COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
MAJ. ALBERT MAX "BUCKY" ELTON (O-398685), WAS OPERTIONS OFFICER OF THE 418TH SQDN. WHEN THE GROUP FLEW TO ENGLAND IN JUNE 1943 (Capt at that point). ; When Maj Eagan was shot down on Oct 10, 1943, Capt Elton became temporary CO of the 418th until Capt. Ev Blakely was made CO of the 418th and Capt Elton was made CO of the 350th BS. He BECAME COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 350TH WHEN GALE CLEVEN WAS LOST ON THE MUNSTER MISSION OF 10 OCT 43. On March 6, 1944 Maj Bucky Elton was leading the 100th "A" Group to Berlin. On that day the 100th BG lost 15 Crews.
SOC-Bucky Elton whose weight, because of too many sleepless nights, had come down t 103 pounds. Elton dreaded nightmares and went to sleep in the room with "Smokey" Stover, the medic to calm his nerves.
Missions:
28 JUN 43 St NAZAIRE
24 JUL 43 TRONDHEIM
14 JAN 44 FORET D'HESDIN
06 MAR 44 BERLIN (LEAD 100TH "A" GROUP)
27 MAR 44 BORDEAUX
13 APR 44 AUGSBURG
22 APR 44 HAMM (COL KELLY FIRST MISSION, FLEW AS AN OBSERVER)
Subj: Re: 100thBG Feedback Form
Date: 8/4/2003 5:12:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: elton1stop@yahoo.com
To: MPFaley@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Albert Max Elton was a Lt. Col. from 1946 until he retired in 1967
My father Albert Max Elton, Buck Elton, went on to
become a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, a distinguished
career in the military, ending with his retirement as
Professor of Aerospace Studies at UCLA, California.
He started a college, Casa Loma College, in the
poorest neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley and
developed the first of many new programs modelled
throughout the country. I will look for more photos
and I understand he donated his memorabilia to Abbot
Thorpe.
My mother kept a scrap book of all of the news
articles from each battle, and his postcards and
letters interspersed. I can track it down if you
like.
Pat Elton
Albert Elton was a Lt. Col. from 1946 until he retired in 1967.
Albert Max Elton
Date of Rank 24 Feb 46
Augmented Regular Air Force (FR35500) 11 Apr 51
Previous Serial Numbers: AO398685, 7004732
Discharged 27 Oct 67 (Permanent Disability)
Decorations
Distinguished Flying Cross (GO291 Hq 8th AF 1944)
Air Medal (Same GO as DFC)
Air Force Commendation Medal (GO63 Hq 15th AF 1960)
1st Oak Leaf Cluster to AFCM (SOG167 15th AF 1963)
Combat Readiness Medal (GO76 Hq 3rd AF 1945)
1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters to CR (GO66 Hq 15th AF 1957)
Purple Heart (no date)
1st Oak Leaf Cluster to PH (no date)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (no date)
American Defense Service Medal (no date)
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (no date)
2 Bronze Service Stars to EAMECM (no date)
World War II Victory Medal (no date)
United Nations Service Medal (no date)
National Defense Service Medal (no date)
1 Bronze Service Star to NDSM (no date)
Korea Service Medal (no date)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (no date)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (no date)
American Campaign Medal (no date)
1 Bronze Service Star to ACM (no date)
Air Force Longevity Service Award (no date)
4 Oak Leaf Clusters to AFLSA (no date)
Training:
B-50D Familiarization Course - 1951
Advanced Flying School Jet 1955
ABC Weapons (Nuclear) 1956
B-52 Combat Crew Training 1957
KC-135 Combat Crew Training 1959
Missile Launch Officer 1961
Missile Maintenance Officer 1961
Autometics (?) 1961
Counterinsurgency Indoctrination Course 1964
Air War College 1964
B.A. International Affairs (Probably AFIT)
At least this is how I decipher the DD214.........Charlie Cole (from email from Pat Elton)
Subj: B-17 42-5863
Date: 11/11/2002 11:04:42 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: dovejoint@hotmail.com
Hello Mike, Do you have any information about a belly landing crash at
Thorpe Abbotts of B-17 # 42-5863 Paddlefoot's Proxy on Sept 6, 1943 piloted
by Albert M. Elton? Also is there any way to find out if this A/C was green
or silver?
Thanks....Jeffrey DeLong
Subj: Paddlefoot's Proxy......Sept. 6, 1943
Date: 12/6/2002 5:04:23 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: dovejoint@hotmail.com
Hi Mike, I received the copy of the accident report last night about the
events of Sept. 6, 1943. Bucky Elton did have a belly landing, but it was
from a test flight after repairs had been made to the plane. I am assuming
repairs made due to the damage received on Sept. 3rd.
