The Writing 69th: Links

Sponsored by
Green Harbor Publications

Links

This links page has been updated to reflect new information and sources that have become available in the years following the publication of The Writing 69th:

Damon Rarey's Laughter and Tears
Before his death in 2002, Damon Rarey compiled a book of cartoons called Laughter and Tears that his father, Captain George Rarey, drew during his tenure as a P-47 pilot in the 379th Fighter Squadron. If you can find a copy, you should buy it. It is great.

Dad's War
This site, subtitled Finding and Telling Your Father's World War II Story, provides some good advice for anyone researching a relative's World War II past.

The 303rd Bomb Group home page
The 303rd Bomb Group participated in the mission on February 26, 1943. This site is an excellent testimonial to the men of the 303rd.

The Memphis Belle
The crew of the Memphis Belle participated in the mission on February 26, 1943. This site includes information on the Memphis Belle and also the 91st Bomb Group. The pilot of the Memphis Belle, Robert Morgan, recently wrote a book called "The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle". It is available through the Memphis Belle PX.

Cars, Tanks, and Airplanes of WWII
This site provides a concise summary and link recommendations on this topic.

12 Amazing Facts You Probably Didn't Know About WWII Jeeps
It is clear from the messages we receive from young people that there is a great deal of interest in military vehicles. This site was recommended to us by Kyle from Ms. Martin's summer crafts class. Thank you for the recommendation!

A Brief History of Military Vehicles
Here's another web site that was recommended by a student doing school research on the World Wars. Many thanks to Kerri and her dad Tom!

New Mexico's Role in World War II
This fascinating site was recommended to us by a 12-year-old, self-proclaimed, "military history-nerd." Thanks to Noah and his mom Bianca for the tip!

Model T Ford Trucks Were Used as Ambulances in World War I
An interesting aspect of Ford's Model T is that a truck version of that vehicle was used extensively during World War I as an ambulance. This link provides information on a U.S. Army ambulance unit nicknamed "The Black Cats of Amherst" that used Model T's.

Aviation History in Dayton, Ohio
This short article about aviation history in Dayton, Ohio by a local criminal defense attorney includes a number of great suggestions for additional information on aviation topics including the Wright Brothers, who began their work in Dayton, as well as local aviation landmarks. This article was recommended by Amelia, one of the members of an online aviation history and aircraft education class run by LouAnne Taylor. Many thanks!

From the perspective of the Writing 69th, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton has one of the few surviving B-24 bombers in its collection. Robert Post, New York Times reporter with the Writing 69th, was on a B-24 when it was shot down over Germany in February of 1943. He died along with eight of the ten crewmembers.

A final recommendation: Facebook has become a central gathering place for descendants of military men and women who are looking for information on their ancestor. There are many such pages, but one with particular relevance to the 8th Air Force is the one created for The 8th Air Force Historical Society . You will also find many that are tied to the individual bomb groups. Please note that some of these groups are private, and require you to be approved to join. This is an easy and no-cost step, but assures that everyone who is active in the group has acknowledged that they will follow the rules imposed by the moderators.