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Oregon Chapter
8th Air Force
Historical Society

Preserving the history of the Mighty 8th

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Eighth Air Force War Experiences
1942 - 1945 Oregon Chapter Stories, In Their Words

The Oregon Memories Project

The Oregon Chapter started this "memories" project back in the late 1990s. Each member was sent a request to write down their memories of the time they served in the Eighth Air Force during World War Two. Some cover from the time they joined, their training, and their combat experiences to VJ day. Some items are just a paragraph. Original documents like log books have been donated.

Explanation of copyright usage and the Color coded Options

Each Participant chose how they wanted the Oregon Chapter to "treat" the account of their experiences. Items donated to the 8thAFHS Oregon means that the copyright owner retains the rights and they may need to be contacted directly prior to using their works. Please respect Copyright laws!

Over 95% of items can be freely used without gaining prior permission from the owner. Documents in the chapter archive that can be freely used without prior permission are so stated by their respective authors and are designated asOption #1.Note: the designation for these copyrighted works is on the notice sheet of each PDF document. The Color Code below identifies each of the options.

About the PDF Files

Most of the PDF files are old (late 90's), PDF 1.4 Acrobat V4 or younger and some are password/permission protected from being edited.
As a result...
These .pdf archives are optimally viewed with the Adobe Reader software. Adobe Reader is free and can be downloaded from the links below...

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Index of Oregon Chapter Members Contributions

Clicking on a name below will take you to a brief bio of the Chapter Member.
Clicking on a colored tab in the "bio" opens a pdf file

A left mouse click will open the PDF document in your browser
a right mouse click will allow you to down load the PDF document for viewing in Adobe's Acrobat.

The Contributors:

  1. Andrew Brown
  2. Joe Conroy
  3. Vern Holmqueist
  4. Eldon Bevens
  5. Hal Hagerty
  6. Maurice Druhl
  7. Frank S. Payne
  8. Elden R. Dahl
  9. Richard T. Nielson
  10. Roland Stewart
  11. Foster Rodda
  12. Dallas 0. Brooks
  13. Nathaniel Glickman
  14. Tom Dougherty
  15. B-17 Painting
  16. Bob Carter
  17. George F. Perry
  18. Mortin N. Terrill
  19. Jack B. Young
  20. Corbin B. Willis. Jr.
  21. Everett Perry
  22. Lawrence J. Bellarts
  23. Charles E. Gallagher
  24. Charles W. Hawkins
  25. Fred Knox
  26. Marvin F. Knight
  27. Lawrence R. Fick
  28. John Horne
  29. Pete Hardiman
  30. Ramsey Fendall
  31. Scott Payne
  32. Richard Knox
  33. 306th BG
  34. Walter Groce
  35. Clinton A Gruber

Andrew Brown

Navigator B-17
457th BG

Documents donated:
[1] Combat History
[2] List of Combat Missions
[3] Battle Casualty Report
[3A] Vote for President in 1944

Joe Conroy

Ball Turret Gunner B-17
306th BG

Documents donated:
[4] List of Combat Missions
[5] Combat Diary
[6] List of Targets
[7] List of WWII Stations

Vern Holmquist

Bombsight B-17
390th BG

Documents donated:
[8] Personal Story of Base Life Technician
[9] Personal Story of Base Life
[10] Bear Cub - Geiger Field 1943
[11] “The A-I Autopilot Could Not Outsmart The Navigator” C121 The Norden Bombsight Department

Eldon Bevens

Ball Turret B-17
390th BG

Documents donated:
World War Two Memories Project
[12] Story to His Grandchildren of Gunner Wartime Experiences

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Hal Hagerty

Top Turret B-17
388th BG

Documents donated:
[13] B-17 Midair Collision Report Waist Gunner
[14] Hagerty’s Letter on Collision
[15] News Report on Finding Crash Site

Richard T. Nielson

Pilot B-17
305th BG

Documents donated:
[24] Christmas 1944
Most Memorable Mission
List of Assignments and Missions
2002 Picture Nielson in front of B-17.

Roland Stewart

B-17 Ball Turret
B-17 Waist Gunner
466th BG

Documents donated:
[26] Report by Stewart’s waist gunner on their Feb. 15, 1945 mission
[27] Report of Group’s Activities Sept. 6th, 7th, 8th and 19th

Foster Rodda

Pilot B-17

Documents donated:
[28] Report of November 1943 Mission to Bomb Sub Pens & Oil Refinery

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Dallas 0. Brooks

Pilot B-17
99th BG

Documents donated:
[29] Obituary

Nathaniel Glickman

Bombardier B-24
44th BG

Documents donated:
[30] Silver Star Citation

Tom Dougherty

Waist Gunner B-17
398th BG

Documents donated:
[31] A Night To Remember
[32] My Final Mission
[33] Tom Dougherty Reunion
[34] Tom Dougherty The Fall Guy
Deceased Jan. 17, 2002 Dawn Dougherty

