[ Post a Response | 457th Bomb Group Message Board ]
Posted by Alan Morton
on 10/28/2008, 11:55 am, in reply to "Photo of Sweater Out Crew"
99.162.86.12
To Whom It May Concern:
I think it might be of interest as to the process that's involved when someone posts a message
on the Message Board about a relative or family member; and is trying to discover a particular
piece of information about a 457th Bomb Group B-17 Flight Crew. Often the inquiry is finding a
group photo of a nine-man Bomber Flight Crew that flew with the 8th Air Force in WWII.
To begin with, there was no set SOP that required each Flight Crew had to have a Crew photo.
Now remember, 9 out of 10 times, even if there was a group photo taken 60+ years ago, the
question is ... "Where is the photo, today?" Next, where are Flight Crew members TODAY?
Are they still alive today? And, where is each Crew Member living or buried? If buried, where
are they buried? Where are the Next of Kin located?
The aforementioned is one horrendous job to undertake. So that's what Sheila, Eric and Alan
have been doing! We've locked-in on one Crew Member so far ... the Waist Gunner S/Sgt.
Robert V. Towle. He is buried in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Gustine, CA. with
Full Military Honors, having served in WWII, shot down and held as a German POW and then
served again as a Korean War Air Force Veteran.
Chin-up more will follow very soon! Cheers, Alan Morton
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