Radio Londres-- Part 1: "This Is London"

Last week, I wrote about the death of Franck Bauer, the last known broadcaster of Radio Londres.

From Wikipedia.

From 1940 to 1944, the BBC in London broadcast to German-occupied France in French.  It was operated by the Free French who had escaped.  This was done to counter the Nazi propaganda broadcast of the German-controlled Radio Paris of the French Vichy government.

The broadcast also appealed to the French to rise up against the Germans plus coded messages were sent to the French Resistance.

The first transmission was in 1940 and started "Ici Londres!  Les Francais parlent aux Francais...."  translated  "This is London!  The French speaking to the French..."

This is now a famous quote in France.  It was the Voice of thye Free French Forces under Charles de Gaulle.  On 18 June 1940 he made his famous Appeal of 18 June, inviting his countrymen to resist and rise up against their occupiers.

--GreGen

German POW Camp in Wilmington, N.C.

From the April 2, 2018, Wilmington (NC) News-Journal "Rotary learns about local prison camp" by Wilmington Rotary.

Kay Fisher from the Clinton County History Center spoke about the World War II German POW camp in Wilmington.  German prisoners included Nazis and some who opposed the Nazi doctrines.  There were also Italian  and Japanese prisoners.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed 155 prison camps and 511 branch camps across the United States (actually a lot of those were camps previously used by the CCC).  Anywhere between 250 to 750 prisoners were in each camp.

In Wilmington, the POW camp was on the Hubert Barrett property on Doan Street.  It housed 250 prisoners who were guarded by 50 U.S, military personnel.

There was fear that if enemy prisoners were mistreated that would lead to American prisoners receiving the same treatment.  Actually, from what I have read, if you had to be a prisoner in World War II, being held in a prison in the U.S. was not bad at all.  Indeed, many former German prisoners, on release, returned home, settled their affairs and moved to the United States.

German prisoners were first processed in Casablanca.  U.S. POW camps ended October 13, 1945.

--GreGen

Elden Baxter, Q-C's Last Known Pearl Harbor Survivor Dies-- Part 2

Mr. Baxter said: "The first Jap bomber I saw flew over the USS Arizona, and the pilot waved at us.  That's how close he was.  I saw the first torpedo about 300 yards off.  They just kept coming."

His parents were notified that he was killed in the attack.  He has had a funeral and will be buried on December 7, the 76th anniversary of the attack at Rock Island National Cemetery.

--GreGen

Eldon Baxter, Quad-Cities' Last Known Pearl Harbor Survivor Dies-- Part 1

From the December 4, 2017, Quad-City Times by Bob Ickes.

He died December 4 and was shooting to hit the age 100.  He used to tell "The Pearl" at the local Elks Club over a couple beers.  When the attack came he was a storekeeper on the USS West Virginia, on which 106 died.

For the 72nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 2003, the Vietnam Vets Assoc. Chapter 299 paid for him and Alvis "Al" Taylor to return for the ceremony.  Mr. Taylor died this past January 16 at age 91.

--GreGen

"Ici Londres": Franck Bauer Underground Radio Announcer Dies-- Part 2

The broadcast that French citizens secretly listened to with wireless radios gave news of the free world, countered Nazi propaganda and transmitted coded instructions to resistance fighters.

"Ici Londres"  --  "This is London" -- became a code word after Charles De Gaulle's appeal for armed resistance in June 1940.

--GreGen

"Ici Londres.": French Underground Radio Broadcaster Dies-- Part 1

From the April 9, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times  "French radio broadcaster sent underground messages in WW II" AP.

Franck Bauer was the last living announcer of a radio broadcast in French by the BBC in London from 1940 to 1944.  The French listened secretly with wireless radios.

Frank Bauer, a French radio broadcasters who transmitted coded messages to underground networks in France during the German occupation, has died at age 99.  He died April 6, 2018.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Mr. Bauer's voice "guided so many perilous operations that led to victory" during World War II.

--GreGen

B-17 G Stats

Type:  Heavy Bomber

Crew:  8-10

Length:  76 feet

Wingspan:  105.4 feet

Engines:  Four Wright Cyclone with 1,200 hp each.

Maximum Speed:  300 mph at 15,200 feet

Service Ceiling:  39,700 feet

Range:  3,750 miles without bombs.  1,095 with bombs.

Weaponry:    12 X 0.5-in Browning machine guns

Impressive.  --GreGen

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

From the book "Weapons of WW II."

