6 decades of empty graves, and families with no answers, is finally coming to an end.
The gravestone next to his mother has been waiting for him for more than 60 years. On Saturday, the remains of Army Pvt. Leonard Kittle of Caney, Kan., finally will be placed beneath it.
The shift of a glacier in Alaska two years ago released the remains of a C-124A Globemaster cargo plane that crashed on a mountain near Anchorage in 1952, killing Kittle and 51 other military personnel. DNA testing in April confirmed Kittle’s identity.
Surviving family members said they have been through an emotional cycle, churning from surprise and joy that the plane was found through a new round of grief, followed by a sense of relief that DNA testing ultimately identified him, and finally happiness that he is home and they can get some closure.
“We can put him to rest beside his mother,” said Kittle’s wife, Sandra Kozak, 79, who lives in East Troy, Wis. “She never believed he got on that plane. She thought he had amnesia and was living in Canada. She believed that till the day she died. There was no body, and she just couldn’t accept that.”
This summer is the fourth that U.S. troops and civilians have combed Colony Glacier in Alaska to recover wreckage and identify 52 service members aboard a C-124 Globemaster II that crashed in 1952.
The mission was launched after the plane's wreckage was rediscovered in 2012. Every summer since then, military members and civilians have returned to the crash site to remove debris and human remains.
The glacier moves between 200 and 300 meters each year, and as it recedes, more of the wreckage becomes exposed, Cocker told Air Force Times on July 1. There's no way to tell how long it will take for all the wreckage to become unearthed.
Service members recovered between 4 and 5 tons of debris during this year's operation, which lasted from June 8-25, Cocker said. Up to nine service members were tasked with collecting aircraft debris on the glacier, another 12 service members collected human remains and personnel effects, and dozens of others from the Army National Guard helped transport teams to the glacier and back.
The mission is about more than cleaning up a crash site, Cocker told Air Force Times. The operation's purpose is to provide resolution to the relatives of those who had been on board the C-124. So far, 17 of the 52 service members aboard have been identified and returned home.
"The main effort is to be able to identify and provide to the family members of the deceased whatever personal effects we can send to them, and just the knowledge that, yes, your loved one was found," Cocker said. "A lot of the guys on the aircraft maybe have brothers or sisters or even kids or grandkids that for the past 60 years don't really know what happened to their family member. Now we're providing them some of those answers."
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/07/04/alaska-crash-recovery-mission/29586319/
http://www.kansas.com/news/article1146658.html
the most flown warbird in WW2 European operations, Flak Bait, is getting some long overdue attention
Stored for nearly two decades after its return, the forward section of the plane with its iconic nose art went on display in the museum in 1976. The rest of the plane—dents, patches, grease and all—stayed in storage. The plane was so well packaged for storage that the conservation team found bright red hydraulic fluid still inside one of the plane’s brake lines.
Imagine having to discern the accumulated dirt of storage from the historically valuable mud from European airfields still splattered on the plane’s belly and wheel wells. Or cleaning away grimy dust yet preserving the oil-spattered patina ejected from the plane’s notoriously thirsty engines. One effort consisted of extracting a series of artifacts–Wrigley’s gum wrappers, cigarette butts, chaff shavings and bomb tags–from entrenched dirt built up in the seam between two bomb bay doors.
Because the work is so painstaking and happens alongside other long-term museum work, conservators don’t expect the plane to be ready for display until 2021.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/restoring-the-iconic-b-26-flak-bait.html
110 year old trolley car found by accident, disguised as a tiny cabin near Green Bay Wisconsin, and it needs a new home pronto
230 were made and used by the Chicago Surface Lines company, the predecessor to the Chicago Transit Authority, to replace the cable cars used from 1890s to 1910s... and retired in the 1940s through 50s due to the pressure to replace trolleys with busses. 100 of them were sold as scrap to returning soldiers after WW2 and used as homes, or diners, luncheons, or trailer park rentals. http://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/illinois-railway-museum/
http://fox11online.com/2015/06/04/weyauwega-couple-uncovers-piece-of-history-in-backyard/
The history of the trolley has made a big impression on Sharon Krapil, who is hoping to find someone interested in taking ownership of the train and restoring it to its former glory.
