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The President's Message

It ha been a cold and snowy winter and I look forward to our Spring Fling as a signal that summer is on the way! The Fling is scheduled for May 15 at the Woburn Lodge of Elks. Hope you can join us.

Our Fall Fling was a great success for two reasons. Attendance was good and the food was excellent. All credit is due Mary and Jack Gigante of the Elks Lodge for cooking and serving a terrific meal. And we are not forgetting their beautiful daughter who not only helps with the service but always has a merry smile for the old vets.

Our regular meeting at the Elks and our mini-meeting at McDonald's in Norwood were well attended, We extend our thanks to the patient and patriotic folks at Big Mac's . Thanks for all those who attend the meetings as it keeps our group together in fellowship.

We have recruited new members and some of them say they themselves will bring in new members. The Chapter is planning a trip to the New England Air Museum at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn. A sign-up sheet will be available at the May 15 luncheon.

Bill Campbell

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Navigator Finds Us!

The Mass. Chapter of the 8th AFHS welcomes former navigator Walter Kostigen. Walter lives in Westwood, is an accountant and served with the 15th Air Force. He enlisted in October1942 and was activated in January, 1943. He trained as a navigator and did heavy duty on the heavies. Walter did 50 missions on the B-24 Liberator during 1944 and 1945. Some of his missions led him to such difficult targets as Munich, Ploesti, Czechoslovakia and various heavily defended Italian targets. Those who know the history of bombing in Europe recognize that these were tough and dangerous targets. Walter was discharged October 8, 1945. We're glad he made it home and found his way to us.

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FIELD TRIP TO MUSEUM AT BRADLEY FIELD

Date: Thursday, June 19, 2003
(This replaceS regular monthly meeting at the ELKS)

Admission: $15 which will include lunch.

Transportation: Provide your own or make car pool arrangements those car pooling will share expenses with driver

Reservations: Sign up sheets will be available at Spring Luncheon. Those signing up are expected to honor commitment. If you wish to make reservation and are unable to register on signup sheet call Bill Campbell or Carl Wood.

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Does Anyone Remember John Crowley from Rhode Island?

Hi Mr. Brennan: I am trying to find anyone who remembers my dad, His name was John Crowley from Rhode Island as he served as a b-24 tail gunner with the 492. He was shot down 7-7-44 and spent the rest of the war as a POW. Thank you.
from [email protected]

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A Return Salute to the young man from Staples

8THAFHS have two meetings a month, We meet the third Thursday of each month at the Woburn Lodge of Elks at eleven AM. This is our formal meeting and the only one at which necessary business may be conducted according to our rules of order. The second meeting is held the first Tuesday of each month at McDonald's in Norwood. The McStaff could not be more eager to please or to show their appreciation of those who were defending them long before they were born!

We were sitting in McDonald's on a recent Tuesday. A great mannequin of Ronald McDonald seemed to be sitting at the end of the booth taking everything in. There were about ten of us there on this snowy morning and we were laughing and telling stories when we became aware of a young man wearing a "Staples" jacket standing beside our table and looking just a bit shy. He was about the age of some of our grandchildren. We could see a "Staples. The Office Superstore" truck outside the window.

"Excuse me," he began. "They tell me you are World War 2 vets who meet here every month and that many of you flew combat?"

"That's right," we agreed.

"Well, I think it's great that after all these years I think it's great that you vets get together and enjoy each others company,"

We all smiled.

"And what I'd like to do is buy you all coffee as a sort of thank you."

"Aw, you don't have to do that. Your thanks have made our day!" but he had placed some bills on the table, hurried to his truck and was gone.
Staples! Be proud of this young man especially in these times.Find out who he is. You have a fine representative of your company. We'd be happy to have him sit down and have coffee with us some Tuesday morning if you give him the OK! .....Editor

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A Thank You Note from the 466th

To 8thAFHS 2-25-2003

Thank you for your donation of $50 to the 466th BGA Memorial Fund. This fund will provide a proper headstone foundation for Lt. John Murphy who was killed in action over Germany April 21, 1945 while flying on a combat mission with the "Black Cat" crew. Lt. Murphy who is buried at Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Bromwall, Pa. has no next of kin and his grave has no marker, This fund will honor Lt. Murphy with a fitting memorial from his 466th comrades thanks to your generous contribution.
Sincerely,Elmo Maiden ,
Sec-Treas
466B0mb Gp. Assoc. Canoga Park, Ca.

