On 21/2/44, T/Sgt Leo T. Callahan, from the "Original" crew of B. DeMarco, was aboard in place of

Sgt. James Whitton and became a POW. See p. 184 MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY for picture and story of 21/2/44 Also letter from Fletcher's nephew, Joseph M. Lee (1983) --PRESENT ADDRES IS 3 SYCAMORE STATION,

DECATUR, GA 30030 PHONE (404) 373-1336. . paul west (nov 1993)

On 4/12/43 Fletcher was flying with the crew of Martian Tashjian newly arrived) to check them out on local landmarks and procedure. Sgt. Whitton & Reid were also on the flight. There was a landing crash on the field and Fletcher, Whitton & Reid received injuries. However, it is believed that Whitton did not fly further combat duty. The flight was in Fletcher's A/C 42 39791, Fletcher's Castoria, which was totally destroyed.

England
3 December, 1943

Dear May,

To show you how glad I was to get your letter I am sitting down almost immediately to answer your letter. Your airmail came yesterday, just nine days after your mailed it in Laurens it was delivered to me. That is quick service, isn't it, it was as fast as any V-Mail I ever received, it evidently hit everything just right.

Everything is going pretty well but I am at last showing my age and getting toothless. I had an abscessed tooth which had been giving me a fit for the past couple of days but I had it pulled this morning so that is that. It is one of my back molars so I will still be able to grin at you when I get back.

A couple of days ago I had a letter from Tom with his new address. He told me how he had been trying to get me by telephone with no luck. But that is the way it is for the English telephone system is a wonder to behold. I should be having a 48 hour pass coming up sometime within the next two weeks and I hope to go down to see him then. We are supposed to get a 48 hour pass every two weeks but as with everything else it doesn't usually work out and you are lucky to get one a month.

They gave us the Air Medal the other night. It is a nice-looking medal and I am mailing it on to Grandmother, along with the citation. I am proud of it, but it doesn't mean anything I did individually. It is just that I went along as a member of a crew which made five operational missions over Germany and occupied territory. For each additional five missions we get an oak leaf cluster to wear on our Air Medal ribbon. My crew has a total of seven missions. Just the number doesn't seem like much but when you look back upon them they add up. We let the ground crew name our ship since they take such good care of it and as Fletcher is the pilot they named it "Fletcher's Castoria. " But everybody else has added their bit and it looks more like a Barum and Baily Circus wagon than it does a Fortress. The Gremlins must take on look at her and wonder what the hell is coming now. The tail gunner had painted a girl dropping bombs on either side of the tail and named her "Semolian Babe. " I have never exactly understood the significance. Under his window Fletcher has painted "Gloria E, " which is the name of his girl. There are more names and what not over the fuselage. We are having a gremlin painted on either side, he is a nice fat gremlin flying along with a bomb strapped on his belly and looking around with a pair of opera glasses. My ball-turret gunner is good at sketching, I'll have him do a sketch and send it to you. You were wanting to know the names of all my crew, Bill Fletcher, Pilot; Dick Roper, Co-Pilot; Howard Venzie, Bombardier; Herbert Whitten, Engineer; John Seman, Waist Gunner; Alex Sosik, Waist Gunner; George Reid, Radio-Operator; Pietro Giaquinto, Ball Turret Gunner; Dave Robb, Tail Gunner. Bill is from Augusta, Dick is from Berkeley, Calif. , Howard is from Philadelphia; Whitten from Rock HIll (he is a cousin or something of Mary Bailey Owen's husband), Seman and Reid are both from some place near Pittsburg, Sosik and Giaquinto are from New York while Robb is from Philadelphia. Except for Dick we are pretty well divided between the East and South. We had some pictures taken but haven't been able to get hold of any of them. When I do I will send one home so you can see what a motley crew we are.

The public relations officer here takes pictures of us in case we ever do anything. They usually don't take but one however and the first shot they thought I moved so they took a second. I am sending both the results on home. One of them is not too bad but I don't know why in the world I have such a distressed look on my face.

I weakened and opened my Christmas packages. I needed some paper to wrap a package so I took the outer wrapping from Dodies. When I had gone that far I started shaking and rattling it, finally I dived into it. It was a case containing two decks of cards and poker chips. They are very nice and will come in handy. (The current has been turned off and I am writing this by candlelight) There was also a new picture of Pi Pi which is one of the best I have ever seen. But come what may I am saving the rest of them to open on Christmas morning. There is one thing I would like you to send me, I have been pretty hungry for popcorn, could you find some of the kernel that is packed in cans and ready to pop. I can pop it in my mess kit on the stove. If you can find them also throw in a couple of bottles of olives, either stuffed or not. What kind of request do you have to have to send us anything, is the above sufficient ?

I'm glad you had such a good time at Maxwell. It has been a long time since I have been to a dance but we are planning a big party New Year's Eve. I am saving a pint of Bourbon and I hope to scare up a couple of fresh eggs to make a Christmas eggnog.

Has Tish's baby arrived yet, if so what was the result. Tell her hello for me next time you see her.

I think your were right about Frank.

I was sorry to hear about Mr. Milling, please tell Mena how sorry I was to learn it and how much I sympathize with her.

Time to be going to bed. Write again whenever you get the time for I always like to hear from you. Give my love to all the family and have yourself a good time with the gadgets.

Love
George A. Browning

March 11, 1944

Lt. Browning is Missing in Action

CLINTON, March 11-- Mrs. M. E. Browning of this city was notified this week by the War Department that her grandson, Lieut. George Alfred Browning, has been missing in action since February 21. (1944)

The telegram signed by the Adjutant General reads, "The Secretary of War desires to express his deepest regret that your grandson, 2nd Lieut. . George Alfred Browning, has been reported missing in action since February 21 over the coast of Holland. If further details or other information are received you will be promptly notified.

Lieut. Browning is the son of the late George A. and Lilliam Burns Browning. Since their death, when he was a small lad, he had lived with his grandmother, Mrs. Browning, and Aunt, Mrs. W. A. Dicus. He was graduated from the University of South Carolina and was pursuing work for his M. A. degree at the University of Chicago when inducted into the service three years ago.

Lieut. Browning was stationed at Fort Jackson for a while with a medical detachment after which he was transferred to the Air Corps. He received his navigator's "wings" in Hondo, Texas, in June past. His base was in England with the air force. He had been on overseas duty for several months as a navigator on a Flying Fortress.

Mrs. Browning and Mrs. Dicus received a letter from Lieut. Browning written on February 20 in which he said he was "very tired. " The next day he was reported missing and it is believed his entire crew went down at the time.

Phila. Pa.
March 22, 1944

Dear Mrs. Taylor,

Thank you so much for your letter. I have a little information that I know will encourage you as it did me.

Right before the boys went to England, I was out west with Howard (2nd Lt. Howard D. Venzie) for four months. While I was out there I met George, and the rest of the crew, and also the boys from other crews and their wives. I know several fellows that were in the same barracks with George and Howard, and I correspond with their wives. It was through two of these wives that I found out a little information about our boys.

Don McBride (a co-pilot of another crew) wrote his wife, and asked her to write on to me. He was on the same raid that George and Howard were on the day their ship went down. He said that Howard's crew radioed and said everything was under control and no one was injured and that he was certain the boys were all right. His letter was dated the 22nd (Feb. 1944). What happened after that I don't know, but it certainly is encouraging, isn't it? If they had to bail out, at least we know they weren't injured and that's something.

A girl friend of mine from Pittsburgh was here last week, and she received a little news from her husband, who is a pilot and is in the same barracks with George and Howard. He was very chummy with Howard and he never mentioned a thing it to his wife until March 8. He said at the end of his letter, "If you hear any bad news from any of our friends (meaning me) don't let it get you down because it isn't bad at all. " He knew his wife would find out about Howard through me because we write to one another often.

She said she thinks her husband is trying to tell her something. Undoubtedly he knows something but isn't allowed to tell. At any rate it is very encouraging from both sources.

I believe that my girl friend's husband may know that they are prisoners or trying to get back to England, and he can't tell because he may disclose the whereabouts of the boys. The base will find out information before we will.

Just keep your chin up and I'm sure we'll get some good news soon. If I should happen to hear any more, I'll certainly let you know. I may get more information from my girl friend's husband. Let's hope his war will be over soon

Sincerely
Bettie R. Venzie