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Rudolph Emil Flack (November 11, 1916 – January 20, 1974) was a Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Force. Captain Flack piloted Brigadier General Ira C. Eaker, the commander of the Eighth Air Force’s VIII Bomber Command in England who flew as an observer aboard Flack’s 414th squadron B-17E YANKEE DOODLE (41-9023), on the historic first All American Flying Fortress bombing mission against German-occupied Europe, the railway marshalling yards at Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France on August 17, 1942. At this time Captain Flack was the Commander of the 97th Bombardment Group’s 414th Bombardment Squadron, the RAF Grafton Underwood airfield (Station #106) base commander and the mission commander. On September 1, 1942 Captain Flack was promoted to Major.

Typically as the flight leader and mission commander, Flack piloted other historical figures, such as: (1) Col. Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr., (the 97th BG CO), as his copilot on the August 21st and September 6th 1942 bombing missions; (2) Col. Joseph Hampton Atkinson, (the 97th BG CO), as his copilot when the 97th Bombardment Group transferred from RAF Polebrook in England to Northwest Africa (Twelfth Air Force) in November 1942, and as his copilot on the November 23, 1942 bombing mission; (3) Margaret Bourke-White as the first female photographer/writer to fly on a combat mission on January 22, 1943; (4) Major General Jimmy Doolittle (commanding general of the Twelfth Air Force) as his copilot on the February 15, 1943 bombing mission; and (5) on May 17/19, 1943 Major Flack piloted a B-17E from Telergma Airfield and picked up Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz (commander of the Twelfth Air Force and the Northwest African Air Forces) and flew him to Oued N’ja, Morocco landing on May 19, 1943 where Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz inspected the 99th Fighter Squadron, later referred to as the Tuskegee Airmen.

On September 17, 1943 Major Flack was appointed as the Air Inspector of the 46th Bombardment Operations Training Wing (BOTW) located at the Second Air Force's Ardmore Army Airfield in Ardmore, Oklahoma under the command of Brig. Gen. Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr., who was instrumental in having Flack reassigned stateside. On October 25, 1943 Major Flack was rated Senior Pilot and awarded his Senior Pilot Wings. On November 4, 1943 Major Flack was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. On April 1, 1944 Flack was appointed as the Assistant Wing Commander and then the Director of Training for the 220th AAF BU. On June 20, 1945 Lt. Col. Flack was promoted to Colonel. On June 21, 1945 Col. Flack was appointed as the Commander of Operations and Testing Division, Air Crew Training Unit, Training Secretary and Chief of the "H" Bomb Unit for the Second Air Force headquartered at the Colorado Springs Army Airfield. During this timeframe, Col. Flack’s command jurisdiction included the 509th Composite Group under the command of Col. Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr. On October 25, 1945 Col. Flack was appointed to Office of the Chief of Staff of the Second Air Force headquartered at the Colorado Springs Army Airfield. Flack retired from active duty on May 6, 1946 and served as a Colonel in the Army Air Force Reserves superseded by the Air Force Reserves through September 18, 1957.

Early Years
The photo on the right was taken on Friday, July 4, 1919 in Plainfield, New Jersey. From left to right in this photo are Rudolph E. "Rudy" Flack (2 years and 8 months old), Henry Gerhart "Jerry" Wolf, older half-brother (8 years old) and Thomas Hans "Tom" Flack younger brother (10 months old). This photo was taken by their father, Fred Flack.

Rudolph Emil Flack was born in Fanwood, New Jersey on November 11, 1916, the son of German immigrants. Due to his mother’s illness at birth (Katherine), Rudy required the services of a wet nurse during his infancy, an African-American lady, who became a dear and close family friend. Just as black Americans suffered the scourges of racism over many generations, so did German immigrants, especially prior to, during and after World War I. Consequently, the Flack family was very sensitive to the bigotry against all races and openly discussed the ignorance behind such prejudices. Rudy’s respect for all races (that of being colorblind) was communicated to those when and where deemed necessary throughout his life, especially during major military and civilian landmark events. Rudy’s first twelve years of life were spent in New Jersey, Ohio and Michigan through the sixth grade until the Flack family moved to West Los Angeles in the summer of 1928 and one year later to their final home in Brentwood Heights where Rudy and his two brothers (Tom and Jerry) grew up and then moved on to adulthood. One of Rudy’s idols was his father, Fred Flack, who was a Master Precision Machinist working for the Aero Manufacturing Company as Fred has been in the Aircraft and Engine Manufacturing Industry since the early 1910's. In 1916 the Aero Manufacturing Company became the Standard Aero Corporation. Besides his father, two of Rudy’s cherished idols were Abraham Lincoln who played an important role in the struggle to end slavery and Major General "Billy" Mitchell who was 100% right and is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force.

First Flying Lesson
On Tuesday, April 28, 1931 the Huddleston Photo Company of Los Angeles, CA took a group photo on the grounds at University High School in West Los Angeles of their Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) with its 140 members. All ROTC Cadet members were dressed their uniform for this photo. The professionally printed photo measures 9.5 inches high by 56 inches long. The image of Cadet Rudolph E. "Rudy" Flack (9th grade) was digitally extracted from the original print and appears to the right. This photo was taken several months before Rudolph Flack was taken up for his first flying lesson in the summer of 1931.

