Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial Guest Log
This story very, very good. I see the movie "Memphis Belle", the documentary movie... it's very good and excellent.
Fabulous project! A tip of my hat. Wishing full success! Jim Garcia
Just an interested citizen, thankful to be alive in the USA and eternally grateful for the sacrifices of our armed services people in WWII. I hope we can keep the freedoms so dearly paid for. And with vigilance, prayer, and commitment, we can.
I Instructed in B-24's for 2 1/2 years 1943 through 1945. A very interesting Memorial.
TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF WWII. THANK YOU ! ! WHAT I AND MY FAMILY HAVE TODAY, WE OWE TO YOU AND THE SACRIFICES THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE MADE.
My father, Jack D. Keller, was a tail gunner in a B-17 during WWII. I never knew this growing up because he never talked about the war. Besides, he was always too busy doing things with us--three of us four kids drove quarter midget race cars--to talk about the war. Now that he has grown older, and I have grown up, I have had the pleasure of finding out what kind of person my dad was as a young man. Now I can appreciate my father not only as a dad, but also as someone who faced the biggest and fiercest risks with patriotism in his heart to do the right thing for the world--not just our country. All of these men deserve our thanks, our respect, and our deepest appreciation. I appreciate my father for being the best dad a child could have and for being the man that he was and is. I love you dad. My dad is currently getting great satisfaction from working on "My Gal Sal," and I thank Mr. Reddy for bringing her here. By doing so, he has already touched many people in many ways and will continue to touch countless more once the memorial is completed and opened to the public. It will be with such pleasure for my son, Kurtis, and I to visit the "My Gal Sal" memorial knowing that my father got such satisfaction, pride, and a sense of accomplishment helping to restore her. Maybe life does come full circle.
Keep up the good work boys.
I think it is great that someone is restoring on of these planes as a memorial for the men who flew and worked on them. I am glad that it is being done here in the greater Cincinnati area. It will be a very neat attraction. I can't wait to see tit when it is done.
Very interesting. I don't live to far away from restoration site so some time soon I will come and check it out.
Excellent web site. To you and those who preserve the dignity of all the Air Crews, God Bless.
Great project!
Like your website. Was very impressed.
I am the sister of Lt. William Henry Moe, Jr. a bomber pilot in WW2 who was shot down over the Pacific, listed as missing in action for 18 months, then listed as dead. He would be 80 now but was a young 22 when we last saw him. I am also the cousin of Col. Walter S. Moe, who lives in California, and who let me know about this site. My sister, Lois Moe Jacobsen, also of Decorah has more info about our brother, Bill. I will check with her to find out more and submit it.
I'm son of volunteer, Ken Dobbs, Montgomery, Ohio and enjoyed visiting the website.
More pictures of Dad "working" hahahaha!
Looking forward to updated pictures.
I drove one of these wonderful ladies in combat from May 1944 thru Sept 1944 with the 447th Bomb group stationed in Rattlesdon Suffolk. Thanks for your efforts in restoration Jim Shute a friend of Dick Eddy
Really enjoyed looking at the restoration pictures of my gal sal. I wish someone around here was restoring one, I would be there everyday!
I'm a fan of the 100th BG and am in contact with crew members of the B-17 "Hard Luck" (350th Squadron). Really enjoy listening to them!
I flew combat as an A/C with the 97th Bomb Group (B-17s) out of Italy in WW2. Will attend a 97th reunion to be held in the Cincinnati area in October and will be visiting you then. Looking forward to seeing your facility. I notice that you plan a casualty list honor wall and I am curious as to how you will obtain all of the names. I want to make sure that the name of my cousin, Lt. Wm. H. Moe, Jr. is included on any such list. He was lost in 1944 on a B-24 over Koror Harbor, Truk. Good luck in your worthwhile endeavor.
My Dad was on My Gal Sal when it went down. Nice work!
The son of Major Elsworth Sherman Minner, USAF B17 Pilot, 97th BG 414 Squadron 1944-45
Mom worked on B-17's at Long Beach, Ca. in 43, 44 and 45. I love the things. I think they are neat looking and beautiful. What a lady in her day ( and still so). S. Pierce
Mr. Ready: visited the hangar over the holidays ( along with my nephew who owns a T-6 ) thanks for the hospitality, and I have a gentleman who's willing to work with you on covering the control surfaces for the B-17. He does that now on DC-3's and Beech 18's, and is restoring a Waco. Please let me know when would be a good time to come see you.