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the best-known American combat craft of the Second World War, second only to the P-51 Mustang.  Along with the B-24, the B-17 carried out the majority of bomber attacks on occupied Europe with the 8th US Air Fleet.  The prototype of the B-17 made its maiden flight on July 18, 1935

Originally planned for use along the American coast, it was redesignated as the B-17E  and redesigned with stronger armor and heavier firepower for bombing in Europe, making its maiden voyage on September 5, 1941.

--GreGen

Even Ducks Getting Into War Effort

From the April 4, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Even ducks are becoming interested in war work.  At least that is the impression gained by Mrs. Walter Joslin of north west DeKalb, who found a duck egg, bearing a perfect "V," which under present circumstances means only one thing, "V for Victory."

"The "V" in the duck egg is formed in a lighter color and is about three-eighths of an inch high.  The egg is being displayed at the Quality Feed and Supply Store at the present time.?

Thanks Winston.

I Wonder What Happened to the Egg?    --GreGen

DeKalb High School Making Model Planes for War Effort

From the April 4, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Excellent progress is being reported  from the DeKalb Township High School on the task of constructing model planes for use of the United States government in its defense training efforts.

"The planes are made to an exact scale and when viewed from a distance of about 35 feet appear similar to an actual plane at about 5,000 feet in elevation.  They are used in training civilian air watchers and men in the armed services for spotting and training guns."

Even the high schools getting into the war effort.

Hey, There Goes a Japanese Nakajima KI-27 Setsu  (Kate)!!  --GreGen

Antisubmarine Platforms

In the last post, I mentioned that B-17s were used as antisubmarine platforms as well as bombers.

I looked up anti submarine platforms and Wikipedia, under Antisubmarine Warfare listed antisubmarine platforms as being both air, sea and underwater.  And it was the use of mines and torpedoes.

So, a B-17 encountering an enemy submarine would drop torpedoes or mines on it.

That is an antisubmarine platforms.

--GreGen

The Mighty Eighth-- Part 3: Who's the "Kayo Katy?"

In addition to its role as a bomber, the B-17 was also employed as a transport, antisubmarine warfare platform, drone controller and search-and-rescue aircraft.

Although this composition is generic, it has the look of the 384th Bomber group at Grafton Underwood, which had a Kayo decorated in this style.  There were at least three Flying Fortresses in the Eighth Air Force named "Kayo" (playing off of the boxing term, K.O., or knock-out) and two named "Katy", hence Kayo Katy.

I did not know they had drones in World War II.  Not sure how a plane would be an antisubmarine platform either.  I'll have to research these two items.

--GreGen

The Mighty Eighth-- Part 2: B-17s, Quite the Strategic Weapon

The U.S. Eighth Air Force (based at many airfields in southern England) and the Fifteenth Air Force (based in Italy) complemented the RAF Bomber Command's nighttime bombing in the Combined Bomber Offensive to help secure air superiority over the cities, factories and battlefields of Western Europe in preparation for the invasion of France in 1944.

Touted as a strategic weapon, the B-17 was a potent, high-flying, long-range bomber that was able to defend itself and to return home despite extensive battle damage.  Its reputation quickly took on mythic proportions, dropping more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft in World War II (640,000 metric tons).

When I think of World War II bombers, the one that pops up immediately in my mind is the B-17 Flying Fortress.

--GreGen

The Mighty Eighth, 8th Air Force-- Part 1: Coming Home Meant You Were Lucky

The April 2018 Calendar of Paralyzed Veterans of America is COMING HOME / ENGLAND, 1943.

The painting shows the crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber leaving their plane, the Kayo Katy  You can sure see why these planes are called Flying Fortresses with all the machine guns.

Back in 1943, if you happened to be a crewmember on a B-17 Flying Fortress, coming home was a very special  occasion indeed.  You were, to put it plainly, one of the "lucky ones."

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was primarily employed in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign in World War II against German industrial and military targets.

--GreGen

Hoist One in Red's Memory

Red Madsen, who I wrote about in my last two posts yesterday, was just a regular guy who got caught up in a huge event.  He managed to come through and live a great life.

I really enjoyed what his daughter listed you should do in order to honor him:

**  Hoist one

**  Over tip a waitress

**  Give a bum money

**  Make a fool of yourself

**  Make a child laugh

**  Feed the hungry

**  Don't worry

Good words to love by in life as well.

