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Some of you might remember mention of our film project titled: The Last Liberator. We had submitted the project to the National Endowment for the Humanities for a Media Makers grant. We were hoping for a little financial support to get the film project underway. Knowing that the NEH had awarded sizable grants to films that featured subjects like Annie Oakley or $250,000 to the preservation, arrangement, and description of 400 linear feet of records and the digitization of selected photographs pertaining to the Minnequa Steel Works ….we felt our chances were pretty good. Surprisingly, we found out (in a roundabout way) that the proposal was denied NEH financial support.

Well, dagnabbit, we are moving forward! The Collings Foundation is in the process of pitching The Last Liberator as part of a larger series to a couple major TV networks. We are looking for B-24 and B-17 crewmembers to participate in a series of interviews. Are you a WWII Liberator Veteran or do you know one that would make a great interview? Let us know! Please send a short biography and picture to Hunter Chaney at hchaney@collingsfoundation.org.

At 1012 hours, on October 14, 1943, in weather so foul that takeoff and ascent was by instruments only, the 8th Army Air Force, also known as the Mighty 8th, dispatched the first of 383 heavy bombers bound for the town of Schweinfurt Germany, 460 miles distant. Since fifty seven percent of all bearings used by Germany were made in this city, it was at the top of the list of strategic targets for the allied forces and had already received a first ruinous attack on August 17, 1943.

After failures to rendezvous and  many bombers forced to abort the mission, 291 B-17s crossed the English Channel, making landfall at Walcheren Island, Netherlands and entering German-controlled airspace over the continent. Some of the bombers were initially protected by friendly fighter escort which, low on fuel, were forced to turn back about half way to the target, near Aachen. The bomber stream was immediately set upon by Luftwaffe fighter aircraft which engaged in attacks all the way to the target. An estimated 1,100 fighter and other Luftwaffe aircraft participated in the attacks, most making multiple passes and many landing, refueling and rearming to rejoin the battle. After passing the IP (Initial Point) at Wurzburg only 228 B-17s remained to drop bombs on Schweinfurt. Over the target six hundred (mostly 88mm) FLAK guns on the ground around Schweinfurt manned by Luftwaffen Flakhelfers (LWH) or Flak Helpers put up a blistering flak barrage. Unlike previous missions, the Luftwaffe fighters did not disengage over the target, but flew through the tremendous flak barrage, making almost suicidal attacks on the bombers. After bombs away the vicious attacks by Luftwaffe fighters and other aircraft resumed and continued, disengaging deep into France or, in some instances, not until the bombers reached the English Channel on the return flight to England.

The battle brought great losses to both sides. Sixty B-17s were lost to flak and fighters, and with ten man crews, 600 air crewmen went missing. Some (an estimated 120) lost their lives in the burning, badly damaged, crashed planes. Most became prisoners of war. Five additional B-17s were lost in England on return. Seventeen additional aircraft were so damaged they could never fly again. On the ground in Schweinfurt, 276 people died and countless more were injured. Hundreds had to be freed from shelters, having been trapped by fallen debris. Businesses and homes were razed. Valuable and treasured possessions were destroyed. Consequently, October 14, 1943 - Mission 115, became known as "Black Thursday" in American military history and one of the greatest air battles of World War II.

Thirty years later some of the survivors from the Mighty 8th, including Colonel Budd Peaslee, S/Sgt. Phillip Taylor and 1st Lt. William Allen decided to form an organization to commemorate their fallen comrades-in-arms. They called it the Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association, Inc. (SSMA), giving it direct connection to the second air raid on Schweinfurt.

Initially, the full members of this association were all veterans of the 8th Air Force who flew on Mission 115. Every year the members, and their families and friends, meet in a different city in the United States around the 14th of October to honor their dead fellow airmen.