Jeff DeLong
Subj: The Paddlefoot
Date: 12/12/2002 10:17:16 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: dovejoint@hotmail.com
To: mpfaley@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Hello Mike,
Here is the info from the report of Paddledoot's Proxy as told by Capt. Elton:
“I took off at 1833, September 6, 1943 to slow time a new engine (no. 3). The others aboard were (1) Pilot and Co-Pilot of a replacement crew. (2) Our squadron line chief (engineering). At 1925 I attempted to contact the tower for landing instruction and found my radio out. I then attempted to get visual (green light) by flying over the field gear down. The right gear would not extend either electrically or manually. As darkness was approaching I knew that I hed to set it down shortly, regardless of the full gas load ( approximately 1600 Gls.) I fired a red-red flare on those dry run approaches and dropped a note to the man on the tower. When I sure that all on the ground was ready, ambulances, fire-truck, and men in asbestos suits, I landed the ship on the grass paralleling our E-W runway. Nothing unusual happened.”
John B. Kidd added the following:
“A report from the squadron-engineering officer stated that the upper limit switch failed to operate causing the motor to burn out, and the clutch to freeze. This prevented the gear from being lowered by the hand crank. No responsibility can be placed upon the crew due to the mechanical nature of the failure. I witnessed the landing, which was excellent. The report listed J.J Flannigan (CP), G.A. VanGemert (E), and D.E. Dunsdon (CP) as the other crewmembers with Capt. Elton. It also stated that the aircraft was recovered by the 98th Service Squadran. The accident happened Sept. 6, 43 and the report was stamped as received by Headquarters Flight Control Command in Winston-Salem, NC on Oct. 2, 43. The report totaled 9 pages.”
Jeff DeLong
MEMO 2:
"One day while I was there, I went out to the tower alone. It was raining, and the low clouds raced by. I climbed up to the top where we used to wait for them to come back. I must have been there for a half hour, and then - I swear - I heard them all come back. Patrick, Adams, Schmallenback, Barnhill, Knox, Biddick, all of them. I couldn't see them up there in the clouds, but their engines made the old tower tremble - one slow pass - and they were gone. I do not expect you to understand this, but you must believe it.
I have the feeling they will return because they are being remembered." - 100th BG veteran Capt "Bucky" Elton, writing about a 1982 visit to Thorpe Abbotts
PHOTOS:
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Bucky Elton, 350th BS CO (100th Photo Archives) |
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Colonel Albert "Bucky" Elton. Original 100th (100th Photo Archives) |
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Photo of then Lt Col Bucky Elton with 12 O'Clock High TV star Robert Lansing (Gen Frank Savage) on the set of the show. Courtesy of daughter Marylata Elton |
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Albert "Bucky" Elton (photo courtesy of Marylata Elton) |
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Capt Jack Swartout Albert "Bucky" Elton (photo courtesy of Marylata Elton) |
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Albert "Bucky" Elton (photo courtesy of Marylata Elton) |
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Albert "Bucky" Elton (photo courtesy of Marylata Elton) |
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Bucky Elton DFC for Berlin Mission March 6,1944. Courtesy of Marylata Elton. |
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Bucky Elton Air Medal for completing 5 missions. Elton mentions he flew 17 missions total with 418th BS as operations officer and 350th BS as Commanding Officer. Courtesy of Daughter Marylata Elton |
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Major Albert "Bucky" Elton (photo courtesy of the Elton family) |
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Bucky Elton, his mother Maude Lay Elton and father Dr. Albert M. Elton (Father) Courtesy of Daughter Marylata Elton |
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DFC citation for March 6, 1944 BERLIN Mission. Courtesy od Marylata Elton |
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From Left: Robert V. Kaiser, J. W. Hardy, Bucky Elton, holding one of the 100th's newest mascots, McMatron and Bucky Cleven. Compassion and caring for animal was a common thing for the men of the 100th. One cannot but be awed by the gentle manner in which Elton is holding the small kitten. At Elton's right is Doc Hardy - 350th Flight Surgeon who often ministered to the 350th's "guests." To display such regard for all life while in the company of violent death themselves is just one of the reasons they are "Our Greatest Generation." (100th Photo Archives) |
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From left: Colonel Neil B. "Chick" Harding, Robert Flesher & Albert "Bucky" Elton. (100th Photo Archives) |
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Albert "Bucky" Elton, 350th Commanding Officer, left, and his First Sergeant Carl Kern at a 350th party for Kern. Both of these men were Original 100th. (100th Photo Archives) |
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1983 100th Bomb Group Restaurant Grand Opening in Cleveland, Ohio. From left; Howard Hamilton, Charlie "Crankshaft" Cruikshank, Albert "Bucky" Elton, their old 350th Squadron CO, and William H. Fletcher. William H. Fletcher Collection |
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Lt. Col. Kidd (Group Opns. Officer). Look at that board and the names, you are looking September 3, 1943, from that list the following crews will be missing that day. Winkelman, Fineup, Floyd and not on the board yet is Richard C King. Henington will ditch in the Channel. (100th Photo Archives) |
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Chick Harding (2nd from Left) Robert Flesher (third from Left), and Bucky Elton (far right) are in the photo |
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Maj Horace Varian, Lt Col John Bennett and Maj Bucky Elton. Awarding Purple Heart Medals. Photo courtesy of Anne Cowing |
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Albert "Bucky" Elton and William Flesh (photo courtesy of Marylata Elton) |
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