Bob Tupa - Grandson of 90th Bomb Group Adjutant, Captain Norman Lawler

Subject:    Id
Date:             Wed, 01 Sep 1999 12:55:25 -0400
From:           Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

Can you identify the person second from the right. Could it be Jim Davies? This is a 90th BG awards ceremony.

Left to Right:- Possibly General Ramey, Colonel Arthur (Art) Rogers the Commanding Officer of the
90th Bomb Group, Major John "Big Jim" Davies, and Capt Norman Lawler the 90th Bomb Group Adjutant

Subject:    Re: Id
Date:             Thu, 02 Sep 1999 11:39:55 -0400
From:           Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

The one on the right I can definitely ID, Capt Norman Lawler, 90th group adjutant and my grandfather, the third from the right is Arthur Rogers of the 90th. I was told the one on the left maybe Gen Ramey.

Earl Seeber believes that the above recipient is his brother
Staff Sergeant William C. Seeber of the 400th Bomb Squadron who
died in New Guinea on20 June 1943 as a result of injuries sustained
when he was struck by a bomb trailer at APO 929.

It was initially believed that this may be T/Sgt Robert L.Wehrell from
Midland Park, N.J receiving his medal. See paragraph below for more information.
Who is the person receiving the above medal?

The sons of T/Sgt Robert L.Wehrell who is mentioned in the description under photo above, have now advised via Earl Seeber that they have a photo of their father being awarded the DFC and a newspaper article saying the award was made by Brig. General Roger Ramey. Neither the picture or the news article is dated nor is the date of the award ceremony mentioned in the article. One of the brothers told Earl that the background in the photo that they have is identical to the background of the photo above. One of the sons told Earl that he thought that the ceremony had probably taken place after 19 July 1943, the date of the General Order from the 5th Air Force listing the many men who would be awarded the DFC. His father's name was on that list. That order came ten days after he and the rest of the 319th Squadron were transferred back to Port Moresby, New Guinea from Fenton Field south of Darwin, Australia. They arrived in Port Moresby from Fenton on 9th and 10th of July 1943. The 319th had been flying out of Fenton since 2 February 1943 when they were split off from the other squadrons of the 90th BG based at Port Moresby and assigned to work with the RAAF command in the area of Darwin. One of the sons said "My father remembers that the ceremony took place in New Guinea but not the date". Can anyone please help sort out who the person is in the above photograph?

Subject:    Re: Id
Date:           Sat, 04 Sep 1999 09:42:36 -0400
From:          Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

That is my problem Peter. I have the picture but do not know the who, what, when and wheres. Depending on the time frame is could be Iron Range or Moresby.

Subject:   Big Emma
Date:       Sun, 05 Sep 1999 09:47:29 -0400
From:      Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

Here is the left side of "Big Emma". The words "Big Emma" are on the right side of the plane. The scratches are from the wartime censor removing the machine gun from the picture so it could be sent home.

Subject:    16 NOV 1942 Crash
Date:             Sun, 05 Sep 1999 09:58:15 -0400
From:           Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

This is #41-23765 which later received the original tail markings as Col Rogers' plane

Subject:    16 NOV 1942 Crash
Date:             Sun, 05 Sep 1999 10:04:26 -0400
From:           Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

These are pictures of planes that took part in the 16 November 1942 raid according to the list in Wiley Woods' book.

#41-23751 - "Big Emma"

? Squadron, 90th Bomb Group

#41-23765 - possibly "Connell's Special"

400th Squadron, 90th Bomb Group

#41-23763 - "Patches"

320th Squadron, 90th Bomb Group

#41-11904 - "Pride of the Yanks"

400th Squadron, 90th Bomb Group

#41-23719 - "Hallzapoppin"

319th Squadron, 90th Bomb Group

#41-23714 - "Eight Ball"

321st Squadron, 90th Bomb Group

Subject:    Moby Dick
Date:             Sun, 05 Sep 1999 10:13:27 -0400
From:           Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

Here is the original "Moby Dick" that the Squadron was later named after with my grandfather sticking his head out of the cockpit window.

Subject: 16 NOV 1942 Crash
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 19:26:42 -0400
From: Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

Below is part of an email sent to me by Kelly Ryun whose father Harry was a member of Lt. Leroy Iverson's crew and they were the primary crew for "Big Emma" and the attached picture is Iverson with "Big Emma".

Subject: Re: Nov 16/17 1942
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999
From: Kelly Ryun Fufffly@aol.com
To: tupa@erols.com

Hello Bob,

I just talked to dad about this incident and he says it was disastrous. He recalls it like it was yesterday. He states the crew was standing by "Big Emma" where they observed Lt. Larson taxi down the runway for takeoff. They all seen it coming. They saw Lt. Larson's plane head for "Big Emma" when they ran for the bushes. He states that "Big Emma" was repaired the next day and put back into service. He says that one of his crew members ran so fast he ran right into a small tree and knocked it roots and all out of the ground.

Kelly

Subject:    16 NOV 1942 Crash
Date:              Mon, 06 Sep 1999 23:22:32 -0400
From:            Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>
To:                Peter Dunn
CC:                Kelly Ryun <Fufffly@aol.com>

Here is a log entry for "Big Emma" on the date of the crash from one of the crew members. I have forgotten which one. It was given to me by Kelly Ryun whose father Harry was also a member of the crew and hopefully when she gets the copy of this e-mail she will refresh my memory of whose log book it was.

Subject:    "Big Emma"
Date:             Mon, 06 Sep 1999 23:52:24 -0400
From:           Tupa <tupa@chesapeake.net>

Here is another crew pictured on the right side of "Big Emma" with the actual words. According to the log that I have a copy of, they set up and took crew pictures in front of the plane whether you used it or not. I believe this is the Wiltse crew.

I need your help

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