Personnel

CREW



2nd Lt Leroy "Roy" E. Forrester      P FEH  SN#O-780563   Taps 23 Jan 1983

2nd Lt Bernard Gnat                 CP FEH

  F/0 George H.Neff III              NAV FEH                              Taps 09 Nov 1986

  Cpl Roger J.Burleson            TTE  FEH                              Taps 05 Nov 1970

  Cpl Dan Moore                   ROG FEH

  Cpl John J.Piccione               BTG FEH

  Cpl Alexander Nagy         NG/TOG FEH

  Cpl Edward J.Shalna              WG FEH

  Cpl John R.Hudson                 TG FEH



350th Sqdn.   This crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 3 FEB 45  A/C "Baby Doris" (Roy's Boys) # 338975 LN-Z and A/C 48559 also with the call sign LN-Z



MISSION LIST FOR LT LEROY “ROY” E. FORRESTER CREW



# DATE         TARGET                                             RESULT

1. 21/2/1945 NURNBURG                                          FAIR

2. 22/2/1945 WEHINGER

3. 26/2/1945 BERLIN                                               GOOD

4. 28/2/1945 KASSEL                                               FAIR

5. 3/3/1945   BRUNSWICK                                        GOOD

6. 4/3/1945   ULM

7. 7/3/1945   SIEGEN

8. 9/3/1945   FRANKFURT                                         POOR

9. 10/3/1945 DORTMUND                                         FAIR

10. 11/3/1945 HAMBURG

11. 17/3/1945 PLAUEN                                             UNOBSERVED

12. 19/3/1945 JENA                                                 FAIR

13. 21/3/1945 RUHLAND, PLAUEN                              EXCELLENT

14. 22/3/1945 ALHORN, AF                                       VERY GOOD

15. 23/3/1945 UNNA, MY                                          VERY GOOD

16. 24/3/1945 ZIEGENHAIN/STEENWIJK/HAVELTE, AF EXC./VERY GOOD

17. 28/3/1945 HANOVER, TANK FACTORY                  FAIR

18. 3/4/1945  KIEL, SUB YARDS                                MISSED

19. 5/4/1945  NURNBURG, MY                                   EXCELLENT

20. 6/4/1945  LEIPZIG, MARSHALLING YARDS 

21. 8/4/1945  EGER, (CZECH) MY                              EXCELLENT

22. 9/4/1945  MUNICH, AF                                       EXCELLENT

23. 14/4/1945 ROYAN, NAVAL GUNS, GND DEFENSES EXCELLENT

24. 15/4/1945 ROYAN, NAVAL GUNS, GND DEFENSES VERY GOOD

25. 16/4/1945 ROYAN/POINT DE-GRAVE GND DEFENSES MISSED

26. 18/4/1945 STRAUBING, MY (S.T)                        EXCELLENT



CHOWHOUND MISSIONS 



1/5/1945 WALKENBURG,HAGUE-CHOWHOUND

2/5/1945 SCHIPHOL AF/ ALKMAAR- HOLLAND CHOWHOUND

3/5/1945 BERGEN, HILVERSUM-CHOWHOUND

5/5/1945 BERGEN, HILVERSUM-CHOWHOUND

6/5/1945 BERGEN, HILVERSUM-CHOWHOUND



Hello, my name is Cheryl Forrester Cooney. My dad served as a B17 pilot in the 100th BG, flying 26 missions, the last being April 16, 1945 (according to his Lucky Bastard's Certificate). I am currently searching for any information you have about his crew members and exact missions flown. I have about 50 black/white photos from his tour with the 100th, people and places that are unknown to me. 



I have this much information:

Leroy "Roy" E. Forrester, 2nd Lt. Army serial # 0-780463 (from General Orders #426) or (from an Officer's Pay Data Card) #0-780563 (since the third terminal digit is different, there appears to be a typographical error in one of the serial #). Aircraft #338975 named "Baby Doris". I have pictures of this and an A2 Jacket, hand painted. Jacket back has a B17 with "Baby Doris" above the B17 and "Roy's Boys" below the B17. Jacket front has a logo "Century 100 Bombers" (right breast) and "Roy" with pilot wings (left breast). Crew members known: George H Neff, rank F/O (from General Orders #426) and Ed Shalna (not certain of spelling). Awarded Air Medal March 9, 1945 (General Orders #426).



