Gerald Astor Writer on Americans in Combat dies

The New York Times is reporting that Gerald Astor has passed away. He was 81. Gerald was a writer on Americans in Combat.

Besides his accounts of the Battle of the Bulge and the air war in Europe, Mr. Astor wrote of World War II in books including “The Greatest War: Americans in Combat, 1941-1945,” “June 6, 1944: The Voices of D-Day,” “Operation Iceberg: The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II” and biographies of Maj. Gen. Terry Allen, a leading combat commander in both North Africa and Europe, and the Nazi medical experimenter Dr. Josef Mengele.

He also wrote “The Right to Fight: A History of African Americans in the Military” and “Presidents at War,” an account of presidents’ evolving assertion of authority to take military action in the absence of a Congressional declaration of war.

Through interviews and correspondence with veterans and accounts from their journals, Mr. Astor, who served with the 97th Infantry Division in the Second World War, told of combat as experienced by foot soldiers, sailors and pilots.

Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless

Interesting story about this Dauntless: "This particular SBD , BuNo 06624, flew from the USS Ranger during the invasion of Africa, "Operation Torch," during which time it scored a near miss on the bow of Vichy French Battleship Jean Bart in Casablanca Harbor and dropped another bomb, which put the light cruiser Primauguet out of commission. It also was part of a mission that attached submarine pens in the harbor during which at least one French sub was destoryed. Lt. John "Jocko" DeVane Jr. , who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism, flew most of its missions.

After its tour on the Ranger, 06624 flew anti-submarine and anti-blockade runner patrols from the USS Santee in the Caribbean and South Antlantic. It was then transfered to Glenview NAS near Chicago, IL for Carrier Qualification training. Cadet pilots would fly out over Lake Michigan to practice landings and take-offs from the decks of either of two luxury paddle wheelers converted to flattops. These were the USS Wolverine and USS Sable.

While being flown by Ensign E.F. Anderson USNR, on 19 September 1943, the aircraft was on approach to the USS Wolverine. Ensign Anderson surmised he was low on fuel and thought he had switched to the Left Main fuel take when the engine cut out. Though the Landing Signal Officer gave him a wave off, he forced a landing, missed the wire and went over the side. He survived, but the aircraft spent over 50 years at the bottom of Lake Michigan. What exactly happened is not known as the Left Main tank had 40 gal. of fuel in it when the aircraft was recovered.

Through the efforts of the Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans Association and leaders of the AirZoo, the aircraft was acquired from the National Museum of Naval Aviation on long-term loan. The U.S. Navy still owns the aircraft.

Over nine years and countless hours of work, volunteers and staff at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo have returned the plane to a museum quality display craft and a tribute to all the mean and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom during times of war."

P-80 Shooting Star

Unaware to me was that the U.S had a jet fighter during WWII. I always thought we got our jet technology from Germany after the war. Well, we got all the good jet technology from Germany anyways. The P-80 Shooting Star never saw any combat during the war, and for good reasons. The Shooting Star began to enter service in late 1944. There were 12 prototypes made. One of the first was lost in an accident that killed chief engineering test pilot Milo Burcham. Several went to Europe and England for operational tests. On the 28th of January 1945 Major Frederic Borsodi was killed in a crash caused by an engine fire that temporarily grounded the P-80. Because of the delay the Shooting Star saw no combat in World War II. After further improvements and testing (I'm guessing German technology after the war) the P-80 saw extensive combat in Korea.

Grasshopper

Today I want to bring your attention to a neat little plane that played a big part for the 97th Infantry Division Field Artillery.

During WWII, "Grasshoppers" performed a wide variety of functions throughout the world such as for artillery fire direction, pilot training, glider pilot instruction, courier service, and front line liaison. Members of the Civil Air Patrol flew thousands of hours in light planes such as the L-4 searching for enemy submarines in U.S. coastal waters.

Pictured above is a fine restored example from my recent trip to the Kalamazoo Air Museum. You can also learn more about this plane at our website under the Equipment Section and click on the Piper L-4.

Spanish Messerschmitt

This will be the first of many posts with information from my recent trip to the Kalamazoo Air Museum in Kalamazoo Michigan. Something pretty neat that I figured out on the tour. The plane pictured on the right is a Messerschmitt ME-109, but not just any Messerschmitt. A Spanish one. Germany was allied with Spain during the war and gave technology and tooling for Spain to make their own Messerschmitt planes named the Hispano. This plane along with many others saw action in the Spanish Air Force during World War 2. Really neat stuff.

Historic Photos of World War II: Pearl Harbor to Japan

Just caught wind on the news of a new book coming out next month:

With fact-filled photo captions and chapter introductions by author Bob Duncan, Historic Photos of World War II Pearl Harbor to Japan reveals the humanity and the sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Second World War, in striking images selected from the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Naval Historical Center, and private collections.

“It has been said that the past is a country into which we may not travel, but photos and images left to us are a key-hole view into that past,” explains Duncan “With the passing of the generations who fought in that war, these photographs are becoming the last, sustaining glimpses of our fathers and grandfathers as young soldiers.”

This 10 x 10 gift book showcases these beautifully reproduced historic photographs in a large, high-quality format and includes well-researched text. Historic Photos of World War II Pearl Harbor to Japan masterfully retells the story of American soldiers, sailors, pilots, and Marines who fought in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War.The publication is the second in a series of books highlighting the key figures and events of World War II. Turner Publishing’s Historic Photos series has been acclaimed as a staple in the collection of anyone who loves history.

Stop by and check in out on amazon.com. Good Stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Historic-Photos-World-War-II/dp/1596524227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200689178&sr=8-1

Welcome!

Welcome to the Blog spot for the 97th Infantry Division Field Artillery. We'll post weekly information here about news and information regarding World War II and the 97th. Check here often.