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Photo from news article

Draft registration card front

Draft registration card front

Draft registration card front

Photo from news article

Photo from news article dated Feb 11 1945

Photo from news article dated Sept 19 1944

Draft registration card front

My Dad, Lt. Charles Wesley Parlee, Bombardier 418th Sq., was at Thorpe Abbots late Oct ‘43 through Feb ‘44. Lt. James Musser was his pilot flying “Daylite Delivery”. They flew 17 missions with the 100th before being transferred to Foggia, Italy 15th AF, 97th BG for another 14 missions. Other crew: Lt. Leo McIntyre, co-pilot, Lt. Pete Peterson, navigator, Sgt. Don Atkinson, TT gunner, flight engineer, Sgt. Kermit Ward, waist gunner, Sgt. William Clough, ball turret gunner, Sgt. Joesph Marlin radio operator, Sgt. George Kline, tail gunner, and Sgt. Robert Shearer, waist gunner. Heroes every one of them…..Eric Parlee

21 year old 2nd Lt Louie McGimsey Jr was killed from a flak wound to the head sustained just before bombs away over Merseburg, Germany. He was on his 16th mission. Louie was a navigator with the 418th Bomb Sqn and grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. Louie was brought back to Thorpe Abbotts aboard his aircraft and was later buried in Lewis Memorial Park in Asheville NC. He flew on ‘Andy’s Dandys’ and the rest of the crew successfully completed their tour. Louie was the only son of Bessie and Louie Snr and had one sibling, a sister, Bessie.