bombs away
Member
Hello,
I'm facing a real mystery I'd like to share with you guys.
I've recently bought a complete grouping of the adjutant of the 514th FS, 406th FG.
In this grouping were 2 diaries. They belonged to 2 KIA pilots from this unit.
First one belonged to Lt Edward R. Gaudet, MIA on june 29th 1944 over Normandy
Second one belonged to Lt Arnold M. Benson, MIA on june 17th 1944 over Normandy too.
Both men were then from the same unit and had been shot down over Normandy in june 1944, they were lately declared KIA.
Finding these diaries in the adjutant grouping is not a mystery as I guess he was the one who had to send personal items to the families.
Here is now the mystery...
Both diaries are exactly constituted the same way : after around 30 blank pages the narrative starts, one written with a pencil (Lt Benson), the other one with an ink pen. The text is strictly the same, any point or comma is at the same place !
Here is the first page, the easiest to compare :
Lt Benson :
Lt Gaudet :
I'm not graphologist, but comparing both writings of the names on covers to the text in itself, I think each pilot has really written the text in his diary. Your opinion ?
The text starts on june 5th 1944, at the briefing made for the D-Day.
It stops a few days later (14 pages for Lt Gaudet, 33 for Lt Benson). They talk about D-Day's missions and the disappointment of not meeting any luftwaffe's fighter. Then it talks about combat time with a wingman named Eddie.
Lt Benson's diary goes further than Gaudet's one (near to double). Unfortunately it's not possible to clearly date the inputs. It's just "monday", "thursday"... with blanks when nothing important seemed to happen.
In the last part of Lt Benson's diary (later than the end of Lt Gaudet's one) I've finally found a date ! There is a pencil drawing made after the meeting of the first V-1 rocket Lt Benson has seen. The drawing is dated september 15th 1944 ! (Lt Benson is KIA on june 17th)
Now you got all the facts.
Here are my questions :
- are the writings of the text in themselves in each diary the writings of the official owners ? I guess yes, but can hear the contrary.
- why are the texts strictly identical ?
- why near 30 blank pages before the begining of the narrative, in both diaries ?
- what could explain that Lt Benson's diary goes further than Lt Gaudet's one while he has been killed in action first ?
- What could explain the september's drawing in Lt Benson's diary why he has been KIA in june ?
As you can see, this situation is a complete mystery to me...
I hope I've been clear enough but feel free to ask if not
Any opinion is welcomed !
Cheers,
Tim
I'm facing a real mystery I'd like to share with you guys.
I've recently bought a complete grouping of the adjutant of the 514th FS, 406th FG.
In this grouping were 2 diaries. They belonged to 2 KIA pilots from this unit.
First one belonged to Lt Edward R. Gaudet, MIA on june 29th 1944 over Normandy
Second one belonged to Lt Arnold M. Benson, MIA on june 17th 1944 over Normandy too.
Both men were then from the same unit and had been shot down over Normandy in june 1944, they were lately declared KIA.
Finding these diaries in the adjutant grouping is not a mystery as I guess he was the one who had to send personal items to the families.
Here is now the mystery...
Both diaries are exactly constituted the same way : after around 30 blank pages the narrative starts, one written with a pencil (Lt Benson), the other one with an ink pen. The text is strictly the same, any point or comma is at the same place !
Here is the first page, the easiest to compare :
Lt Benson :
Lt Gaudet :
I'm not graphologist, but comparing both writings of the names on covers to the text in itself, I think each pilot has really written the text in his diary. Your opinion ?
The text starts on june 5th 1944, at the briefing made for the D-Day.
It stops a few days later (14 pages for Lt Gaudet, 33 for Lt Benson). They talk about D-Day's missions and the disappointment of not meeting any luftwaffe's fighter. Then it talks about combat time with a wingman named Eddie.
Lt Benson's diary goes further than Gaudet's one (near to double). Unfortunately it's not possible to clearly date the inputs. It's just "monday", "thursday"... with blanks when nothing important seemed to happen.
In the last part of Lt Benson's diary (later than the end of Lt Gaudet's one) I've finally found a date ! There is a pencil drawing made after the meeting of the first V-1 rocket Lt Benson has seen. The drawing is dated september 15th 1944 ! (Lt Benson is KIA on june 17th)
Now you got all the facts.
Here are my questions :
- are the writings of the text in themselves in each diary the writings of the official owners ? I guess yes, but can hear the contrary.
- why are the texts strictly identical ?
- why near 30 blank pages before the begining of the narrative, in both diaries ?
- what could explain that Lt Benson's diary goes further than Lt Gaudet's one while he has been killed in action first ?
- What could explain the september's drawing in Lt Benson's diary why he has been KIA in june ?
As you can see, this situation is a complete mystery to me...
I hope I've been clear enough but feel free to ask if not
Any opinion is welcomed !
Cheers,
Tim