Photos
Among the box of keepsakes I discovered was a small collection of photographs. A number of the pictures included miscellaneous notes with names, locations, and descriptions, but just as many did not. Through the notes, uniforms, and background of the pictures, I was able to categorize a number of the pictures in the collection. I have included names where they were given, or if I thought they looked like the same person as mentioned in another photo. If you notice any issues or have any input on who may be in the photos, please let me know.
Training
When my grandfather told stories of enlisting later in his life, he discussed his inner conflict between his willingness to serve and reluctance to be drafted. He wanted to be a pilot, but feared that if he was drafted, he would not have any say in where he ended up. Rather than letting the fates decide, he took matters into his own hands and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in August of 1942. From the time of enlistment, he spent a full two years training to become a tactical reconnaissance pilot before shipping off to Europe. He began his elementary flying training at the Vichy Army Airfield in Vichy, MO, before moving to advanced pilot training at Napier Field in Alabama, and completed his training at Key Field in Meridian, MS.
Maxwell Field - May 1943
From left to right- Mitch Maged - Brooklyn
- Louis Murtha - Boston, PA
- Chas (Bud) Lowry - Beaver Falls
Vichy, MO - June 1943
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Top Row - Left to Right
- Pat Moore
- Mac Morrow
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Bottom Row - Left to Right
- Lou Murtha
- Barney Miller
Vichy, MO - June 1943
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Top Row - Left to Right
- Lou Murtha
- John Mihalek - Ohio
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Bottom Row - Left to Right
- Pat Moore - Pittsburgh
- Lee (Mac) Morrow - Aliquippa
Pat Moore and my grandfather either taking one of the first selfies or crammed together into a photobooth.
Thomasville, GA I-44, sub-base of Dale Marby Airfield in Tallahassee, Florida
Date not listed, but most likely some time between February 1944 and May 1944.
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From left to right
- Ken Vosler
- Lou Murtha
- Chas Johnson
France
After completing training, Lou was assigned to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group in June of 1944, and set off for Europe on August 24, 1944. He joined the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron upon arrival to Azeville Airfield in the Normandy region of France. While in France, the group was also stationed at the Montreuil Airfield in Le Mans.
This was one of the photos that he sent home to his family as he mentions in his letter on 10/16/44.
Bill O'Brien with the one of the squadron's pets, Mustang. Lou would often tell stories of about Mustang, and the two never seemed to get along. As different members of the squadron took care of him, they seemed to run into trouble while on missions. After a while, the chaplain decided that he was too much bad luck and took him under his care.
Belgium
The squadron spent the majority of their time at the Le Culot airfield near the town of Beauvechain. While there, the pilots were housed in a chateau beyond the A-89 air field in the town of Grez-Doiceau.
Date is not listed, but most likely March of 1945. Left to Right: 1st Row: E. L. Garr, R. Niehouse, John A O'Brien & Mustang, Leo Sommers, H. R. Wood 2nd Row: W. 'Moose' Melton, Harold Norman, L.A. Jorgenson, L. A. Murtha, W. D. Parker, Ernest Lamb, P.J. Kreter, E. R. "Rabbit" Johnson 3rd Row: A. Miller, Harvey Maher, Chas Read & Rusty, J. L. Murtha, George Bomier, Bob Fuiten, Bill Grusy, Paul Schmidt, Bill Lustig, "Chappie" Foster, Tom Watson
An aerial view of the pilots' winter home in Grez-Doiceau from November 1944 to March 1945.
Beauvechain, Belgium - November 1944
Pappap and Dick Callandar stop for a quick break to take a photo. This photo would have been taking shortly after the squadron arrived in Belgium, and were grounded due to bad weather for the first weeks of November.
Beauvechain, Belgium - November 1944
From the letters and operations notes, this may have been the only place to stand and stay out of the mud.
- http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_1.html
- http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=14582&Submit4=Go
14582 (F-6D, 161st TRS, 363rd TRG, 9th AF) in landing accident at Le Culot/East Airfield Y-10, Le Culot, Belgium Jan 19, 1945. Pilot survived, aircraft badly damaged, unknown if repaired.
Beauvechain - February 1945
Receiving his Air Medal and 1st Oak Leaf Cluster from Lt Colonel James Rose
Beauvechain, Belgium - March 1945
For most of my life, this was the only picture I had seen of my grandfather from the war, and was used as his image in a number of memorial services and newspaper articles.
Beauvechain, Belgium - March 1945
Someone managed to capture a picture of a picture in this one. This is a picture of the photograph on the home page being taken.
Airfield Y-10: Beauvechain, Belgium March 1945
From left to right
- P.J. Kreter
- Bill Parnicky
- Rebel Martin
- Lou Murtha
Germany
In the spring of 1945, the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron became the first squadron to fly planned missions from German soil.
The remains of "Miss June", which was the one plane that pappap flew most frequently, and had finally decided to mark it with the name. On the morning he was set to start painting, he woke up to this sight on the airfield. Another pilot had issues on takeoff and had a crash landing. You can read his brief account in one of his letters home.
Listed on the back of the photo: "Howard Townsend, Kraus - Gutersloh Y-99 April 17, 1945"
I was able to find some recorded documentation of the incident:
- http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_1.html
- http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=112711
- http://www.accident-report.com/world/europe/germany/ger4504.html
Another shot of the remains of "Miss June"
R-37: Braunschweig (Brunswick), Germany - May 1945
Inscription on back of photo: "FW 190 that landed on our Field at Braunshweig, Germany, pilot surrendered. App. May 1 1945."
R-37: Braunschweig (Brunswick), Germany - May 1945
Many of the pilots received their orders that they were relieved of duty on May 15th, 1945. I like to think that the boys were celebrating the end of the war and that they were heading home.
Brothers
Lou was the eldest of a large cohort of brothers, and just one sister. The next two brothers in line also served during the war. Ken served in the Navy and Bill served in the Army Air Corps.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenneth Murtha
Aviation Ordananceman - Tail Gunner
Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenneth Murtha
Aviation Ordananceman - Tail Gunner
Sergeant William Murtha
367th Fighter Group, 393rd Fighter Squadron - US Army Air Corps
Sergeant William Murtha
367th Fighter Group, 393rd Fighter Squadron - US Army Air Corps
Shack built in France
Miscellaneous or Unknown
Bill Grusy, Lee Collins, Callandar, Hopplin, J. D. Moore, Norman, Hanson, Leib, Anderson, Maher, Ashbaugh
