[303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 4

[Bill Twomey]

Great  story  Kathy.    I  appreciate  your  relaying  that  to  us.
 
Bill
 



> From: kmstan at dslextreme.com> To: 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com> Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 17:20:55 -0700> Subject: [303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 4> > Hi Bill:> You know, when Desert Storm broke out, my youngest brother was in the Army, > and I was terrified that he would be sent to Iraq. Dad was all for it, and > when I demanded to know why, he told me, "You've never lived until you've > been in combat! I've never felt as alive since then. It was the most > exciting time in my life. You just never knew what was going to happen > next." I think a lot of the guys must have felt like that...> Kath> ----- Original Message ----- > From: <303rd-talk-request at 303rdBG.com>> To: <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 11:00 AM> Subject: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 4> > > > 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: Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2 (Bill Twomey)> > 2. RE: Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2 (Bill Twomey)> >> >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> >> > Message: 1> > Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 00:45:53 +0000> > From: Bill Twomey <twomey45 at msn.com>> > Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2> > To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com>> > Message-ID: <BAY126-W44890CC98F72831F5431A0D9270 at phx.gbl>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> >> > 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> >> > ------------------------------> >> > Message: 2> > Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 00:53:06 +0000> > From: Bill Twomey <twomey45 at msn.com>> > Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2> > To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com>> > Message-ID: <BAY126-W4145DBE0792B1725C34583D9270 at phx.gbl>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> >> > That line should read ... wouldn't dare.> >> >> >> >> >> From: twomey45 at msn.com> To: 303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com> Subject: RE: > >> [303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2> Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 > >> 00:45:53 +0000> CC: > > 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_______________________________________________> > >> 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 4> > ****************************************> > > > _______________________________________________> 303rd-Talk mailing list> 303rd-Talk at 303rdBG.com> http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk