Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 1:33 AM
Subject: My father in WWII

Hello, Barbara and Theodore

I found your contact information on the 380th Bomb Group Associati on web site. As you might be able to guess from the subject line, my father was in WWII. He was a gunner in a B-24 and was in the 531st Squadron of the 380th Bomb Group. His name was Robert E. Walters. I have already found some information on him on your website and for that I would like to thank you very much. I am amazed and awed at the amount of information on available and very impressed when I think of the amount of effort it has taken.

I have a cutting from a newspaper which states that my mother received a letter from General Kenney regarding my father's service. I do not have a copy of that letter. Is it possible that General Kenney's correspondence has been archived somewhere and that I might be able therefore to obtain a copy of the letter?

Thank you for the efforts you have already made in compiling and making accessible so much information on. And also, in advance, for any help you might be able to give me.

Sincerely,
Judy Moore

Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 3:19 AM
Subject: The Search for HAZEL

Dear Barbara.

Further to my letter published in newsletter 43 (summer 2011) I'd like to update you on our progress with the "HAZEL" project.

A request to aviation on museums Australia-wide for assistance with parts to help with the restoration of one of our turrets resulted in the very generous offer of two damaged turrets from "The Aviation on Historical Society of NT" in Darwin. One from a burnt aircraft (believed to be "BEBE") and another with HAZEL painted on the front. We both agreed that it was important to try & find out who Hazel was.

With the help of the Darwin team & research by one of our members we found reference to this incident in the excellent book "The Best in the Southwest" by Glenn Horton Jr. who has kindly allowed us to reproduce photos and text for our display.

I n brief. On 17th January 1944 six of the 529th aircraft took off from Long's runway, NT, Australia. 1/Lt Thomas Jones declared an emergency and requested an immediate return. Waiting their turn to take-off at the warm-up station on was three of the 531st aircraft. Unfortunately, during the attempted landing, 1/Lt Jones' main gear struck the nose turret of Cmdr Frank Seale's aircraft, "SACK TIME," almost tearing the nose off the aircraft and slashing along the fuselage with his props. He then struck the next in line, "BEBE" and as a result this aircraft burned. 1/lLt Jones' aircraft crashed onto the runway but unfortunately
all on board perished while those on "SACK TIME" and "BEBE" escaped unharmed.

While searching the "Taps" listings ngs we found Cmdr Seale and in the spouse listings ngs there was a reference to Hazel Seale, his wife. A big part of our story was coming together. Without your help in forwarding my address and a request that I be allowed to contact Cmdr Seale and his wife's daughter, also Hazel, the story might have stalled.

We are in regular contact with Hazel who, along with her family, has been very generous supplying us with information on, photos and artifacts that enhance our display. Hazel is allowing us to copy some of Cmdr Seale's personal letters to his then girl, Hazel, where he asks her permission to paint her name on his aircraft and another where he casually comments that he can no longer fly his aircraft due to an incident. I guess war time censorship led to some people becoming the masters of understatements.

As our display grows it a attracts a lot of interest from our hangar visitors and we think it's important that younger generations understand the contribution on made by the 380th bomb group along with the Australian aircrews to keep Australia safe. Everybody can relate to a guy wanting to write his girl's name on his aircraft.

We have kept our 400 + members (worldwide) aware of the project via our newsletter and have had positive feedback.

Our own B24 restoration on is progressing slowly and we are about to reach a milestone that we are all very proud of. The external restoration on of the fuselage is almost finished nished. It is our aim to restore this aircraft to as close as original as possible however in a slight deviation and in an effort to preserve the aircraft we have progressively removed all fuselage skins, cleaned and treated any corrosion, and were possible replaced the original skin after undercoating (being careful to preserve the signature of
one of the workers during initial assembly). The interior will then be painted with an aluminium paint to resemble the original unpainted finish.

I would love to hear from any member who was at Long when this incident occurred or were crew members on "BEBE" or "SACK TIME."

Yours sincerely,
Ron Taaffe

B24 restoration: b24@b24australia.com.au