As a young boy, Flack knew what he wanted to do ― fly airplanes. Flack’s father, Fred, built a wood/metal frame airplane mockup with creative controls, which included a "stick" to operate the wing ailerons (move the "stick" left or right) and the tail elevators (move the "stick" forward or backward), and Left and Right peddles to operate the vertical tail "rudder". Flack spent endless hours visualizing flying an airplane while at the controls of his mock airplane, all of which preceded his first "real" flight. Donald Wills Douglas, Sr., wanting to hire Fred who was working for MGM Studios in Culver City, had one of his pilots take Flack up for his first flight to see if he had the "right stuff" at the age of 14 in the summer of 1931 at Clover Field in Santa Monica, CA where his Douglas Aircraft Manufacturing facilities was located. To Donald and his pilot’s amazement, once Flack was instructed by the pilot to "take" the controls, they both stated they had never seen such a natural flyer behind the "stick and peddles" at such a young age. They had no idea how well read and versed Flack was with airplanes, its history and future potential, not to mention his natural flying ability. This momentous day exemplified Flack was not only a "natural" born flyer but also bore insight Flack was destined to become a natural born leader. Flack continued to receive flying lessons and logged 136.4 hours through the summer of 1937 even though Fred remained at MGM Studios until his passing on Sunday, August 13, 1944.

University High School
In Flack’s freshman year (1930-31), he began serving in the West Los Angeles University High School Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). Flack served as a Captain with the "Hall Guard" high school organization his junior and senior years plus served as Secretary his senior year. Flack participated in numerous sports (basketball, track and field, etc.). Flack became the highest ranking military officer (Colonel) and the recipient of the highest/most awards/medals during WWII as a graduate of University High School.

To the right is Rudolph E Flack's senior University High School (aka "Uni") graduation photo. Rudolph E Flack graduated on Tuesday, January 31, 1934. Some of the Hollywood celebrities' who attended "Uni" were: Marilyn Monroe attended school here in 1942, before dropping out at age 16 to get married. Jan & Dean (Dead Man's Curve) met as students here. Former Partridge Family star David Cassidy also went to school here, as did actors Ryan O'Neal (Love Story) and James Brolin (Pensacola: Wings of Gold), singer Nancy Sinatra (These Boots are Made for Walking), singer/composer Randy Newman (I Love L.A.), singer/composer Danny Elfman (of Oingo Boingo) and actresses Bridget Fonda and Rachel Ames (of General Hospital).

Los Angeles Junior College
Flack attended the Los Angeles Junior College and carried a fully-loaded three-term class schedule after graduating from University High School on January 31, 1934 through August 1935. Flack excelled academically while majoring in Aeronautical Engineering after which he was honored with a scholarship to attend the San Diego Army and Navy Academy (SDANA) and Junior College in Pacific Beach, California, referred to as "The West Point of the West."

SDANA and Brown Military Academy
Flack entered SDANA in September 1935, majored in Mathematics, and qualified for the Academy’s R.O.T.C. Rifle Team as a "Distinguished Marksman" his Jaycee year. In April 1936 Flack’s Rifle Team won the William Randolph Hearst (WRH) Silver Medal Trophy for the annual Ninth Corps region for the entire Western Division and part of a Nation Wide contest. In April 1937 Flack’s Rifle Team won the WRH Hearst Trophy Gold Medal and Cadet Sgt. Flack won the All Events Individual Gold Medal. In September 1937 SDANA became Brown Military Academy. In Flack's "The CADET 1937" yearbook next to his senior photo on Page Twenty-one it states: RUDOLPH EMIL FLACK – Sergeant, Company "A" – Plainfield, New Jersey – November 11, 1916 – Entered 1935. Ribbons: Commandant, Athletics, "Cadet" Staff. Secretary Junior College '37. Sales Manager J.C. Canteen '37. Yearbook '36, '37. Rifle Team '36, '37. Ninth Corps Area Rifle Team. Silver '36, Gold '37. Wm Randolph Hearst Trophy Team. Kelly Field Preparatory. Upon graduating from the Academy on Wednesday, June 9, 1937, Flack accepted the United States Department of War’s appointment to become a Flying Cadet at Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas.

The photo on the right is Cadet Sergeant Rudolph E. Flack in his full parade dress uniform prior to his Wednesday, June 9, 1937 graduation ceremonies when he graduated from Brown Military Academy; the successor to the San Diego Army and Navy Academy (SDANA) and Junior College in Pacific Beach, California.

