Hello, sitting here in Scottsdale, AZ with my dads Red Feather 95th Bomb Group yearbook. Have to relate that I brought my dad Francis X. Shamrell (age 83) to the 95th Bomb Group Reunion at Pima Air Museum in Tucson, AZ. When we arrived at the front gate, he asked where the B-17 Hangar was and was given directions. He didn't wait for the golf cart to take him and he was on his way. When I caught up to him in the B-17 hangar, he was already inside focused on the awesome display of the B-17 and the various armament and equipment. He looked at it for at least 10 minutes and was obviously back at Horam in 1943-45. The tour guide asked him if he wanted to go in to the Quonset hut replica barracks on display and he did. He came out with tears in his eyes and related how they all had to Pack up the belongings of those who did not come back on a daily basis. (He also mentioned the daily inspections and the bedspread had to flip a quarter at least 5 in. into the air). Next thing I see is he is leading a group of students from England who were on a tour and the tour guide had turned them over to my dad who walked them around the B-17. I started to follow along and was amazed at the details he remembered. Bomb load in for 500 lb, 1,000 bomb load. Number of 50 cal. armarment on board. The Importance of their oxygen system functioning properly, etc. I was facinated when he related the typical carburation settings and the typical spark plug gap settings they were trained to monitor. He also showed the students the armour protected oil tanks on the engines and the bomb bay and how it functioned. Because he was a Crew Chief, he spent many nights repairing/replacing parts that were damaged and on several occasion he flew a mission the next morning. The students from England gave him a rousing applause when the tour was finished - and so did the tour guide. Two situations he spoke of most often were: 1) The First Daylight Raid on Berlin in March of 44 - being awakened 20 minutes early for steak and real eggs for breakfast. They knew it was going to be a challenge. 2) Regensburg 1 and 2 when as he said "they got their asses kicked by the Luftwaffe". Note: In the NBC WW2 USAAF film "All the Fine Young Men" my dad is in a full face shot after they landed from one of the Regensburg raids and his expression does not look good and there are obvious blood splatters on his face and jacket.. (This same photo was used by Ken Burns in his WW2 documentary.) At Horham, his claim to fame was when Dinah Shore came to the base to celebrate their 200th Mission and he was asked to introduce her. Also, the 95th Bomb Group was on the cover of Life Magazine in 1944 and he was sitting on the # 1 engine. Finally, my dad was a Big Fan of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle. He said "his biggest thrill was to shake Doolittle's hand when he visited Horham". "We were really excited about Doolittle and how he turned a Defensive strategy in to an OFFENSIVE Strategy VS the Luftwaffe!!!!" "We would follow him anywhere!" God Bless our GREATEST GENERATION. MXS
Thank you very much for this story of your father and his service to our nation! I would love to hear more and see any pics you could share. Rich B. Army veteran.
Thank you for showing this! My great grandfather was 1st Lieutenant James W. Kiser Sr, a Boeing B-17 bombardier with the 95th Heavy Bomb Group stationed there before bailing out over Hanover in '44 after raiding over Berlin on March 4. Grateful to know him for the first almost 7 years of my life before he past away. 24 now, still have many of his uniforms, medals and other things still in my family. Miss him very much!
That's really awesome and appreciated that the locals do this for the airmen and their families. They don't have to do it, but they still show their appreciation for the men of another country who were stationed outside their town all those years ago. Much respect for everyone involved. Thank you.
Thank you for posting this. An uncle served in the 95th in 1942-43. He almost made the 25 missions in 43, which was uncommon. On his 23rd, the Munster raid, he was badly injured by a 20mm round. Since his regular crew had suffered many injuries and the loss of their pilot in the second raid on Kiel, he was flying with Rodney Snow's crew in "Herky Jerky II" in the Munster raid. There is a photo in the archives of them limping home across the Dutch coast with an engine out and a lot of damage. After emergency surgery and many months of healing he was able to walk again and lived a normal life. He had many stories to tell and frequently mentioned how well they were treated by the local people around Horham.
i have been to this museum and can highly recommend it it is very well restored and every building is packed with history and information about the air field along with volunteers who have a passion for the history of the museum
My great uncle was in the 95th 336 H. at Horham. Lt. Richard Portmann Navigator 44/45, 26 missions. His brother, my grandfather, was a Lt(JG) on the DD501 in the Pacific. Their father was a Maj. in the US Army 89th 353rd Co E WW1, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Belgian Order of Leopold. A different breed of men. We don't make them like that anymore. Rest easy gents. Thank, you.
Hello, sitting here in Scottsdale, AZ with my dads Red Feather 95th Bomb Group yearbook.
