The “first” WWII Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (H) to fly combat missions in Europe (Aug’42 with the 8th AAF) and then in North Africa (Nov’42 with the 12th AAF) was the 97th with its four Bomb Squadrons (340th, 341st, 342nd and 414th). Consequently, this posting is for those history buffs interested in viewing never before seen photos and related documents regarding this unique period in our American Aviation Military history. These details are found in a book I authored regarding my father’s life primarily focused on his military flying career. The electronic version of this book is freely available via the internet as a downloadable PDF file. Being a PDF file, you will note I reference herein and elsewhere both “Book” page numbers and the associated “PDF” page numbers for quick access to a given page(s). To begin reading about this posting’s subject matter (First B-17 Combat Bombardment Group to Europe & North Africa), it is recommended you start on Book page number 429 (PDF page number 505), which is at the end of Chapter 6, and read through Chapter 10. To download a copy of this book, perform the following steps: Begin by referring to the following Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/. Once there, following the instructions for the latest posting (November 15, 2018 as of this post), which states: “Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-ozR9C37ApPzg788u” Note it will take several minutes to download and save a copy of this book to your PC as the size of the PDF file is 242,152KB due to all of the “images” that have been scanned in high-resolution and inserted into the book for detailed zooming. Once the PDF file has been downloaded and saved to your PC, open with an Adobe reader product of your choice. If you have any problems or questions, please contact me for assistance at RFlackAttack@hotmail.com.
I have made important updates as a result of my continued research and refinement of the Operation BOLERO Atlantic Ocean crossing during June/July 1942, which was a WWII military historical first, filled with many challenges and includes in-depth stories from those who made the treacherous crossing. The details of these updates are summarized in the following Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/ Once there, follow the instructions for the November 17, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document (see related details in original posting above): https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-ozWFSUnP84OvmG3F
I have added two new full-page photos to my book. In addition, I updated text pertaining to the 22-Feb-43 (Mission #62) and 23-Feb-43 (Mission #64), which was the successful bombing of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s Fifth Panzer Troop Concentrations located in Kasserine Pass, Tunisia. Rudy and his 414th Bomb Squadron were the Fortresses that successfully bombed their assigned target on 22-Feb-43, in spite of the cloud cover; and were the key Fortresses that successfully bombed the same target the next day on 23-Feb-43. These attacks by the 97th were the start of a series of blows by the Allied air forces that were to tip the balance in the struggle and force the retreat of the Axis armies. Marshall Rommel, whose forces bore the brunt of these blows reported, "In every battle to come the strength of the Anglo-American air force was to be the deciding factor." The details of these updates are summarized in the following Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stor...2118180261150/ Once there, follow the instructions for the December 6, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document (see related details in original posting above): https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-ozpZ4TAwtxEuM6Jc
First B-17 Combat Bombardment Group to Europe & North Africa I have added eight new pages to my book (Book pages 768►775 -- PDF pages 844►851), which provides a detailed accounting of Operation Flagpole, a precursor to Operation Torch (read Book pages 767 through 778 for a more complete picture). In addition, I have provided individual links to eight of my completed Appendices. All of these details are summarized in the following Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/ Once there, follow the instructions for the December 14, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-ozsSxEwbRCKi4ihy
I added two new pages to the “main” book (Book 92►93, PDF 168►169) as a result of reviewing and updating Appendix A – Rudy's High School & Junior College Scrap Book (1932-1937), which was created back in 2010 (read Book pages 92 through 100 for a more complete picture). In addition, I have provided “updated” individual links to each of my eight completed Appendices. All of these details are summarized in the following Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/ Once there, follow the instructions for the December 19, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-oz3QGHIZloONzXig
I made relevant updates to the “main” book’s PREFACE. I added 20 very interesting new images (photos and documents), which appear on the following Book/PDF(x) page numbers (the “x” identifies the number of new images on each page): 289/367(1), 378/456(1), 836/914(2), 837/915(1), 964/1042(1), 966/1044(1), 1206/1284(1), 1207/1285(1), 1233/1311(2), 1234/1312(2), 1261/1339(2), 1262/1340(2), 1263/1341(2), 1266/1344(1). To access the updated book, go to the following Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/ Once there, follow the instructions for the May 19, 2019 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-5Am2U5-n6u03hY3g
It has been 9 months since I posted an updated “main” book. I have added 327 pages to the “main” book, which includes ~600 new images. To obtain: (1) a copy of the “main” book, (2) a separate all-in-one “appendices” and (3) read related details, go to the following Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/
It has been one month since I posted my last updated “main” book. I have updated/added 17 pages to the “main” book. To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/
It has been nearly one month since I posted my last updated “main” book. I have added/updated 16 pages to the “main” book. To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
I’ve added 21 new and updated 2 pages containing informative information impacting the content of my “main” book. To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
I’ve added 5 new pages, which includes an interesting topic (revisionary history) and 3 new images. To obtain a copy of the updated “main” book and read applicable details go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
I have finally made my long awaited updates to the “main” book and to the “All-in-One” Appendices (added four new Appendixes). To read about these exciting updates and to obtain copies of these updated PDF files go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
Added informative and interesting LIFE Magazine photos taken by Margaret Bourke-White and others pertaining to the 414th Bomb Squadron and the 97th Bomb Group while stationed in England. To read about these updates and to obtain a copy of the updated “main” book PDF file go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
Updated material including new photo for the following subject matter: ► Rudy’s Anti-Submarine Patrol Missions’ Information ► JOHNNY REB B-17E & B-17F Crewmember Information ► Rudy’s Mission Table expanded from 10 to 12 Pages To read about these updates and to obtain a copy of the updated “main” book PDF file go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
I added lots of new images (57) and photos (2) along with interesting write-ups. To read about these updates and to obtain a copy of the updated “main” book PDF file go to the following Facebook link: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
I have contracted with world renowned WWII historian William “Bill” Beigel (www.ww2research.com) to assist me in locating missing details in my “main” book plus I created my 22nd Appendix. For those who have been following my postings, it has been 5 months since my last one. For those who are new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bomb Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), and the Flying Fortress Bomb Group who flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel intriguing and you won’t be disappointed. You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bomb Group never before made available, and in particular its 414th Bomb Squadron. Current readers will enjoy the new updates with dozens of new photos plus an updated “All in One” appendices. Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and more details: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
I have contracted with world renowned WWII historian William “Bill” Beigel (www.ww2research.com) to assist me in locating missing details in my “main” book plus I created my 23rd Appendix. For those following my postings, it has only been 3 weeks since my last one. For those new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), who flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel intriguing and you won’t be disappointed. You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bombardment Group never before made available, and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron. Current readers will enjoy the new updates plus an updated “All in One” appendices. Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and other details: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
For those following my postings, it has only been 1 week since my last one. For those new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), who flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel intriguing and you won’t be disappointed. You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bombardment Group never before made available, and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron. Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain these and other details: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
For those following my postings, it has only been 3+ weeks since my last one. For those new to my postings, you fill find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), who within the US Army Air Force flew the most combat missions (483) and who had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel during WWII intriguing and you won’t be disappointed. You will find a level of detail about the 97th Bombardment Group never before made available, and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron. The updates made in this version release are primarily intended for family members related to Rudy’s parents. Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain details: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
The updates made in this version are primarily typographical error corrections plus other minor updates needed in my March 7, 2021 posting two days ago. Please go to the following Facebook link to obtain details: Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack
