In This Issue of
Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time
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Welcome to the February 2022 Newsletter.
We have a lot in this issue: A number of artifacts. Many photos using a new photo editing software. Some great artwork and B-25 Gunships.
What is an X-File in MIA speak?
Volunteer opportunities.
What condition do your artifacts have to be for a donation?
Get your 2022 wall calendar. Choose from six different aircraft and nose art.
A very special groundbreaking for the Chosin Few Memorial at the DFW National Cemetery.
So read on .... .
Thank you for all of the artifact donations we have received last year; a remarkable quantity and quality of history has been entrusted to our care.
We want to send out a special thank you to all of our volunteers who have been helping us on many projects. We could not have accomplished so much without your assistance!
Thank you for your support!
Artifacts help tell the stories, money makes the engine run, please
We tell history! Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time.
Remember those that made the #ultimatesacrifice #mia #pow #kia #sonsofliberty. #patriots #army #navy #marines #aircorps #airforce #coastguard #merchantmarine; all those that have worn the cloth.
Join us on this journey.
In Their Memory,
Robert Coalter, Jason Weigler
Executive Directors
"Saving Military History One Soldier At A Time".SM
"Saving History One Soldier At A Time"SM
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Rescued History & Museum Quality |
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We rescue a lot of military artifacts; items destined for the trash heap. From torn papers and faded ribbons to moth damaged uniforms decades pass and the condition of items deteriorate. These artifacts still have a story to tell.
Many museums only want items in pristine condition, we say differently. Some so called museums only want materials from a well known commander written up in history books or the fighter ace or a man who would fly to the moon or a Medal of Honor recipient.
While we have artifacts such as these we also have the items of the draftee who answered their nation's call and served their tour and then went home. Some were not so fortunate. in our mission of "Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time" it is about all who have worn the cloth of our nation's military. Artifacts help us bring stories to life no matter their condition.
We accept donations of artifacts in ALL CONDITIONS.
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If you are looking to volunteer with a non profit in 2022 we would welcome your assistance. We have a need to transcribe over 150,000 of these index cards. Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Stars and Purple Heart. Getting this information into our database will allow us to make this data searchable. Contact us to get started! |
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Museum Expenditures-Donations |
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As a non-profit it's important to let our patrons know where some of their money is going.
This riker-mount display box is one of the most important pieces that we use. They contain ribbons, medals, patches, pictures and other small memorabilia items.
Last year we purchased 534 of these items. We will fill them all in less that 12 months.
$5000.
Constant Contact charges us $1200 annually to create, store and send this newsletter.
Our web servers, domains and hosting cost $7100 / year.
Monetary donations are needed and very welcomed to support these efforts.
Please consider a DONATION today. Thank You.
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Missing in Action & Buried Unknowns |
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There are still thousands classified as Missing in Action or as Buried Unknowns. In our partnership with the MIA Recovery Network we have established data on our websites regarding MIAs. We are in the process of cataloging research materials instrumental to the researcher and families in this search. The quest to account for those of our nation's Missing in Action is one of the most noble of endeavors. There are also a large number of recovered remains that are buried in ABMC cemeteries where the identity is unknown.
The recovery of MIAs pose a number of challenges. For example, Navy or Merchant Marine ships that were sunk in are unrecoverable and thus ship manifests are the primary and often only source of names for those that have perished but are still accounted for as Missing In Action.
Each conflict has had its own challenges. At the end of World War II the military had established more than 360 temporary cemeteries, but the dead were being found continually, in farm fields, forests, small church cemeteries, and isolated graves and the shores of combat zones. These dead were collected and the remains consolidated into the fourteen permanent European, Mediterranean, and North African Cemeteries maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, and two permanent cemeteries in the Philippines and Hawaii.
Throughout 2022 we will be providing stories of MIAs, and research efforts.
Monetary donations are needed and very welcomed to support these efforts.
Please consider a DONATION today. Thank You.