B-17 Painting

by Mark Clapsadle

[35] "Queen of Hearts"
Chapter Members Aircraft

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Bob Carter

Co-Pilot B-17
388th BG

Documents donated:
Letters to His Grandchildren
[36] “My First Mission”
[37] Report on One Mission
[38] “A Pair”
[39] “Scrubbed”
[40] “A Piece of Cake”

Mortin N. Terrill

Pilot B-17
351st BG

Documents donated:
[56] Combat Poem "Flight of the Fortress"
Courtesy Terrill’s widow Sandra Terrill

Jack B. Young

Engineer B-17
401st BG

Documents donated:
[43] 47 pg 8th Air Force Memories Gunner (Binder)

Corbin B. Willis. Jr.

Pilot B-17
486th BG

Documents donated:
[44] Binder 26 pg Personal Memories Finance Officer.

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Everett Perry

Pilot B-17
95th BG

Documents donated:
[45] 42 pg My View of WWII (Binder)

Lawrence J. Bellarts

Pilot B-17
490th BG

Documents donated:
[46] 100 pg Book “Red Tailed Peacemaker”

Charles E. Gallagher

Engineer
Gunner I B-17
95th BG

World War 2 Memories Project
Webpage includes links to
[48] 96th Bomb Group Interview
and other WW2 Family Memories

Charles W. Hawkins

Squadron B-17
401st BG
Deceased 2001 - Widow, Dawn Hawkins

World War Two Memories Project
Documents donated:

[50] Citation for Distinguished Flying Cross
[51] Certificate of Proficiency [Combat Wing Lead Bombardier]
[52] Bomb Strike Photos [Fourteen]
[53] Picture of Hawkin’s Aircraft
[54] Pictures General Eisenhower Visit to Base to Dedicate B-17 in His Name
[55] Bomb Strikes Mission July 25, 1944

Web Page links above documents and more...

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Richard Knox

Communications Officer
Tail Gunner
95th Bomb Group H

Chronological Record of Assignment to 95th Bomb Group H

Marvin F. Knight

Engineer
Top Turret Gunner B-17
493rd BG

Documents No longer available
From Knight’s widow Virginia Knight
Part I Report of 493rd’s Combat Mission #109 - Berlin on Feb. 3, 1945.
[57] List of crews by aircraft [Knight in Ship # 297- White]
[58] Intelligence Report inc. aircraft formation after assembly and over target
[59] Group Bombardiers Narrative of Mission.
[60] Feb. 6 Group Bombardier’s Let to Hdq on early release of bombs on Feb 3rd mission.

Lawrence R. Fick

Lead Navigator
458 BG(H)
Bomb Group 752 Squadron

Document donated:
[61] 127 Pages World War II in Europe and A Farm Boy From Oregon (Binder)

John Horne

Tail Gunner B-17
467th BG

No Links available
[100] Video Tape When Willie Comes Marching Home 1 Hour -23 Minutes
[101] Five Stories Lady be Good 45 Minutes
[102] Air Force in Sacramento Valley 1 Hour Plus
[103] Doolittle- Destination Tokyo
[104] Torpedo Eight Squadron

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Pete Hardiman

Fighter Pilot

Documents:
[105] P47, P-51

Ramsey Fendall

Gunner B-17
351st BG

Document:
[112] 20 pages Memoirs of Ramsey Fendall (Binder)

Scott Payne

Pilot B-17
452nd BG

Document: [113] 140 pages Memoirs of Frank Scott Payne (Binder)

Maurice Druhl

Pilot B-26
323BG
Died Mar. 22,2002

Documents returned to Mrs. Druhl
[16] Picture
[17] Stars & Stripes News Report on Ditching in the Channel
[18] Report by Walter Chronkite on Druhl’s Crew on a Mission
[19] Own Story of Being Shot Down
[20] Correspondence on "Sea Squatters Club” “Caterpillar Club” and “The Golden Fish Club”

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Frank S. Payne

Pilot B-17
452nd BG

Documents donated:
[21] Report of “Shot Down over Wesphalia”
[22] German Civilian’s Report of His Landing
[23] Own Story of Being Shot Down

Elden R. Dahl

Pilot B-17
99th BG

Documents donated:
[24] 99th BG Press Release 15th Air Force

Crew Photos 306th BG

B-17 Squadrons
367
368
369
423

306th Bomb Group Newsletters 1975 - 2000

800 pages. [From Joe Conroy]

George F. Perry

Pilot B-17
99th BG

No local document available, the story is online at the website "War Fare History Network" Article is "From Pilot to POW."

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Walter Groce

56 Fighter Group
Flying P-47 Thunderbolts

Videos of P-47 Thunderbolts from August 1944 till the end of the war.

Clinton A Gruber

Pilot B-24
93rd BG

Documented on website:
"http://www.merkki.com"
"World War II - Prisoners of War - Stalag Luft I"

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