[303rd-Talk] Our dads

Mon Jan 1 17:48:33 MST 2007

I for one am fairly new to the association, still haven't joined for some 
reason, I keep printing it out and never send it in.  I don't have any link 
to the 303rd other than having lived on Molesworth while stationed at 
Alconbury. I left there in 1993 before the web was what it is today and I am 
sorry for all of the history and meetings I might have had if the 
information I have today was available then.  I do feel I have gotten to 
know some of you and enjoy the conversations.  I've learned things I would 
never have gotten from books.  I hope to be able to make the reunion in DC 
this year since it is close by, so that I can meet some of you face to face 
even if it is just once.  I also want to bring my son along, he is ten years 
old this July and right now is very "into" WW2. B-17's are his particular 
favorite. I'm throwing this in so that you will all know that your in some 
cases your loved ones wont be forgotten. The next generation in this family 
is growing up on the legends. I'm not pushing my hero's on him but he is 
soaking it up anyway.
    That in mind, I don't know if I related to the group my experience a few 
weeks ago so I'll take the chance on repeating it now.
My boy usually bugs me once a week to go to the AMC Museum here at Dover 
AFB. It has turned into a Sunday afternoon tradition, among other things 
they have a B-17G that is in our opinion the centerpiece of the display. 
One of my old supervisors (another retiree) was in charge of the restoration 
of the aircraft when they got it in trade for Shoo-Shoo Baby that now 
resides in the air force museum in Ohio.
A few weeks ago we were in the facility and Kevin ( my old supervisor) 
walked up, we don't often see him there on a weekend and I run into him 
every few months or so.  We talked for a bit catching up and he started 
telling My son about the B-17, after Johnny finished a few of his comments 
for him, and then started telling him things he knew about the plane. Kevin 
then asked him if he wanted to go inside.  Johnny's face hasn't lit up like 
that since Christmas a couple of years back.  He gave us a Waist Gunner to 
Bombardier tour, the two of us holding his hand as he made his way along the 
catwalk in the open bomb-bay. we stopped at each position and answered his 
questions, he sat or stood in every position with the exception of the tail 
gun (the two of us are too young-old to crawl all the way back there) and 
top turret ( this G-model came without one and they haven't built up a dummy 
turret for it due to funds.  Of course this was the week I didn't bring a 
camera wouldn't you know.
Hmmm it's 19:45 Johnny finished his bath and is now flying the B-17 on 
Microsoft flight simulator on his computer, see what I mean?  It is 
constant.
Anyway a happy new year to you all.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "harold susskind" <hasusskind at hotmail.com>
To: <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 4:20 PM
Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] Our dads


> LeslieJean 
> your message re: the future of the Association was "right on.  The reunion 
> in San Antonio was more like a family gathering than any of the previous 
> reunions. I can't see the '303Rd" family breaking up after the 2007 
> meeting in Washington D.C.  Hal Susskind
>
>
>>From: "Leslie Jean Newell" <ljnewell at hotmail.com>
>>Reply-To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
>>To: 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com
>>Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] Our dads
>>Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:37:16 -0500
>>
>>Whether WWII veterans or their children...I agree with Anita.  We still 
>>are like a family.  I have only been associated with the 303rdBG for a 
>>couple of years, but I sure have enjoyed it...and shall continue to check 
>>out the website frequently.
>>Leslie Jean Newell - daughter of Lt. Richard M. Newell - 360 squadron
>>
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>>From: Anita Nardine <asnh at earthlink.net>
>>Reply-To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
>>To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
>>Subject: [303rd-Talk] Our dads
>>Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2006 23:27:36 -0800
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>>02:27:27 -0500
>>Hi Bill,
>>
>>Sorry it took so long to answer. Yes, it does feel as if we're related, 
>>doesn't it.
>>Dad talked a bit about the war from time to time, but never a very long 
>>conversation. As a child, it always seemed so exciting, and the newspaper 
>>clippings that my Mom kept (anytime anyone got a medal or cluster there 
>>was a photo and article) always referred to 'heroes.' He didn't feel that 
>>way - he did what he had to do to protect his country, but always felt 
>>terrible about having killed others. He kept a piece of parachute that one 
>>of his friends used. He saw his friend's plane get shot, saw some 'chutes 
>>come out, and saw the plane go down. It wasn't until some time later that 
>>he found out who had survived. The parachute was divided into souvenirs 
>>for the fellow's buddies.
>>
>>I know Dad went to the Boise reunion; I think that was the first one. The 
>>names I recognize are your Dad, Jacob Fredericks, Michael Hlastala, and 
>>Lewis Lyle. I'm pretty sure that Hlastala was in Boise, and they 
>>corresponded for a while.
>>
>>I have Dad's service record, which includes the missions and the official 
>>write-ups of some of them - esp. the ones which resulted in a citation 
>>being awarded. I also have some photos, mostly crew shots. Hopefully, at 
>>some point in the near future I will finish scanning them and can send you 
>>copies if you like; perhaps you will recognize your Dad in some of them.
>>
>>Are you planning to go to the last reunion? I'm going to try an attend.
>>
>>How interesting that you work with the band. What do you do?
>>
>>Have a wonderful Christmas.
>>
>>Anita
>>
>>Bill Hoyt wrote:
>>
>>>Anita Its great to read your post about the "steak" dinner.
>>>Thanks for sharing it.
>>>Dont recall Dad saying much about the war except that they liked missions 
>>>that involved groups flying B-24s.
>>>(It sort of feels as if we are related in a way.
>>>Do you have contact with anyone else we might be "related" to?)
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks again Bill Hoyt
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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