But there is more to this story: At the 50th Anniversary, two Germans, Dr. Helmut Katzenberger and Vomar Wilckens came to the reunion in New Orleans to present to the group information they had on that fateful day. Then in 1996, the SSMA members invited more of their former enemies, including Georg Schaefer, whose grandfather founded one of the "targeted" ball bearing factories, to attend their reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Schaefer, now retired from the Board of Directors of FAG Kugelfischer, had served, along with his classmates, in one of the 88mm Flakbatteries around Schweinfurt. He brought many artifacts from "Black Thursday". Many of these artifacts are permanently included in the Second Schweinfurt display at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia.

It was at this reunion that the Americans suggested erecting a joint memorial remembering this mission. Mr. Schaefer presented this idea to his fellow Luftwaffenhelfers, who embraced the idea and on June 16, 1998 a German American Memorial was dedicated on a site alongside the former “Spitalsee” air raid shelter in Schweinfurt. The memorial was created by G. Hubert Neidhard (3/3/28 - 5/14/99), who was an art teacher at Alexander von Humboldt High School in Schweinfurt and a flak-helper in his hometown during the war.

This started the amicable meetings between members of the SSMA and the former flak helpers. In 1999, a group of former flak helpers, accompanied by Gudrun Grieser, Lord Mayor of the City of Schweinfurt, attended the reunion in Savannah, Georgia. Reno, Nevada was the site of the 2000 Reunion. In 2001, SSMA decided to hold their reunion in Schweinfurt, the first time the organization had held their meeting outside of the U.S. Sixty two participants from the U.S. attended despite the disastrous events in New York and Washington on September 11. Fort Worth was the site of the 2002 Reunion. Seattle - 2003 and in 2004, the members will return to Schweinfurt.

The bonding between former enemies is an impressive sign of active reconciliation, but also an admonition to future generations to do all they can so that horrors like those in the 20th century are never repeated. The inscription on the German American Memorial speaks to the bond between these two groups: "Dedicated by some who witnessed the tragedy of war, now united in friendship and the hope for lasting peace among all people".

I am posting directions to access the holdings of the 8th Air Force Archives that are housed at Penn State University. Included are the papers of and materials acquired by James Hill during his tenure as editor of the 8th Air Force News. Also included are donations from the PA 8th Air Force Historical Society and many artifacts donated to the archive by individual veterans from Pennsylvania. While unable to view the actual material on-line if you find something of interest I can help you to obtain the additional information. There are a number of folks who have asked me about the collection (knowing I work in the PSU library system). If you ever find yourself in central PA I would urge you to stop by.

Instructions on How to Find the Special Collections Collection Guides and Inventories Webpage

1. Open the Penn State Libraries’ website at:

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul.html

2. Click on Departments (left side of the screen)

3. Click on Special Collections Library

4. Click on Search Collections (left side of the screen under Special Collections Information)

5. To find particular collection, click on the letter that it begins with

6. Scroll down the collection and click the link to the inventory

Please follow the link below to read a report on Black Thursday.  It was written in German and translated into English by the author Werner Eich.  Werner is one of our German members.  Thanks for sharing Werner.

http://verymiscellaneous.blogspot.com/2011/05/schweinfurt-14101943-black-thursday.html

I would like to hear from any SSMA member who has either visited the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force or used features that are available on or through its homepage.  I am planning a visit to Savannah, would like to make the most out of a visit to the Museum and hope some of your commentaries/suggestions might help.  In advance, thanks.