The strange case of unknown X-6747
The term “X-file” refers to the remains of those buried unknowns in American Military Cemeteries. By definition, they are mysteries, the ultimate perhaps in cold cases. And while most of these remains are caused by some form of combat, there are some which are clearly removed from combat. X-6747 was discovered in Carnoules, France in July 1945.
Carrnoules is in Southeast France and about 12 miles from the Mediterranean. It is Southwest of the principality of Monaco, and East of Marseille.
While every X-file is a mystery, some are more mysterious, and X-6747 is one of those. The remains are reported to be that of an American soldier and were found hanging from a tree. Death was caused by strangulation. There was no identification on the remains, which bore no sign of external violence. They were recovered on 30 June 1945, and the local medical examiner believed that the man had been dead about five weeks. The uniform items were of American fabric and style, and the shoes as well were American made but “different shoe types” were on each foot. X-6747 also had American style dental restorations. The only item on the remains other than clothing was a folded American newspaper in one of the pockets. The X-files contain at least one other death by hanging, an airman found in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
There was a note in the file stating that the case was being referred to authorities “as a possible atrocity”. X-6747 was originally buried in the Carnoule communal cemetery and later transferred to the US Military Cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium.
Regardless of the circumstances of his death, he was an American soldier.
#neverforget #bringthemallhome
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The Cinema, another way to describe it is it's our own Netflix.
130 combat films represented by 209 clips and 1436 minutes of footage will keep you watching for hours.
Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marines. WW2 and Vietnam. There's something for everyone.
This is a subscription service of $14.95/month.
Take a few minutes and go see what's "Now Showing" and decide if you want to signup and start watching. Go now !
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Sons of Liberty Museum
The Sons of Liberty has hundreds of uniforms and thousands of other artifacts in our collection from the U.S. Revolutionary War to Present day. Our web presence now numbers in excess of 325,000 pages. We continue to accept new material for education and research programs; a number of these items will make their way on to the website. Our collection includes memorabilia from the front line soldier to the rear echelon clerk. Drivers, infantrymen, pilots, tankers, seaman, medical, artillery, armorers, engineers, quartermasters and much more. Those that were drafted or volunteered; those that did a single tour or made it a career. Those that returned with all types of injuries and those that gave their full measure being killed in action (KIA). All MOS are welcome from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines. We are Saving Military History One Soldier At A Time. We are honoring the service of the Citizen Soldier.
#sonsofliberty
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MAJOR GENERAL ARCHIE A HOFFMAN
This formal visor was worn by then BG Hoffman.
Archie Arthur Hoffman was born in Boston, Mass., in 1913. He graduated from Revere High School (Revere, Mass.,) in 1930, Massachusetts State College in 1934 and the Medical College of Virginia in 1938, standing second in his class. He spent the next two years as a medical house officer at the Boston City Hospital on the V & VI Medical Services. He was the first house physician on the latter service.
In September 1940, he came on duty with the Army Air Corps at Westover Field as a first lieutenant. He spent 22 months there in a variety of medical positions, was made an aviation medical examiner in August 1941 and a captain in 1942.
After receiving his training in tropical and military medicine, he was assigned to the Sixth Air Force from July 1942 to April 1944 where he ran hospitals in Guatemala, Peru and Panama. He was rated as a flig1t surgeon in October 1942 and flew several long-range anti-submarine patrols in tactical B-17s and LB-30s from his bases. In February 1943, he was promoted to grade of major.
Between June 1944 and November 1946, he was assigned to the Army Air Forces Personnel Distribution Command with the first 17 months spent at Redistribution Station #1 at Atlantic City and the following 12 months at the Overseas Replacement Depot #5 at Greensboro, N.C. In both stations, he started as a flight surgeon, became the base surgeon and closed out the medical facilities. In Atlantic City, he was the personal physician to the cast of the Winged Victory show.
