History Enthusiasts:

While our Memorial Day issue was sent recently, we wanted to send a June issue with some news and updates on some large projects.

A little more than a week ago we announced that we added over 1500 WWII pilot encounter reports to our www.8af.org website and over 4000 WWII US Marine Corps Silver Star Citations to the Sons of Liberty Museum website.

Today we would like to announce the addition of 166,970 USMC casualty cards information. These encompass World War II to Vietnam and include 29,871 KIA and 4,697 that died of wounds. This data covers a number of casualty types. Explore this collection at: https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/usmc-casualty-cards/

Additionally we announce additions to the Army Air Corps database by adding over 99,646 entries. This data creates many more personnel pages and the material adds to our holdings on www.8af.org, www.9af.org, www.12af.org, www.20af.org and www.cbihistory.org for the 10th and 14th Air Forces.

Finally, we have added 1,663 seamen and the muster rolls of five ships that were present at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

USS Helm

USS Henley

USS Jarvis

USS Honolulu

USS Hull

As we remember one of the more famous and important dates of WWII, 6 June 1944 let's explore some unknown history as well as hearing about that day in their own words. Read on ... !

Want to have a memorable corporate event? If you are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, contract us to bring the mobile museum with stories of sacrifice and leadership.

Your support enables us to bring exhibits like our America 250 display to the public. We are honored by your support.

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Sons of Liberty Museum - Secure Donation

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Thank you for all of the great artifact donations!

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

Donate Now!

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 #spaceforce #merchantmarine; all those that have worn the cloth.

Join us on this journey.

In Their Memory,

Robert Coalter, Executive Director

Jason Weigler, Executive Director

Major Robert Weigler, Jr. US Army Ret. - Director

"Saving Military History One Soldier At A Time".^SM 

"Saving History One Soldier At A Time"^SM

Eyewitness to History, Participant in History. Nothing beats official and personal stories of those that were there. Read the following reports of two Army Air Forces pilot's official reports of flights on D-Day.

1st Lt. Peter Caulfield D-Day Mission Report

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 83RD FIGHTER SQUADRON

INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT

a. Combat

b. 6 June 1944

c. 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group.

d. 1630 hours.

e. Mayenne, France

f. 5-7/10 cumulus at 4-8,000 feet. Excellent visibility

g. FW 190

h. 1 FW 190 destroyed

i. Cargo white flight bounced a section of five or eight FW 190’s flying south on the deck, jest west of Mayenne. The e/a were being pursued by two planes of Cargo red flight. As Cargo white flight closed, the e/a made a 90 degree right turn into us. I fired several short bursts at the e/a already being engaged by other P-47’s. I then singled one out and began firing at him in a turning circle, using 60-90 degrees deflection. After hitting him heavily the e/a “dished” out of the Lufberry, rolled, spun and then crashed.

7 June 1944. PETER A CAULFIELD,

1ST Lt., Air Corps,

?83rd Fighter Squadron

Supporting statement of claim: I was flying in Cargo White flight when we bounced eight to ten FW-190’s. we got in a Lufberry with one and Lt. Caulfield started firing at him. He hit him a couple of times and then the FW-190 snapped out of the Lufberry and headed for the deck. He pulled out and went into a steep turn but snagged a wing and burst into flame.

Vincent J. Massa,

1st Lt., Air Corps,

83rd Fighter Squadron.

Following World War II, Caulfield became a physicist. He commanded the guidance systems for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions working at Cape Canaveral from 1957-1966.

Lt. William McElhare D-Day Mission Report

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON

AAF STATION F-150, APO 637    

U. S. ARMY

Personal Combat Report

VIII Fighter Command F.O. No.371



a. Combat

b. 6 June, 1944

c. 62nd Fighter Squadron

d. Approx. 1230 hours

e. Vicinity Rambouillet

f. 8/10 cloud, base 6,000’

g. Fw 190

h. One Fw 190 claimed Destroyed.

i. “I was flying White Two and had made one pass on a troop train in the vicinity of Rambouillet. Pulling up for a second pass, I saw an Fw 190 at 500’, coming down the tracks from the East, at 8 or 9 O’Clock to me. He evidently saw me at about the same time and started to turn so I poured the coal to it and we swung into a Lufberry.

