Belgium, Liberated At Last!

Belgium, Liberated At Last!

In September 1944, the Allied forces of Canada, England, and the United States liberated Belgium from four years of Nazi occupation and oppression.  It was a joyous time!              ...

306th Bomb Group Ball Turret Gunner Philip Mundell

On December 1, 1943, my father flew a bombing mission to Soligen, Germany. His crew’s ball turret gunner Louis Colwart had been injured on a November 26 mission to Bremen and could not go.  His replacement was 19 year Philip Mundell who was flying on his very...

Luftwaffe Pilot Hans Berger 70 Years Later

In 1944, Luftwaffe pilot, Hans Berger, shot down my father’s B-17. Today in 2014, my youngest son had lunch with Hans Berger! On February 8, 1944, two Focke-Wulf 190 German fighter planes attacked the 306th Bomb Group B-17 Susan Ruth over the French/Belgian...

70 Years Ago Today – LIBERATION!

On September 2, 1944, the 9th U.S. Infantry Division entered Belgium from France, crossing over the Wartoise River at Forge-Philppe, near Cendron and liberated the country from four years of Nazi occupation and oppression. On that same day, my father, pilot of the...

Mission For Today – Wheels Up!

Today, my wife and I are flying to England to retrace my father’s footsteps while he was stationed at Thurleigh with the 306th Bomb Group. Of course, we’ll be doing some sightseeing while in London, but the highlight will be going out to the countryside...

The Luftwaffe Pilot Who Shot Down My Dad

During the writing of my book, Shot Down, my wife, Glenda, suggested that I try to find the German fighter pilot who shot down my dad’s plane. My initial reaction was, “Yeah right. There’s no way.” However, I said I’d try and searched...

Ross Kahler – B-17 Susan Ruth Crew Member

Ross Kahler was the radio operator on the Susan Ruth.  He was born in Pennsylvania and enlisted at Philadelphia on July 24, 1942.  After bombing Frankfurt, Germany on February 8, 1944, the Susan Ruth was attacked by two German Focke-Wulf 190 fighters and shot down. ...

The Mighty Eighth Air Force During WW II

The Eighth Bomber Command (re-designated the 8th Air Force in February 1944) was activated as part of the United States Army Air Forces on January 28, 1942, at Hunter Field in Savannah, Georgia. The following month, Brigadier General Ira C. Eaker took the headquarters...

More Celebrations in Belgium

On Friday, August 29 at 7.30 pm a gala concert by SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) Concert Band will be performed at the Chimay Castle, an ancient stronghold which some documents suggest may be as old as the year 1000.