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

[Bill Twomey]

My father's  stories  were  more  about  some  of  the  antics  than  about  the  missions.
 
I'm  positive  anyone  from  my  generation,  let  alone  the  younger  folks  now,  would  have  been  arrested for most  of  the  mischief  I  heard  about.     I  think  part  of  my  fascination  is  of  a  vicarious  nature.    John  Twomey  got  away  with  some  things  I  would  dare  do;  but,  I  sometimes  wish  I  would  dare.
 
One  of  my  best  friends  once  asked  him  if  he  was  scared  when  flying  over  Germany.   His  reply  was,  "Hell yes,  son,  I  got  scared.   If someone  tells  you  that  didn't  scare  them  they  were  either  a  fool,  or  they are  lying."
 
Our  heroes  are  human,  aren't  they?     But,  we can  (and  ought  to)  place  them  a  notch  above.
 
Bill



> From: kmstan at dslextreme.com> To: 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com> Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 21:00:16 -0700> Subject: [303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2> > 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> > > > Send 303rd-Talk mailing list submissions to> > 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com> >> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit> > http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to> > 303rd-talk-request at 303rdBG.com> >> > You can reach the person managing the list at> > 303rd-talk-owner at 303rdBG.com> >> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific> > than "Re: Contents of 303rd-Talk digest..."> >> >> > Today's Topics:> >> > 1. RE: B-17 Hell Cat (Bill Twomey)> >> >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> >> > 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 > > >> _______________________________________________> 303rd-Talk mailing list> > >> 303rd-Talk at 303rdBG.com> > >> http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk> >> > ------------------------------> >> > _______________________________________________> > 303rd-Talk mailing list> > 303rd-Talk at 303rdBG.com> > http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk> >> >> > End of 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2> > ****************************************> > > > _______________________________________________> 303rd-Talk mailing list> 303rd-Talk at 303rdBG.com> http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk