Some recollections by Paul Frauman a crew chief with the 71st

In response to your request for additional pictures, I procrastinated just long enough for the summer issue of the 1st Fighter Newsletter to inspire me to get some together.

The subject of “that Bomb” made me thing not only of the ‘dud’ but also of the damage done. The page of the Biskra air raid at the bottom shows the remains of T/Sgt Roy silvers (94th) put the (I believe). It was January 10th 1943 but don’t hold me to it. My heart stopped several times that night so I lost track of time!

The article regarding the “droopsnoot” caused me to think back to the preparation for the Southern Invasion of France.

Shortly after the Normandy invasion, approximately July 1944I was temporarily assigned to General Akers in Naples. They had a “G” model that had just been converted to a two seater. Within a couple days, a Col Acton flew in with the “droopsnoot” specifically made by the factory in the USA. Had a Plexiglas B17 nose, Norden bombsight, all armor plated inside with all the amenities, oxygen, etc. This also became my responsibility so I believe I was the first crew chief overseas for the “droopsnoot”.

A few days later I saw my first C54. It was landing with numerous trucks trailing it down the runway. They assembled at the end of the runway and started a parade up though the revetment area towards my planes. When they stopped at my revetment I was informed they wanted to inspect my planes. What am I going to say to a dozen generals and several truckloads of MPs?

I helped them up to the cockpit, Lt. Gen. Akers, Lt. Gen Devers and a dozen more. I was told that Air Marshal Tedder was there

Shortly after they left I was transferred to Lt. Gen Devers' staff in Bastia, Corsica with Lt. Primm and the “piggyback P38G We were on an airport by ourselves with no maintenance facility and only gas and oil.

I remember one day trying to repair the drag chain for the nose gear, which was broken. I was on all fours with a rock and hammer trying to rivet it back together when someone taxied up behind me and said “What are you doing there, soldier?” “I sure as hell isn’t playing marbles,” I replied and looked up to see Major General Cannon! He just laughed! Best duty I ever had and was sorry when he traded our P38 in for an armor plated Jeep.

Incidentally the group of generals inspecting the two planes chose the “piggyback” for the safety. They didn’t like the reputation of the “skinny: nose gear and hydraulic failures plus the escape hatch was right between the two props. But it was fun to fly in.

Looking forward to more of the continued story of the 71st by Steve Duncan.

Paul Frauman