The Pea Emergency Is Over

From the July 18, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Workers at the Sycamore Preserve Works from J.W. Thuma, general superintendent, down to the extra help hired in the emergency are resting a little easier as most of the pea crop has been harvested.

"The peas have been prepared, canned and barreled and the plant is now getting ready for the corn pack, which it is understood is next on the docker."

--GreGen

Donald James Matthew Blakeslee-- Part 1: Flying Ace with 15.5 Victories

This hero was featured in the Paralyzed Veterans of America's August calendar.  My last four posts were about him and the Fourth Fighter Group.

From Wikipedia.

Born  September 11, 1917  Died  September 3, 2008

United States Air Force pilot whose military career began with the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II.  He then became a member of the Royal Air Force Eagle squadrons before transferring to the  United States Army Air Force in 1942.

He flew more combat missions against the Luftwaffe than any American pilot and by the end of the war was a flying ace credited with 15.5 aerial victories.

Quite a Record.  --GreGen

Fourth Mission of the Day-- Part 4: Col. Blakeslee Had 500 Missions and 1,000 Combat Hours

By the war's end, the Fourth Fighter group was credited with downing 1,020 German aircraft.  As an individual, Colonel Blakeslee flew nearly 500 missions and had about 1,000 combat hours to his credit.  This is believed to be more missions and hours than any other American fighter pilot of World War II.

In all, Colonel Blakeslee received two Distinguished Service Crosses, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Silver Stars, six Air Medals and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.  A decade later, he also received the Legion of Merit, another Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for his service in the Korean War.

Nice Haul.  Well-Deserved.  --GreGen

Fourth Mission of the Day-- Part 3: The New American Fourth Fighter Group

As commander of the newly formed American Fourth Fighter Group, consisting mostly of former members of the Eagle Squadron, Colonel Blakeslee led three squadrons of 16 single-seat, single-engine P-51 Mustangs.  Each Mustang was equipped with six machine guns mounted in the wings and sighted so that the bullet streams could converge on the Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulf fighters that were trying to shoot down Allied bombers.

The Fourth Fighter Group made many significant achievements.  On march 6, 1944, they became the first to fly above the fleet of B-17s and B-24s as they each dropped up to 4,000 pounds of bombs on Berlin.  And, on April 8, , 1944, they set a record for the European Theater, shooting down 31 planes ion one day.

--GreHen

Fourth Mission of the Day-- Part 2: Donald J.M. Bleakeslee

Among the many RAF units flying that day were three "Eagle" squadrons made up of American airmen flying MK VB Spitfires.  One of the three was the 133 Eagle Squadron, led by Flight Lieutenant Donald J.M. Blakeslee from Fairport Harbor, Ohio.  He alone is credited with shooting down one FW190 and one DO-217, as well as two FW190 probables in a gallant attempt to protect the Allied troops below.

Blakeslee also has the distinction of being the only "Eagle" commanding officer to complete all four missions that day.

--GreGen

Fourth Mission of the Day-- Part 1: "Operation Jubilee" the Attack on Dieppe Aug. 19, 1942

From the Paralyzed Veterans of America 2018 Heroes of the Air Calendar.

This features the artwork of Gil Cohen.

'FOURTH MISSION OF THE DAY"

The 19th of August 1942 is remembered as the date of the ill-fated "operation Jubilee", in which the joint British/Canadian amphibious assault against German troops on the French coast at the harbor of Dieppe.

Air cover was provided by the greatest armada of aircraft assembled for battle up to that time.  That day has been described as an almost continuous melee of close aerial combat:  aircraft of both sides spiraling toward the sea; planes colliding in mid-air; ships burning and sinking in the harbor and along the Channel coast was a pall of smoke covering the entire scene below.

--GreGen

Death of Pearl Harbor Survivor Larry Parry

From the May 7, 2018, Syracuse (NY).com.

Balwinsville's Larry Parry, 97, one of the last Pearl Harbor survivors, has died.  He died May 5, 2018.

During the attack, he was 21 and an Army mechanic delivering ammunition and remembers seeing the USS Arizona blow up.