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8th AFHS At Your Service!

Some people think we spend our time loafing in our plush editorial offices and do nothing, Not so! From time to time we are able to help friends and relatives of Eighth Air Force and other vets. Consider this letter that came all the way from England via the Internet.

I am trying to trace my aunt Christine Pearson(nee) Chapman or her children. She was a GI bride who married Melvin Pearson in Cambridge, England during the Second World War. The last area I have for them is Brocton(sic), Massachusetts. I hope this request is in order and I look forward to hearing from someone soon.
Many thanks,
Hilary Hymus

We referred Hilary to people at The Brockton Enterprise newspaper and they knew Melvin Pearson well. Apparently he was a well-known police officer for many years. The connection was made. Hilary sent a nice thank you note.

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Anyone know the family of Robert Tessler?

Hello. Wanted contact to family of Robert Tessler, B-17 Bomberpilot of "Lady Luck2"(Cherokee maid) shot down 1943 near Bremen. POW one gunner KIA. Wanted history Photos of Tessler and his Bomber and crew.The B-17 shot down in our home region. Want to write a book about all British and american flyers who crashed in our Region.

My address
RudyKahns,
Windhomsweg 16,
D27729 Hambergen,
GERMANY

In memory of all victims WW2,american flyers over Europe KIA,Victims 11th September 2001.
Kind regards. Rudy
[email protected]

Editor's note: Do you know that our Vapor Trails is on line and increasingly popular in Great Britain, Germany and France? The above is a sample of the sort of mail we now receieve.

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Book Review

"When I was a Kid This was a Free Country"

This is the title of G.Gordon Liddy's new and provocative book. You don't have to be a devoted follower of G.Gordon to enjoy his thoughts. The former Watergate felon and present day author and talk show host will either raise your hackles, (whatever they are) or make you stand up and cry "Go get 'em , Gordie!"

When I was a boy before WW2 my family was big on fireworks and firecrackers on the Fourth. My mother approved. "You watch." she would say."You see and hear all this anti-fireworks stuff? It's because we have people in this country now who want to nake our nation's birthday just like any other day. They'll take the firecrackers away from you. Then they'll campaign to have all stores open on the 4th. People will be too busy to go to Fourth of July parades if they still have any. Christmas will be next."

We've been reading about two 8th Air Force pilots who at this writing are facing the most serious charges because, believing themselves under fire, they dropped bombs that killed four Canadian servicemen. A simple but tragic error of the sort that is common in the stress of combat. There is no question of not following orders, of deviating from battle plans, It was a sad error.

Our sympathy to our Northern neighbors but let's not sacrifice our own men on the altar of Leftist propaganda.

And here's something else! At a recent Chapter meeting a member stood up and related this sad story. 8th Air Force vets had volunteered to speak to students at some public schools. Their offer was rejected. Why? As soon as word spread that decor-ated WW2 vets,many of them bearing the Purple Heart, were going to speak to students a protest arose. Ignoramuses and disarmament enthusiasts raised their voices. They demanded that these "warmongers" be refused permission to speak. Permission was denied.

At the same time another protest was taking place in another Massachusetts school district. The Boston Globe reported that a man wearing feminine makeup and female clothing had accompanied their fourth graders on a field trip as a chaperone! He was not some nut who had srept in but an approved member of the chaperoning party.

Parents protests about having their children in the care and supervision of what in a more sensible age was rightly called a deviant were treated as though it were the complaining parents who had something seriously wrong with them!

Decorated heroes barred from contact with pupils, Transvestites welcomed to mind your school children! Gordie! Do you have room for another chapter?.....Editor

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Book Review

"Dead Reckoning - Experiences of a World War Two Fighter Pilot"
by Alan K. Abner

"Dead Reckoning" is the autobiography of an Oregon farm boy who became a fighter pilot ace. Our chapter appears to have few members who were fighter pilots. Our concentration seems to be of bomber people and the heavier the better. Yet where would the bombers be without the protection of our "little friends"?

Remember the horrific casualty rates when the fighters did not have the range to provide protection deep inside enemy territory? Many members do.

