1939
Virginia Woodward, Bob's wife, sent the following letter, after she received a War Department telegram:
"It stated that Bob has been 'missing in action' over Hungary since November zo, 1944. He's a navigator on a B-S4 with the 15th AAF in Italy. His squadron received the Presidential Citation just a few days before Bob's mission of November 20th, from which his ship did not return. Bob also holds the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. I'm not for one minute giving up hope that he is safe somewhereeither in Russian occupied Hungary or as a prisoner-of-war. I know he'd hate the latter and would much prefer being able to get back somehow to his base—but I don't care—as long as he's safe."
November was a bad month for '39ers. Bob Yeuell was killed in action on November 28 in Germany. No further details are available as yet.
On the other side of the ledger is the December 23 AP release in the New York Times datelined London, and headlined, "Col. Schilling Leads U. S. Aces in Europe."
Col. Dave Schilling, who commands an ace fighter group in Europe, became the leading ace in the European theatre today by getting five German planes, making his total bagged thirtyfour and a half—of which twenty-four and a half were in the air and ten on the ground.
The 26-year-old Traverse City, Mich., pilot led his group into one of the fiercest dogfights of the war when they tangled with 250 Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs and shot down 35.
Colonel Schilling is a protege of Col. Hubert Zemke of Missoula, Mont., who was known, as the United States' "fightin'est" commander in Europe before he went down two months ago just a mile inside Germany, and was captured. The old record that Colonel Schilling broke was held by another Zemke protege who is also a prisoner Lt. Col. Francis Gabreski of Oil City, Pa., who had thirty-one planes to his credit—twenty-eight in the air and three on the ground.
Like Colonel Zemke, Colonel Schilling flies more than most commanders in this theatre. When he was Colonel Zemke's deputy, they usually rotated with Colonel Gabrewski in leading the group. The Germans called them the "terrible three" and their squadron usually received plenty of attention from defending fighters.
Ruth Morris writes of her husband (Major Wiilard W. Morris): "He is now Major Willard W. Morris, and he is in Germany in an infantry regiment. The division landed in Normandy on June 8, and they've been at it ever since. Wiilard has been collecting a little 'fruit salad' in the way of the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman badge."
Major John Horn had time for a brief comment on a Christmas card from the 9th Army Headquarters:
Haven't run into any D men—until a week ago at least and known it. Then I met Johnny Mecklin in a press conference—he was here covering our Hq. The next day Charlie Wischel walked into the office. He is aiding one of our newly arrived unit's CG.
Had a long chat with him, and it did me good to remember Dartmouth as only a Bull Session can recall it.
I've been with my present boss since last April 2, and enjoying the work tremendously. Sure do manage to get around.
Lt. Howard Chivers is a gunnery officer on an LST which has been on all the invasions of Leyte Gulf to date.
Marine Major William O. Coleman, a pilot with Marine aerial photographic squad- Ron which made the first photographs of the Jap stronghold at Truk, returned to the Marine Corps Air Base at Miramar, Calif., in December 1944, for leave and reassignment. Major Coleman said he did not participate in the actual photographing of Truk, but he flew on 40 missions over Bougainville and enemy bases in the Bismarck Archipelago. His plane was detached to the Army and did mapping, photographic and reconnaissance work. Although exposed to anti-aircraft fire on most of the raids, the plane never was hit. Major Coleman was stationed on Bougainville, Emirau and Guadalcanal. He received his wings and commission at Miami, Fla., in February 1942, and was promoted to his present rank last July while overseas.
For outstanding achievement in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations the Troop Carrier Group, to which S/Sgt. Woodrow W. Russell is assigned, has been cited by the 12th Air Force. Sgt. Russell is now entitled to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge. Last April the Troop Carrier Group, stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of operations, was suddenly ordered to fly to the support of the Allied Forces battling the Japanese in the Imphal Valley, India, and the Myitkyina area, Burma. The unit supported the Allied armies for two and a half months and is now back in the Mediterranean Theater, starting its 27th month overseas. The unit was cited because of the proficiency and heroic self-sacrifice on the part of each member of the expedition in accomplishing almost impossible feats under the most hazardous conditions.
Ensign Genevive Ann Lynn, Nurse Corps USN was married to Captain Wayland Avery USMCR on Friday, December 8, in South Pasadena, Calif.
Virginia Zaloom was married to Warner Bepuy in New York, November 25. Warner is now a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Lt. Bob Eaton's engagement to Elizabeth Miller of White Plains was announced on November 25. Bob is now at Fort Benning.
Service promotions reported during the month are as follows: Major James H. Fuller, Capt. Albert C. Hatcher, Lt. (jg) Edmund F. Wakelin, Lt, Comdr. Earle B. Seeley, Jr., Major Robert H. Howe, and Capt. Morris J. Seligman.
FAMILY PORTRAIT. 2d Lt. Robert Woodward '39, navigator of a B-24 and reported missing in action, is shown with his son, Mark. Bob holds the Air Medai with one cluster.
FIRST PILOT of a B-17, 2d Lt. Edwin F. Cummings '39, is with the Bth AAF in England. He is the sort of C. E. Cummings 'O9.
Secretary, Apt. 4D, 1307 Sixth Ave., New York, N. Y.
Treasurer, 7215 Maryland Drive, St. Louis 5, Mo.
