RARE Grottaglie, and Home Book III- A History of the 449th Bomb Group Book 3 For Sale

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RARE Grottaglie, and Home Book III- A History of the 449th Bomb Group Book 3:
$75.00

During the assembly and publication processes of the first volume of our Group's history, Don Lapham, Group Historian had ofien expressed his concern that someone or some material of historical significance would be omitted. He was so right Soon after its publication, member's stories, diaries, their old war files, pictures, and researched material began to pour in.

One of our members, Bob Bird, undertook a massive research program to provide an accounting of all the Group's airplanes lost in action - and of the Group's members killed or missing. A very formidable task indeed! It has been so arranged as to provide quick and easy access to the reader or historian. Thus, another volume was definitely a must to fill in the omissions

and complete the story of our Group during World War I.

Much credit for the success of our Group in accomplishing it's war mission must go to it's Executive Officer. LCol. Wade Fleischer, now deceased. Assigned to the Group as its Executive Officer until the end of the war in Europe. A firm believer in the

axiom that a clean, efficient, and well disciplined group on the ground produces highly skilled and effective combat teams he provided the continuity of administrative policy and action so essential for the Group's high morale and mission succes:

Not enough praise has been given to the non-combatant "group on the ground, "both assigned and attached. More such members have given us their story in this volume, thus permitting us a better insight into their frustrations, concerns and heartbreak. They provided us support that seemed at times to be above and beyond the call of duty. Of course they bitched!!

Mud, wet. freezing cold, all-night sessions. working with only minimal light and equipment - about dropping and reloading the bombs. just when they thought they were finished

Decause of Mission chance in wee smal hours - and more mud, rain

and COLD! But they were there when the combat teams arrived and the Mission headed off toward the target. They were there when we returned - searching the sky for their bird and dreading the red flares signaling dead or wounded aboara Butch? Yes. certainlv - but bitching is a soldiers privilege!

Without a doubt. they were the best!! Their contribution to the

success of our Groups war effort must be recoenized as outstandme in every respect

No recognition has vet been given to those gallant Yugoslavian crews assigned our Group. They had fled their homelana with the coming of the Nazi, and were now lying missions with us to help defeat the mutual enemy, and drive him from then country. No 50 mission rotation for these fine, brave voung men! Only the end of the war could bring them surcease. Assigned to the 718th Squadron, they flew missions with us regularly, frequently, and on the most dangerous of targets. Thave tried I find some stories of them - their names, their missions, their war experiences - but so far to no avail. We took them in as c part of us - ~ and as a part of us. they too must share in the magnificent mission accomplishments of our Group in the defeat o the Nazi.

And lastly, I believe we must give tribute to the Fighter Groups whose dedicated and gallant pilots protected us so well on

our long and hazardous journey into enemy skies. It was SO great to see them weaving overhead - or to know that they haa secured our route. Before they had the range to provide us cover all the way to the target on our deepest penetrations - hon we dreaded their "Good Luck, Big Boys - see you again on your way home. "Then they got the long range P-5Is, and could give us cover all the way! We sure did like that!! Their air battles - Thave witnessed them in the skies over the Po Valley, Ploesti. Vienna, and Munich - - Were massive, tenacious and vicious. wuhout the protection they gave us. I am convinced that our losses would have been much greater. What a glorious sight u was to see them waiting for us as we left that huge black cloud of flak, and weaving overhead as we made our way home from the target all bruised, crippled, and scared.

Used condition, Library Copy.

Other than usual library markings and some wear on cover pages, the hard cover, and the pages are unmarked and not torn.

RARE Grottaglie, and Home Book III- A History of the 449th Bomb Group Book 3

$75.00

RARE Grottaglie, and Home Book III- A History of the 449th Bomb Group Book 3

$85.00

Antique Majolica hand made Holy water font signed D. Caretta Grottaglie RARE

$245.00

Rare Eddie Bauer Stoneware Utensil Holder/Crock Canister Made In ITALY Pottery

$35.00