork, one more photo in my file ''painted jacket''.
byeeeeeeeeeeeee marcel

 

[bombs away]

Jeff...

I had never seen the back of this jacket, and the story of this hero... wow !
Thanks for sharing !

Tim.

 

[TankBuster]

Mac, it's a un named contract. The W535-AC-27753

Tim, Many thanks!

Here is a link to the page on the 447th BG site that gives some info on the crew. The crew photo was supplied
by McCuen for the site. I now have the original.

http://www.447bg.com/McKay%20Fleming%20Crew.htm

 

[greyhound52]

I really like that patch as well. The jackets are just great thanks for sharing.

 

[TankBuster]

Thanks Marcel and George. This jacket may not have the best artwork in the
world, but it has a personal connection with me since I got to know the vet
so well.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jeff you say his last 2 missions were with a different crew ,did his original crew complete their final missions successfully ?.


All the best jeff

 

[TankBuster]

Hello Jeff,
Yes, the other crew did finish their tour successfully. He just missed a couple missions due to his leg injury. He flew all his missions except the last 2 or 3 with his original crew since they had completed their 30 missions.

 

[Andrew]

I love that patch as well.

Jeff, you're lucky to have known him. I have a few WWII Pilots mates as well and I am well aware that they are getting on.

This has reminded me to touch base with them all next week.

 

[TankBuster]

Andrew,
You're quite right. It was a real pleasure to get to know him. We met in person
once, and spoke on the phone roughly a dozen times. He never had any children.
His wife wrote me a letter about his passing. We hadn't spoke for over a year,
but she wrote that he really enjoyed our conversations. I wish I would have
checked in with him more towards the end, but his mind was almost completely
gone the last time we had talked. I knew Carl for over 5 years. He was a real
great guy with some fantastic stories.
He was the one who told me about new crews trying to make their A-2 jackets
look combat worn to fit in with the vet crews! :lol:
He even had to laugh about it when he told me!