[303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2

[Kathy Stanclift]

Hi Bill:
While I have always been interested in my Dad's experiences during the war, 
he wasn't very talkative about any of them when I was younger.  As I grew 
up, I guess I became more demanding in my requests for information.  Several 
years ago, I was contacted by a Frenchman who does research for the families 
of American Aviators, and had found me as a result of a "thank you" that I 
had posted on the 303rd BG website.  He had been searching for a family 
member from the Hell Cat, and was very happy to have found me.  He set the 
whole thing up once I told him I was coming to France.  He found the crash 
site, the hospital documents, and lined up people for me to meet that had 
witnessed the plane crash.  It was a truly incredible experience.

Believe me, nothing that I have ever done in my life would ever compare to 
what my Dad lived through.  To not only survive being shot down and 
crash-landing his plane, but to go through 3 years as a POW is not so easy. 
My husband is a Vietnam Vet, and our son who is 16 does ask about his 
experiences, but I don't hold the same fascination at this time in his life. 
Maybe I'll become more interesting when he needs to know how to cook, eh?

Thanks for the nice message.
Kathy Stanclift
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <303rd-talk-request at 303rdBG.com>
To: <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2


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>   1. RE: B-17 Hell Cat (Bill Twomey)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 18:11:46 +0000
> From: Bill Twomey <twomey45 at msn.com>
> Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] B-17 Hell Cat
> To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com>
> Message-ID: <BAY126-W12A5459E075A6DB5BC2626D9220 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Kathy:
>
> Reading  your  mail  reminds  me  that  our  generation  has  evolved 
> into  the  "sponge  generation,"  with  regard  to  our  parent's 
> experiences,  especially  during  WWII.   We  want  ANY information  that 
> relates  to  these  experiences.
>
> I  think  my  father  didn't  want  to  bore  us  with  his  "war 
> stories,"   so  many  of  them  went  untold.   He  was  probably  right, 
> when  we  were  younger.      Don't  you  wonder  when/if  our  kids  will 
> want  to  know  about  us ???
> Make  you  want  to  write  it  down  ( a' la'   The  Reagan  Diary ).
>
> Its  great  that  you  were  able  to  do  this  field  work  to  get 
> closer  to  first-hand  knowledge  about  your  Dad.
>
> Bill Twomey
>
>
>
>> From: kmstan at dslextreme.com> To: 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com> Date: Sat, 2 Jun 
>> 2007 09:49:51 -0700> Subject: [303rd-Talk] B-17 Hell Cat> > Hi everyone:> 
>> I just returned from my first trip to France, where I found where my 
>> Dad's B-17 was shot down during WWII!!! I was introduced to several 
>> witnesses to the crash, and met a woman who helped hide my dad and his 
>> tail gunner, who's name was Batterson. First name Frank, I believe. My 
>> Dad was Lt. Oran T. O'Connor, and was the pilot of the Hell Cat. They 
>> were shot down over Brittany January 23, 1943. Anyone out there related 
>> to Batterson? Would LOVE to be in contact with you. I have so much to 
>> tell you about what happened with our father's after the plane went down. 
>> They were taken to a hospital in Carhaix-Plouguer and Batterson had his 
>> leg amputated, then both were POW's. My Dad survived and just passed away 
>> this last summer at age 93. > > Hope to hear from someone soon.> Kathy 
>> Stanclift> kmstan at dslextreme.com > 
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> End of 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2
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>