Flak News Articles

This page is an index to selected articles from Flak News, the 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association Quarterly Publication. The articles are collected here to help preserve 398th history and to provide a first hand view of the lives and times from days of long ago. A number of the articles were researched and written by Allen Ostrom, Flak News editor, and former Tail Gunner, 603rd Squadron.

8th Air Force

1. The World War II Yanks In England: As Remembered by the Brits by James Anderson
2. Life In England’s Nissen Hut: Few Pleasant Memories Recalled by Ken Blakebrough
3. Joe Joseph and the Miracle Hit by Joe Joseph

398th

1. Keeping the Special Relationship in their Sights - Tracing Anglo-American relationships through the life and times of the 398th Bomber Group by Lynn Marie Alexander, Doctoral Student, University of Missouri-Kansas City, March 2009
2. The Battle of Normandy - The 398th Was There! by Keith Anderson, Pilot, 600th Squadron
3. A Tribute to the 398th by Sandra Averhart
4. School Boy Remembers Yanks Who Came to Nuthampstead by Roy Casson
5. Comstock Leads Group in Academy Plaque Ceremony by Bill Comstock
6. The Chaplain Remembers by Chaplain James Duvall - Protestant Chaplain of the 398th
7. A “Strange Presence” at the Old Airfield - Vic and the Ghosts of Station 131 by Vic Jenkins - UK Friend of the 398th
8. A Daughter's Story by Elaine (Stahlman) Jurs
9. A Daughter's Visit to Nuthampstead by Sharon (Roderick) Krause
10. BTO, PFF, OBOE, H2S, H2X, MICKEY by Marvin Laufer, Navigator, 603rd Squadron
11. A Story of USAAF Class 44A: They Were Bound For Nuthampstead by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
12. Berryhill Cast A Long Shadow at Station 131: He Was The “City Manager”, and Some Airmen Met His MP “Cops” by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
13. Muspratt, Penn Vicar, Dead at 93 by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
14. Peggy Remembers B-17 Parked On Family Farm by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
15. The Fiddler of Anstey by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
16. The Flag Still Flies At Station 131 by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
17. The Dresden/Prague Story by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
    1. Dresden/Prague Mission Examined by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
    2. Dresden/Prague Mission Recollections by Ralph McIntyre, Lead Navigator, 601st Squadron
    3. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Don MacPherson, Group Radar Navigator, Lead Ship
    4. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Harold Brown, Group Navigator, Lead Squadron
    5. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Nunzio Addabbo, Navigator, Palant Crew, 601st Squadron
    6. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Bill Costanzo, Pilot, 601st Squadron
    7. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Howard Pinner, Pilot, 603rd Squadron
    8. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Dave Mills, Pilot, 601st Squadron
    9. Dresden-Prague Mission Recollections by Wendell Saferite, Pilot, 602 Squadron
    10. Book Identifies Pilot of Lead Group as a Czech summarized by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
18. Who Were The Young Men Who Saluted by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
19. William G. Comstock by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
20. Two Hundred, Two Hundred Ninety Two by Tony Weston - UK Friend of the 398th
21. Vic Jenkins Passes by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
22. Combat Mess Memories by Ray Rovinsky

Colonel Hunter Articles

1. Col. Frank Patterson Hunter, Jr. by William J. Humphries - Friend
2. Exemplary Leadership - Colonel Frank P. Hunter by the Roanoke Rapids Herald
3. Colonel Hunter Took his Turn by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
4. Award of Distinguished Flying Cross - Colonel Hunter by Headquarters 1st Bombardment Division
5. Wartime Experiences - June 6, 1944 D-Day by Paul Roderick, Pilot (link is to a paragraph in a personal history about Colonel Hunter)

600th Squadron

1. The Battle of Normandy - The 398th Was There! by Keith Anderson, Pilot, 600th Squadron
2. Leading "The Mighty Eighth" to Leipzig by Keith Anderson, Pilot, 600th Squadron
3. Pilot Remembers Mission Weather Problems by Ray Armor, Pilot, 600th Squadron
4. Blood Was Running From The Cockpit by Howard F. Baer, Navigator, O'Neal Crew, 600th Squadron
5. News From Camp Lucky Strike: "I’m Going To Give You A Concise Summary of What Happened To Me" by Paul Krup, Radio Operator, McAfee Crew, 600th Squadron
6. After All These Years - Bail Out Memories Are Not Forgotten by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
7. OK, Cuda, Let's Get On With The War! - Flight Line Chief, 600th Squadron by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
8. O’Neal Crew Was 1st Loss For 398th by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
   1. Blood Was Running From The Cockpit by Howard F. Baer, Navigator, O'Neal Crew, 600th Squadron
   2. A B-17 Out of the Blue by George Graham, Radio Operator, O’Neal Crew, 600th Squadron
9. Story of Escape From Nazi Death March by Joseph P. Quinn, Radio Operator, 600th Squadron
10. Troopship Memories by George Schatz - Bombardier and Stan Alpert, Navigator, 600th Squadron
11. Remembrance: Silence Too Much For Tail Gunner by Robert Schuh, Tail Gunner, 600th Squadron
12. No Forgetting Christmas Eve Mission by Lou Stoffer, Engineer/Gunner, 600th Squadron
13. Troopship Memories by Ralph Trout, Tail Gunner, 600th Squadron

