Airmen wait on the hardstand for the truck after a mission
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Crew of Delores waits on hardstand with gear - a truck is parked beside the bomber
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Crew relax on a 67th Squadron hardstand after a mission
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Airmen stand beside M Bar on a 67th Squadron hardstand after a mission
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Victory Ship after a mission
May have been same day Tom Holmes was hit in head
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George Thom and crew on hardstand post-mission
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B-17 Crew Gets Ride Back from Bomber After Mission
Notes: Hardstands could be miles from Tech Site for debriefing; they were in a 3-mile ring around the 3 runways that formed a triangle. Most of the boys are smiling ear to ear. In front center, one leans into another. Visible relief to be on ground. Wearing all equipment – sheepskins, flying boots, cap, goggles – they look bulky.
(Source: Fold3)
Mission return
<span>Barry Cator, <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/ShipdhamFlyingClub/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shipdham Flying Club</a></span>
Colonel Johnson on Hardstand
<span>The Will Lundy Collection maintained by <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="http://www.wingsremembered.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wings Remembered, Inc.</a></span>
Mission return, T-2 hangar (camo-painted) in background, early-war F-2 2,000 gal. bowsers in background
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Hookes, McCoy, Snavely, on Airfield Site, Hodges has mug and sandwich, Snavely cares file with papers
<span>The Will Lundy Collection maintained by <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="http://www.wingsremembered.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wings Remembered, Inc.</a></span>
Five Unknown Airmen Holding Sandwiches in Uniform at Shipdham Airfield, Nissen Huts in Background
<span>The Will Lundy Collection maintained by <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="http://www.wingsremembered.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wings Remembered, Inc.</a></span>
Five Unknown Airmen Eating Something in Uniform at Shipdham Airfield, Ambulance in Background
<span>The Will Lundy Collection maintained by <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="http://www.wingsremembered.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wings Remembered, Inc.</a></span>
Return from Mission
Fold3
Mission debriefing
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68th Squadron Debriefing after a mission, 1943
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Debriefing (392nd Bomb Group website – not 44th BG)
Trucks took the men to the briefing room, which was now set up for interrogation. Every crew was checked in by an S-2 clerk who verified each man's name and position. Any changes from the original crew load lists were reported on a "Sortie Record" to ensure that everyone got credit for completing the mission. This report also named crews who would not get credit because they aborted. Personal equipment (parachutes, flying suits, Mae Wests, escape kits and oxygen masks) was turned in, as were bombardier and navigator folders. Then, the exhausted airmen got refreshments, served by Red Cross personnel. Coffee, juice, donuts, sandwiches, and a shot of whiskey were available. Engineer Gerald Cross notes that the 577th Sqdn greeted its returning crews with 100 proof Pennsylvania bourbon served in glass tumblers. In his memoir, Country Boy, Combat Bomber Pilot, Robert H. Tays, 578th, recalled, "After each mission, we were served a double shot of straight bourbon for medicinal purposes. Not having eaten since early in the morning and with empty stomachs, the effect was quite pronounced. "Aircrews first reported "hot news"-details on convoys, a/c in distress, etc.-that needed to be transmitted right away. Crews were then thoroughly questioned. Using a preprinted Interrogation Form, the debriefing officer noted crew comments about their bombing attack (time, altitude, heading, number of bombs dropped on target or jettisoned, and results, if seen); personnel injuries and plane damage; equipment malfunctions or failures; enemy a/c encounters (including tactics and unusual weapons used); friendly fighter support (time, place and effectiveness); and locations and types of flak encountered.579th navigator Red Sprowls notes, "It was always very important to know where and when the Group e n c o u n t e r e d flak since the Germans were using mobile guns mounted on rail cars and they continued to move their guns. We knew that the major cities were well-protected but intelligence always wanted the extent or any changes in the intensity of the flak. This was of course used in plotting the future route in and out of targets. These flak areas were plotted on the lead navigator and Mickey operators' maps and were extremely important if the Group was forced off the plotted course due to weather or error.” After all crews had been questioned, their responses were compiled and Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) drafted. Navigators turned in their logs and bombardiers completed bombing reports. Lead crew command pilots, navigators, and bombardiers wrote detailed accounts about what they did and why. If a tactical error had been made (such as bombing the wrong target), the process was especially intense. Finally, crews were released to go to the mess hall or to their barracks. For men who had just returned from a mission and knew they faced many more, sleep was difficult.
<span><a class="in-cell-link" href="https://ww2truslow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mara Truslow Storey Research</a></span>
Debriefing 448th Bomb Group
Notes: Sitting at rugged, homemade table. Still has Mae West vest on. Came right from bomber. One still wearing sunglasses. Crew of Jokers Wild. Dock Installations to support Russian land drive – bombed in Germany. Interrogator filling out a report and looks like they also have a map. Drinking coffee. Smoking. Interesting you can pick out the pilot here – all are deferring to him.
Fold3
Interrogation Debriefing, Smoking, mugs and plates on table, A2 jackets, scarves, tables close together, WC Stewart in Jacket
<span>The Will Lundy Collection maintained by <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="http://www.wingsremembered.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wings Remembered, Inc.</a></span>
401st BG Debrief and Interrogation December 1, 1943
Notes: Lots happening here. Interrogator intently focused on man talking to him. Man standing having a separate conversation. Man next to interrogator looks exhausted and eyes are glazed over. This man wearing a wedding ring. Coffee cups and snack on table. No one is eating.
Fold3
381st BG – Jun 22, 1943
Notes: 1 still in sheepskins. Life Magazines cover the table. Boy in right hand corner looks like he’s struggling – doesn’t seem a part of conversation, jaw tensed. This debrief room nicer than some of the others.
Fold3
390th BG Returning from Mission for Interrogation
Notes: Intelligence Officer meets them at interrogation – is handing (presume to be Pilot) a folder. Board on back shows the interrogator (intel officer), pilot name, and table number. (Consistent w/ other photo that shows interrogation with tables marked w/ numbers.)
Fold3
451st BG after Returning from Raid at Interrogation
Notes: Coffee cups on table. Man in back right looks like he has broken nose w/ tape across. Looks like photos or maps on table. All different types of body language. Some gazing into space. Some intensely focused on conversation. See map in room. Looks like briefing room.
Fold3
Interrogation B24 Group 8th AF
Fold3
Scrapbook Page of 6 Photos, 44th BG B24D in Fomration, B17s in Formation, Strike Photo, Men Prepping for Mission from Hardstand, B24s in Formation, Interrogation with Map and Coffee
<span>The Will Lundy Collection maintained by <a class="in-cell-link" target="_blank" href="http://www.wingsremembered.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wings Remembered, Inc.</a></span>