COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW:
1ST LT JAMES W. JOHNSON, JR P FEH
2ND LT ARIEL S. BEAN CP FEH
2ND LT EUGENE A. CARPENTER NAV FEH
S/SGT HOLLY G. HAWORTH ROG FEH
S/SGT LeROY C. ZIMMERMAN TTE FEH
S/SGT DONALD L. HIDER BTG FEH
S/SGT THEODORE R. PARKER WG FEH
S/SGT THOMAS GOLESKI TOG FEH
S/SGT STANLEY L. PODKOWA TG FEH
351ST SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 04 MAR 45
THE NAME OF THEIR AIRCRAFT "THE SUPER GOOSE" 43-39424 (per info from Lt Johnson in Oct 2007) Near the end of our tour we were given a brand new B-17G and told that if we took her up and tested her out, she would be our plane. We flew her on our last two missions and two Chowhounds.
The artwork was suppose to be a Fist with a Thumb straight Up which was designed by the Navigator. According to Lt Johnson, he flew two missions as a CP with other crews before flying his first misson with his own Crew. On his first mission with his Crew, March 18, 1945, he witnessed 3 B-17's get hit by Me252's and go down in flames. He could not believe his aircraft was not hit in the atack. Lt Carpenter was the dry wit of the Crew. Carpenter would say things like, "Hey Lt, you’re here in Combat yet your not old enough to vote" or when flak would come up, he would say "I don't think these people like us over here" and Lt Carpenter would refer to flak as "Black Black Flares"
MISSIONS OF 2ND LT EUGENE A. CARPENTER (mpf 2001)
# Date Target A/C # A/C Name
1. 18/03/45 BERLIN
2. 22/03/45 ALHORN
3. 24/03/45 STEENWIJK 231767 OUR GAL SAL
4. 24/03/45 HAVELTE 231767 OUR GAL SAL
5.. 28/03/45 HANOVER 337815 "YOU CAN'T LOSE"
6. 30/03/45 HAMBURG
7. 31/03/45 ZEITZ
8. 3/04/45 KIEL 337815 "YOU CAN'T LOSE"
9. 4/04/45 KIEL 297126 THE LATEST RUMOR
10. 5/04/45 NURNBURG 48836 ST LOUIS WOMAN
11. 6/04/45 LEIPZIG 297126 THE LATEST RUMOR
12. 7/04/45 BUCHEN 338852 NO NAME
13. 8/04/45 EGER
14. 9/04/45 MUNICH 338963 NO NAME
15.14/04/45 ROYAN 339424 "THE SUPER GOOSE"
16. 15/04/45 ROYAN
17. 16/04/45 POINT DeGRAVE, ROYAN
18. 20/04/45 ORANIENBURG 339424 "THE SUPER GOOSE"
MAY 1, 1945 CHOWHOUND 339424 "THE SUPER GOOSE'
MAY 5, 1945 CHOWHOUND 339424 "THE SUPER GOOSE"
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Front row
kneeling, left to right is Ariel Bean (CP) James Johnson, (P) and Eugene
Carpenter (FO/Navigator ),
back row left to right is Leroy Zimmerman (TTG), Thomas Goleski, (T/NG), Stanley Podakowa (TG), Theodore Parker (WG) Holly Hayworth (Radio/G, and Donald Hider (BG).
MEMO 2:
Col. James W. Johnson, Jr.
July 30, 1924 - October 3, 2017
San Antonio, Texas
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday October 3, 2017 at the age of 93. Surrounded by his wife and children, he completed his journey that began July 30, 1924 in Albany, Georgia as the son of James and Estine Johnson. Early on Jim felt the call of service that became the hallmark of his life. In time he became a B-17 Aircraft Commander and piloted his crew and airplane safely through 22 missions over Germany during World War II as part of the 100th Bomb Group. His service continued through the Vietnam War and entailed many assignments at home and abroad until a well-earned retirement in 1976 after a remarkable 34-year military career.
Jim is survived by his wife, Dawn, the love of his life for 70 years; son, Philip Johnson and wife Renay; daughters, Carol Odell and husband Jim, Susan Long and late-husband Dan, Jamie Mraz and husband John; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Like a ripple from a pebble tossed into the water, so many who knew him have expressed what an impact Jim had in their lives. From ROTC cadets he mentored at Iowa State University from 1960 to 1963, all now in their seventies, neighbors, and through the friends he and Dawn shared at Franklin Park Sonterra, their home since 2010, the expressions of love and appreciation have been extraordinary.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Franklin Park Sonterra, 18323 Sonterra Place, San Antonio, TX. Interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors will take place at a later time. Memorial gifts may be made to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation or a charity of choice
