Personnel

Please include my Father in your Taps list:

 

John Nichols Backus, 418th Squadron, March 16, 2002.  

John was born June 1, 1907, in Columbus, OH and as a Reservist

in Tulsa, OK, was called to active duty on July 28, 1943.  He 

arrived at Thorpe Abbotts on February 9, 1945, and was a 

radar maintenance mechanic.  After the war, he returned to the

oil industry and retired as the President of Mountain Crude Marketers

in Denver, CO where he had moved with his wife, Katherine, 

who preceded him in 1991.  John leaves a son, daughter and

two granddaughters.  A memoir of John and Katherine's 1943-45

letters and his 1945 diary, are found in the recently published

book, We Just Did.

 

 

 

His loving daughter,

 

CJ Backus

 

PO BOX 3804

Centennial, CO 80161

303-355-0731

cjpiglet2@msn.com

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According to his diary, dated Friday, June 8, 1945:

"Arrived in camp  at 4:15 PM to learn I'm shipping Sunday to the 452nd for shipment back to the states, I hope."

 

This is why I mentioned the 452nd, as he came back to the states with them.

 

When he was alive he had a membership to the Splasher Six and submitted the following in Volume 25, First Issue, 1994, No. 1,  p 17:

 

"John Backus was a technician in the 418th Radar Counter Measures.  When FDR died, he remembers that British newspapers agreed that the American president was the greatest man of his time."  Even the Houses of Parliament adjourned, "the first time in their history of any foreign personage."  When First Sergeant Dave Cox "asked" John to be one of the 418th's official representatives at a memorial service at the Church in Brockdish, he felt he was honored to be chosen."

 

I also just sent you his Taps information.

 

Sincerely,

 

CJ Backus



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Dear Sir:

 

I would like information on how to submit my recently published book to the Splasher Six web site.

 

We Just Did: The World War II Letters & Diary of John & Katherine Backus

 

It will be of interest to those men who were at Thorpe Abbotts in the 418th and 452nd squadrons, as John Backus kept a detailed diary of his time there in 1945.  The letters from his wife, Katherine, give true insight into what the women and families were doing while the men were away.

 

The book is the 1943-45 letters and diary of my parents. When my Father was in hospice care, I found them in his dresser drawer, where they had been waiting, since 1945, for me to find them.  The response in the Denver area has been favorable and reported in the local papers.  I have also given presentations to genealogical and historical societies about the making of the book, which has been a great way to honor my parents and those of the "greatest generation".  

 

I look forward to hearing how to include my book on your site.

 

 



 

Sincerely,

CJ Backus in Colorado

 

303-355-0731

cjpiglet2@msn.com