I am very impressed by the amount of work you folks have obviously put into what is for you a true labor of love. I only wish there were more such wonderful sites to honor the men & women who faced one of the greatest threats to our freedom with courage and faith in each other-something we could certainly use a little more of today! KEEP 'EM FLYING!!!
Bob,
Great to see the progress your team are making on the project. I certainly enjoyed my first visit last year and intend to return again to see for myself future developments.
Keep up the great work.
Best wishes,
Neil
Very interesting.
Thanks for updating the site. I look forward to seeing it in person someday. My Father-in-law Ken Dobbs is a volunteer on the project. You can all be proud of the work you are all doing.
Thank you to all our military....in wartime, during police actions and at peacetime. The sacrifices of you and your families are appreciated.
I Love the restoration of the B-17. What happened to the third B-17 that crashed with Sooner I in Greenland?
I enjoy reviewing your website but am also curious about the recovery efforts of "Sooner" and the B-17G that had no name. Are you still planning to recover those aircraft? Will "My Gal Sal" be put back to flying condition or just static. Thank you.
Jim Routt
I Was a pilot on the B-17 with the 97th Bomb Group in Italy in 1944. I was fortunate to complete 35 Missions and saw the end of WWII. My outfit was the 97th Bomb group. We are having a reunion at Blue Ash, Ohio in August of 2001. I am looking forward to seeing the restoration of My Gal Sal.
Great site. Wish I was in the area as I would love to help. Keep up the good work.
I'M 67 YEARS OLD. I SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE JUST AFTER THE KOREAN WAR ENDED. I LOVED JETS BUT WOULD HAVE GIVEN ANYTHING TO HAVE FLOWN A B-17. I THINK THE B-17 AND THE P-51 WERE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLANES TO FLY IN WWII. I'M A NATIVE OF CINCINNATI. IF I EVER MOVE BACK THERE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH YOUR RESTORATION. I THINK THE MEN WHO FLEW 17'S AND B-24 ARE TRUE HEROES.
I was the crew chief on this bird when it went in on the Greenland icecap. I have been to Blue Ash To look over my old plane. Bob Ready sure has a job on his hands to make "MY GAL SAL" look good again. Sure brings back a lot of memories.
She's looking good now! I know my father (the ground crew chief) is getting pretty excited about seeing her in one piece.
Jack Keller told me of this web site
Presidents of the association "Maid to Please". That association commemorates the crash of a B17- Pilot: SCHERO at Berville-Henonville (Oise-FRANCE) on December 30th, 1943. The project is to build a memorial on the spot of the crash. It will be inaugurated on the June 9th, 2001.
"J.D. KELLER talked to us about your project and, of course, we feel very much concerned. No need to say that we'll follow your work step by step, with great attention...and emotion. I don't see how we could help you but...who knows?! Let's keep in touch." Michel DOUTRELEAU Ferme du Coudray 60119 HENONVILLE (FRANCE) tel: 03.44.49.87.44 fax: 03.44.49.99.14 E-mail: sdoutrel@aol.com
Fantastic job guys. You are taking this pile of twisted metal and returning it to the grand lady she once was. You are all true artists. I can't wait to see the finished product. One note. You might contact Jim Garcia at Garcia Aviation in New Mexico. He has some B-17 items in his inventory for sale. The URL is:
http://www.garciaaviation.com/aindex.html
I hope he can help you.
Best regards,
James Baldwin
Hi Bob! I'm interested in going to Grass Valley, CA. just to see the work in progress on My Gal Sal. Can you give me a phone number and contact person for that? I don't live far from there. Thanks! Gene
Real interested in bringing back our history.
You have a great site. I'm glad Jack Keller told me about it. Thanks to all of you guys and gals, for all that you gave.
While serving in England I had the privilege of watching 17s round day view over our camp on their way to Germany or what ever. Many a time I waited for the 17s to come back and praying that the stragglers could safely land.
