Canadian Flying Ace 'Stocky' Edwards Dies

From the May 23, 2022, Vancouver Sun "'Stocky' Edwards, flying ace in Second World War, dies at 100" by Phil  Davison, Washington Post.

He was heralded as Canada's "top gun" over the North African desert in 1942 and 1943.  he died May 13 in Comox.

With the rank of  wing commander, Mr. Edwards shot down a confirmed 19 Luftwaffe fighter planes and scored many more "probables."  He also destroyed at least  12 more enemy warplanes on the ground before they could take off.

Edwards flew U.S.-built P-40 Kittyhawk fighters, far heavier and slower than the German Messerschmidt's Bf-109, which made his accomplishments all the more remarkable.  Over Italy and  France later in the war, he would fly the  more nimble British Spitfires.

Physically, he was far from "stocky" and very skinny, but he got the name later in honor of his fortitude.

In all, he flew 373 combat missions, mostly over North Africa, but also flew over Allied landings in Italy in 1943 and 1944 and in Normandy on D-Day on June 6, 1944 --  a rare "triple" among Allied pilots.

--GreGen

Death of John "Jack" Lyle in 2019, One of the Legendary Tuskegee Airmen-- Part 1

1920-2019

From the January 8, 2019, Chicago Sun Times by Maureen O'Donnell.

He died January 8, 2019, just three days before he planned to visit Jackson harbor one final time (for his love of boating on Lake Michigan).  He loved sailing as much as he loved flying.  This was his last wish.

In 2007, President George W. Bush and Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on him and other Tuskegee Airmen.  They were members of the nation's first black fighter squadron who won acclaim for their aerial prowess and bravery despite a military that segregated them and southern  "Whites Only" entrances that permitted German prisoners of war -- but blocked Blacks.

Mr. Lyle named his plane "Natalie" for his first wife, once shot down a German Messerschmitt.

--GreGen

Bits of War: Dozens of Bombs Found, Niece Wants Uncle Returned, WW II Vet and Tomb Sentinel Honored, Finally

1.  DOZENS OF BOMBS FOUND--  36 bombs were found over a three day period at German city of Neutraubling  Some were still live and exploded.    A new industrial park is being built  There was a Messerschmitt plant there during the war and it was heavily bombed.

2.  NIECE WANTS UNCLE'S REMAINS RETURNED TO IOWA--  William "Bill" Querl, was killed in the war and buried in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

The American Red Cross brought his mother news of his death on September 16, 1942.  She had lost her husband, had two sons in the military and was about to lose her home.  devastated, she signed a document to allow his body to be buried in the Philippines.  She regretted it ever since.

3.  WORLD WAR II VETS AND TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS GUARD, 100, FINALLY HONORED--  Jack Eaton is the oldest living Tomb of the Unknowns Sentinel.  However, the plaque honoring former Sentinels where his name should have been had omitted his name.  It is now on the plaque.

--GreGen

Mission Regensburg-- Part 2: North Africa Instead of England

After being postponed several times by unfavorable weather, "Mission No. 84" was a strategic bombing attack by B-17 Flying Fortresses led by the 4th Bombardment Wing commander Colonel Curtis E. LeMay on August 17, 1943.

The Regensburg attack group was able to successfully hit their targets, and then, to fool the Germans, they flew on to Africa instead of doubling back through Germany to return to England.

After a week in North Africa, the bomber group returned to England on August 24.  They bombed Bordeaux, France, en route home.

--GreGen

History of the P-40 Tomahawk-- Part 2: Used By Most Allied Air Forces

The P-40 Tomahawk was used by most Allied forces during the war and remained in the front lines of operations for the entire period of the war.

The United States Army Air Corps named the P-40 the Warhawk.  The British and Russian Air Forces used the name "Tomahawk" for the 'B' and 'C' series and Kittyhawk for the 'D' models.

It was powered by an Allison V-1710 and armed with nose and wing mounted Browning machine guns.  Pilots generally avoided high altitude combat due to a lack of a two-stage super charger.  This made combat with the Focke-Wulf 190 and Messerschmidt Bf 109 very dangerous.

At medium to low altitudes the P-40 had good agility.

--GreGen

Boy Finds German Plane With Pilot Remains Still Inside

From the March 8, 2017, CNN "Boy finds WWII plane with pilot's remains in the cockpit" by Judith Vonberg.

Fourteen-year-old Daniel Kristiansen and his father, Klaus, have discovered what is believed to be a Messerschmitt fighter plane buried in a field on their farm near Birkelse, in northern Denmark.  He was using a metal detector out in the field, hoping to find something to show at school.

He remembered his grandfather telling him about a German plane crashing there during the war in November or December 1944.

They found the pilot's papers and believe the German was flying his plane from a training base for German pilots in Aalborg, a nearby city.

An ordnance team is working on the site to determine there is nothing dangerous.

--GreGen