758th Bomb Squadron Grouping

[TankBuster]

I thought I would put this one here due to the patch and painting shots.
I got this grouping last fall direct from the family. I thought this would be
a great one to share on Memorial Day. It's going to be a rather long post,
so please bear with me.

This grouping is from S/Sgt Robert Klossner. He was a Top Turret Gunner
on B-24's with the 758th BS, 459th BG, 15th AAF. He completed a tour of
35 missions. His 1st was flown March 2nd 1944 to Italian beach heads, his
last was flown June 25th 1944 to Avigno Marshaling Yards in France.
He flew missions in Italy, Austria, France, Germany, and Romania including
3 to Polesti.
The name of his B-24 was "Helzapopin". He desigend the
noseart for the ship. That one was lost while on a mission with another crew,
they finished their tour on a B-24 named "Rubber Check"

The Grouping consists of his A-2 jacket (Aero), Gunners Gloves, Dogtags, Wartime
Photos, Newsclippings, his Silk Scarf, a 15th AAF Valor Certificate, his named
Medals, and best of all, his Wartime Diary which details every mission.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do

His A-2 Jacket, Dogtags, and Gunners Gloves

His Dogtags

His Gunners Gloves

15th AAF Valor Certificate, and his Medals

Photo of his Noseart he designed, and crew. "Helzapopin"

Strike photo. Austria

Photo of him next to his 2nd plane "Rubber Check" and some news clippings.

His Silk Scarf, more news clippings, and a wartime photo of him wearing this
jacket with patches, and paint in tact.

His Wartime Diary, which I'll come back to.....

Photo, Followed by jacket

Closeup shots of A-2, Patches, Paint

 

[TankBuster]

I picked 3 missions of interest from his Diary. The following are in his own words...

Mission 9
Date- April 2nd 1944
Ship- "Helzapopin"
Load- 10- 500lb demolition bombs
Altitude- 23,000 Ft
Time-0730
Temp- 30F
Pilot- Womack
Co Pilot- Kroll
Nav- Douk
Bomb- Golba
Eng- Perry
Top Gunner/Asst Eng- Klossner
Gunner- Knopp
Radio- Stephenson
Waist- Davis
Waist- Smith

Details: We encountered medium to heavy flak before and after the target.
We were intercepted by FW-190's, ME-109's, ME-110's, 210's, and JU-88's
over the target area. There was no damge to the ship. I downed my first
plane that was confirmed, a ME-210. We arrived home on time with the rest
of the formation.
****Of interest he had the crew members sign where he wrote about the 210.
***************************************************************
Mission 25
Date- May 31st 1944
Target- Polesti Oil Refineries Romania
Ship- "Hogans Hellcats"
Load- 10 500lb demolition bombs
Time-0615
Temp-16F
Altitude- 20,400ft
Crew-
Pilot- Womack
Co Pilot- Kroll
Nav- Douk
Bomb- Golba
Eng- Perry
Top Gunner/Asst Eng- Klossner
Gunner- Knopp
Radio- Stephenson
Waist- Davis
Waist- Smith
Details:
We encountered intense and accurate flak at the target. We had 6 holes ripped
thru our ship by flak, and 4 bullet holes in the stabilizer. We had to feather our
number 3 engine due to a shot out oil line. We encountered roughly 5 ME-109's.
Thankfully none of us were hurt, and we returned safely home after straggeling
behind our formation most of the way home. The mission was deemed a great
success. This was quite the day!
******************************************************************

Mission 32
Target- Munich Germany
Ship- "Rubber Check"
Load- 6 1000lb demolition bombs
Time- 0600
Temp- 20F
Altitude- 23,200
Crew-
Pilot- Womack
Co Pilot- Kroll
Nav- Douk
Bomb- Golba
Eng- Perry
Top Gunner/Asst Eng- Klossner
Gunner- Knopp
Radio- Stephenson
Waist- Davis
Waist- Smith
Details:
We encountered heavy accurate flak at the target. We also encountered at least
30 ME-109's. They were swarming us in waves with pure determination. Steve, our
radio man, was hit by a piece of flak in the neck. He died in a matter of minutes.
We returned home without our formation, and with heavy battle damage. We counted
over 10 large holes in our ship once we landed. This will be a day I will never forget!

****Of note: Steve Stephenson, the ships Radio Man, was only 3 missions away
from completing his tour with the rest of the crew.

*****These are the guys that need to be remembered this weekend.
Thanks to all veterans on this forum and everywhere for their service to our country.

 

[Mac]

Jeff,

Thanks for taking the time to post those great photos and history on this Memorial Day. Thank you, S/Sgt Robert Klossner, for your service.

Mac

PS Is the Aero a 15142-P?

 

[lazar]

Thanks for this marvelous grouping! The entity including the personal effects with the diary makes this part of history alive!

Mathias

 

[dujardin]

thanks for sharing this with us,
splendiddddddddddddddddd

byeeeeeeeee marcel

 

[better duck]

Jeff,
This is absolutely perfect. Really, really great. You're not planning of splitting this marvelous collection up, are you? this stuff belongs together!
Thanks for posting this!

 

[TankBuster]

Thanks Guys
Peter, it will definitely be staying together. I only buy originals if they have the extras. The
history is a big part of the interest for me.

 

[Stony]

You state that he flew 35 missions, but there are 50 bombs on the jacket. Did I miss something or are there additional missions?

