bombs away
Member
Now a jacket that belonged to a B-24 crewmember of the famous 392nd Bomb Group, 576h Bomb Squadron, 8th AF.
The story about finding the identity of the original owner is funny. I just knew his unit and his laundry # K 5029 (Name initial and last four digits of the army serial number)
After some researches and help from a friend, I’ve been able to identify the owner : S /Sgt Eugene KRACKER, ASN 35925029.
Interesting paintings on the right side of the jacket : a B-24 bomber with bombs falling on a strange white and red sun ( ?). I suppose the sun was may be a nazi flag with a swastika in the middle.
May be after the war the owner has recovered this part of the jacket with a long patch (see stiching holes) and brushed the swastika off ?
The jacket has seen action and unfortunately, something has dried in the pocket and changed it fragile as glass.
Eugene KRACKER is still alive, I’ve had a discussion with his nephew. He called him on the phone, Eugene confirmed it was his jacket. The nephew asked him if he was OK to receive a letter from me. He said yes sure, but never answered my letter.
He lives in Massilon, Ohio. May be someone here on the forum knows the place.
Eugene KRACKER is on first row, second from right.
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Now an incredible grouping, there has already been a discussion about it in the forum.
Lt William SNAVELY’s crew arrived in England at the end of May 1944, to the 712th BS, 448th BG, 8th AF as crew #16.
Original picture of the crew :
From left to right :
Standing : Franck PARMER (Micky Navigator), Larry WOLFE (Navigator), Roy MORRIS (Co-pilot), William SNAVELY (pilot), Charles BONNER (bombardier)
Kneeling : Bob GRABOWSKI (gunner), Larry BARHAM (engineer), Fred ALDRICH (radio operator), Marvin HICKS (gunner), Franck LOGUE (gunner).
The crew made its 30 combat between July 1944 to January 1945.
From september 1944 the crew lead the Group to the target as pathfinder. They had to go to another BG airbase to “borrow” a B-24 equiped with the particular “Micky” PFF radar.
They flew to some worst detinations such as Munich, Saarbrucken, Koblenz, Ludswighafen, Cologne, Kassel...
The crew made its tour without too much damages, a few wounds, many holes in the bombers, and for their 3rd mission, a crash landing on a RAF Spitfires’ airfield in Normandy, just built 2 days before.
At the annual Bomb Group reunion in 1994, the whole crew took the same position as in the original picture.
A global view of the grouping :
As you can see, what’s incredible in this grouping is that it concerns 2 airmen from the same crew !
Larry BARHAM was the official artist, he has also sewn the fur collar to Aldrich’s jacket.
I already knew pics of fur collars added to A-2s, but it’s the first one I can have in hands.
Larry BARHAM’s jacket has the 712th BS patch directly painted on the chest.
On the back was a painting close to the one on ALDRICH’s one, but he decided to erase it.
Now Fred ALDRICH’s jacket :
Escape’s kit pictures of Larry BARHAM :
The story about finding the identity of the original owner is funny. I just knew his unit and his laundry # K 5029 (Name initial and last four digits of the army serial number)
After some researches and help from a friend, I’ve been able to identify the owner : S /Sgt Eugene KRACKER, ASN 35925029.
Interesting paintings on the right side of the jacket : a B-24 bomber with bombs falling on a strange white and red sun ( ?). I suppose the sun was may be a nazi flag with a swastika in the middle.
May be after the war the owner has recovered this part of the jacket with a long patch (see stiching holes) and brushed the swastika off ?
The jacket has seen action and unfortunately, something has dried in the pocket and changed it fragile as glass.
Eugene KRACKER is still alive, I’ve had a discussion with his nephew. He called him on the phone, Eugene confirmed it was his jacket. The nephew asked him if he was OK to receive a letter from me. He said yes sure, but never answered my letter.
He lives in Massilon, Ohio. May be someone here on the forum knows the place.
Eugene KRACKER is on first row, second from right.
**************************************************************************************************
Now an incredible grouping, there has already been a discussion about it in the forum.
Lt William SNAVELY’s crew arrived in England at the end of May 1944, to the 712th BS, 448th BG, 8th AF as crew #16.
Original picture of the crew :
From left to right :
Standing : Franck PARMER (Micky Navigator), Larry WOLFE (Navigator), Roy MORRIS (Co-pilot), William SNAVELY (pilot), Charles BONNER (bombardier)
Kneeling : Bob GRABOWSKI (gunner), Larry BARHAM (engineer), Fred ALDRICH (radio operator), Marvin HICKS (gunner), Franck LOGUE (gunner).
The crew made its 30 combat between July 1944 to January 1945.
From september 1944 the crew lead the Group to the target as pathfinder. They had to go to another BG airbase to “borrow” a B-24 equiped with the particular “Micky” PFF radar.
They flew to some worst detinations such as Munich, Saarbrucken, Koblenz, Ludswighafen, Cologne, Kassel...
The crew made its tour without too much damages, a few wounds, many holes in the bombers, and for their 3rd mission, a crash landing on a RAF Spitfires’ airfield in Normandy, just built 2 days before.
At the annual Bomb Group reunion in 1994, the whole crew took the same position as in the original picture.
A global view of the grouping :
As you can see, what’s incredible in this grouping is that it concerns 2 airmen from the same crew !
Larry BARHAM was the official artist, he has also sewn the fur collar to Aldrich’s jacket.
I already knew pics of fur collars added to A-2s, but it’s the first one I can have in hands.
Larry BARHAM’s jacket has the 712th BS patch directly painted on the chest.
On the back was a painting close to the one on ALDRICH’s one, but he decided to erase it.
Now Fred ALDRICH’s jacket :
Escape’s kit pictures of Larry BARHAM :