Major Hoffman went overseas again in November 1946 as the command surgeon of the Antilles Area where he operated six hospitals and acted as consultant in internal medicine. In 1947, he reported evidence of a factitious extrinsic asthma in the Antilles Area due to an indigenous grass, chloris petrea, the pollen of which affected children and adults. He was rated as an aircraft medical observer in August 1948.
In August 1949, he entered the Army Medical Residence Program in which he remained until August 1951. The last year was spent in charge of the Peripheral Vascular Service at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He performed significant work on traumatic vascular and cold injuries resulting from the Korean conflict. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in this period.
In August 1951, Colonel Hoffman was assigned as chief of medicine at the USAF Hospital, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where he established a proficiency training program for physicians, produced a series of monographs in basic science subjects and set up a cardiovascular center and a poliomyelitis center. In January 1953, he was reassigned to Headquarters Technical Training Air Force as deputy surgeon and director, Professional and Aviation Medicine divisions. He was certified the following month by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He supervised 10 hospitals ranging from 125 to 1,100 beds in size.
After 22 months, Colonel Hoffman was reassigned to the Office of the Surgeon General as consultant in internal medicine and later as chief of the Consultants Group. In April 1955, he was promoted to colonel. He participated in the formulation of Air Force directives on tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, acute renal failure, the central electrocardiographic repository and the hospital professional library. He stimulated a research study at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology to determine the amount of covert coronary artery disease in a relatively young military population. On July 1, 1956, he was rated as a senior flight surgeon.
In November 1958, Colonel Hoffman was assigned to Headquarters Command U.S. Air Force as director of professional services, USAF Hospital Andrews, and deputy command surgeon. He assumed command in August 1958. Under his tenure the following teaching programs have been instituted at USAF Hospital Andrews: medical internship, dental internship, general practice residency, dietetic training, Phase II Medical Laboratory Specialist Training and Foreign Observer Medical Training. The hospital Cancer Detection Program has been approved by the American College of Surgeons and a formal course in Medical Technology has been accredited by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. He was selected by the surgeon general to present lectures on Aviation Cardiology to the Annual AIRCENT Medical Conference in France in 1960. In May 1961, his unit was given the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
General Hoffman has kept active in internal medicine, aerospace medicine, cardiovascular diseases; in teaching and clinical research. He has published a number of scientific papers in the field of internal medicine and at present is engaged in several cardiac research areas. He has contributed a number of managerial and professional aspects of hospital operation. In 1961, he was given an A rating in internal medicine by the surgeon general and that of command flight surgeon.
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Not all items in the collection are uniforms, gear, weapons photos and documents. We have a lot of fantastic artwork such as this large helicopter. |
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New photographic editing software helped us create the following photos; let us know what you think about them ! |
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Volunteers
We need volunteers to transcribe award and roster documents. You will place the material into a spreadsheet where it will be added to our database and website. We welcome new dedicated volunteers to work from home and help us with this project!
Interesting Links & Resources
Donations
We welcome donations of papers, books, photos, gear, uniforms, jackets, medals, ribbons, weapons, equipment, scrapbooks, biographies, diaries and more. Please Contact Us
Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Cold War, Gulf War and current conflict donations accepted. From small to large multi-item donations, they all tell a story.
We need you ! We need your help to further our mission of preserving and bringing this history to you and your families. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit your qualifying donations are tax deductible.
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Army Air Corps Museum
The Air Corps Museum online presence encompasses over 225,000 web pages with thousands of photos and other materials. Our artifact collection contains hundreds of uniforms, albums, logs, medals and more from the Army Air Service, Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force.
World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Cold War, Gulf War and current conflict donations welcome!
Volunteers
We need volunteers to transcribe documents, placing the material into a spreadsheet. We welcome new dedicated volunteers to help us with this project! Work from home.
Interesting Links & Resources
Donations
We welcome donations of papers, books, photos, gear, uniforms, jackets, medals, ribbons, weapons, equipment, scrapbooks, biographies, diaries, letters and more. Please Contact Us
You can make monetary donations. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit your qualifying donations are tax deductible.
