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Letters From Others
The Guest Book has many many very interesting entries from "old timers" who were also in WWII to children trying to find information about their fathers. I encourage you to read the entries. Below are letters I received by e-mail and wanted to preserve.

My mother signed the guest book on page 29 on Christmas Day, 2001. I decided to copy and paste her entry here, so that I could preserve it, in case something happens to the guest book.

Tuesday 12/25/2001 8:36:41am
Name:      Evea Jane Sigle
Homepage:      
E-Mail:      ejsigle@alltel.net
Referred By:      Family Member
Family member? How are you related?      I am the War Bride
Age:      79
City/County:      Luray, KS
Comments      This is Richard's story--in his own words. I am grateful for Donna's efforts.


August 23, 2004

Hi Donna - thankyou for the great site! My father, James Cooper of Connecticut, was the ball turret gunner in your father's plane! Your father's interview about WWII was very informative. My father passed away in May 1997, and never talked about his experiences in WWII. Your website answered so many questions that I had about where he was stationed in Italy and some of the flights. Thankyou so much for posting it on the web!

Was the plane that your father actually flew in Italy named the Agony Wagon or was that just the one that he flew home to the states?

I just finished reading "The Wild Blue - the men and boys who flew B 24's over Germany" by Stephen E. Ambrose." I was really surprised to see the name of Eugene Koscinski mentioned in the book as a contributor. Gene was the bombadier on your father's plane. Gene and his wife, Goldie live in California and send my mother a Christmas card every year. I was familiar with Gene's name, that of his co-pilot Serpico, and your father's name. I have the same photo that you have posted on your website with your father and his group standing/kneeling in front of their plane. My dad is the one kneeling in the lower left. I also have all the bombing flights that our dad's went on together. Do you have a copy of those missions?

Donna - thanks again for posting on the web. My dad would never talk about his experience in WWII. I suspect he was the youngest in the group - age 18 when he enlisted in 1943. He was ill for ten years and lost his memory when he was only 62 before passing in 1997. How I wished I had asked more questions about his service years, but somehow, I don't think he would have talked about it.

Debbie Camejo in Connecticut

PS - dad did well in life after the war. He had many early jobs, but became a President, Secretary-Treasurer for a Union Local. He got to travel to many beautiful places associated with his job (along with my mother) and they both enjoyed traveling on their own. My dad had two sons and one daughter after the war.

December 24, 2002
I began watching the video we made on December 25, 1989, of my dad talking about his memories of WWII. In the video, he mentioned that he flew the Agony Wagon home from the war. After doing an internet search for that name, I received this response from an inquiry I made to the 392nd Bomb Group web page.  Donna

Donna I have a record book showing that there were (9) Agony Wagons listed and our plane number was 44-50542 and attached to the 392nd Bomb Group, 578th Bomb Squadron.  There also was one attached to the 465th Bomb Group, 780th Bomb Squadron whose plane number was 42-52376.  The other planes listed did not have the number that the 456th BG  780th BS had,  it also stated that they had no picture of either ours or the one you are interested in.  Hoping this will be of some help to you and as for returning date, we all began returning what planes we had serviceable back to the states in that time period.

May you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Ernie Barber,Archivist 392nd Bomb Group Memorial Assn.


Donna,
I read your fathers story, and it was so real. Although I was in England and North Africa, it was the same war, and so much of the story brought me back to that time many years ago. How nice of you to write it. It is history, and will forever be recorded. I say that it takes me back to those years, because just reading his story puts one in a time warp, and one is right back then. You really have to have been one of us to get the feeling.
You are to be commended for such a perfect page.
I have a web page that you might like to see. It is at: http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~jaf/caf.html
Sincerely,


Donna,
Just read your father's story.
Wonderful.
My wife's brother was a B-24 pilot, but was KIA.
I've been writing his story, from letters and squadron histories, but, unfortunately, no facts from him.
You might like to check out a website that another man has put up:
Regards,
Bill Allen

William E. Allen


My dad was in the 780th BG also and although he died in 1987, he got me thru flight training and I am doing the same for my 17 year old son. I am currently in contact with Bob Blier who sends me the monthly newsletter. I will forward you some info.

Clyde Collins
Friendswood, Tx. (south of Houston)