From my interpretation of the aircraft markings, I believe he was a member of the 350th squadron, aft fuselage has "Z", mid fuselage has "LN" (I have aircraft black/white photos). According to your website and from a cryptic piece of paper with his memorabilia, I believe his first mission was Feb. 21, 1945 (mission #263) Nurnburg and his 26th mission was April 18, 1945 (mission #305) Straubing. I think he also flew 5 mercy missions to Holland, May 1st through 6th, 1945.



My email address is skyqueeen@excite.com. (note three e's in skyqueeen). I can be reached at 805 7735141.



Please update your TAPS file. Leroy E. Forrester passed away January 23, 1983.





Hello Jack and Mike,

Thank you for your quick response to my inquiry regarding Leroy Forrester and crew. You have an amazing historical file and I will do my best to add whatever I can to update and preserve the heroic efforts of the 100th BG. 



Jack: in your email you mentioned two crew members of my Dad's crew that are on the membership roster - Ed Shalna was in contact with my Dad until he passed away in 1983 and then with my Mom for several years thereafter. My Mom is no longer alive; there is no address or phone number for Ed Shalna. Is there any way you can put me in touch with him? Please feel free to give him my phone number and email. I met him in 1981/have a picture of Ed Shalna, Leroy Forrester and George Neff at dinner together in Van Nuys, CA. I would also be interested in contacting Dan Moore. (feel free to give him my information, also) Jack, you also mentioned John Krauter as a possible contact that may have flown with my Dad/knew him. May I have his phone #? (or give him mine) I would be thrilled to have a conversation with him. I plan to attend the 100th reunion in Palm Springs in Feb. 2008. Should I bring photos/jacket/air medal/shrapnal with me?



Regarding Missions flown: I have a very cryptic piece of paper that lists #1 - #26 with a city and what appears to be a date next to each city. I feel fairly certain this piece of paper lists the missions flown in order starting 21 Feb 45, ending 18 Apr 45. There is no notation anywhere on the paper explaining the cities and dates. The paper looks as though it may have resided in a crew members pocket through the duration of the missions:

#1 Nurnburg 21 Feb, #2 Pflinger 23? Feb, #3Berlin 26 Feb, #4Kassel 28 Feb, #5Brameshaverg 3 Mar, #6Ulm 4 Mar, #7Siegen 7 Mar and so forth to #26Straubing 18April. 

I spent considerable time on the Database portion of your Mission website pages and believe that I connected these cryptic notes to the following missions: (1 through 26):

263, ____, 268, 269, 271, 272, 273, 275, 276, 277, 281, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287 or 288, 289, 292, 294, 295, 297, 298, 301, 302, 303, 305. 

The mercy missions are listed "a, b,c,d,e" 1May, 2May, 3May, 5May, 6May.

#2 mission "Pflinger" and the date I could not connect. Every other date/city fell into sync with the website.



Which means the arrival date of 4-5-45 for the crew is possibly incorrect. I have a document that is "Restricted, Headquarters Third Air Division, Office of the Commanding General, APO 559".

Entitled "General Orders, Number 426" "Awards of the Air Medal" dated: 9March1945.

Forrester, Gnat, Neff are cited from the 100th BG (H) along with a Major Johnston R. Staples.

According to my cryptic paper, mission #8 was Frankfurt, 8Mar (or website mission 275). Again, appearing the arrival date stated in your email is possibly incorrect. Also Dad's Lucky Bastard's Certificate is dated 16 April 1945. Hope this information is of assistance. I will be happy to xerox this cryptic piece of paper (and the General Order for the Air Medal, if needed) and forward both to you. Unfortunately, I do not have availabilty of a scanner.



Mike: I have very little paperwork - consisting of: one Officer's Pay Card, 22Sep.45, two Instrument Pilot Certificates, one General Orders paper already mentioned, one War Department Identification Card for Leroy Forrester, 5 Oct 1944. I have Dad's Air Medal, a piece of shrapnal dug out from under the pilot's seat upon return from a mission, a Nazi set of pilot wings and shoulder patch (possibly from a uniform jacket?), photos, jacket and uniform.  

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



Hi Mike and Jack, "Baby Doris" was without a doubt 338975 Z. Dad always referred to "Baby Doris" as 975Z, that's also what he had painted on his A2 jacket. I think Jack mentioned that Dad flew 975 Z on all 26 missions, then different aircraft on the Chowhound missions and to Casablanca. Could the other aircraft be practice missions? (or just "picture opportunity" - Dad is pictured with many different types of aircraft in lots of the WWII photos - he loved flight).

