review: new magazine "Bomber Legends"

[Krztalizer]

A few days ago, I rec'd the premier issue of "Bomber Legends", a product of the
B-24 Liberator Club, based here in San Diego. For years, that org has produced
an outstanding heavy bomber magazine called "Briefings", guided by an old bud
named George Welsh. He is the current authority on B-24s but this new magazine
venture is shared with the other US bomber types used in WWII.

This first issue was very well done, slick newstand quality, lots of great
first hand stories and unpublished photos.

Articles included "Mediums were also out", a firsthand piece concerning a
'typical' 9th AF Marauder raid, written by the 497ths Lt. Col. Havener. It is
by far the best story in the magazine. Other articles were "Ploesti Reunion"
(last one for survivors of Operation Tidal Wave), "Silver Queen" about a B-24J
over Vienna, an update on the coming B-24 memorial (WOW), and "Heroism Aboard A
Fortress", the story of a crewman's 56 year wait for recognition of a selfless
act of heroism.

I have no connection to the magazine, but I definitely recommend it to fans of
US heavy bombers - I get the feeling they will always get more space in the mag
than the mediums (sorry, Art!), but at least they are included! Mr. Welsh and
co. have done their organization proud with this new magazine - you can check
them out at www.bomberlegends.com

v/r
Gordon
PS, killer color shots of B-26s in combat - how is that, Art? :)
<====(A+C====>
USN SAR

An LZ is a place you want to land, not stay.

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: review: new magazine "Bomber Legends"
>From: (Krztalizer)
>Date: 4/23/04 12:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>A few days ago, I rec'd the premier issue of "Bomber Legends", a product of
>the
>B-24 Liberator Club, based here in San Diego. For years, that org has
>produced
>an outstanding heavy bomber magazine called "Briefings", guided by an old bud
>named George Welsh. He is the current authority on B-24s but this new
>magazine
>venture is shared with the other US bomber types used in WWII.
>
>This first issue was very well done, slick newstand quality, lots of great
>first hand stories and unpublished photos.
>
>Articles included "Mediums were also out", a firsthand piece concerning a
>'typical' 9th AF Marauder raid, written by the 497ths Lt. Col. Havener. It
>is
>by far the best story in the magazine.

Havener is also the author of, "The Martin B-26 Marauder" the best book on
B-26's ever, published by TAB Aero.. The 497th was one of the 4 squadrons that
made up the 344th bomb group. They were the 494th, the 495, the 496th and the
497th. And Jack was a regular at most of our annual reunions. Never knew he
made Lt. Colonel though. But thanks for the heads up. I don't know what story
he has in the new mag, but I'll bet I've heard it a time or two. (grin)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Krztalizer]

>
> Havener is also the author of, "The Martin B-26 Marauder" the best book on
>B-26's ever, published by TAB Aero.. The 497th was one of the 4 squadrons
>that
>made up the 344th bomb group. They were the 494th, the 495, the 496th and
>the
>497th. And Jack was a regular at most of our annual reunions. Never knew he
>made Lt. Colonel though. But thanks for the heads up. I don't know what story
>he has in the new mag, but I'll bet I've heard it a time or two.

His story in this issue concerns how the 8th and its 4-motor'd things always
got the press, at the expense of everyone else. Its an engaging story named
after a headline in Stars & Stripes: "8th AF Heavies Pound Germany. blah,
blah, blah.. fourth of fifth line down, ending the bold print was the simple
mention, "Mediums were also out.", which apparently didn't sit well with
Havener and the Marauder boys, having just returned from a bar fight over the
V-1 launch sites. You'd love it, Art. If you can't get a copy, let me know
and I'll shoot this one over to you.

v/r
Gordon
<====(A+C====>
USN SAR

An LZ is a place you want to land, not stay.

[Keith Willshaw]

"Krztalizer" > wrote in message
...
>
> His story in this issue concerns how the 8th and its 4-motor'd things
always
> got the press, at the expense of everyone else. Its an engaging story
named
> after a headline in Stars & Stripes: "8th AF Heavies Pound Germany. blah,
> blah, blah.. fourth of fifth line down, ending the bold print was the
simple
> mention, "Mediums were also out.", which apparently didn't sit well with
> Havener and the Marauder boys, having just returned from a bar fight over
the
> V-1 launch sites. You'd love it, Art. If you can't get a copy, let me
know
> and I'll shoot this one over to you.
>

I had the good fortune to become friendly with a chap
who had been observer on Mosquito's with 139 squadron.