One was restored and is in the Illinois Railway Museum, here's what they looked like new:
Photos from the owner Sharon Krapil, and WLUK Bill Miston
http://thetrolleydodger.com/2015/06/05/lost-and-found-chicago-streetcar-1137/
Paul Allen's personal airplane collection, possibly the richest airplane collector there is
It's said to have 50 aircraft, possibly open to the public, at Everett Washington, near Seattle.
The planes are both retired and found, from forests and jungles.
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/inside-microsoft-mogul-paul-allens-multi-million-dollar-wwii-airplane-collection-2.html
General Motors’ Military Discount Expanded To All Veterans
In honor of National Military Support Month and in recognition of the dedication of U.S. service members, General Motors’ Military Discount program is available to all military veterans – regardless of separation date – when purchasing or leasing a new Chevrolet vehicle from Kupper Chevrolet.
Typically, the Military Discount program is available to active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard, and Coast Guard, along with veterans within one year of their discharge date. Through June 30th, all Bismarck-Mandan area U.S. military veterans are able to leverage the special pricing on new Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles.
“Our gratitude and support to the service members of the U.S. armed forces is extensive,” said Bob Kupper of Kupper Chevrolet. “The Military Discount program is but a small portion of that dedication - but we’re incredibly excited to extend it to all veterans as part of our ongoing salute to the men and women who served our country.”
First offered in 2008, the GM Military Discount Program features pricing below suggested retail for eligible vehicles. Since its inception, over 62,500 military service members and veterans have purchased new vehicles through this program.
The military discount can be combined with most current incentives. USAA members are eligible for an additional $750 discount. Eligible consumers must take delivery by June 30, 2014.
Learn more at gmmilitarydiscount.com and ChevySalutes.com.
About GM Military SupportWith thousands of military veteran employees, General Motors’ support for the United States armed forces spans generations. Today, Chevrolet assists Cell Phones for Soldiers, Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, a variety of employment and grassroots initiatives, and is the Official Vehicle of the Army-Navy game. The GM Military Discountprogram offers discounts on most Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles for active duty, reserves, veterans and retirees and spouses of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard. GM proudly participates in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative aimed at finding meaningful employment for veterans transitioning to civilian life.
GM Upgrades Military Discount Program
Bismarck, October 30th 2013 – Enhancements to General Motors’ vehicle discount program for Already the most generous vehicle discount in the industry, the improved GM Military Discount Program features an increased discount for greater savings, offering an invoice model and options price below the suggested retail price plus destination fees and a $150 program fee for eligible vehicles. The discount can be combined with Kupper Chevrolet’s most current incentives – including bonus cash, consumer cash, GM Card earnings and trade-in allowance.
“Kupper Chevrolet is a strong supporter of Bismarck-Mandan area’s military and military families,” said Bob Kupper, Owner of Kupper Chevrolet. “I’m happy that GM’s improved military discount program will allow us to show it.”
GM’s military discount is available to more Bismarck-Mandan area military members than any other brand: active duty, reserves, veterans within one year of discharge date and military retirees and their spouses.
At the GM Military Discount Program website, Bismarck-Mandan area active and reserve members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard can get additional information about their new-vehicle discount, in addition to specific, model-by-model examples.
Real ales at the double for Scarisbrick military vehicle event
The owners of the Heatons Bridge, in Scarisbrick, told The Champion they are working with Burnley-based Moorhouses Brewery to create two beers specially for the Military Vehicle Invasion event being held there on April 12 and 14 in memory of Mark Lancaster, who spearheaded two similar events at the pub but passed away last year.
Two real ales will be on offer, including one called Just Jane, which is named after a restore Avro Lancaster bomber which now has a photo of Mark in the cockpit. A stronger real ale, called Tanked Up, will also be on offer and plays on the connection with the military vehicles being brought by members of the South Cumbria and North Lancashire military vehicle trusts to the pub.
Steve Winrow, landlord at the Heatons Bridge, said: “I'm hoping that these two beers will be a hit with visitors to the show, especially as they play on the pub's existing military connections, including our longstanding association with Lancaster Bomber bitter and the World War Two pillbox which we have on the site.
"We're also redesigning our food and drinks menu to have a bit of a military theme on the weekend - chicken nuggets and chips, for example, will be called muck and bullets. It's quite a poignant tribute to Mark, particularly the ‘Just Jane' beer and its connections to Mark and the Lancaster bomber."
