Personnel

CREW



On Jun 2, 2013, at 12:42 PM, "Lee Van Syckle"  wrote:



Dear Mr. Faley,



 My name is Lee Van Syckle and I am the son of Lynn V.L. Van Syckle, SSG WG, Army Serial Number 15321051. I have been researching my fathers time he spent at Thorpe Abbotts field as a member of the 8th Army, 3rd Division, 13th Wing, 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron and last week I made a special trip to the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, Diss, Norfolk UK. When I arrived I meet to wonderful people; Mr. Richard Gibson and a woman named Brenda (I think her father initiated the restoration of the Flight Tower). I must say it was an exciting moment in my life but more emotional than I anticipated. 



Mr. Faley, it was disappointing not to find further documents regarding my father’s tour of duty when I meet with Mr. Gibson and he suggested I contact you as you may be a resource to help me. What I am looking for is the name of his pilot(s) and the name of the ships and crews he flew with as I am trying to find some photos to create a family history album to share with my Mother Maureen Van Syckle and my two brothers and sisters. But most importantly is to collect as much information so I can share with my son and daughter who never had an opportunity to know their Grandfather, but as important I want to make sure my grandchildren (just informed by my daughter we are expecting are first grandchildren (twins) in November so they will know there Great Grandfather and the man of character he and is fellow veterans exhibited. 



 While I was meeting with Mr. Gibson I reviewed the following documents of my father: 



1) “Individual Flight Record” which begins September 27, 1944 through April 8, 1945. 



2) The September 27, 1944 missions through February 28, 1945 were signed by John P. Gibbons, Captain, Air Corps, Operation Office, 350th Bomb Sq (H). 



3) March 29, 1945 through April 8, 1945 was signed by Charles R. Robbs, Captain, Air Corps, Operation Office, 350th Bomb Sq (H). 



4) Total hours flown before “Closed Out” was 228.15. 



5) Also, I have in my possession is my fathers original ”Lucky Bastards Club” issued February 28, 1945 and signed by Col. Fredrick J. Sutterlin, Commanding Officer, an “Air Executive” whose signature I can not make out and Lt. Col. Jack B. Wallace, Group Operations. 



I have researched the 100th Bomb Group WEB site and all crews are listed by only the pilots. I have reviewed each pilots missions listed and crews but have not had any success in locating any documentation of my Father. My Father passed on February 8, 1984 at the young age of 62 and I miss him everyday. I am very fortunate that my mother is still with us and is doing great at the age of 87.

I appreciate your time and would be very grateful if we could connect to discuss other options you might suggest I pursue. I can be reached anytime via my email leevansyckle@aol.com or my cell number 312.363.7240 Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Gibson did give me your phone # 818.749.7790 but I did not want to call you before I had a chance to introduce myself. I am traveling to San Francisco next week (June 5th – June7th) and there are times I travel to Los Angeles and if possible would love to meet you. 



 Thank you for your time and wish you all the best,



 



Kindest regards,



Lee Van Syckle



312.363.7240 Cell



847.458.0567 Home 









Michael,

I called my Mom and she believes he was stationed only at Thorpe Abbotts. My Mom also confirmed my Dad started out on the ground crew and as you suggested he did voluntary for gunnery school. My previous email had a scan of the Lucky Bastards Club, let me know if you don't have it and I will resend when I get home Friday. my Mom confirmed that in April after his last flight he was separated from the Army and sent home. My Mom states that Dad came home on a troop carrier and my mother traveled to the US on a cruise ship separately in May 1945.

Yes, my Dad did marry an IRISH girl who lived in London; address was 135 Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill, London postal code began with W11. I do have original marriage permit at home and I will scan and send you a copy tomorrow. The were married January 20, 1945 and I believe it was a couple days prior was when he was shot down but made his way back in time to make the wedding.



Appreciate all your efforts and hopefully next month I will be traveling to LA for business and would like to meet you and thank you in person.





