This photo is a photo of me taken yesterday, 6-9-2004 with the
Collings Foundation B-24. As you can see I'm holding up the book I wrote
about my dad alongside his name that's painted on the fuselage. |
I'm with Chris Christensen and Paul Canin. They were in the same plane,
shot down over Auschwitz on
9/13/44, just after dropping their bombs. Chris was the top turret
gunner and Paul was the radar navigator (Mickey operator). It was Paul's
first mission with this crew. I interviewed Chris for a story in my book.
There were 6 KIA and 5 POW. In the early 90's the Secretary of the
USAF (Rice) was trying
to find the survivors to give them a medal. They found 4 of the 5 that were
known to safely make it to the ground. (A sixth was beaten to death on the
ground.) They found no record of the 5th (Canin), although Chris was
certain he had seen him on the ground alive, but said the Germans separated
Canin from the crew. (Canin was Jewish.)
The Air Force couldn't
find any record of Canin and at least one of them felt he didn't survive his
first day of captivity.
I began looking for Canin's family, unsuccessfully. I spent about 1 1/2
years on this. Finally, I stumbled upon Paul, alive and well, living 15
miles from me. I invited Chris out from
Montana and got them together. It was a pretty special reunion,
needless to say.
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Missions by the NumbersSecond Edition
(Released March 2008)
This book includes
mission summaries of 187 combat missions flown by the 485th
Bomb Group.
Included are stories written by several members of the group that tell the
complete story of a mission, from the minute the coded message was received
until the mission was completed. Also included is the story of a gunner who was
shot down and captured and the story of a crew that struggled to make it safely
through the Brenner Valley, also known as flak alley, with severe battle
damage.
There are 20+
photos in this 190page, quality paperback book, including several photos of
bomb strikes, damaged B-24s, escort fighters and reconnaissance photos, as well
as maps and charts. There is also reference information on group losses and
bomb types, a sample of a pilots flimsy (secret plan for the mission) and
much, much more. This is a book about the 485th Bomb Group, told by the men who
lived it. This is a very limited edition. It is a reprint of the
original book, which has been out of print for several years. Only 300 copies
have been printed, so get your copies now. For your copy send a check for
20+5 shipping (25 total) to:
Jerry Whiting
2576 Fox Circle
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Contact Jerry Whiting Here |
 Dont Let
the Blue Star Turn Gold
By Jerry Whiting
This is a 250-page hardcover book, released
in September of 2005, about airmen in the 485th Bomb Group who were
shot down over occupied Europe. The book includes 65 photos. These stories are
about the struggle to survive of these downed airmen, so that blue star proudly
hanging in the window at home wouldnt be replaced by a gold one. They are also
the stories of family, waiting at home, of receiving the dreaded Missing in
Action telegram and not knowing if their loved one survived.
These are accounts of love, duty
and courage. Each is placed in the historical context of what was happening
elsewhere in the world at the time. The author visited Europe to locate
witnesses and visited the crash site of one of the downed bombers. Each chapter
was extensively researched and the author shares background history of how each
story came to be, often with surprising revelations. Several contain eyewitness
accounts from Europeans. In one chapter, two Croatians tell the story of
rescuing three airmen while under fire; in another, Polish farmers tell of the
485th bomber that fell in a nearby field. There are stories of
capture, evasion and escape. This is an inspirational book, suitable for the
entire family.
For your copy send a check for
20+5 shipping and handling (U.S. orders only) to:
Jerry Whiting
2576 Fox Circle
Walnut Creek, CA. 94596
Contact Jerry Whiting Here
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IM OFF TO WAR, MOTHER, BUT ILL BE BACK
By Jerry Whiting and Wayne B. Whiting
(June 2007 release of revised edition)
This
is the true story of a WWII tail gunner who struggles to survive combat
missions over the flak-filled skies of Europe and keep the promise to his
family to return home safely. Through excerpts from his letters you'll see
the changes in the young warrior as his war continues. Included are the
following stories:
The author is
proud to offer this revised second edition. Many Vets came forward to offer
additional details of stories contained in the original paper back edition
of this book. Countless interviews went into the revision. This is a
hardcover, 250+ page book that has nearly 100 photos, along with a new
chapter entitled, "A Mission in Photos". It is a book about loyalty,
friendships, and family. Suitable for the entire family.
For your copy send a check for
20+5 shipping and handling (U.S. orders only) to:
Jerry Whiting
2576 Fox Circle
Walnut Creek, CA. 94596
Contact Jerry Whiting Here
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