Comments on: World War II: Eyewitness to the Raid on Ploesti http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:15:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Isherwood http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-786011 Isherwood Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:35:36 +0000 #comment-786011 My Grandfather, Charles Isherwood, was a Flight Engineer & Top Turret Gunner aboard one of the B-24s that flew missions against Ploesti. He and his crew were shot down and became POWs in a Romanian POW Camp. He doesn't talk about it too much, I am trying to find out as much as I can, and have him still help me with the details, but I try not to pry too much with each visit. If any body following this story has any info relating I appreciate it. My Grandfather, Charles Isherwood, was a Flight Engineer & Top Turret Gunner aboard one of the B-24s that flew missions against Ploesti. He and his crew were shot down and became POWs in a Romanian POW Camp.

He doesn't talk about it too much, I am trying to find out as much as I can, and have him still help me with the details, but I try not to pry too much with each visit.

If any body following this story has any info relating I appreciate it.

]]> By: John Bourjaily http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-782123 John Bourjaily Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:59:18 +0000 #comment-782123 My grandmother's cousin was Alfred Rossi, a gunner on the Vagabond King. I was wondering if anyone who had a picture of the crew could scan and e-mail me a copy (j.bourjaily33@gmail.com) so I can give it to my grandmother. Thank you and God bless. My grandmother's cousin was Alfred Rossi, a gunner on the Vagabond King. I was wondering if anyone who had a picture of the crew could scan and e-mail me a copy (j.bourjaily33@gmail.com) so I can give it to my grandmother. Thank you and God bless.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-429253 Shannon Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:03:14 +0000 #comment-429253 Here is info I found and website: Geramita Samuel S DE 44-11 717 449 Flew INSTABLE, 42-78195. Hit by flak on 19 Feb 1945 mission against Vienna. Radioed from over Yugoslav coast 1 hour later trying for Falconara. Later radioed couldn't reach Falconara because losing altitude and would have to jump. Entire crew was KIA. Crew List: P: John C. DePuy, CP: Paul Oskenkrug N: Alfred G. Dennis NT: Howard L. Gates TT: John J. Volker BT: William R. Hodgson RW: Gilmer J. Breckinridge LW: Emil Sanetta TG: James L. Paul http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hfhm/Roster/g_names.htm Here is info I found and website:

Geramita Samuel S DE 44-11 717 449 Flew INSTABLE, 42-78195. Hit by flak on 19 Feb 1945 mission against Vienna. Radioed from over Yugoslav coast 1 hour later trying for Falconara. Later radioed couldn't reach Falconara because losing altitude and would have to
jump. Entire crew was KIA.

Crew List:
P: John C. DePuy,
CP: Paul Oskenkrug
N: Alfred G. Dennis
NT: Howard L. Gates
TT: John J. Volker
BT: William R. Hodgson
RW: Gilmer J. Breckinridge
LW: Emil Sanetta
TG: James L. Paul

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hfhm/Roster/g_names.htm

]]> By: sylvia moore http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-423264 sylvia moore Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:13:07 +0000 #comment-423264 any info about black sunday - plane lemon drop - gunner joseph d. long. jumped, got away and walked into turkey. thank you. any info about black sunday – plane lemon drop – gunner joseph d. long.
jumped, got away and walked into turkey. thank you.

]]> By: rudy http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-188707 rudy Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:11:00 +0000 #comment-188707 hi, my uncle was a waist gunner on the INSTABLE B24 shot down on feb 19 1945, i'm hoping to find out something of where his plane went down, he was never found, and if i can get a direction to find out something? hi, my uncle was a waist gunner on the INSTABLE B24 shot down on feb 19 1945, i'm hoping to find out something of where his plane went down, he was never found, and if i can get a direction to find out something?

]]> By: R W Weaver http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-156098 R W Weaver Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:13:29 +0000 #comment-156098 I am the name sake of SSG. RW Weaver (my uncle)a crew member of the Vagabond King, I too have a picture of the aircraft and crew(which includes my uncle). He is not listed on the crew manifest. Yet I have verbal and written documentation he flew on her. I am the name sake of SSG. RW Weaver (my uncle)a crew member of the Vagabond King, I too have a picture of the aircraft and crew(which includes my uncle). He is not listed on the crew manifest. Yet I have verbal and written documentation he flew on her.