In 2014 and 2016 he returned to Pearl Harbor with about 100 other Pearl Harbor survivors.

2016 was the 75th anniversary of the attack.

So Sad to be Losing Them.  --GreGen

Another USS Oklahoma Unknown Identified

WILLIAM FRANCIS HELLSTERN

Gunners Mate 2nd Class, 20.

A December 20, 1941, letter from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobi, Chief of Bureau of Navigation, to his parents:   "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, William Francis Hellstern, Gunners Mate 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, is missing following action in performance of his duty and the service of his country."

His parents received another letter in February 1942"  "After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your son."

He was reburied May 18, 2018 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

--GreGen

The Sycamore Laundry Had to Close Down for Awhile Until Parts Are Obtained

From the May 2, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"C.W. Buress, of the Sycamore laundry, while apparently having more than his share of troubles in securing necessary repair parts for the boiler and other machinery at the place, has every hope of being able to resume business this coming week.

"The proprietor was obligated to close the place this week until replacements could be made, and the parts necessary were difficult to obtain anywhere because of priorities."

And, of course, the "priorities" were the war effort.

--GreGen

Restaurant Reducing Hours Because of Lack of Help and Food

From the May 2, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Due to a shortage of help and also the inability to secure sufficient food, the restaurant operated by the Niewolds announced that it will closing daily from 2:00 to 5:00 o'clock.

"Inability to secure competent help seems to be one of the biggest problems with the restaurant people.

--War Shortages At Home.  --GreGen

Sycamore Department Store Closes For Lack of Merchandise

From the May 2, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"The doors of the Sycamore department store, one of the largest in the city and which has been a part of the mercantile interest of this city, for some time, were closed yesterday.

"For several days the owner of the place has been disposing of all the merchandise left and did a successful  piece of work as there was but very little to be hauled away.  Inability to secure merchandise to successfully operate a general variety store of this nature was given as the reason for closing."

More Wartime Shortages.  --GreGen

The Jeep on the DeKalb Post Office Steps

From the May 2, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

A photograph for World War II propaganda.  It shows an Army jeep on the steps of the DeKalb post office.

A sign on the jeep reads:  "The Willys Overland Go-Devil Quad;  U.S. Army Mobile Machine Gun West; Same Motor As Willys Americar."

Nothing Beats A Willys Jeep.  --GreGen

The Main Weapons At the Battle of the Coral Sea

From the May 2018 We Are the Mighty  "Here's a run down of the main weapons at the Battle of the Coral Sea."

The number after the plane denotes how many were at the battle.

In 1942, fleet carriers had three types of planes:  fighters, dive bombers and torpedo planes.

**  F4F Wildcat  (42)--  One of the Navy's most successful fighter planes of all time.

**  Mitsubishi ALM Zero  (54)  Called the "Zeke" by Americans.  Japan's best fighter.

**  Douglas SBD Dauntless (74)  The U.S. Navy's most lethal ship killer.

**  Aicha D3A  (41)  Called "Val" by Americans.  Japan's primary dive bomber.

**  Douglas TBD Devastator  (25)

**  Nakajima B5N  Called "Kate" by Americans.  Japan's ship killer.

--GreGen

More USS Oklahoma Unknowns Identified

CLIFFORD GEORGE GOODWIN, 24  Oo Diamond, Missouri.   Enlisted in the Navy in 1940.  Duty on the Oklahoma a few months later.  He chose the Oklahoma because his brother Don was on it.  Navy recovered his remains in 1944 but were unable to identify him.

I was unable to find a Don Goodwin on the USS Oklahoma at the time of the attack.  I did find a George M. Goodwin as being killed on the ship, but also couldn't find out anything about him either.  He might have been confused with Clifford George Goodwin.

WILLIAM HELLSTERN  Gunner's mate 2nd class, 20.  From Peoria, Illinois.  Buried Friday May 18, 2018, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

HOWARD BACKMAN  Petty Officer 2nd Class.  Buried Memorial Day in Batavia, Illinois.  Born in Wilton, North Dakota.  Family moved to Batavia after he enlisted.

