G
Photos WW2 US Forces
G
guest0001
Guest
While flyovers are common at sporting events today, one particular flyby in 1943 caught spectators and players by surprise as it was totally unplanned!
Lt. Jack W. Watson of the U.S. Army Air Force and his crew, along with three other crews, were flying to Maine as a stopover en route to England. As they passed New York City, The 21-year-old freckled-face Watson realized that the World Series was just starting and decided to do an impromptu visit. The flight of four Flying Fortresses buzzed Yankee Stadium where the Yankees were taking on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the 1943 World Series. They enjoyed it so much, they decided to make two more passes, on the third pass flying so low, one reporter said it looked like they would clip the stadium's flag poles!
New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, who attended the game, was outraged and demanded the USAAF investigate. They did, but given the need for pilots in World War II, the four pilots, including Watson, were given a $75 fine and the matter was dropped.
As for Watson, he would go on to complete 35 missions in the war effort and in a radio interview remarked that he hoped Mayor La Guardia, would forgive him. La Guardia, hearing of Watson’s plea, sent him a cable stating:
“Delighted to get your message. All is forgiven. Congratulations. I hope you never run out of altitude. Happy landings. Will be seeing you soon.”
Lt. Jack W. Watson of the U.S. Army Air Force and his crew, along with three other crews, were flying to Maine as a stopover en route to England. As they passed New York City, The 21-year-old freckled-face Watson realized that the World Series was just starting and decided to do an impromptu visit. The flight of four Flying Fortresses buzzed Yankee Stadium where the Yankees were taking on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the 1943 World Series. They enjoyed it so much, they decided to make two more passes, on the third pass flying so low, one reporter said it looked like they would clip the stadium's flag poles!
New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, who attended the game, was outraged and demanded the USAAF investigate. They did, but given the need for pilots in World War II, the four pilots, including Watson, were given a $75 fine and the matter was dropped.
As for Watson, he would go on to complete 35 missions in the war effort and in a radio interview remarked that he hoped Mayor La Guardia, would forgive him. La Guardia, hearing of Watson’s plea, sent him a cable stating:
“Delighted to get your message. All is forgiven. Congratulations. I hope you never run out of altitude. Happy landings. Will be seeing you soon.”
G
guest0001
Guest
The rather ornate entrance to the 345th School Squadron at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas in 1942.
Kelly Field ( now a part of Lackland AFB) became a major USAAF Air Service Command Base during WW2.
(LIFE / Steinheimer)
Kelly Field ( now a part of Lackland AFB) became a major USAAF Air Service Command Base during WW2.
(LIFE / Steinheimer)
G
guest0001
Guest
Wherever the military went, the Press went too!
The Press tent is marked accordingly. Okinawa. circa 1945.
(LIFE / Smith)
The Press tent is marked accordingly. Okinawa. circa 1945.
(LIFE / Smith)
G
guest0001
Guest
The PTO equivalent of "Joe's Garage and Body Shop".
Jeeps fixed While-U-Wait!
Rabaul, November 1943.
The Jeep in question is suspended by the boom of a Set #7 crane at the rear of a long wheel base GMC CCKW 353 2.1/2 ton truck.
(LIFE / Shrout))
Jeeps fixed While-U-Wait!
Rabaul, November 1943.
The Jeep in question is suspended by the boom of a Set #7 crane at the rear of a long wheel base GMC CCKW 353 2.1/2 ton truck.
(LIFE / Shrout))
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,619
- Points
- 463
US Army troops of the 35th Infantry Regiment (25th ID) push a supply raft up the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal; January 1943. The 35th participated in seizing the village of Kokumbona and trapping the Japanese in the Mount Austen Pocket ending organized resistance on Guadalcanal on 9-Feb-1943.
Wounded soldier assisted down a hillside and then taken by boat to a hospital; 15-January-1943
Wounded soldier assisted down a hillside and then taken by boat to a hospital; 15-January-1943
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,619
- Points
- 463
B-24 Liberator “Memories” of the 465th Bomb Group over Ferrara, Italy, on June 5, 1944.
Several sources identify this plane as 42-52456. Interestingly it would be shot down the very next day. June 6, 1944.
Here are a few of the Missing Air Crew Report pages. All 10 crew were able to bail out, were captured, and returned home after the war. The pilot, Glenferd E Funk actually died only a few years ago in 2015.
Quoting a few of the observations of the crash from other planes (the plane is described as "White A" which also matches the above photograph):
Several sources identify this plane as 42-52456. Interestingly it would be shot down the very next day. June 6, 1944.
Here are a few of the Missing Air Crew Report pages. All 10 crew were able to bail out, were captured, and returned home after the war. The pilot, Glenferd E Funk actually died only a few years ago in 2015.
Quoting a few of the observations of the crash from other planes (the plane is described as "White A" which also matches the above photograph):
.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,619
- Points
- 463
A destroyed American M4A1 Sherman on the Zeppelinfeld, part of the Nazi Rally Grounds at Nuremberg. The scene of massive Nazi rallies during the 1930s, the city and grounds were captured by American forces after fierce fighting between the 16th and 20th April 1945.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,619
- Points
- 463
US paratrooper fires a bazooka at a Japanese pillbox on Greary Point, Corregidor; 19-Feb-1945. Bazooka’s were not always effective against the coconut log and sand emplacements found on islands as softer structures could reduce a warhead's impact enough to prevent detonation of the explosive charge.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,619
- Points
- 463
Battle of Peleliu. 15 September – 27 November 1944 Cpl Peter P. Zacharko stands by a captured Japanese 141mm mortar, which rained shells down on the landing beaches and on the Marines as they proceeded inland.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,619
- Points
- 463
An M4A3 (75) Sherman tank and combat soldiers of the Ohio National Guard 37th Infantry Division ( "Buckeye Division") cautiously probe the area from Japanese defenders in Luzon, the Philippines. January, 1945.
Similar threads