Thank you
Stony

 

[TankBuster]

Hey Stony,
Good question. I forgot to clarify that he flew 35 actual missions, but
received double credit for some, thus the 50. I assumed that the missions
that he received double credit for were because some of the missions
were further, and they spent more time in the air.
Some of the missions in the diary are circled twice indicating double credit.
If you look at his 15th AAF Valor Certificate, it also indicates 50 missions.
I've seen this with other 15th groupings, so I guess it was unique to them?
Jeff

 

[greyhound52]

Great stuff thanks for sharing Wow

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jeff outstanding collection its all nice your lucky to have it .Some vets do not keep their stuff they just want rid of it and the memories of the war .This guy was obviously proud of his service and kept it as a reminder of his service to his country .



All the best Jeff .

 

[Stony]

Hey Stony,
Good question. I forgot to clarify that he flew 35 actual missions, but
received double credit for some, thus the 50. I assumed that the missions
that he received double credit for were because some of the missions
were further, and they spent more time in the air.
Some of the missions in the diary are circled twice indicating double credit.
If you look at his 15th AAF Valor Certificate, it also indicates 50 missions.
I've seen this with other 15th groupings, so I guess it was unique to them?
Jeff

Thanks for the info Jeff.

 

[TankBuster]

Thanks guys. No problem Stony

 

[Anonymous]

Jeff the quality of the patches on this jacket are superb ,the 15th af shoulder roundel has what looks like staple marks around the o/d maybe these were used to hold the patch in place while it was incised with the detail outline.I bet Roberto would like to see this patch set as the 15th patch wings are a little different from the standard design .The overall condition of the jacket is excellent probably the same condition as it left service .Jeff how many jackets do you have now and is this one ranked as one of the best in your collection .Thanks for sharing it with us here at the VLJ .How was your trip to the R Bong museum ?.


All the best Jeff .

 

[TankBuster]

Hey Jeff,
Thanks for the interest. Honestly, I never even noticed those marks on the 15th patch.
I'll have to look closer once I get home to see if they are holes, or flaking paint.

As far as the collection, I've got 14 groupings similar to this one, and 5 plain wearers like the
Sz44 Poughkeepsie I posted last week, along with some WW2 cloth jackets, also posted.
I like all my (collection) jackets to have extras like this one, and all but a couple have wartime
pics of the same jacket being worn with the patches and or paint on the jacket. When I started
collecting, that was a must for me. I needed the peace of mind knowing that nothing was
messed with. It is way too easy these days to fake up paintings and patches.
I also like having the history behind each guy. It's what really keeps me interested in this
hobby. No 2 guys jackets and stories are the same. Now, all these years later, I still collect
the same way as when I started. The sad thing is finding them with everything I'm after is
getting further, and further between. But, it's worth it in my mind to be extra picky.
Honestly, I think I'm in the tail end of my collecting. For the last 3-4 years its just been upgrading,
if I can. The tough part is letting ones I have go to buy something new. Some groupings I've had
so long, they are like a part of the family :lol:

As far as the Bong museum, it was pretty cool. Not alot of items, but a couple A-2 jackets,
some of Bongs personal items, and some neat flight gear displays along with the P-38
painted up like bongs plane. I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

 

[rob75IT]

Jeff the quality of the patches on this jacket are superb ,the 15th af shoulder roundel has what looks like staple marks around the o/d maybe these were used to hold the patch in place while it was incised with the detail outline.I bet Roberto would like to see this patch set as the 15th patch wings are a little different from the standard design .The overall condition of the jacket is excellent probably the same condition as it left service .Jeff how many jackets do you have now and is this one ranked as one of the best in your collection .Thanks for sharing it with us here at the VLJ .How was your trip to the R Bong museum ?.


All the best Jeff .

Hi Guys
If I remind well Jeff has one 15th patch like that also on one of his 95th FS jackets.

REALLY NICE GROUPING Jeff. My compliments for this nice addition to your collection.

 

[TankBuster]

Hello Roberto,
Good to hear from you. You are correct. The one 95th FS jacket
has a similar style 15th patch known as the late war version.
Thanks for the compliments.
I seem to be drawn to the 15th AAF stuff for some reason.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Roberto,
Good to hear from you. You are correct. The one 95th FS jacket
has a similar style 15th patch known as the late war version.
Thanks for the compliments.
I seem to be drawn to the 15th AAF stuff for some reason.

And why not! a whole diiferent type of folk art styles not seen on other theaters .Jeff I am to drawn to this 15th airforce style even though I cannot do it .What was the verdict in the holes in the 15th airforce roundel Jeff .


Best regards Jeff W

 

[TankBuster]

Hey Jeff,
They are staple or pin holes. They are hard to see in person.
I'm still suprised I never noticed them before.
Maybe Roberto would know a possible reason why they are there?

You're right, the tooled patches have always caught my eye as well.

 

[rob75IT]

Hi Jeff
Really long time. I have been really busy lately, no much time to stay on the net.
I have no clear idea about the reason of that pin holes. Maybe the patch has been sewed by hands to the jacket at the beginning. Maybe the initial idea of was to remove that patch in a few second in case of need.
Rob Hoskins (Rudie) here on the forum once wrote that the base commander suggested to his father to have the jacket as simple has he could. In case of bailing out on enemy land would have been good to look as much as possible like civilian. His father just had the name tag and metal rank on the jacket. In case of landing he could easily take them off.