Both real ales will be brewered by Burnley-based Moorhouses Brewery, which brews several of the beers already on offer at the West Lancashire pub, including the Lancaster bomber bitter.
While the range of military vehicles on display, ranging from Jeeps and Land Rovers to tanks and trucks, will remain similar the event will have an additional poignant touch, having been named the Mark Lancaster Memorial Weekend in tribute to the organiser of both of the previous military invasion events, who passed away last year.
The event, which takes place on Friday, April 12 through to Sunday, April 14, is free to visit. For more information send an email to pconnolly@btinternet.com or or call 01704 545786.
Military vehicle fans plan second invasion of West Lancashire pub
Members of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria Military Vehicle Trust said that a showcase at the Heatons Bridge Inn of vehicles going back to the Second World War had been such a success that they are now planning a second event on August 4 and 5, and are teaming up with their comrades at the West Lancashire Military Vehicle Trust to make the show even bigger and better than before.
Organiser Mark Lancaster told Life On Cars: “Due to the great success of the first military vehicle weekend at the beginning of April at the Heatons Bridge, we are going to hold our ‘Second Invasion' in August.
"This time we are teaming up with The West Lancs trust to put on what will be a bigger more impressive event with a more diverse selection of Military Vehicles for the public to see. It will be free admission again to the event, but we will be collecting again for Help For Heros and any voluntary donations would be appreciated."
Among the exhibits being planned for the show at the West Lancashire pub are Ferret armoured cars, army Jeeps, Land Rovers, trucks and tracked vehicles. The trust are also planning to bringing back the tanks which provided an eye-catching sight to visitors during the first show in April, and to host another road run on the country lanes of West Lancashire.
The event, called The Second Invasion, will also take advantage of the pub's own links to West Lancashire's wartime past, and will once again incorporate an original World War Two pillbox at the rear of the site into the military displays.
For more information about the event send an email to Mark Lancaster at lancaster798@btinternet.com
Heatons Bridge Military Vehicle Show 2012
IT'S not often you get to see a brace of tanks defending a pub in the West Lancashire countryside.
But if you've been anywhere near Scarisbrick this is the surreal sight you might have seen, as a host of military machines from decades gone by invaded the grounds of the Heatons Bridge pub.
Thanks to the enthusiasts of the South Cumbria and North Lancashire Military Vehicle Trust visitors could check out everything from Willys Jeeps and Land Rovers, through Ferret armoured cars right up to the massive trucks and tanks used by armies across the world.
Life On Cars took these pictures at the show:
West Lancashire pub to host military vehicle weekend
MILITARY machines from as far back as the Second World War will invade West Lancashire this spring for a major public display.
The event is being hosted by Heatons Bridge Inn, near Scarisbrick, on the weekend of April 14 and 15, with enthusiasts from as far afield as Cumbria bringing machines to display on a field behind the pub.
Steve Flitcroft, secretary of the South Cumbria and North Lancashire Military Vehicle Trust, which is organising the event, said: “At other events in other parts of the region we see a lot of people turning up to take at look at the military vehicles because they generate quite a lot of interest.
"We are the largest military vehicle trust in the UK and Europe, with vehicles going back as far as the First World War, so we're hoping that over the weekend we'll be able to show off quite a good cross section of military vehicles from conflicts going right up to the present day."
Although the exact details of the displays included in the event have yet to be confirmed, the public can expect to see vehicles Willys Jeeps, Ferret armoured cars, Saracen personnel carriers and larger ex-military machines.
The club will incorporate a second world war pillbox, which still stands near to the pub, into their display.
Steve Winrow, manager of the Heatons Bridge Inn, told Life On Cars he was looking forward to seeing the event taking place in April and to seeing the variety of vehicles expected to attend.
"It's not something we've ever done before, but a couple of the trust's members approached us and asked if the big field at the back, and the pillbox, could be used to host the weekend show.
"I'm really looking forward to it - it should be a brilliant event which will offer the people of West Lancashire something a bit different."
The event, which will also include a road run, takes place throughout the day on April 14 and 15 at the pub, situated on Heatons Bridge Road. For more information contact Mark on 01704 545514.