Author Alan K Abner who flew with the 357th Fighter Group of the 8th was credited with 50 missions . He tells of blazing action over the Bulge, the Battle for Berlin and countless other engagements. He even saw the advent of the jet age when the dread ME262 made its appearance.

Abner say the fighter planes of WW2 had much more in common with the pilots of Spads and Fokkers than they would with the jet pilots of today. Jet jockeys rarely have to fly by the seat of their pants
Rickenbacker and Von Richtofen could sit down and have a fine gab fest over foaming bier with Bong, Gentile and Yeager.They would be all but lost talking to the fighter pilots of today in their elaborate flight suits who speak of flitting at speeds rarely dreamed of in earlier times except in science fiction.
Isn't it amazing that some who never sat in a jet cockpit call others who have flown jet fighters "dumb"! Family wealth and powerful relatives don't help when you are up there alone.

You'll enjoy "Dead Reckoning". The title comes from the practice of finding one's way by visual landmarks. This is not a new book but my Massachusetts library had no trouble getting it for me and yours shouldn't either.

This review is another indication that the doors of the AFHS are always to new members. Come on! Tighten your chin straps and get cleared for take-off! Adventure and God knows what else awaits you over the Rhine. Crewmen on the 17's and 24's are anxious to see you if not quite as anxious as they were in the old days when having you in company might well mean the difference between living and dying. ....editor

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Welcome Ed Trunfio!

Members of the Chapter wish to give Ed Trunfio of Canton, Ma. a real 8th Air Force Historical Society welcome. Ed has three sons, all married. Ed retired from Northeast Airlines some years ago where he served as an aircraft mechanic. He is a veteran of the Korean War and served with the C119 Troop Carrier (cargo). His outfit ferried troops from Japan to Pusan while the 29s were bombing the northern peninsula.

He received his aircraft training at Chanute Field, Illinois and Kelly Field down in Texas where he first saw aircraft engines with 28, count em, 28 cylinders. He is particularly proud of one incident during his air force career. He and his fellow workers were rushed to Kelly Field to de-mothball B-29s that had been sitting idly for more than five years but were now needed to support our troops. It took not much more than three weeks to get the 29s back in action as good as if they had just left the factory.

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The Secretary's Report
Master Chief Gunners' Mate John McKernan USNR (retired)

President Bill Campbell called the meeting to order at 11:07, The Pledge of Allegiance was folowed by a moment of silence for our departed comrades. Eighteen members were in attendance,The Secretary's Report and the Treasurer's Report were presented to the members and filed.

A discussion followed the reading of the Treasurer's Report, Bill recognized Al Audette, John Brennan, Cal Campbell and Carl Wood. The talk centered around the "excess" expenses incurred during the year. It was suggested that a yearly $5.00 fee be charged to those who wish to receive Vapor Trails. (No action was taken, ed.)

Editor Brennan continued to solicit E-Mail addresses and material for Vapor Trails. Bill Campbell is seeking suggestions for future field trips. Trips to the Air Museum/Bradley Field or the Battleship Massachusetts in Fall River were placed on a possibles list, Al Ducey, seconded by Henry Oi,moved that the Chapter contribute the sum of $50 toward the purchase of a grave marker for a fallen airman.(See the Fall issue of Vapor Trails. ed.) Treasurer Wood proposed that the suggested $5 VT fee be brought before the membership by the next printing of Vapor Trails.

The February 20 meeting was held at the Woburn Lodge of Elks. The usual formalities were completed and attention focused on President Bill Campbell and his report. Bill presented information regarding the proposed field trip to the N.E. Air Museum at Windsor Locks, Conn, (1-800-623-3305). A tour for Seniors (that's us, ed.) would cost $15 a person including a luncheon. Bill is making final arrangements and a date will be selected. Bus transportation is also in the works. After some discussion the membership agreed that our spring luncheon will be held at the Woburn Lodge of Elks on Thursday, May 15, 2003.