Jack: Do you have any evidence of Dad in 48559? I know you mentioned Dad flew 505V on the Chowhound Missins and 360 E to Casablanca.

Thank you both. Cheryl

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



Bernard GNAT

born: 12/8/1918 PA

died: 11/11/1998 Warren Ohio

Enlisted: 3/12/1941 Ohio

Buried: Vienna Ohio, Crown Hills Burial Park

S/S: 279-10-0218



Alexander NAGY

born: 5/25/1922 Steubenvill OH

died: 5/19/2005

*Obit imparts states…:Army Air Corp as 1st Lt. Awarded Air Medal with 4 Oak leaf clusters and the European-African-Middle East Service Medal.

Hobbies: Genealogy ! This is very telling. I wonder if his family has ANY docs/pics from his war years (?)



George H. NEFF ….

Born: 5/14/1920 ….died 8/11/1998 Ripley NY

Enlisted: 10/14/1941 in Maryland born PA



John J. Piccione

born: 6/11/1922

died: 1/15/2007……

Enlisted: 4/7/1943 in Maryland born Maryland

9645 Dixon Ave., Parkville, Maryland 21234

410-665-0587

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



Dan Moore ROG on Lt Forrester Crew Mission Diary



January 3, 1945-departed from Lincoln Nebraska by plane (B-17-44-6941-plane never saw combat service).  January 4, arrived at Bangor Maine, January 5, 1945 flew to Goose Bay, Labrador, January 17, 1945 few from Goose Bay to Meeks Field, Iceland.  January 19, 1945 flew from Meeks Field to Valley Wales in UK.  January 20, 1945 left Valley Wales by train arrived Stone, England.  February 3, 1945 arrived at Thorpe Abbotts-100th Bomb Group. Assigned to 350th Bomb Squadron.



Bombing Missions over Enemy Territory:



1. February 21, 1945, Nurnburg, Germany, Made PFF. Primary target was Berlin but changed plans because of weather. Heavy flak over target. We received 15 flak hits.  Mission was 8 hrs long.



2. February 22, 1945, Plinger, Germany (Wehinger Rail Yards). Thrown out of formation three minutes from I.P.  Spun down five thousand feet in less than a minute. We were in a bad spot for a while. 8 hours airborne.



3. February 26, 1945, Berlin, Germany.  There was plenty of flak over Berlin.  But it was rather inaccurate as we bombed PFF.  We received a few holes. 8 hours airborne.



4. February 28, 1945, Kassel, Germany.  A PFF milk run.  Very little flak. No damage done to plane. 8 hours airborne.



5. March 3, 1945, Brunswick, Germany.  First visual bomb run. Plenty of flak. Jet planes hit formation and got one Fort. Two other forts almost collided into us. In all it was a pretty rough day.   7 hours airborne.



6. March 4, 1945, Ulm, Germany.  Another PFF milk run but weather made it rather bad flying. 8 hours airborne.



7. March 7, 1945, Siegen, Germany.  PFF-rough day.  Flew up the Ruhr Valley. There was plenty o flak over target. Those “krauts” are getting awfully good with those flak guns. No damage to our ship.  7 ½ hours.



8. March 9, 1945 Frankfurt, Germany. Visual target, plenty of flak. Over the target it was so thick you could darn near get out  and walk on it.  Enemy fighters were up but we weren’t attacked. 7 ½ hours.



9. March 10, 1945 Dortmund, Germany.  Just another PFF milk run. Very little flak today. 7 ½ hours.



10. March 11, 1945, Hamburg, Germany. Lots of flak over target but very inaccurate . Our chaff must have had a good effect. 7 hours.



11. March 17, 1945, Plauen, Germany.  A very long mission but nothing serious happened. Flak very inaccurate. No losses. 8 ½ hours



12. March 19, 1945 Jena, Germany.  PFF bomb run. Bandits reported over target but we weren’t attacked. In all, just another milk run. 8 hours.



13. March 21, 1945, Plauen, Germany. Our second trip to Plauen and what a day. A visual target with lots of accurate flak. Jet fighters hit formation before and after bombs away.  Lost two ships from Group.  Tail gunner shot down one enemy plane.  Plenty of excitement today.  7 ½ hours.



14. March 22, 1945, Alhorn, Germany. A visual milk run. No flak, No Fighters. Crew plenty tense from yesterday mission.  8 hours.