So Happy These Identifications Are Happening.  --GreGen

WAACs To the Pea Rescue in Rochelle

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek   (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Former farm girls, now WAACs (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) at Camp Grant, Illinois, volunteered to help get in the peas on farm near Rochelle, when labor shortage threatened crops.

"The girls drove machinery and took drinking water to the men in the field."

--GreGen

Fort McHenry, Baltimore, During World War II

From Wikipedia.

I have been writing a whole lot about this fort in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.  Of course, this is "The Rockets Red Glare" fort.

The fort became a national park in 1929 and in 1939 was redesignated "National Monument and Historic Shrine.A national tradition now has the first time a new American flag flies, it does so at Fort McHenry.  The first 49-star and 50-star flags flew here and are still located on the premises.

During World War II, Fort McHenry was a Coast Guard base for training and for fire control and port defense.

--HreHen

Fort Kamehameha-- Part 3: Pearl Harbor

During World War II some of the fort's anti-aircraft guns were used against the Japanese planes during the attack on Pearl Harbor.  A Japanes Mitsubishi  A6M2 model 21 Zero was shot down and crashed near the fort.

I am sure that George Stevens and the other men were manning the guns in case the Japanese Navy came into sight.

In 1942, concrete shielding was added above the big guns to protect against air attack.

None of the large caliber guns were ever fired except in practice, about once a year.  They were salvaged after the war.

Some of the fort's area is used todayf or the Hawaii Air National Guard.  Batter Closson is now the Mamala Bay Golf Course.

--HreHen

Fort Kamehameha-- Part 2: The Batteries

The batteries:

SELFRIDGE--  Constructed 1907-1913.  Two 12-inch guns on disappearing carriages.

JACKSON--  Constructed 1913.  Two 6-inch guns on disappearing carriages.

HASBROUCK--   Constructed 1909-1915.    Eight 12-inch coastal mortars

CHANDLER--  Two 3-inch guns

BARRI--  Two 4.7-inch guns.

ADAIR--  Two 6-inch Armstrong guns.  On Ford Island

BOYD--  Two 6-inch Armstrong guns on Ford island.

CLOSSON--  Had massive 20-foot thick concrete reinforced walls behind 3- feet of earth.  The earlier guns had becme obsolete and these replaced them.   Two 12-inch guns.  Anti-aircraft guns.

--GreGen

Fort Kamehameha, Hawaii-- Part 1: Built to Protect Pearl Harbor

From Wikipedia.

In the last post I mentioned that George Stevens of Shasta County, California, is the lone remaining Pearl Harbor survivor.  He was stationed at Fort Kamehameha in Hawaii during the attack.  I'd never heard of this installation so looked it up.

The fort was a U.S. Army base with several coastal artillery batteries set up to defend Pearl Harbor.

In the early 1900s, Secretary of War William Howard Taft headed up a group to review coastal fortifications and decided on this location.  It was originally named Fort Upton, but local citizens objected and it was renamed to honor King Kamehameha, the first king of the unified Hawaiian Islands.

The fort consisted of eight batteries built at different times.

--GreGen

Last Shasta County Pearl Harbor Navy Survivor Laid to Rest

From the July 13, 2018, Redding (Cal.) Record Searchlight  "Last Shasta County Navy veteran who survived Pearl Harbor laid to rest" by Jim Schutz.

Mel Fisher, 96, was buried at Northern California Veterans Cemetery.  He died June 17 and was the one of the last two last living members of Shasta County's Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Chapter 28.

Mr. Fisher enlisted in the Navy in 11940 and was aboard the USS Whitney, a destroyer tender on December 7,1941.    He remembered, "It was like watching the Fourth of July fireworks.  I could see explosions and lots of smoke."

Afterwards, he was in nine engagements in the Pacific, including Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Marianas on the battleship USS Indiana.

Now, the only Shasta County survivor is George Stevens, 98, U.S. Army.  He enlisted in 1938 and was stationed at Fort Kamehameha when the attack came.  During the course of the war, he was awarded four Bronze Stars and fought at the Battle of the Bulge.

--GreGen