President Bill then called upon several members who spoke for or against the proposed "subscription" fee for Vapor Trails. John Brennan, Bob Grahm, Carl Wood, Henry Oi, and Dagg Morse contributed to the discussion. Joe DeGiacomo indicated that "the only thing that keeps us together is Vapor Trails." He suggested that we insert in the next issue a request for assistance in the form of a donation, Al Audette proposed a formal motion, seconded by Al Ducey and received by the membership with a unanimous vote. Audette told the members that an English teacher at Woburn High is seeking a vet to speak to her students. Joe DeGiacomo spoke about some of the difficulties encountered when making a presentation within the public schools. Glenn Tessler closed the meeting with a brief talk on the transfer of wealth by inheritance.

Respectfully submitted, John McKernan, Sec.

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Future of the Mass. Chapter 8thAFHS
Treasurer Carl Wood presents some thoughts.

Currently all the active officers and the Editor/Publisher of Vapor Trails are over 70 years old and are almost all WW2 vets. It does not take a rocket scientist to recognize that changes must be considered to ensure the future of the chapter. Presently the duties of Treasurer and The Membeship Records Manager are combined. Those duties should be separated. Health concerns of the Editor/Publisher suggest a replacement be considered also.

The Treasurer would like to resign and be replaced by a newly elected Treasurer. At the same time a separate Membership Records Manager should be appointed. The September luncheon meeting is our stated annual business meeting and would be a good time to address these concerns. Those willing to assume these responsibilities should contact the president or any other officer of the chapter. The present incumbents would be happy to discuss with you the duties that are involved.

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New Navy Nose Art?

Those of us who loved the nose art on the planes we flew in, worked upon or just marveled at as they flew by will like this story. Navy Secretary Gordon England has ordered our fleet to display the historic rattlesnake flag on all its vessels. The flag displays a coiled rattler on a yellow background along with the defiant slogan "Don't tread on me!".

A slogan, in case you didn't know, is an Irish war cry. The rattlesnake has always been popular with American patriots. Ben Franklin contemplated having the rattler as a national symbol instead of the bald eagle. He popularized a famous pre-revolutionary war poster of a coiled rattler cut into segments. Each segment was named for a British colony such as Massachusetts or Virginia. The slogan printed on this banner was "Join or Die!", urging the colonies to make a united front against Great Britain, a united front that eventually would become the United States.

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A Contribution from fellow 8th member, Henry Bengis.
Click on this link to read.

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Anyone know Richard "Dick" Meehan?

Hello,
I am working on an appeal with the VA for DIC benefits for my mother. In doing so it would be extremely helpful if I could find anyone that served with my father Richard "Dick" Meehan from Watertown, MA. He was with the 100th bomb group, 350th bomb squadron and was shot down over Hamburg and wounded on 12-31-44. He was captured immediately. I know he went from Nuremburg to Moosberg and a couple of other camps. His legs were severely injured and was unable to walk and was carried through many marches in Germany. My father was the ball turret gunner in a B-17 piloted by Charles Webster who was KIA and based in England. He was a POW until liberated and then was in Cushing General Hospital until Feb 28, 1946. Any info would be truly appreciated as my father never, ever spoke of his WWII experience. My e-mail address is [email protected].
Thank you,
Deborah L. Meehan

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Pilot to Crew
A pilot in command of a B-17 bomber on a run into Germany pulled out a .38 revolver and placed it on his instrument panel and said to his navigator, "Know what I use that for?"

"No!" replied the nav.

The pilot said, "I use it on navigators who get me lost."

The Nav pulled out his .45 and placed it on his nav table. The pilot looked over his shoulder and asked, "What's that for?"

The nav said, "To be honest sir, I'll know we're lost before you do."

Contributed by Ed Dunne [email protected]

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Help Support Vapor Trails

Carl Wood, our esteemed keeper of the budget, respectfully ask that those who are able make a voluntary donation toward the upkeep of Vapor Trails. VT runs at a loss because postage rates are high and membership is declining. Our leadership realizes that Vapor Trails is the only contact many members have with the Chapter.

Carl suggests an annual donation of $5 would be helpful, Remember this is strictly voluntary.

Vapor Trails Voluntary Donation Coupon

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UPDATED: Visit the Vapor Trails Mailbag!

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Need A Speaker For Your School, Club Or Organization?
Time is running out if you want to hear WW2 air vets describe their adventures! Call President Bill Campbell (978-368-8864). Give us plenty of lead time because we ain't as young as we used to be.

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Join the 8th! To print an application, click the seal above.

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