As we climbed, circling, I used water, managing to keep above the Hun. Continuing to tighten the circle, I was gradually catching up on him and forcing him lower and lower. Just as I was about to draw deflection and fire he reversed his turn, snapped violently to the left and dove in to the deck from about 300’. The e/a exploded in a huge mass of flame and smoke while I took pictures of it with my gun camera.

I claim one Fw 190 Destroyed.”

WILLIAM W. McELHARE,

1st Lt., Air Corps.

ARMAMENT REPORT

Lt. William W. McElhare                42-76093  

While the news was focused on the Normandy landings on the 6th, some participants are overlooked and the fighting did not take a pause in all other theaters.

---------------

In The English Channel

Men aboard the Invasion ships were not immune to injury or death and their story gets lost amongst the focus on the Army landings and Paratroop drops.

Norman Ovela Violette was a member of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Tuscaloosa,

The USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) a heavy cruiser played a vital role on D-Day (June 6, 1944) by providing naval gunfire support for the amphibious assault at Utah Beach. The Tuscaloosa opened fire at 5:50AM.

Norman Violette received a Purple Heart for Wounds Received in Action on 6 June.

-------------

In the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

The 15th Air Force was in the early days of Operation Frantic, the shuttle missions between Italy and Russia in what is now Ukraine. B-17s launched from their base in Poltava attacked the airfield at Galațz, Romania on June 6.

-----------------

In the Pacific Theater of Operations

The Marines of the 2nd Marine Division were engaged in bloody fighting on Saipan. Here is one story..

The President of the United States takes pleasure in

presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

PLATOON SERGEANT ROGER P. SCOVILL,

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS,

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Battery M, Fourth Battalion, Tenth Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, on the night of 6 June 1944. When an ammunition and gasoline dump near his battery position was set on fire by enemy artillery, Platoon Sergeant Scovill rushed to the dump despite hostile fire and, organizing a fire-fighting party, directed the extinguishing of the flames. Although the fire illuminated the greater portion of the area and afforded the enemy observation, he personally removed blazing ammunition boxes from stacks of boxes not on fire and rolled drums of gas away from drums of gas away from drums already exploded and burning. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

JOHN L. SULLIVAN

Secretary of the Navy.

R..Madison, Wisc.

B..Madison, Wisc.

We have added over 4000 World War II US Marine Corps Silver Star Citations to the Sons of Liberty Museum website. Read these citations depicting gallantry in combat action by Marines in WWII. Read a few here.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JOHN S. BEST, USMC.,

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Scout serving with the First Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces near Mount Schleuther, New Britain, on March 7, 1944. Encountering a patrol of eight Japanese while conducting a reconnaissance mission with a companion, Private First Class Best immediately charged the enemy and, after killing six, later sought and killed the remaining two. Boldly advancing into hostile territory, he successfully located Japanese positions and, returning to his own lines with the vital information, enabled our forces to deliver an accurate, concentrated mortar fire attack which forced the enemy to withdraw. Private First Class Best's daring aggressiveness, outstanding fortitude and fearless devotion to duty in the face of grave peril contributed materially to the success of our forces in that area and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

[SIGNATURE BLOCK]

JAMES FORRESTAL

Secretary of the Navy.

R - Hatboro, Penna.

B - Prospectville, Penna.

-----------------

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

FIRST LIEUTENANT JOHN T. CASEY,

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE,

for service as set forth in the following

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Landing with his company in the face of severe hostile artillery and mortar fire during the initial landing on the enemy-held beach, First Lieutenant Casey immediately reorganized his command and led them forward toward Motoyama Airfield Number One. When his company's advance was deterred by machine-gun fire from a pill-box at the southern tip of the airstrip, he fearlessly made his way forward of the front lines through the heavy fire and skillfully placed a demolition charge in the aperture of the pillbox which caused complete destruction of the hostile position and enabled his company and other elements of the battalion to move forward across the airfield and the dominating ridge line in the center of the island. By his initiative, fortitude and courageous leadership, First Lieutenant Casey contributed materially to the success of this assault landing and his conduct upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

R--Uxbridge, Mass.