Our hospital service their base (Basingborne Air Field) I am now 82 and I hope who ever reads this blocks out the errors in typing. Sincerely, Robert w. Flaig
Great Site!!! Thank you for the work you are doing on this beautiful aircraft! My father flew briefly on "My Gal Sal" as co-pilot when it was sent to the west coast for reconnaissance. On the way back to Florida they got lost and it was always a joy to hear him tell the story of trying to find out where they were by following the railroad lines and flying low over the stations trying to read the name of the town. His regular stint was co-pilot of the Alabama Exterminator which also went down in Greenland. I hope someday to visit the display of a plane I feel a small kinship to. If you haven't already heard the story, sometime I'll tell the tale of Fred Dallas, "My Gal Sal," and the gross count box of condoms. Best of luck to you!
I am so very pleased that Mr. Bob Ready has invited me to participate and work on this worthwhile project, every rivet that I drill out of some part of this wonderful A/C makes me feel younger and appreciate "ROSEY THE RIVETER" more and more every day. If I live long enough to see this project finished I may be that 19 year old snot nosed kid again that flew in A/C #231582 "Ol'Scrapiron". There are many volunteers working on this project and I want to thank them for helping me, and making me welcome to do something in my life for the future generation to see and remember the "Ultimate Sacrifice" that many crew members who were killed in action, 26000+, and POW 28000+ in the 8th Air Force alone in WW2. GOD BLESS you all!
I READ ABOUT ABOUT YOUR OUTSTANDING EFFORT IN "FRIENDS JOURNAL" P 55. I PASS YOUR SITE THREE TIMES A WEEK AND NEVER DREAMED THERE WAS A B-17 BEING RESTORED AT BLUE ASH AIR PORT. I WAS IN WWII OUT IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND IN THE INVASION OF OKINAWA. I RODE ON ON A FEW OF THE OLD BOMBERS BUT NEVER IN THE CREW. KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK.
You are doing a good thing by honoring airmen in this way. The use of the bomber symbols on the wall of the museum is an excellent way to the show the enormous sacrifices of the airmen.
Beautifully designed web-site! It's great to see someone really doing a RESTORATION job on one of these great planes. As a young airman at Keesler during the Korean "conflict" I showed a lot of training movies of WWII action. It never ceases to amaze me how the B-17 brought her crews home safely even though they were often damaged to the point of being "impossible" to fly. Projects like yours are important so the current and future generations will know how their freedom was bought. Maybe someday this aircraft and the P-38 "Glacier Girl", now under restoration in Kentucky, can complete their "Operation Bolero" mission by flying together to England.
Cincinnati Warbird member looking forward to working on the B17.
You guys need volunteers?????????
just poking around. got site from friend and fellow survivor.
My father was in the 490 BG 850BS with the 8th at Eye England in East Anglia. Enjoyed visiting your sight - thanks.
Being a Cincinnati resident how could I not know that this was going on? I was a pilot in the "other" Air Force-- the 15th in Italy.How does one become involved in the restoration of the world's greatest airplane?
Great Project
Bob:
Your web site on "Sal" is appreciated because my wife is now satisfied I'm doing something useful at the hanger! Despite being involved with B-17s, I never knew about the internal wing structure until I began helping with the restoration of "Sal". I am amazed at the strength built into the wing design.
I am sending you my B-17 story that you may use on your web site if you'd like.
Wonderful site and deserving tribute to our "American's Greatest". Terrific coverage of WW 2, the Men and Women that guaranteed the World's Freedom. True pleasure sharing your efforts restoring history. Great day meeting Jack Keller and his wife today as guests with our Western Pennsylvania Wing of the Mighty Eighth, thanks Jack and Ann, what a nice reward to find your Web site. Bon Voyage to France tomorrow and your reunion! I will be sharing your gift with all friends!!
Found your site through a guestbook comment from another website. Good Bless our vets for all they did to keep us citizens free!
I was given your website URL by a fellow named Jack Keller who told me that he was helping restore a B-17.I was a prisoner of war in Germany and was a bombardier on a B-17 named 8Ball. Clark Gable flew in that airplane while making a documentary at our base 303rd at Molesworth.
Hope to spend some time volunteering during the restoration.
Bob, Just in case you need to contact me via e-mail. Jim
Bob,
It certainly is an honor to be one of those fortunate enough to be participating in the restoration of My Gal Sal.
Thanks for the opportunity.