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"Sister"
Pillow case from Marana AF Base Marana AZ
Photo of Sgt Harold R. Braun and Sister Mildred M Braun.
Sgt. Harold R. Braun
353rd Bomb Squadron
301st Bombardment Group
KIA / MIA 07/27/1944
Ball Turret Gunner, B-17G, 42-31652,
MACR 7136, Graz, Austria
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Corporal Juanita Walsh - Malloy
Cpl. Juanita Walsh, Cryptographic Tech, Washington D.C. WW2. She was awarded an Army Commendation Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal. She would marry T5 James Malloy who served in a Barrage Balloon Battalion in WW2.
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Warren Borges
WW2 and Korea Veteran
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The following pictures of items in the collection were prepared for the web and this newsletter using some new photo editing software. How do they look? Feedback appreciated. |
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Items have a story, what tale do yours tell?
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Chosin Few Memorial Groundbreaking |
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Lt. General Richard E. Carey, USMC (Ret). at the ground breaking ceremony for the "Chosin Few Memorial" at the DFW National Cemetery 10 January 2022.
Then Lieutenant Carey participated in this historic battle of the Korean War and today celebrated his 94th birthday. Happy Birthday General!
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The first dirt turned for the Chosin Few Memorial. Veterans, Korean Community Members, Contractors.
The memorial will be 12.5' wide by 7' tall and approximately 2 feet deep. Constructed of black granite with attached bronze sculptures depicting the faces of the Chosin Few and engraved text will be arranged in four panels on both sides of the memorial that will be topped with a large stainless steel "Star of Koto-Ri".
Stay tuned for more updates and the unveiling in future newsletters.
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Chosin Reservoir
27 November – 13 December 1950
Korea
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US Marines at Chosin
Sub-Zero Temperatures
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Big-gun Mitchells: The B-25 and the 75mm M4 cannon
By Thomas Lamlein
During World War II, the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber became the USAAF’s premier ground-strafer in the PTO and CBI. The B-25 “strafers” were initially born of the genius of Major Paul “Pappy” Gunn of the 5th Air Force. These field-modified Mitchells were equipped with up to eight Browning .50 caliber AN/M2 machine guns. Most of the early conversions were carried out at Townsville, Australia, with many of the prized .50 cal MGs either begged, borrowed, or even stolen to outfit the planes. The modified B-25’s concentrated firepower of the .50 caliber guns was noted for tearing apart Japanese barges and small freighters operating around the Solomon Islands, and the B-25 (and A-20) strafers quickly became legendary for their devastating strikes on Japanese shipping and forward airfields.
Technical representatives from North American Aviation began to work closely with 5th Air Force B-25s and soon the factory-made B-25G began to appear, featuring a shortened “solid” nose, with the provision to carry the massive 75mm M4 cannon. The cannon was mounted below and with the cannon breech to the rear of the pilot’s seat, where it was manually loaded for single shots by the navigator (whose position had been moved behind the pilot).
At first glance, the 75mm gun appears to be a fearsome aerial weapon, but a variety of factors limited its effectiveness in combat. The rate of fire was very low, and normally a maximum of four rounds could be fired during the run-in to the target. The 75mm ammunition was effective against thin-skinned targets but was only marginal when used against hardened or armored targets. The navigator signaled the pilot when the cannon was loaded, and the pilot aimed the weapon and fired it via a trigger button on the B-25’s control stick.
The 75mm recoil was intense and was so strong that it had a braking effect on the B-25 in flight. In some cases, the cannon recoil damaged the airframe. Initially, two .50 caliber MGs were mounted in the nose for strafing and to provide ranging for the 75mm cannon. This was later increased to four MGs in the solid nose.
When the B-25H reached combat squadrons, some carried the lighter weight T13E1 75mm cannon. Unfortunately, most of the issues with the big 75mm gun remained the same and more and more B-25Hs deleted the cannon and replaced it with a pair of .50 MGs.