B--Uxbridge, Mass.

[SIGNATURE BLOCK]

Secretary of the Navy.

All non-profits need your support to operate and the Sons of Liberty and the Army Air Corps Museums need your help!

The first ask is the easiest; that you share this newsletter with 5 friends and family members.

Our next asks are financial support. We have a number of specific donations or one for our general fund. Each link will take you to the page on the website that describes our need and application of each donation.

Our new capital campaign for a new permanent facility is about to begin! stay tuned.

 New Education Center & General Fund

 Preserve A Donation $100

 Sponsor a Newsletter $250

 Support Museum Supplies $500

Purchase of 500 Riker Display Boxes $3500

 Support Web Operation $700

 Veteran Honorarium $750

 Veteran Honorarium $1375

 Veteran Honorarium $2000

 Sponsor a School Field Trip $1500 *plus any mileage if required.

 Mobile Museum Corporate Sponsorship $5000

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Want to create a permanent memorial for your veteran or family member? Instead of a brick that wears away from foot traffic, memorialize that special veteran on the side of the USH-Constitution our mobile museum.

Bronze

This is a 2 1/2" x 22" name placard. This is a 2 row display with the first line containing the name and the second a unit, conflict and branch. The top row is approx. 1" tall and the 2nd line 3/4".

2 1/2" x 22" - $750

Silver

This is a 2" x 36" name placard. This is a 1 row display with the line containing the name, unit, conflict and branch. The lettering is approximately 1 1/2" tall.

 2" x 36" - $1375



Gold

This is a 5" x 36" name placard. This is a 2 row display with the first line containing the name and the second a unit, conflict and branch. The top row is approx. 2" tall and the 2nd line 1 1/2".

5" x 36" - $2000

MM-1776

Mobile Museum 1776, the USH-Constitution.

Veteran Memorials

Our mobile-museum trailer has a place on the side for a visual honorarium and memorial for your veteran. Honor your veteran family member with a permanent marker on our mobile-museum.

Like bricks or pavers, this permanent memorial will be seen by many at schools, veteran and civic events. Get your Veteran Memorial Today!

Read more about Sons of Liberty Memorials

Read More About Army Air Corps Memorials

If you are looking to volunteer with a non-profit 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!

We are also looking for General Orders of World War II, digital copies are welcome; along with volunteers to transcribe this data.

Transcription of monthly unit histories and other documents are projects to help us recover and preserve history and are fantastic accounts written close to the actual events rather than decades later as memories may fade.

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.

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. These are known as X-Files.

The recovery of MIAs pose a number of challenges. For example, Navy or Merchant Marine ships that were sunk are unrecoverable and thus ship manifests are the primary and often only source of names for those that have perished but are still accounted.

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, 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 along with two permanent cemeteries in the Philippines and Hawaii.

Monetary donations are needed and very welcomed to support these efforts to create case files.

Please consider a Supporting Donation today. Thank You.

#neverforget #bringthemallhome

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 500,000 pages. We continue to accept new material for education and research programs.

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; killed in action (KIA). All MOS are welcome from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines.

Monetary donations help us preserve and display these pieces of American History. Thank you for your support.

We are Saving Military History One Soldier At A Time. We are honoring the service of the Citizen Soldier.

