The best explanation I can come up with is THIS plane (shown in the picture below) was used on their first mission together as a crew. Tepee Time Gal was also a famous plane in the squadron because of the number of missions this plane completed during the war.
I found this picture on the Internet. I was probably taken near the end of the war. The picture I have of dad shows about 40 less missions (Dec 44) than pictured here. The picture above shows "Tepee Time Gal" completing 120 missions! In the picture with Dad's crew, the number of missions lines up with a Dec 44 timeline which would be consistent with it being their first mission together.
13 comments:
Thanks Rod, love this stuff.
My name is Bethany Merritt Jenkins and my Grandfather James Bently Merritt was a crew member. I would love to see any pictures you have of the entire crew. Would you please e-mail me at bethany.jenkins@wolseley.com?
Hi, My name is Joe Hernandez and my grandfather's name is Robert Hernandez and he was the radio operator/waist gunner aboard the "Tee Pee Time Gal"...I was wondering if you and I could exchange photos My grandpa has that picture of the side of the plane in his office. I have a picture of him and the whole squadron on my mantle....my email is JMHernandez126@yahoo.com
i have some photos of 743rd out at http://www.keefner.com/susan
Craig Keefner
My Father, Seymour "Sy" Gaynes, Col., AUS (ret.) was the navigator of the original Tepee Time Gal crew, 1/44-7/44. I am lucky in that he is still alive and loves to talk about his WWII and Korean War experiences. We have many pics of Tepee Time Gal, and some great stories. I even went to the last reunion of the 743rd with him two years ago. Feel free to contact me at:
fortdearborn1@yahoo.com
Marc Gaynes
Chicago
The grandfather Marshall Deitz . Was the ORDNANCE AND ARMORER, 743RD SQUAD DIVISION, 455TH BOMB GROUP H. SERVICE IN ITALY FROM 12/14/43 TO 8/25/45. He was a sergent . He had 7 guys and 7 planes on his crew and Tee Pee Time gal was 1 of them
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=5760&popcount=1&tcount=1
My grandfather Marshall Deitz who is still alive was a
ORDNANCE AND ARMORER, 743RD SQUAD DIVISION, 455TH BOMB GROUP H. SERVICE IN ITALY FROM 12/14/43 TO 8/25/45.
He had sergant he had 7 guys on his crew and 7 Planes Tee Pee Time Gal. being one of them
If you click on this lick there is a very clear picture of him by this plane
The grandfather Marshall Deitz .
Was the ORDNANCE AND ARMORER, 743RD SQUAD DIVISION, 455TH BOMB GROUP H. SERVICE IN ITALY FROM 12/14/43 TO 8/25/45.
He was a sergent . He had 7 guys and 7 planes on his crew and Tee Pee Time gal was 1 of them
click on this link for a cliear pic of him by the plane
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=5760&popcount=1&tcount=1
My dad Jim O'Boyle was tail gunner on Mr Gayne'S crew.Dad called him Sammy
Mr Brooks was their pilot
would appreciate you all sharing more TeePee Time Gal and crew photos..
Jim Jr
junkMAILforJIM@aol.com
Thanx
I updated my links so that the older links work (I upgraded my web platform).
See http://keefner.com/susan/
Edited and transcribed events related by Mr. William Hess. Plane they flew was Teepee Time Gal. -- 15th Air Force, 455th Bomb Group, 743rd Bomb Squadron
Bob Helbig, our pilot, his brother was there when we got there. That was Jack Helbig.
In the front part of the plane, there was George Winkleman, he was from Philadelphia, nose gunner. he was from Perryville(?), Missouri, Charley Van Doren. And John Wade was from Mississippi, he was upper turret and engineer. And I think I told you Gerry Graham was the waist gunner, who stayed in and became a jet pilot in Viet Nam and Korea. And then Emil Kirschbaum (Chicago) was our tail gunner and Martin Schwab was the co-pilot. And Ed was the navigator and Walter Heidmous was our bombardier. I think I mentioned to you that Walter's two sons graduated from the Air Force Academy.
My grandfather was Lt Edward Johnson and was the navigator on Tepee Time Gal. This would be his second plan his first was Menacing Messalina. My grandfather passed away when I was three and my dad passed in 1999. I would love to learn more about the crew and anyone who had more pictures to share. I only have two photos of my grandfather with the crews of the plans. The photo I have of him in front of Tepee Time Gal says on the back that he was standing next to the plane where Big Ed was painted on the plane. I guess they gave him a Nick name he stood about 6 foot 5. Please contact me at garntfly@gmail.com and
My husband's great grandfather was the bottom ball turret gunner on the first flight William Gordon. I've been looking for pictures of the first group but can't find any..if anyone can help I'd appreciate it
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