Thanks

Lee









From: Lee Van Syckle [mailto:leevansyckle@aol.com] 

Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 1:46 PM

To: Mike Faley

Subject: RE: Introduction - Richard Gibson 100th Bomb Group - Memorial Museum May 27, 2013.





Hi Michael,





Thanks for getting back to me and I had received same information when I contacted a Kent and Cindy Porter of the 379th BG out of Florida. They informed me many records were lost in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973. I will try to scan the documents I have listed below, but they are very old and fragile and I will do my best.



Yes, the number of missions entered on the Lucky Bastard certificate is 25. I do remember my mother telling me that my Dad was a member of the ground personnel and then volunteered to become flight crew and went to gunnery training! She also told me he was shot down over Belgium returning from his first mission. I am very appreciative of your help and would like to solve this mystery also.



It was so strange that on Sunday morning May 26, 2013 I was watching the History channel and they had an hour documentary special about the 100th Bomb Group stationed at Thorpe Abbotts Field. Now this is the same morning before I caught a flight that evening for London and the next day May 27th I was at Thorpe Abbott tower. During the History channel documentary they had numerous interviews with John Gibbons. If I only had these flight records a year earlier I could have contacted him as he lived in Milwaukee Wisconsin and I live just northwest of Chicago, just an hours drive away.



Thanks and talk to you soon.



Lee

***********************************************************************************************************



S/Sgt Lynn V.L. Syckle sn 15321051



Originally in the 456th Sub Depot (my guess) and requested Gunnery Training and Fly Missions.  Training began in September 1944 and finished on December 9, 1944.  S/Sgt Lynn V.L. Syckle flew his first mission as a spare gunner on December 11, 1944.  Here is a list of the 25 missions and Targets flown by Lynn Van Syckle.





#               DATE                            TARGET



1.     December 11, 1944,  GIESSEN, KOBLENZ



2.     December 18, 1944,  MAINZ, MY  PFF



3.     December 24, 1944,  BIBLIS, BABENHAUSEN, KAISERLAUTERN



4.     December 25, 1944,   KAISERLAUTERN, MY



5.     December 30, 1944    KASSEL, MY



6.     December 31, 1944    HAMBURG, OIL REFINERY  (100th BG lost 12 a/c)



7.     January 5, 1945           FRANKFURT, MY



8.     January  6, 1945          GERMERSHEIM, AF & ANNWEILER, CITY



9.     January  7, 1945          COLOGNE, AUTO BRIDGE, LIMBURG (T.O)



10.   January 13, 1945         MAINZ, BRIDGE



11.   January 14, 1945         DERBEN, OIL STORAGE



12.   January 17, 1945         HAMBURG, OIL REFINERY



13.   January 28, 1945         DUISBURG, BRIDGE



14.   January 29, 1945         KASSEL, TANK WORKS (100TH "A" "B"). BIELEFELD (100TH "C" )  T.O.



15    January 31, 1945          BREMEN/ BERLIN (JOHN A. CLARK DIARY) Recall



16.   February 6, 1945          BOHLEN (CLOUD COVER), CHEMNITZ,(S.T); ZWICKAU,TOWN (T.O.)



17.   February 14, 1945        CHEMNITZ, CITY (100TH "A" & "B"), DOUBRAVA, BRIDGE (100TH "C")



18.   February 15, 1945        BOHLEN, COTTBUS, CITY ST



19.   February 17, 1945        FRANKFURT & GIESSEN



20.   February 20, 1945        NURNBURG, CITY



21.   February 21, 1945        NURNBURG, MY (S.T.)



22.   February 22, 1945         KITZINGEN-(100TH "A")  OBSCURRED 



                                          DONAUESCHINGEN, TOWN (100TH "A") ST, 



                                           HUEINGEN, TOWN (100TH "B" ) S.T.



                                           WEHINGER, RAIL TRACKS (100TH "C") ST



23.   February 24, 1945          BREMEN,  RAIL BRIDGE



24.   February 26, 1945          BERLIN, CITY



25.   February 28, 1945         KASSEL, MY