Photo By Karen Abeyasekere | Members of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, 100th BG veterans and their families, are...... read more read more
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RAF MILDENHALL, England -- History and heritage joined forces May 8 to 13 at RAF Mildenhall when veterans, children of veterans, and other family members of the 100th Bombardment Group Foundation visited RAF Mildenhall. Their trip also included visits to many former World War II bases and airfields around East Anglia, including Thorpe Abbots – home of the 100th Bomb Group.
World War II veterans from the 100th BG included Dewey Christopher, retired U. S. Air Force master sergeant and former ground crew chief, and Joe Urice, retired staff sergeant and former tail gunner.
Sons and daughters of other 100th veterans, along with historians and major players of the 100th BG Foundation, were also part of the group. Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, granddaughter of Gen. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, joined the 100th BG Foundation members. Her grandfather was the Eighth Air Force commander from January 1944 to September 1945. On April 18, 1942, then-Lt. Col. Doolittle led the daylight air raid on Toyko after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. His crew on that mission became known as the “Doolittle Raiders.” During World War II, six of the 16 Doolittle Raiders’ crew were from the 95th Bomb Squadron. The 95th BS was redesignated the 95th RS in 1982.
All said they were thrilled at the opportunity to visit England and RAF Mildenhall to celebrate both the 25th anniversary of the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and the 75th anniversary of the 100th BG.
During the war, Thorpe Abbots was an active base and home of B-17 Flying Fortresses. Although many have heard stories from the aircrew who risked their lives every time they flew, fewer have been heard from the ground crew who kept the planes mission-capable. They were kept busy because more often than not the aircraft would return full of bullet holes and with bits missing – if they returned at all.
“My squadron was the 351st Bomb Squadron,” said Dewey. “My dispersal was one of the last ones to go. We were fortunate that all our airplanes were dispersed on the side of the runway where they took off, so we saw every take off, every landing – we were parallel to the runway and the taxiway.
“We used to go down to the west end of the runway and watch them; sometimes they could barely make it, weighed down because of maximum fuel load and maximum bomb load,” he recalled, as he stood on top of the old control tower at Thorpe Abbots, looking down at the surrounding fields which were once active runways and taxiways.
“I never lost an airplane and I had the lead airplane most times,” said Dewey. “I got the Bronze Star for having more than 60 missions without a maintenance report; that meant there weren’t any discrepancies on my airplane,” he said proudly.
Airmen from the 100th ARW worked closely with the 100th BGF visit and spent time with the veterans and their families throughout the week.
“The 100th Bomb Group Foundation visit is important for several reasons – one being that it gave veterans and children of veterans an opportunity to witness our commitment to heritage in action,” said Master Sgt. Andrew Wilder, 100th Maintenance Squadron accessories flight superintendent. “This was on display in our street and conference room names, the abundance of ‘Square Ds’ on the base, and through the respect and care we showed our guests.
“Another reason the visit was important is that they were able to see that the legacy laid down so many years ago lives on through the men and women of the 100th ARW. Our continuing dedication to the mission and to each other, in the face of often overwhelming odds, was evident enough that some in the group noticed how busy the airfield was day and night vs the small amount of Airmen they see around the base,” added Wilder.
Staff at the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, at Thorpe Abbots, described how thrilled they were to have the veterans and families visit them and see how much of their heritage is still preserved today. The museum, run by volunteers, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
“This is a very special occasion for us, having veterans and members of the 100th BG, 100th BG Foundation, and the 100th ARW at our museum,” said Ron Batley, 100th Memorial Museum curator. “Looking back over the many years we’ve been here, it’s obvious that we have a very special relationship with both the 100th BG and 100th ARW. We’re all part of the ‘100th Family.’
“Over the years, we’ve had so many members from the 100th ARW come out here and volunteer to help us paint the buildings and help us keep the area clean and tidy,” continued Batley. “I feel very humbled that Dewey and Joe have come out here today – this is what the museum is about, remembering their work here in World War II, especially the 750 young men who came here but never got the chance to go back home to their families because they were killed in action. That’s why this museum is here – to remember these men and their sacrifices, and what they did for our freedom.”
Gary Christopher, son of Dewey Christopher; Dave Distelrath, son of Victor Distelrath, 100th Bomb Group top turret gunner and engineer, and Nancy Putnam, daughter of Gerald Putnam, 100th BG command pilot, operations and prisoner of war, shared some of their fathers’ stories at a special Storytellers event.
“There’s an underlying theme of resiliency in the ground crews’ everyday existence,” said Gary Christopher, during the Storytellers event May 12. “For the ground crew in that day and age, the hangar was the hardstand, and that winter of 1944 in particular was one of the most brutal winters recorded in the 20th century. They were working through the night in snow, rain, sleet – whatever the weather, they had to get those aircraft ready for the mission the next day. I think that experience, and the resiliency that came from it, formed the rest of my dad’s life, in his work ethic and the way he treated other people.
Christopher explained how his dad’s hardstand was along the main runway, so he could see which planes returned and which ones didn’t, which was very hard for him.
Back then, crew chiefs didn’t typically fly missions, but on the Russian shuttle missions, pilots were having to flying so deep into Eastern Europe they couldn’t get back to England. Christopher said his dad told him a very tenuous agreement had been made with Russia, temporarily allowing them to use some Russian airfields after the incoming mission. The crew were then able to rearm, refuel, spend the night, and do a mission on their return home.
“Dad wanted to go on that mission very much, because in his mind, if he was with his aircrew and truly experienced what they experienced, it would help him let his guys know even more of the responsibility they had to the aircrew, so they would give the best they could deliver.
The 100th BG veteran’s son explained how on the way out, the crew was dropping small arms and supplies to the Polish freedom fighters out in Warsaw, then went on to Russia that night.
“The next morning, they had a mission bombing marshalling yards in Hungary on the way back,” said Christopher, describing how that mission taught his dad a great deal, and that his father told him how it helped him inform his guys about a heavier sense of responsibility that they might otherwise not have felt.
“That was one of the things that really stood out in his time in England, experiencing what combat missions were like from a personal perspective,” said the 100th BG veteran’s son.
The Airmen of today’s Air Force said they enjoyed spending time and interacting with the veterans and families, and the guests were thoroughly impressed with how polite and professional the Airmen of Team Mildenhall were.
“It was my honor to escort the 100th BGF family last week and to be a part of the team that helped make their visit such a positive experience. When their trip came to an end they did not want to leave, but did so knowing the heritage and legacy they’ve worked so hard to preserve is in our most capable hands,” Wilder said.
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2017 11:18 |
| Story ID: | 235061 |
| Location: | RAF MILDENHALL, SUFFOLK, GB |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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