]]> By: Joel Shattles, Sr. http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-96982 Joel Shattles, Sr. Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:46:08 +0000 #comment-96982 I am a younger brother of David Collier Shattles. In the early months of 1944, Dave visited me as we were preparing for DDay. I couldn't leave camp, but Dave spent a week with my outfit and we taught him to drive a Tank! He never mentioned his bombing runs until after the war! If the War had lasted one more day, Dave would have been sworn in as 1stLieutenant and Crew Chief on a B-29 going to the Pacific! He elected to take the discharge! I am a younger brother of David Collier Shattles. In the early months of 1944, Dave visited me as we were preparing for DDay. I couldn't leave camp, but Dave spent a week with my outfit and we taught him to drive a Tank! He never mentioned his bombing runs until after the war! If the War had lasted one more day, Dave would have been sworn in as 1stLieutenant and Crew Chief on a B-29 going to the Pacific! He elected to take the discharge!

]]> By: Kevin Miller http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-81774 Kevin Miller Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:11:17 +0000 #comment-81774 My grandfather was David C. Shattles mentioned in this article. The crew of the Vagabond King did survive for a time until all hands were lost in the North Atlantic after a bombing run - except for my grandfather who had the most fortunate case of tonsillitis ever! I have hanging on a wall in my house the original photo of the Vagabond King bomber crew, signed by every crew member. Considering the later demise, it is an incredible and priceless piece of history. My grandfather was David C. Shattles mentioned in this article. The crew of the Vagabond King did survive for a time until all hands were lost in the North Atlantic after a bombing run – except for my grandfather who had the most fortunate case of tonsillitis ever!

I have hanging on a wall in my house the original photo of the Vagabond King bomber crew, signed by every crew member. Considering the later demise, it is an incredible and priceless piece of history.

]]> By: jeff seiver http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-28448 jeff seiver Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:34:21 +0000 #comment-28448 I've been researching this particular mission. What an awsome and life changing experience this must have been for these 18 and 19 year old kids. I've seen the camera footage of Col/Kane and his crew as it bore down on the target at 50' altitude. 70 years later it takes my breath away. I keep finding other books and articles written by participants and researchers. if anyone finds sources of combat footage please e-mail me the web site or address at jeffseiver@aol.com I've been researching this particular mission. What an awsome and life changing experience this must have been for these 18 and 19 year old kids. I've seen the camera footage of Col/Kane and his crew as it bore down on the target at 50' altitude. 70 years later it takes my breath away. I keep finding other books and articles written by participants and researchers. if anyone finds sources of combat footage please e-mail me the web site or address at jeffseiver@aol.com

]]> By: Jim Gilmore http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-eyewitness-to-the-raid-on-ploesti.htm#comment-17996 Jim Gilmore Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:48:25 +0000 #comment-17996 There was a documentary about Col. Walter e. stewert, Pilot of the b-24 "Utah Man" on the Ploesti Oil raid. The documentary was called "A Wing and a Prayer" . I believe I saw the documentary on PBS or the History channel. At the time of the mission col. stewet was a Lt. I believe .He flew 6 more missions after the ploesti raid and decided to go home after his 31st Mission. Subsequently , the B-24 "Utah Man" was piloted by Stewerts Co-Pilot and was shot down a few missions after Stewert went home and his entire crew was killed! There was a documentary about Col. Walter e. stewert, Pilot of the b-24 "Utah Man" on the Ploesti Oil raid. The documentary was called "A Wing and a Prayer" . I believe I saw the documentary on PBS or the History channel. At the time of the mission col. stewet was a Lt. I believe .He flew 6 more missions after the ploesti raid
and decided to go home after his 31st Mission. Subsequently , the B-24 "Utah Man" was piloted by Stewerts Co-Pilot and was shot down a few missions after Stewert went home and his entire crew was killed!

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