The demise of the 75mm cannon came with the introduction of the B-25J featuring a tight grouping of eight .50 caliber MGs in the nose. Even though the J models could also carry two .50 cal “cheek blisters” on either side of the fuselage below the cockpit, these were often deleted to save weight and potential crumpling of the fuselage skin near the weapons. The concentrated firepower of the .50 caliber nose MGs proved to be more than enough for the B-25’s strafing assignments, and the introduction of the 5” High Velocity Aircraft Rocket (HVAR) gave the Mitchells the big explosive punch they needed. Even so, the 75mm cannon was a dramatic example of American firepower lifted up from the tanks and trenches and carried into battle in the deadly skies over the PTO and CBI.
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A B-25G cannon-gunship with a 75mm M4 gun in the nose. |
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“Little Joe”, a B-25 gunship over the Pacific. |
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“The Pride of the Yankees”, featuring powerful assets including a 75mm cannon in the nose. 41st Bomb Group on Tarawa, January 1944.
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Swabbing out the 75mm cannon barrel on a B-25 gunship. |
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Cleaning the 75mm cannon barrel on “Pride of the Yankees”, based on Tarawa. |
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Marshall Islands natives assist the ground crew of a B-25G gunship. |
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This B-25G gunship crashed shortly after takeoff in the CBI. Note the details on its twin .50 caliber nose MGs and the M4 75mm cannon barrel. |
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B-25 cannon-gunship based in the frozen north—seen at Ladd Field in Alaska during 1944. |
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301st Bombardment Group, B-17 Flying Fortress. England, North Africa, Italy during World War II.
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USS Hilbert. Destroyer Escort, DE-742. Pacific Theater of Operations, World War II.
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Preserve This History, Honor the Service, Provide Education For Future Generations |
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Thank You For Your Support ! |
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Thank You For Your Support ! |
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---- What is Liberty ? ----
"definition. the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views."
Merriam-Webster defines it as " the power to do as one pleases, the freedom from physical restraint and freedom from arbitrary or despotic control.
---- So what is a Son of Liberty? ----
In our context and beginning these were the men and women in America who wanted the freedom from the King of England. They desired a right of self-determination for their lives. They fought for this liberty and codified it in the Constitution of a new country. To keep this liberty they created a military to ward off the any would-be belligerent. Since the War of Independence until and including the present day the men and women who have worn the cloth of our nation's military are its Sons of Liberty. They have fought enemies in other nations, they have fought each other and they have stood as sentinels of the watch.
We celebrate the service of these individuals, we tell the historical story of these selfless patriots.
---- The Sons of Liberty Museum ----
Over a decade ago we chose a name for this organization and our sister the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We believe these names accurately describe these men and women who serve. We will not change any name to satisfy a radical viewpoint or computer algorithm. We don't allow for any revisionist history, we tell the factual stories.
We are Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time.
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Need a calendar for 2022?
Get one of these beauties featuring photographs from our collections.
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Back Cover B-24 Noseart Calendar |
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Front Cover World War II Airplanes
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Back Cover World War II Airplanes |
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Front Cover B-29 Noseart Volume 1
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Back Cover B-29 Noseart Volume 1 |
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Front Cover WW2 Airplanes
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Front Cover B-29 Noseart Volume2
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Back Cover B-29 Noseart Volume2 |
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Need a Good Book?
Check out these titles.
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I was a navigator in the 459 Bomb Group 758 Bomb Squadron flying B-24's from Torre Giulia Field, tower named 'Coffee Tower', a gravel airfield near Cerignola, on the Foggia Plains of Southeastern Italy during the period August 4, 1944 to May 16, 1945. I flew 50 combat missions over targets in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia and Northern Italy.