It always annoyed him that the efforts of the LNSF were lagely
forgotten but these 'light' bombers were hauling 4000 lb bomb loads
deep into Germany in 1944 and 1945 and driving the German's
crazy trying to intercept them.

Keith

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: review: new magazine "Bomber Legends"
>From: (Krztalizer)
>Date: 4/23/04 4:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>>
>> Havener is also the author of, "The Martin B-26 Marauder" the best book on
>>B-26's ever, published by TAB Aero.. The 497th was one of the 4 squadrons
>>that
>>made up the 344th bomb group. They were the 494th, the 495, the 496th and
>>the
>>497th. And Jack was a regular at most of our annual reunions. Never knew he
>>made Lt. Colonel though. But thanks for the heads up. I don't know what
>story
>>he has in the new mag, but I'll bet I've heard it a time or two.
>
>His story in this issue concerns how the 8th and its 4-motor'd things always
>got the press, at the expense of everyone else. Its an engaging story named
>after a headline in Stars & Stripes: "8th AF Heavies Pound Germany. blah,
>blah, blah.. fourth of fifth line down, ending the bold print was the simple
>mention, "Mediums were also out.", which apparently didn't sit well with
>Havener and the Marauder boys, having just returned from a bar fight over the
>V-1 launch sites. You'd love it, Art. If you can't get a copy, let me know
>and I'll shoot this one over to you.
>
>v/r
>Gordon
><====(A+C====>
> USN SAR
>
>An LZ is a place you want to land, not stay.
>

Thanks. I'll try to get a copy. What Jack left out is that the 8th AF
recruited the best PR and ad men from Madison avenue. It was a Madison avenue
copy writer who coined "The Mighty 8th" These writers and PR guys were given
good rank and of course had strong connections in the press having worked with
all of them for years so it is no wonder that the 8th got all the press. After
the war these guys all went back to their ad agencies. I worked with many of
them at J..Walter Thompson NY after the war.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Bob McKellar]

ArtKramr wrote:

> >Subject: Re: review: new magazine "Bomber Legends"
> >From: (Krztalizer)
> >Date: 4/23/04 4:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >>
> >> Havener is also the author of, "The Martin B-26 Marauder" the best book on
> >>B-26's ever, published by TAB Aero.. The 497th was one of the 4 squadrons
> >>that
> >>made up the 344th bomb group. They were the 494th, the 495, the 496th and
> >>the
> >>497th. And Jack was a regular at most of our annual reunions. Never knew he
> >>made Lt. Colonel though. But thanks for the heads up. I don't know what
> >story
> >>he has in the new mag, but I'll bet I've heard it a time or two.
> >
> >His story in this issue concerns how the 8th and its 4-motor'd things always
> >got the press, at the expense of everyone else. Its an engaging story named
> >after a headline in Stars & Stripes: "8th AF Heavies Pound Germany. blah,
> >blah, blah.. fourth of fifth line down, ending the bold print was the simple
> >mention, "Mediums were also out.", which apparently didn't sit well with
> >Havener and the Marauder boys, having just returned from a bar fight over the
> >V-1 launch sites. You'd love it, Art. If you can't get a copy, let me know
> >and I'll shoot this one over to you.
> >
> >v/r
> >Gordon
> ><====(A+C====>
> > USN SAR
> >
> >An LZ is a place you want to land, not stay.
> >
>
> Thanks. I'll try to get a copy. What Jack left out is that the 8th AF
> recruited the best PR and ad men from Madison avenue. It was a Madison avenue
> copy writer who coined "The Mighty 8th" These writers and PR guys were given
> good rank and of course had strong connections in the press having worked with
> all of them for years so it is no wonder that the 8th got all the press. After
> the war these guys all went back to their ad agencies. I worked with many of
> them at J..Walter Thompson NY after the war.
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

They're still that way.

I live in the almost home town of the relatively new "Mighty Eighth" museum.
Unlike other museums I have been associated with ( such as the late lamented
Florence SC museum), these guys started at the top and worked down.

Instead of using volunteers and doing things "on the cheap" for years to build up
an organization, they formed a corporation with a chrome star heavy board of
directors and immediately convinced the local county commission to come up with 13
million dollars as a startup budget.

It's a nice museum, but I don't have a lot of affection for it.