15. March 23, 1945, Unna, Germany.  A visual run. Flak pretty heavy. We got two hits. Nothing serious. 8 hours.



16. March 24, 1945, Ziegenhain, Germany.  Visual target. Hit jet fighter base. Eighth Air force went out twice today. Something new.  Getting awfully tired flying so much. Need a rest. 7 hours.



17. March 28, 1945, Hanover Germany. PFF run. A rough target. Lots of flak and plenty accurate. We received some hits in wings and tail section.  8 hours.



18. April 3, 1945, Kiel, Canal, Germany. Made run PFF. Another rough target but flak rather inaccurate. 8 hours.



19. April 5, 1945, Nurnburg, Germany.  Went back to Nurnburg again. Made visual run over target. Still as rough there as ever. Plenty of flak. 8 hours.



20. April 6, 1945, Leipzig, Germany.  Made PFF. No flak but rather bad flying weather.  Lots of dense contrails. Fighters expected but never attacked. 8 ½ hours.



Our Crew #36 after 20 Missions we were all promoted:



 Pilot         LeRoy E. Forrester             1st Lt.

 Co-Pilot    Bernard Gnat                 1st Lt

 Navigator George E. Neff               2nd Lt 

 TOG        Alex Negy                   T/Sgt

 Eng.        Edward J. Shalna           T/Sgt

 ROG        Daniel Moore                 T/Sgt

 WG         Roger J. Burleson           S/Sgt

 BTG        John J. Piccione             S/Sgt

 TG          John P. Hudson             S/Sgt



Crew was first assembled at Lincoln, Nebraska, September 1944.  Completed Operational Training at Sioux City, Iowa in December 1944.



21. April 8, 1945. Eger, Czechoslovakia. Visual target. Long bomb run. No flak, No fighters. Just a long milk run. 8 hours.



22. April 9, 1945.  Munich, Germany. A visual and very rough target.  Largest straight run ever made by Eighth Air Force. We had two live one thousand pound bombs in bomb bay.  Not a pleasant spot to be in.  Not many flak hits. 8 hours.



23  April 14, 1945 Bordeaux (Royan), France. A visual target. Bombed German gun positions along the Southern Coast of France. No opposition. 8 hours.



24  April 15, 1945, Bordeaux (Royan), France. Another visual run over same target. Used new type jelly incendiary bomb. No opposition. 8 hours.



25. April 16, 1945, Bordeaux (Royan), France.  Still bombing those German gun  pockets. This run should just about wipe them out.  No opposition.  Saw one burst  of flak. 8 hours.



26. April 18, 1945, Straubing, Germany. A visual bomb run. Sure flew deep into  Germany today almost to Czechoslovakian border.  Longest mission yet. Not  many targets left. Last operational mission. No more heavy bombardment.





CHOWHOUND MISSIONS:



May 1 through May 6, 1945. Carried food rations to people in Holland. Flew in and dropped them from 200 feet.  Made five

trips.



May 11, 1945 Flew to Vienna, Austria and picked up French POW’s and brought them back to Paris, France.



May 15, 1945, Made another trip down in Austria for French POW’s.



May 22, 1945, Made another trip to Austria and picked up French POW’s .  Just handled thirty a trip. Quite a load.



June 1-10, 1945, Went to Bangor, North Ireland on Furlough



June 12, 1945, Went to Casablanca, North Africa. Hauled 8th Air Force men.  Spent night at Port Lyantry. Went via France, Spain.



June 20, 1945, Flew to Munich Germany



June 25, 1945, Cleared field to fly home.  Now on orders.



June 28, 1945, Gunners on crew left for home today.  Rest of Crew has been assigned to A.T.C. (Air Transport Command).



July 2, 1945, Flew to Munich, Germany



July 10, 1945, Flew to Ireland on four day pass.



July 20, 1945. Spent the weekend in Brennemen, Germany.  Flew with the C.O. of the base, Lt Col. Wallace.



August 4, 1945, Our pilot went home today. We are still waiting.



September 18, 1945, Our Co-pilot went home. Just leaves myself, navigator and engineer.



October 9, 1945,   Orders are we leave November 2, By boat.



December 10, 1945. Went aboard USS Europa today.  Going home



December 17, 1945 Arrived in New York Harbor Pier 87



December 22, 1945.  Was discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corp Today.  Home to stay.