Project Option: 6×9 in, 15×23 cm
# of Pages: 386
IsbnSoftcover: 9781714032860
Publish Date: Dec 12, 2019
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Most aircraft of World War II had pictures of sexy girls, tributes to sweethearts, songs and home. The planes were fondly referred to in a feminine manor. That was not the case with this B-17 tail number 42-25233. He was Rigor Mortis.
This is the story of Rigor Mortis and his men who flew over 120 missions from North Africa and Italy in 1943 and 1944.
Project Option: 8×10 in, 20×25 cm
# of Pages: 382
IsbnSoftcover: 9781714727803
Publish Date: Apr 20, 2020
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A Novel of MACVSOG in Vietnam. By Gene Pugh a Special Forces Recon Team Member.
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Surrender Not an Option
Survivors guilt is not the only thing that is bothering Allen Purvis. He has to relive in his mind the battles in a denied area when he was assigned to MACVSOG the ultimate secret organization during the Viet Nam war. He is put to the test when he commands his friends to sacrifice themselves to save the others of the unit. Wendy Salas, nurse at the 95th Evacuation Hospital sees the horrors of the war everyday. Her pain is personal. A chance meeting on R&R in Hong Kong brings these two people together as soul mates in a hope that one of them can save the other. Purvis like the others wondered why they were saved and the answer was there all the time.
- Paperback : 312 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1539108333
- ISBN-13 : 978-1539108337
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.71 x 9 inches
Gene is a member of our advisory board.
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By Tom Laemlein
Tom is a member of our advisory board.
Many of the photos and illustrations in this book, some of them in color, are strong enough to be displayed in full page format. The images deliver the gritty details of USAAF armaments’ use down to their nuts and rivets, and the high-velocity rounds they fired. This is a unique photo-study, with many of the photos never-before published.
U.S.A.A.F. Aircraft Weapons of WWII
This book focuses on the war-winning weaponry of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. With 144 pages containing more than 250 photos it offers stunning visual details of the machine guns, cannons, bombs, and rockets carried into battle by USAAF bombers, fighters, and attack aircraft.Many of the photos and illustrations in this book, some of them in color, are strong enough to be displayed in full page format. The images deliver the gritty details of USAAF armaments’ use down to their nuts and rivets, and the high-velocity rounds they fired. This is the first photo-history of its kind, with many of the photos never-before published.
Combat conditions dictated that many aircraft were adapted into roles for which they were not designed. As necessity is the mother of invention, aircraft were modified in both their roles and their armament. B-25s became ground attackers, A-20s became night fighters, and every wartime USAAF fighter was adapted to carry bombs.
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301st Bombardment Group DVD
Enjoy this history of the 301st Bombardment Group in World War II with this discovered archival film footage. The first footage is in North Africa where the 301st moved after a short beginning in England. From Maison Blanche to Biskra, Algeria in 1942-1943 then Lucera, Italy in 1944 and many missions in between. Watch the men on the ground and in the air with both black and white and color footage. There are also some scenes with sound. Listen to the commanders recap the North African Campaign and a crew interview.
Watch the mission to bring back repatriated POWs. View the destruction of war on the enemy at the various targets of the 12th and 15th AF heavy bomber units.
View some great color footage of General Spaatz and General Eaker in the desert of North Africa. Listen to Generals Eisenhower, Spaatz and Doolittle talk about the Tunisian Campaign. Watch the bombs drop on missions including the oil fields and production facilities at Ploesti, Romania. View destruction on the ground. Watch as liberated POWs of the 15th AF are brought back to Italy.
This DVD contains a mixture of black and white and color film footage.
There are a number of minutes that contain sound. Runtime: 218 Minutes (3 hours, 38 minutes). Price: $39.99
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By Kenneth Breaux
The author takes the reader on a compelling odyssey, beginning with a wartime mystery which endured for nearly sixty years. A compelling and often gripping story of loss and discovery.
About the Author:
Kenneth Breaux served as a Naval Officer during the Vietnam era, where he first became acquainted with the plight of MIA's and their families. He spent over twenty years on active and reserve service and retired from the Navy with the rank of Commander.