I'll Definitely Hoist One in Red's Memory.  --GreGen

Hoist a Glass for Red Today-- Part 2: Quite a Life for Mr. Madsen

"After graduating from Audubon High School, he moved to Chicago.  Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Army, which put him in the Signal Corps.  During training, he met Betty Kaplan, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and married her in Stuart, Fla., before he was shipped to the Pacific.

"When the Army finally let Red go in 1946, he and Betty settled in Chicago.  He returned to Audubon and Westphalia, Iowa, working as a custom butcher.  He later worked the railroad, most of the time for for the Chicago & North Western,  He was married three times with two of his spouses passing away.

"Red Madsen loved his wives, his kids, everybody else's kids, his family, dogs, fishing, whittling, doodling, reading (especially Mark Twain), Cord automobiles, hoisting a few with friends and telling stories.

"It pleased him that mischief might break out at any time, but it distressed him if anyone got hurt by it, unless maybe it was some powerful S.O.B. who deserved it.

"Contributions may be made as follows:  Hoist one in Red's memory and overtip the waitress -- she needs it more than you.  Give a bum a dollar, maybe five, and for once don't worry about what he;ll do with it.  Learn something new.  Make a fool of yourself so a child will laugh.  Help get food to the hungry and don't worry about whether they deserve it.  Don't worry about being safe."

A Fitting Obituary.  Here's to You, Red.  --GreGen

Hoist a Glass for Red Today-- Part 1: World War II Veteran

From the May 30, 2016, Chicago Tribune editorial.

Red Madsen came home from war and led an ordinary life.  Even after seeing all the bloodshed and destruction.

When he died, his daughter wrote an obituary about his life and wartime service.  She knew that he had advanced island to island and was approaching Japan in the weeks before the two atom bombs ended the war.

Not until his death did she learn that he had earned a Bronze Star for combat heroism.

Part of the obit:  "Harry N. 'Red' Madsen, 76, retired railroad brakeman, died September 15, 1996, in Audubon, Iowa, 13 miles from where he was born."

--GreGen

Celebrating Wilmington's Role in World War II-- Part 2: "America's World War II City"

"America's Wor
"A retired U.S. Naval Reserve captain and historian, Wilbur Jones began a quest in 2007 to have Wilmington named 'America's World War II City.'  He was motivated not only by the city's contributions during the war years at historic sites, including the Cape Fear Museum, Shipyard Market, Burgwin-Wright  House, and the most visible symbol in the city: the steel-gray, flag-fluttering behemoth known as the Battleship North Carolina.

"Jones has persisted in his pursuit of a bill that would grant the historic designation, but legislation has stalled.  Happily, 2018 is looking better for Jones' dream."

By Susan Stafford Kelly

Hannah Block Historic USO Building
120 South Second Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 341-7860

Celebrating Wilmington's Role in World War II-- Part 1: Wilbur Jones

From the January Our State (North Carolina) Magazine  "The Liberty Armada" by Philip Gerard.

Without a doubt, Wilbur Jones is to Wilmington, North Carolina,  in World War II as Chris Fonvielle is to Wilmington in the Civil War.  I'd sure like to meet him and have him give a tour of the sites.  he has even written two books on it.

"A wartime youngster, Wilbur Jones well remembers the constant activity surrounding shipbuilding in his hometown of Wilmington, particularly the social events taking place just as constantly at the Orange Street USO.  The building has been preserved as a community arts center, as well as a public museum featuring furniture and signage, plus the original floor and piano, Hannah Block, for whom the building is named, played the piano when she worked at the USO."

--GreGen

N.C.'s Liberty Armada-- Part 14 Launching the Liberty Ships SS Vance, Dare and McKay

Several very interesting photographs accompanied the article.

**  Crews prepare the SS Zebulon B. Vance for its launch from the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, which stood at the site of the current Port of Wilmington.

**  Building Liberty Ships was dangerous and deadly.  Some 115,000 workers were injured and 15 died during the five years the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company was in operation.  Shows the cranes and at least two Liberty Ships under construction, one of which was the SS Virginia Dare, named after the first white English child born in the New World.  She was born at what is now called the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island.

**   On July 30, 1942, the SS James I McKay was christened in Wilmington by Mary West Cromartie, a descendant of the ship's namesake, a North Carolina congressman from the 1800s.   Shows the bottle of champagne breaking on the bow.

--GreGen