THIS IS A NICE TRIBUTE TO MY GREAT UNCLE AND ITS LONG OVERDUE YOU HAVE NICE PICTURES BUT YOU COULD HAVE A PHOTO GALERY OF B-17 OTHER THAN MY GAL SAL AND ALL AMERICAN
Great site, Ultimate Sacrifice. Wish I could say more.
Glad you are doing what you are doing, thanks. Brian [ survivor of the 1940 bombing "blitz" of London England]
Thanks for sharing this restoration with others who can't be there to help.
I READ ABOUT WHAT YOUR ARE DOING IN THE "FRIENDS JOURNAL" AND GOT ON TO THE WEB SITE. THIS IS WONDERFUL!!! I LOVE READING THE STORIES AND VIEWING THE PICTURES. THE B-17 HAS BEEN A FASCINATION FOR ME SINCE I WAS A KID. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT IF I WAS BORN IN A DIFFERENT TIME, IT WOULD OF BEEN IN THE 40'S AND I WOULD HAVE FLOWN ONE OF THESE MAGNIFICENT PLANES. I HAVE BEEN THRU THE "SHOO SHOO BABY" IN DAYTON AND WAS THE THRILL OF MY LIFE. SOMEDAY I HOPE TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY FLY IN A B-17.
MY DAD BUILT HIS OWN PLANE, A RUTAN VARIVIGGEN, SO I KNOW THE TASK YOU HAVE ON YOUR HANDS. EVEN GREATER, I'M SURE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PLANE. KEEP UP THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND I WILL BE FOLLOWING THE PROGRESS. IF THERE IS ANY HELP NEEDED, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. I WOULD LOVE TO HELP! MY PHONE IS 522-2170.
SINCERELY, WAYNE PIEPER
Bob, You are the GREATEST. I enjoyed our phone call so much. If there is any way I can help just whistle. Please let me know if you want any contacts on the Continent. By all means keep in touch.
Former mbr. 91st Bomb Grp 401st Sqdn B17 1st Div
I was a pilot of a B17 in the 351st BG 510TH BS Eighth AF at Polebrook Air Force Base, England. I flew 35 missions from May to to October 1944. I have visited the restoration site in Blue Ash but due to some physical problems have been unable to participate in rebuilding process. I hope to be of some help in the near future.
Great website...I'll be back to see how things are going.
Served in the 370th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force during WWII and the 37th Infantry Division during the Korean Conflict. Think your Memorial is great. If I could help in any way please advise.
A very excellent and well thought out site. My Gal Sal will be finished in what seems like no time at all! It always good to remember those brave people who helped bring an end to war, and their stories are certainly timeless.
The Bloody 100th gained worldwide recognition from book of Harry Crosby, wing and a prayer. Also Dave Tallichet, owner of B-17 that was the Memphis Belle in that movie. Tallichet is a member of the 350th Sq.
As a Thunderbolt pilot who had a chance to be up there alongside your birds, it's great to see another one taking shape. Congratulations on your project and website--I'll be flying escort as you proceed--Cheers! Jim Hall
Bob: A big 'thumbs up" to you for what you are doing. I am the Editor/Historian for the 352nd FG (P-47s and P-51s), the "Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney," and co-author of our history by that name. We, too, are continuing our efforts to perpetuate our history and that of all those who served in the "Mighty Eighth." Having been one of those escorting these big birds on many missions over Europe, I commend you for your max efforts and plan to include a story about this in my next 352nd newsletter to our "Bluenosers." Blue Skies to you!
She's gonna be a beautiful girl when done!!! Can't wait to see her.
Thanks to all of my parents generation, the greatest generation ever.
Bless all of those brave men & women who served and are serving in our military, so that we shall remain free. May they never be forgotten.
Great Job. Need more publicity. I'll let my people know asap.
Just returned from a Hawaiian trip to Pearl 12/07/2000. We certainly have been blessed. Thanks to all the men who went before us. I made the Korean war (USN), and I have an inkle of their job.
Keep up the work and God Bless.
Your site is an outstanding tribute to the men that served in the air and on the ground. We need to keep history "Alive". God has given us but one chance to make our mark on this world. Let us not forget those who already have.
I commend you all on your efforts and you have done an outstanding job with your web site
.