Bob McKellar, who still renews his membership every year despite misgivings

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: review: new magazine "Bomber Legends"
>From: Bob McKellar
>Date: 4/23/04 8:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>
>ArtKramr wrote:
>
>> >Subject: Re: review: new magazine "Bomber Legends"
>> >From: (Krztalizer)
>> >Date: 4/23/04 4:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>> >Message-id: >
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Havener is also the author of, "The Martin B-26 Marauder" the best book
>on
>> >>B-26's ever, published by TAB Aero.. The 497th was one of the 4 squadrons
>> >>that
>> >>made up the 344th bomb group. They were the 494th, the 495, the 496th
>and
>> >>the
>> >>497th. And Jack was a regular at most of our annual reunions. Never knew
>he
>> >>made Lt. Colonel though. But thanks for the heads up. I don't know what
>> >story
>> >>he has in the new mag, but I'll bet I've heard it a time or two.
>> >
>> >His story in this issue concerns how the 8th and its 4-motor'd things
>always
>> >got the press, at the expense of everyone else. Its an engaging story
>named
>> >after a headline in Stars & Stripes: "8th AF Heavies Pound Germany. blah,
>> >blah, blah.. fourth of fifth line down, ending the bold print was the
>simple
>> >mention, "Mediums were also out.", which apparently didn't sit well with
>> >Havener and the Marauder boys, having just returned from a bar fight over
>the
>> >V-1 launch sites. You'd love it, Art. If you can't get a copy, let me
>know
>> >and I'll shoot this one over to you.
>> >
>> >v/r
>> >Gordon
>> ><====(A+C====>
>> > USN SAR
>> >
>> >An LZ is a place you want to land, not stay.
>> >
>>
>> Thanks. I'll try to get a copy. What Jack left out is that the 8th AF
>> recruited the best PR and ad men from Madison avenue. It was a Madison
>avenue
>> copy writer who coined "The Mighty 8th" These writers and PR guys were
>given
>> good rank and of course had strong connections in the press having worked
>with
>> all of them for years so it is no wonder that the 8th got all the press.
>After
>> the war these guys all went back to their ad agencies. I worked with many
>of
>> them at J..Walter Thompson NY after the war.
>>
>> Arthur Kramer
>> 344th BG 494th BS
>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>
>They're still that way.
>
>I live in the almost home town of the relatively new "Mighty Eighth" museum.
>Unlike other museums I have been associated with ( such as the late lamented
>Florence SC museum), these guys started at the top and worked down.
>
>Instead of using volunteers and doing things "on the cheap" for years to
>build up
>an organization, they formed a corporation with a chrome star heavy board of
>directors and immediately convinced the local county commission to come up
>with 13
>million dollars as a startup budget.
>
>It's a nice museum, but I don't have a lot of affection for it.
>


Why doesn't that surprise me? But they really sold a bill of goods. Even on
this NG the talk is as though the 8th was the only AF flying in WW II.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Krztalizer]

>
>I had the good fortune to become friendly with a chap
>who had been observer on Mosquito's with 139 squadron.
>

Is he still with us, Keith? I for one would love to hear what your friend
wants to say. The central story of our book concerns a meeting between a
Kommando Welter Me 262 pilot and the lead Pathfinder (also from "Jamaica"
squadron) on a mission over Berlin on 27 March 45. Any input from the LNSF
vets would help flesh out the story.

>
>It always annoyed him that the efforts of the LNSF were lagely
>forgotten but these 'light' bombers were hauling 4000 lb bomb loads
>deep into Germany in 1944 and 1945 and driving the German's
>crazy trying to intercept them.

That sums it up nicely. In fact, the Mosquito confounded the Reich (cof) right
up to its last missions - even the introduction of turbine nightfighters made
little effect other than a mild rise in claims. Simply put, the Germans
reached the conclusion that there were no antidote for the damned wooden
things. I have all the minutes to various upper level management meetings,
including the 1943 meeting where Milch first uses the now-familiar phrase
'defense of the homeland' (Reichverteidegung - -sp) to describe the new
priority of bomber defense. That meeting made it clear that the initiating
spark was the "catastrophe" of Hamburg a couple of days previously. Galland,
in one of the follow on meetings in the same series, goes off on a tangent and
discusses in colorful language how, if only the tardy jets could get into
action, they could finally "have" the Mosquitos any time they wanted. "One
shows up over your airfield to take a photo and pfffft. down he goes." General
agreement around the table. That was in 1943 - when the Mosquito was still a
new and sometimes mis-used weapon in our arsenal, but the Germans already knew
it as a lethal threat.

Did you ever find any other Mossie airmen...?

v/r
Gordon
<====(A+C====>
USN SAR

An LZ is a place you want to land, not stay.