Archive for the 'Jack Cook Collection' category
Christmas Eve 1944
December 24, 2009 7:00 am
The date was December 24th, 1944-Christmas Eve. The 453rd Bomb Group was playing host to more than 1,250 British children who ranged in age from four to fourteen-many orphaned by the London Blitz. Someone had the idea of making toys for the children of Paris, children who had never experienced the joy and excitement of a child’s Christmas. The idea spread very quickly between the officers and airmen; even the neighboring children began donating their own toys or made new ones. Wooden toys, rag dolls, and thousands of Christmas cards were given with cheerful abandon to the young French allies.
Three hundred children were chosen by The American Red Cross to receive gifts on Christmas Day at the ARC Club at Rainbow Corner in Paris. The Group received special permission to fly the gifts to Paris. An all French-speaking crew was chosen to ferry them over the Channel. T/Sgt Reuben Brockway was selected to portray Santa Claus, uniform and all, but without the traditional big belly!
A B-24 replaced the traditional sleigh and reindeer. Base personnel contributed PX rations for stocking stuffers for the small guests. The Aero was transformed with an eclectic array of Christmas decorations made from whatever was available.
Soon, children began to arrive in GI trucks where they were grouped according to age. Those four to seven were entertained at the Aero Club where they received their toy and candy filled stockings. Santa served them ice cream and coca-cola to their heart’s content. Those seven to eleven went to the flight line and were shown through the planes. Then came the big show.
The procession walked to an area where a huge platform had been erected alongside one of the giant airships. It was the un-named B-24H that was to carry the gifts so cheerfully donated to their little French friends. An 11 year-old orphan of the Blitz, Judith McDavid, christened the ship "Liberty Run".
The "Liberty Run" was later shot down over Germany.
Photo and Info: Jack Cook Collection
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Abused Jugs, Part I
December 16, 2009 6:00 am
Lt Keene after belly landing his 9th AF P-47D Thunderbolt, 1945.
One more after the jump
To the victors go the spoils….
December 13, 2009 7:00 am
365th FG pilots examine their former foes……….
(L-R Top) Lt Manjak, Lt Price, Lt Morley
(L-R Bottom) Lt McWherter, Lt Briggs, Lt Van Cleef
By Tail Lt Hagan stands by the tail and shows how to shoot’em down.
H2X “Mickey” Radar
December 12, 2009 6:00 am
H2X “Mickey” radar mounted in place of the ball turret on a pair of 96th Bomb Group B-17Gs. (Pictures of the control panel after the jump)
Panama Patrol
December 11, 2009 6:00 am
Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, s/n 41-2504, of the 6th AF over Panama 1943.
Note the nose mounted search radar and the early belly turret.
Jack Cook Collection
B-24H flying high
December 10, 2009 6:00 am
Francis bombers abandoned
December 9, 2009 6:00 am
Yokosuka P1Y Francis bombers abandoned after allied forces overun the airfield. (Jack Cook Collection)
Abandoned Betty, Clark Field, PI
December 8, 2009 6:00 am
A Mitsubishi G4M Betty lies abandoned at Clark Field, Philipine Islands.
The Mitsubishi G4M or 一式陸攻 Ichishiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō (”Type 1 land-based attack aircraft”) was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the identification name of Betty.
FMI:
Imperial Japanese Aviation Resource Center
Wikipedia
Photo Source:
Jack Cook Collection
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 7, 2009 7:00 am
A Aichi D3A Val is removed from its crash site during the cleanup after the Pearl Harbor attack.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed annually on December 7, commemorates the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in Oahu. Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Many men and women were killed or injured during this attack that brought the United States into World War II. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day.
Photo: Jack Cook collection
P-40C Warhawk in Iceland, 1941
December 6, 2009 6:00 am
P-40C Warhawk in Iceland, 1941. (Jack Cook Collection)
The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. By November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built, all at Curtiss-Wright Corporation’s main production facility at Buffalo, New York.
