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| Harold Stewart, India, 1944 |
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| Current Address: |
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22816 Mariposa Road, Tehachapi, CA 93561 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: William and Mae; Wife: Josephine; Children: Harold E. Jr., Jeffrey |
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| Hometown: |
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Fair Grove, MO |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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October 14, 1942 |
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| Service Number: |
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37391306 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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444th Bomb Group |
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| Squadron: |
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677th bomb Squadron |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Great Bend, KS; January 1941 |
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| Missions Flown: |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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10 (5 round trips) |
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| Targets: |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Service Star, National Defense Service Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII |
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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Aircraft Mechanic-Amarillo, TX Dec 1942 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 555-Airplane Sheet Metal Worker, MOS 750-Aircraft Maintenance Technician / Crew Chief |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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S/Sgt. |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew / Ground crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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Round Robin Rosie, 226, 386 |
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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October 22, 1945 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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Enlisted USAF Reserve 7/5/50. Volunteered for active duty -- 3/10/51 to 8/5/52. Staff Sergeant Spec 43151D, discharged 7/5/53. Total net service 6 years, 9 months and 2 days. 30th Air Transport Sqdn. At Westover Field, MA 1951-52. |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| 1945-50: Mech., Salesman Wholesale Oil products; 1953-57 Engine Tester/Instructor, Westinghouse Gas Turbine Division (test cells and flight test); 1957-87 Instrumentation Engineer, General Electric Co. Gas Turbine Division (Edwards AFB and various temporary locations in US and Norway; 1987-90 Instrumentation Engineering Consultant |
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| It gave me the opportunity to utilize the skills I had accumulated in my pre WWII training in aircraft civilian school and one year at Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Co., as well as military schooling and training, and the incentive, at age 22, to assume the responsibilities of a soldier. It gave me the opportunity to associate with the finest people whose dedication to purpose and country were absolute and make friendships that I have endured and participate in successful operations that were necessary to preserve the American way of life as well as that of our friends and allies. |
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| Comments: |
| In the 19-20 months I spent as a maintenance mechanic and eventual assignment as a Crew Chief, I was a passenger in more 3-engine landings than 4-engine in the various B-29s I was associated with. It includes the trip from Tinian Island in 1945 to Mather Field, CA in Oct. 1945. I flew on the aircraft "Thunderbird". We landed at Kwajelain on three engines. Landed at Will Rogers Field in Hawaii on three engines. Made three takeoffs from Hawaii losing an engine before we reached the PNR on the first two attempts and had to return to base. On the third attempt we lost an engine but continued to the States uneventfully on three engines. I still marvel at what we were able to accomplish with these engines. We who survived were truly blessed. The skills of the aircrews unparalleled. |
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| Harold Stewart, 1997 |
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