601st Squadron

1. Many B-17s Suffered On Low Altitude Run by Bill Frazier, 601 Squadron Operations
2. War and Post-War Remembrances: Schweinfurt Was Hardly a "Target Of Opportunity" by Richard Hosman, Pilot, 601st Squadron
3. A Daughter's Story by Elaine (Stahlman) Jurs
4. A Tribute To All The 398th “Bill Joneses”, We Will Dearly Miss Him" by Allen Ostrom and Randy Jones
5. The Story of “Campbell Falls”, Forest Service Named Falls For 398th Pilot by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
6. RDX: Now it Can Be Told by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
   1. Bombs Kissed in Mid-Air by Paul Brown, 601st Radio Operator
   2. RDX Bomb had a Scary Reputation by George Klix, 603rd Ordnance
   3. Squadrons Flew in "Double V" by John Bornstedt, 601st Pilot
   4. Explosion Raised Havoc with Every Plane in 601 Squadron by Mason Dicks, 601 Navigator
   5. Pilot Traeder Nursed "Q-Queenie" to Crash Landing on Fighter Strip by Howard Traeder, 601st Pilot
   6. Some Received "Outside" Help by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
   7. Ed Norris Was Not Forgotten By His Crew by Allen Ostrom
   8. Note: The April 13, 1945 Mission Page lists additional articles related to what happened that day.
7. The Stallcup Crew: In 601 They Flew; Here’s A Poem For The Red, White & Blue by Harold K. Stallcup, Pilot, 601 Squadron
8. Flying The B-17 Fortress: A Spiritual Experience by Bob Ullman, Gunner Jeffers Crew, 601st Squadron

602nd Squadron

1. A Daughter's Visit to Nuthampstead by Sharon (Roderick) Krause
2. Stalag Luft became a Happy Place by John E. Mikulas, Pilot, 602nd Squadron
3. All KIA Wan't So by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor

603rd Squadron

1. Getting There And Back Was As Perilous As The Real War by Robert Geiryn, Pilot, 603rd Squadron
2. The Little Engine that Could....and Did by George R. Hilliard, Flight Chief, 603rd Squadron
3. The Bomb Sight Was His Big Toe by Ross Howden, Pilot, 603rd Squadron
4. Joe Joseph and the Miracle Hit by Joe Joseph
5. RDX Bomb had a Scary Reputation, by George Klix, 603rd Ordnance
6. BTO, PFF, OBOE, H2S, H2X, MICKEY by Marvin Laufer, Navigator, 603rd Squadron
7. Search for Miss X
   1. The Amazing Story of Miss X - Introduction by Wally Blackwell, Pilot, 601st Squadron
   2. Jack Lee's Search for Miss X by Jack Lee, Pilot 603rd Squadron
   3. It All Began With “Ole Blood & Guts” by Allen Ostrom
8. Newman Crew
   1. “What Happened to My Comrades?” - Navigator Finally Comes To The End Of The Trail by William L. Frankhouser, Navigator, 603rd Squadron
   2. A Guard With A Limp And Warm Smile by W. Dean Whitaker, Bombardier/Navigator, 603rd Squadron
9. Attic Abberation: She Saw Into the Future by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
10. A Big Story in a Few Words, Tail Gunner Went Down Shooting; Haakenson Lost his Entire Crew .... And One Eye by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
11. Gunner Had A Day To Remember by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
12. Life Decided on Coin Flip by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
13. Oxygen Problems Answered the Question by Allen Ostrom, Flak News Editor
14. They Met Again Half a World Away by Tom Overturf, Orderly Room, 603rd Squadron
15. Thirty Thousand Feet by Stephen Quinn, Navigator, 603rd Squadron
16. The Holiest Fortress by Richard Salsano, son of Carmine Salsano, Waist Gunner, 603rd Squadron