Have to relate that I brought my dad Francis X. Shamrell (age 83) to the 95th Bomb Group Reunion at Pima Air Museum in Tucson, AZ. When we arrived at the front gate, he asked where the B-17 Hangar was and was given directions. He didn't wait for the golf cart to take him and he was on his way. When I caught up to him in the B-17 hangar, he was already inside focused on the awesome display of the B-17 and the various armament and equipment. He looked at it for at least 10 minutes and was obviously back at Horam in 1943-45. The tour guide asked him if he wanted to go in to the Quonset hut replica barracks on display and he did. He came out with tears in his eyes and related how they all had to Pack up the belongings of those who did not come back on a daily basis. (He also mentioned the daily inspections and the bedspread had to flip a quarter at least 5 in. into the air).
Next thing I see is he is leading a group of students from England who were on a tour and the tour guide had turned them over to my dad who walked them around the B-17. I started to follow along and was amazed at the details he remembered. Bomb load in for 500 lb, 1,000 bomb load. Number of 50 cal. armarment on board. The Importance of their oxygen system functioning properly, etc.
I was facinated when he related the typical carburation settings and the typical spark plug gap settings they were trained to monitor. He also showed the students the armour protected oil tanks on the engines and the bomb bay and how it functioned.
Because he was a Crew Chief, he spent many nights repairing/replacing parts that were damaged and on several occasion he flew a mission the next morning.
The students from England gave him a rousing applause when the tour was finished - and so did the tour guide.
Two situations he spoke of most often were:
1) The First Daylight Raid on Berlin in March of 44 - being awakened 20 minutes early for steak and real eggs for breakfast. They knew it was going to be a challenge.
2) Regensburg 1 and 2 when as he said "they got their asses kicked by the Luftwaffe".
Note: In the NBC WW2 USAAF film "All the Fine Young Men" my dad is in a full face shot after they landed from one of the Regensburg raids and his expression does not look good and there are obvious blood splatters on his face and jacket.. (This same photo was used by Ken Burns in his WW2 documentary.)
At Horham, his claim to fame was when Dinah Shore came to the base to celebrate their 200th Mission and he was asked to introduce her.
Also, the 95th Bomb Group was on the cover of Life Magazine in 1944 and he was sitting on the # 1 engine.
Finally, my dad was a Big Fan of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle. He said "his biggest thrill was to shake Doolittle's hand when he visited Horham". "We were really excited about Doolittle and how he turned a Defensive strategy in to an OFFENSIVE Strategy VS the Luftwaffe!!!!" "We would follow him anywhere!"
God Bless our GREATEST GENERATION.
MXS
Thank you very much for this story of your father and his service to our nation! I would love to hear more and see any pics you could share. Rich B. Army veteran.
Thank you for showing this! My great grandfather was 1st Lieutenant James W. Kiser Sr, a Boeing B-17 bombardier with the 95th Heavy Bomb Group stationed there before bailing out over Hanover in '44 after raiding over Berlin on March 4. Grateful to know him for the first almost 7 years of my life before he past away. 24 now, still have many of his uniforms, medals and other things still in my family. Miss him very much!
That's really awesome and appreciated that the locals do this for the airmen and their families. They don't have to do it, but they still show their appreciation for the men of another country who were stationed outside their town all those years ago. Much respect for everyone involved. Thank you.
I am very glad that video was produced and shown.
Thank you for posting this. An uncle served in the 95th in 1942-43. He almost made the 25 missions in 43, which was uncommon. On his 23rd, the Munster raid, he was badly injured by a 20mm round. Since his regular crew had suffered many injuries and the loss of their pilot in the second raid on Kiel, he was flying with Rodney Snow's crew in "Herky Jerky II" in the Munster raid. There is a photo in the archives of them limping home across the Dutch coast with an engine out and a lot of damage. After emergency surgery and many months of healing he was able to walk again and lived a normal life. He had many stories to tell and frequently mentioned how well they were treated by the local people around Horham.
My father was a ball Turret gunner also stationed here. I hope to visit one day.
Thank you to are brothers of the U.S.A for your service ❤ GOD BLESS❤❤❤
i have been to this museum and can highly recommend it
it is very well restored and every building is packed with history and information about the air field along with volunteers who have a passion for the history of the museum
Definitely worth a visit, though it's not easy - they are only open once a month. (I reviewed it this summer on my site)
Thanks for the warning. I really need to go there, and I'd hate to show up at the wrong time.
My great uncle was in the 95th 336 H. at Horham. Lt. Richard Portmann Navigator 44/45, 26 missions. His brother, my grandfather, was a Lt(JG) on the DD501 in the Pacific. Their father was a Maj. in the US Army 89th 353rd Co E WW1, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Belgian Order of Leopold. A different breed of men. We don't make them like that anymore. Rest easy gents. Thank, you.
Such brave men.
My great uncle, my grandmother's brother was in world war two, in the Pacific. I didn't even know he served until after he passed.
My uncle was a waist gunner on a B-17 in the 95th. His plane went down on April 6,1945, with all crew lost--one month before VE Day.
Must do a ground visit soon. First flew over here in 2015.
It was announced on TV this year that the Shipdham aero club was closing down.
good on you
Very Interesting
CHASLES A LARIMER 1911-2002 896 MP CO