I have been in touch with two wonderful gentlemen from Charleston, SC who are collaborating to write a book on the old WWII Charleston Army Air Base. That was my father's last stop. Of course this caught my interest and the last two months have been like Christmas.
Darrell Parker is the one who loves to do research went to the Charleston library archives and found the original newspaper clipping about my father's plane crash. The article had the home addresses of all the crew. Well 64 years later chances are very slim that I will find any remaining family members, but it's something I have to check out. I learned that there were many B-24 crashes out of and around Charleston. Sometimes there was nothing in the newspapers because the government did not want to alarm citizens. I also learned that there were many German POWs in Charleston and they were on road building and brush clearing work crews. They had no place to go--ocean or swamp. The history I'm learning is fascinating to me!
George Miller has sent me two manila envelopes full of photos, history of the base and memorabilia photos. The second arrived Friday--included were the insignia, Duke the Spook which was the men's logo for the 400th Bombardment Group. Now I have another piece of information about my father. At first when I saw Duke, I shuddered. Then I realized, this was a WAR. The men knew their chances as pilots of B-24's were not good. D Day had started but the skies were heavily covered in Europe. My father and his crew would have been on their way if not for the fatal crash. So these brave men aced it with a macabre sense of humor to us. Yet they looked at death and made it classy. Duke the Spook was a popular song sung by Bing Crosby and dedicated to the men of the 400th Bombardment Group. It was written my Jimmy Van Heusen. I have never heard it but I'll now be searching.
One of my favorite tunes that I sung as a kid and still think about is Bing's "Swingin' on a Star."
Providential that now I have another Bing tune in my life?
Now I look at Duke and appreciate him for his significance, for his bravery in the face of death--dancing to meet fate with a silk top hat! I am so indebted to these two men. Can't wait to get to Charleston to meet in person--but Darrell warned me to stay away in summer or I would hate them all. Last Saturday he called--it was 98 degrees and 93 percent humidity! Not my kind of weather.
Colonel Way, as reffered to in "Duke the Spook" was my great grandfather. I actually would love to see those pictures! please email me any copies you could! dustinwcash@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather Leonard Ledbetter was a squadron commander when the group was in Pueblo, Co. Any info you have would be great.. len403@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteWhen my father passed away I received his army scrap book. He was in the 487 bomb group and attended the re-unions. However I noticed in some pictures that he had originally beed with the 400th and wore a jacket with the "Duke" on it. I had to use a microscope to see it.I am trying to find a patch of the Duke and further history of the 400th 611 sq. John La Via emerson@snet.net
ReplyDeleteMy Father Capt.Steve Seymour was in the 400th and I have the jacket with "DUKE" patch on it along with the original sheet music with its autograph of Bing Crosby I grew up loving The Duke the spook song I was so surprised to read about the Charleston Sc base as my sister was born there in 1942 Thanks for making me smile kmouser@ windstream.net
ReplyDeleteA friend's dad pilot in the 389th Bomb Group, 365th BS, named his B-24 "Duke The Spook". landed in Switzerland on June 28, 1944, with battle damage. He had an engraved cigarette case with the skeleton Duke with tophat, cigarette holder, and dice showing a pair of deuces.
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