This is my first post, so please don't be too tough on me. My uncle, T/Sgt Vaughn E. Bowers was KIA 14 Oct 1943. He was the Right Waist Gunner (RWG) aboard the subject aircraft. I have been able to confirm the final resting places of the  crew members, except James Giebel. of Pennsboro, WV. If anyone can help, please advise. Also, I have been able to discover that 654 was shot down by Leutnant Hans Reuter of 9/III./JG11, flying a Bf-109G-6 ( with a WGr21 unguided rocket. This was Ltn. Reuter's only recorded victory. Reuter was forced to bail out at least twice during the War, first from a Bf109G-6 (Serial No. 15613, ST+QP), in combat with a P-51 over Ornbeck at 1045 7/28/1943, after taking off from Oldenburg to intercept B-17's. He staid with his plane until he was over a more sparsely populated area before bailing.  Nevertheless his plane crashed directly into a family residence and catapulted over the house into an adjacent farm field. The inhabitants of the house had gone to the basement for shelter from the American air raid, except for the grandmother, who was on the first floor. Miraculously, she was unhurt. Hans Reuter came down nearby in his pararchute, only slightly injured. Reuter had to bail out again on 10/22/1944. This time from a Focke-Wulf FW-190A-8 (Serial No. 960213), "Blue 9", due to an engine failure. He was seriously injured and rushed to a field hospital (Reserve-Lazarett) in Salzwedel. The incident occurred at 0935 in Nierensen, 4KM east of Markt-Friedland. I have been unable to learn whether Ltn. Hans Reuter survived the War. The last surviving member of the 654 crew was Raphael Conrad Simeroth, the tail gunner I made contact with him just before his death in 2008. The best story I came across during my research, came from Viktor Jagodics, an SSMA member in Germany. Viktor is a wonderful resource and tireless historical researcher. The story is of the local farm lady who lived near Bischbrunn, where 654 was shot down. As the SS were rounding up the survivors of the two B-17's shot down in the immediate area, the woman, who was working in the field, witnessed the abuse and inhumane treatment of the men, some of whom were injured and/or in shock. She lit into the SS men with her hay rake, berating them and telling them that her son was a POW in America and was being treated well. Sorta gives you some hope for this troubled world in which we live. Wouldn't it be great to be able to find the descendants of that lady and say,"Thank you".  Thanks for that story Viktor. It was worth all the work.

Standing at the Second Schweinfurt Memorial on October 14, 2013 for the service, hearing the letter from SSMA President Bud Klint and a wonderful sermon of our protestant minister, Dieter Schorn, I decided to turn in my application for membership to the SSMA eventually. It would be a great honor for me to be given membership of this wonderful means of peacekeeping among peoples and I am sure my dad, the late Christian Kämpf, will be proud and happy too.

For those of you that attend our reunions look very closely at Rosie on the right.  I bet you can guess who it is!!!!!  Yep, she still looks the same.  Mom worked as a dental hygienist before the war and knew Dad in that capacity as there was only one dentist in the area where they grew up.  Soon though, her dentist enlisted and she was without a job.  First she and a friend went to Maryland to work in a munitions factory.  When she came home to visit with orange hair rather than her coal black tresses my Grandfather did not permit her to return.  Then she heard from a friend (Dora in the photo)  who was working in Pittsburgh who asked her to come out there to work.  She worked on LSTs for Dravo Corp. http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=978.  She bought her nylons on the black market and hitched a ride to work with "Some old men in the neighborhood"  They were in their 40's!

After Dad was wounded he first spent some months in the hospital in Oxford and then was transported home via a hospital ship in the middle of a convoy.  In the states he was first in a hospital in Framingham, Mass until they could determine the VA hospital closest to home.  That ended up being the DeShong VA hospital in Butler, PA. which is about 30 miles north of PIttsburgh.  All the people from "home" who were working in Pittsburgh at the time decided they should go visit "Kenny"  and now you know the rest of the story.  Dad was still pretty much immobile.  He had been placed in a full body cast in order to enable his leg to heal.  (I'll save the details of how they "cleaned" his wound for another day, yuck)  Minnie was soon helping Kenny make leather wallets in physical therapy.

The Rosie character was associated with Rose Will Monroe who worked at the Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Yipsilanti, Michigan.  The factory now houses a museum.  The factory was built by the Ford family to build B-24 and B-29 bombers.  It is next to the airfield that hosts the Thunder Over Michigan airshow.