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"Courtesies of the Heart"
In the early morning hours of September 11, 1944, US Army Air Forces P-51 pilot Lt. William Lewis climbed into an overcast sky with the 55th Fighter Group on a mission escorting bombers. He had already flown more than 100 hours of combat over Europe. Over the channel he joined a vast fleet of more than 1,000 airplanes including the B-17’s of the 100th Bomb Group bound for Germany. This day’s combat would be one of the largest aerial engagements of the war, conducted at the very edge of operational range. By the next day, all of the aircraft were accounted for or known to be lost. Among the missing was Bill Lewis, who would remain an MIA for almost sixty years.
A chance discussion in a Texas home on New Years Eve 2001 regarding the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, a renovated Czech schoolhouse in the village of Kovarska, experts from the US Army in Hawaii, and Czech volunteers extended and fulfilled the Courtesy of the Heart begun by a gracious German citizen in September 1944 in the Thuringer Wald of Germany.
This is the fascinating story of how a Tulsa World War II pilot came home on Memorial Day 2004, only a few months short of sixty years from the time he flew his last mission. The book began a new role for the author, whose retirement has since become centered around the families of the missing in action of World War II and the search for their remains, and the origin of a not for profit company called MIA Recovery Network and a second book slated to be released by years-end 2021, called “Known But to God: America’s Twentieth Century Wars and the Search for the Missing”.
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By James & Barbara Farrell
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"James Joseph Farrell"
James Joseph Farrell was born October 27, 1921 and grew up during the Great Depression. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1939.
He served with distinction in North Africa in 1942-1943 with the 301st Bombardment Group, 32nd Bomb Squadron flying 51 missions as an aerial engineer, top turret gunner.
He earned his pilot wings in 1945. This is his story.
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MIAs - Missing in Action
We have information on over 90,000 MIAs. This includes most all the World War II MIAs and some from World War I, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War.
With our strategic partners, the MIA Recovery Network, we want to tell the last chapter in the life of these Citizen Soldiers.
We would also like your help in telling the first chapters of the lives of those still Missing in Action. Do you have service photos of a family member that is or was MIA? News articles? Service related material?
Material on Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines MIAs:
Air Corps:
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X-Files - Buried Unknowns
There are many citizen soldiers whose body was recovered, but they are unidentified. There are thousands of these unknowns buried in American Battle Monument Cemeteries around the world. They are also known as X-Files.
Material on Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines X-Files can be found:
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Awards, Rosters
Unit Documents
We need you ! A continued big thanks to our fantastic army of volunteers. We have much more so if you can type and have a couple hours each week we can use you !
Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force
We have received material on many units and are hoping to compile much more.
Unit Citations, Awards, Transfers, Rosters
Many groups received unit citations during their particular conflict. The paperwork, in triplicate, would include a roster of all assigned and attached personnel. We are seeking and requesting copies of those roster documents. Please search your papers, talk to your association and help us out with this information and get them to us pronto!
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Attention Website Owners &
Veteran Associations
Many WWII veterans organizations have shut. Many these organizations had developed some type of website, some with enormous amounts of data and history. Sadly, many had/have not made provisions for their website to be continued and thus when the bill stops being paid, the website disappears and all the work and information is lost. We want to help and we need you to help us. If you know of a disbanding group, please have them get in contact with us; we would like to bring their website and information under our wing. If they want to continue to maintain it we can give them access to continue that as well. One of our top goals for this and every year is to preserve this history not lose it!
Not a WW2 unit? That's ok. We are also interested in your history and want to help preserve it. Korea, Vietnam and all other conflicts.
If your organization has physical materials such as uniforms, patches, photos and other memorabilia do you have plans for them when you cease operations? We would be honored to be the custodian of your group's history.
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Contact
Sons of Liberty Museum
Army Air Corps Library and Museum
Directors' Line: 214.957.1393
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