#sonsofliberty

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

Researching History: Military Records

Honor Roll: Veteran Rosters and History

Donations

We welcome donations of monies for operational costs. Artifact donations are sought in the form of papers, books, photos, gear, uniforms, jackets, medals, ribbons, weapons, equipment, scrapbooks, biographies, diaries and more. Please Contact Us

Revolutionary War, War if 1812, 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 the public. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

Army Air Corps Museum

The Air Corps Museum online presence encompasses over 500,000 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

Trace a Family Members Military Service: Research a Veteran's Military History

Honor Roll: Army Air Corps Veteran Roster, Honor Roll

Donations

We welcome donations of papers, books, photos, gear, uniforms, jackets, medals, ribbons, weapons, equipment, scrapbooks, biographies, diaries, letters and more. Please Contact Us

Monetary donations help us preserve and display these pieces of American History. Thank you for your support. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

As a non-profit it's important to let our patrons know where 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. They are great to help reserve items as well.

Each year we purchased 500 of these items. We will fill them all with great artifacts in less than 12 months. $5000.

Constant Contact charges us $1200 annually to create, store and send this newsletter.

Our web servers, domains and hosting cost $8200 / year. Our hosting requirement of storage will only increase over the coming years as we continue to add to our online material.

The annual total for just these three components is $14,400. Naturally, we have other expenditures, but 100% of monetary donations go to operations. All staff and directors are volunteers.

Monetary donations are needed and very welcomed to support these efforts.

Please consider a Military Museum Donation today. Thank You.



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, there is special place in our hearts for the KIAs. 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.

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.

Sons of Liberty Virtual Cinema

Last year we began redesigning our websites, many of these have not had a new design for 10 years. We completed:

Complete Redesigns:

5thaf.org - Fifth Air Force

7thaf.org - Seventh Air Force

9af.org - Ninth Air Force

47th Bombardment Group

Army Air Corps Museum

Sons of Liberty Museum

10af.org - Tenth Air Force

14af.org - Fourteenth Air Force

cbihistory.org - China-Burma-India,Theater. A New Website.

www.15af.org - Fifteenth Air Force

Many Updates/Enhancements:

8af.org - Eighth Air Force

We have quite a few more websites to go; but keep following us and this newsletter for updates.

Interested in reading and watching; check out some of the material below.

WATCH:

On X:

US Army Air Forces and Lafayette Escadrille, North Africa World War II 1942-43. US General Carl Spaatz. (In Color)

Airfield Activity on Iwo Jima (color).

B-25s of 41st Bombardment Group in the Pacific in Color

SBD Dauntless over the Pacific (color)

American Tanks in the ETO (color)

On Facebook:

With the US Army in North Africa 1942.

Normandy: Infantry Hits the Beach

Medics Tend to Wounded GIs in Europe, WWII

332nd Fighter Group Men, Interview in Italy

B-29 Superfortress: Pacific World War II in Color

READ:

1942 Operational Diary of the 10th Air Force (Beginning 1 June).

Charles Lawton, 443rd Troop Carrier, Pilot Encounter Narrative

Historical Background on the History of the 5th Air Force of World War II

5th Air Force Highlights Bismark Sea, Lae and Rabaul.

Army Air Forces on D-Day

Air Operations, 1 March 1941, Territory of Hawaii

Message From Admiral Stark to Admiral Kimmel 4 June 1941

4th Infantry Division on Utah Beach on D-Day

US Army Studies, D-Day the Cross-Channel Attack.

Pearl Harbor Attack, Experiences of the 580th Signal Air Warning Bn.

1st Infantry Division, After Action Reports 6 June 1944

18th IR, 1st Infantry Division, Unit History June 1944

115IR, 29th Infantry Division, June 1944 After Action Report

D-Day Operations 4th Infantry Division

Army Rangers, Combat Interviews 6-8 June 1944

D-Day on Normandy 6 June 1944

101st Airborne Pathfinders on D-Day

Sun Tzu Observes D-Day Invasion of Normandy



---- 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 their liberty and 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 15 years 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.^SM

Our Mission

Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Airman at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Marine at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Aviator at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Seaman at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Infantryman at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Patriot at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Citizen Soldier at a Time^SM 

Need a Good Book, DVD?

Check out these titles.

We would like to send a shout out to our website design partner, InterNet Partners, who has helped us with a variety of database programming and web design over the years.