[gofastsandman]

Papa flew right seat in a B 24 named "Hell`s Angel" outta Venosa , Italy Sept `44- April `45. The Tuskeegee Airmen often flew cover for them. Papa loved them. They always stayed with them unless the were forced to engage. No glory hounds, just did their jobs well. Unfortunately the P 51`s had limited range compared to the Bombers.On the 17 hr. runs to the Polesti oil fields there was only one way in and out and of course the Germans knew this. I have about 48 Brownie snapshots from his time there. Some showing the heavy flack and anti aircraft shells they were about to fly through. His best friend and tail gunner died in Papa`s arms on Papa`s 21`st birthday. I have his leather patch from The 485thBG 831`s BS designed by Walt Disney among other things.

I`ve found 5 other Hell`s Angel iterations of nose art. The Sonny Barger connection is interesting.

I would love an autographed hardcover.

Grandpa trained for the Escadrille Americain, but fortunately the war ended before he saw action. My favorite entry in his diary is just this.

Engine failure, forced landing.

What must have been going through his mind?

Cheers,
GFS