Thanks to Mom and all the Rosies

Gen. McLaughlin at our memorial at the National Museum of the Eighth Air Force in Pooler, GA  (2013 reunion)

ONLY BY THE GRACE OF DIVINE SELECTION OR SOME OTHER UNKNOWN AND UNFATHOMABLE STROKE OF FORTUNE WE WERE PRESERVED TO ESTABLISH THIS MEMORIAL AT THIS SITE FOR THE FALLEN HEROES OF THE NATION. IN OUR OWN MEMORIES ARE IMPRINTED THE UNFORGETABLE SIGHTS WE SAW AND FELT THE INDESCRIBABLE TERROR AS WE WATCHED THE HOLOCAUST UNROLL BEFORE US.

IT IS THESE FEELINGS THAT HAVE INSPIRED US TO ESTABLISH IN INDESTRUCTIBLE STONE AND METAL MEMORY OF THE VALIANT YOUNG MEN OF YESTERYEAR. (Col. Budd Peaslee portion of dedication address of the Second Schweinfurt Memorial tree and marker at Arlington National Cemetery)

                                                                    Lt. Col Budd Peaslee, Mission 115                                                                     Commander, 384th BG)

BOURNE — Col. Walter L. Bzibziak, 92, passed away Sept. 2, 2012, at Bourne Manor Extended Care Facility.

He was born in Buffalo, N.Y., to Leo and Mary (Govern) Bzibziak on May 13, 1920.

He graduated from Hutchinson Central Technical High School in Buffalo and worked for the telephone company, before enlisting in the Army Air Corps on March 12, 1942. As a pilot, he flew B-17s over Europe during World War II. His service career took him through World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. During the course of his career he flew many aircraft, but his favorite was the B-17. During the 2nd Schweinfurt Mission, Oct. 14, 1943, Black Thursday, the famous air battle had 219 bomber planes going up, with 77 lost and 121 damaged. Walter's plane sustained 302 holes. He was stationed at Otis Air Force Base in 1955, where he served until his retirement. Other postings include Greenland, Seattle, and the Philippines.

He never considered himself a hero — just a survivor. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal 3 Oak Clusters, Presidential Citation 4 Oak Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, Europe/Africa/Middle East Campaign Medal, World War II Medal, Army of Occupation Medal-Germany, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Air Force Reserve Medal- Bronze, and the Presidential Unit Citation. He retired from Otis Air Force Base on June 30, 1970.

Upon retirement, Walter went to work as the superintendent, managing the Forbes' Nuachon Island Trust, and retired after five years. In 2000, Walter attended the West Haven VA, Connecticut computer school for the blind, where he learned new life skills which opened up a whole new world for him to meet and keep in touch with friends.

He was active with the Ham Radio Club of Falmouth, the Knights of Columbus, the Blinded Veterans Association in Boston and Providence, the 379th Bomb Group, and the Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association. The SSMA meets once a year to commemorate the air battle and now has members from both side of the conflict, Americans and Germans, who were as young as 14 at the time. The Germans have hosted the reunion several times, the first after 9/11/01, when Walter, then blind, traveled to the reunion by himself, quite a feat for a "blind guy." He was active for many years with the Falmouth Road Race and the Barnstable County Fair.

He is survived by his present wife, Constance Bzibziak; son Guy Bzibziak of Everett; stepchildren Robert and Marjorie Campbell of Pocasset; and nephews Lesley Kuhn of Seneca Falls, N.Y., and Robert Ciepiela of Buffalo.

He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy, stepson David Vincent, sisters Mary Ciepiela and Anne Marie Bzibziak of Buffalo, and nephew Gerald Ciepiela of Buffalo.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Bourne Manor and Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod for their compassionate care and kindness during his last days with us.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in St. Joseph's Church, 33 Mill Field St., Woods Hole, MA 02543; 508-548-0990.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made in his name to the Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association, 13 Wicklow Court, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, attn: Dick Fox.

For online guest book and directions, www.­ccgfuneralhome.com.

Please follow this link to the completed article that was written by Roy Gottens from the Netherlands.  SSMA is supporting the community of Beek in their development of a memorial to this crew.  The dedication will take place in October 2017.  During the next year educational initiatives with the schools will be developed.  Thank you Roy

Thunder%20in%20Heaven.pdf

happy new year from england,best wishes julie pendered and family and the gell family of riseley bedfordshire xx