Cadet Flying School
On October 12, 1937 Flack enlisted as a Flying Cadet in the Army Air Corps and received his basic flight training at Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas. On November 1, 1937 Cadet Flack’s first training flight was in a Boeing PT-13 Stearman beginning four months of basic flight instruction ("A" Stage at Randolph Field), which included all basic flying maneuvers and performing acrobatics. On March 14, 1938 Cadet Sgt. Flack began four months of instrument day/night flying ("Basic" Stage at Randolph Field), which included advanced maneuvers and cross-country flying. On July 5, 1938 Cadet Sgt. Flack began three months of advanced training ("Attack" Stage at Kelly Field) primarily flying attack/bomber aircraft. From November 1, 1937 through October 7, 1938 Cadet Sgt. Flack logged 294 hours and 35 minutes (294:35) flying various models of the following types of aircraft: Boeing PT-13 and PT-13A Stearman’s, North American BT-9 and BT-9B Boeing ‘Yale’ Trainers, Northrup A-17 Attack Bomber, Curtiss A-12, Douglas BT-2B and a Consolidated PT-3A. On October 5, 1938 Flying Cadet Sgt. Flack completed his advanced attack aviation flight training at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas where he graduated with the class of 38-C and received his wings. On October 5, 1938 Flying Cadet Sgt. Flack was commissioned as a Second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps Reserve. On October 7, 1938 Rudolph Emil Flack married Dorothy Louise Collins in San Antonio, Texas and two weeks later transferred to Base Headquarters, 9th Attack Bomb Squadron at Moffett Field, California. On December 2, 1938 2nd Lt. Flack flew with Lt. Hudson aboard a North American O-47A observation aircraft for one hour (1:00), recorded with Mission Symbol 34 – Transition.

Hawaiian Department Tour of Duty
On December 9, 1938 the Flack’s departed San Francisco, California for Honolulu, Hawaii aboard the U.S. Army Transport ship, the REPUBLIC. On December 16, 1938 2nd Lt. Flack reported for duty at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii (T.H.) assigned to the 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group to begin his three year tour of duty. On December 21, 1938 Flack piloted a Boeing P-26B Peashooter for two hours performing 11 takeoffs and landings recorded with Mission Symbol 34 – Transition. On April 1, 1939 Flack was rated PILOT by then Lt. Col. Ira C. Eaker, Air Corps Executive. On July 1, 1939 Flack was assigned to the 31st Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group at Hickam Field, T.H. as Squadron Communications Officer through June 30, 1940 flying Douglas B-18 Bolo 2-engine bombers. On June 22, 1940 Brig. Gen. Walter H. Frank presented Flack his Certificate of Proficiency, Aerial Navigation award. The Flack’s first child was born on July 11, 1940 in Honolulu, Hawaii. On July 1, 1940 Flack was assigned to the HQ Squadron, 5th Bomb Group at Hickam Field, T.H. as the Operations and Engineering Officer under the command of Brig. Gen. Walter H. Frank. On February 20, 1941 Flack was prompted to First lieutenant and began flying Boeing B-17D 4-engine bombers on May 16, 1941. From December 21, 1938 through November 2, 1941 Flack logged 1,007 hours and 25 minutes (1007:25) flying various models of the following types of aircraft while stationed in Hawaii: Boeing P-26B and P-36A Peashooter’s, Boeing P-12E, Douglas B-18 Bolo and a Boeing B-17D. On November 5, 1941 the Flack family departed Honolulu onboard the U.S. Navy Transport ship, St. Mihiel, and arrived in San Francisco, California on November 11, 1941, Flack’s 25th birthday. As a 1st Lt. in the United States Army Air Corps Air Reserve, Flack was assigned to HQ Squadron at Moffett Field, CA in the San Francisco South Bay area. On December 22, 1941 Flack flew Antisubmarine Patrol in a Douglas B-23 Dragon and a Douglas B-18 Bolo Bomber for 4 hours and 5 minutes (4:05) recorded with Mission Symbol U-5 – Antisubmarine Patrol.

Post Pearl Harbor Special Assignment
As a result of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Flack was flagged for a special assignment as a B-17 Heavy Bombardment Squadron Commander and transferred from Moffett Field in California to MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida. Flack was initially assigned to the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 29th Bombardment Group for a brief stay. Brief History of the 29th Bombardment Group: The 29th Flying Training Wing was first activated at Langley Field, Virginia as the 29th Bombardment Group in January 1940 with the 6th, 43rd and 52nd Bombardment Squadrons assigned as its original components. In May 1940 the 29th Bombardment Group moved to MacDill Field, Florida where it was equipped with a mix of pre-production YB-17s and early model Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Douglas B-18 Bolos. On September 3, 1941 the 29th Bombardment Group acquired its needed fourth squadron, the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron. The 29th Bombardment Group was still at MacDill when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and it began to fly antisubmarine patrol missions in the Gulf of Mexico from January 1942 and flew antisubmarine patrols from various locations in south Florida over the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits along the Atlantic Coast. Brief History of the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron: On March 24, 1923 the 21st Aero Squadron was reconstituted as the 21st Observation Squadron of the United States Army Air Service. The squadron was re-designated a long range reconnaissance squadron and received early model Boeing B-17C/D Flying Fortresses and Douglas B-18 Bolos in 1939. The 21st Reconnaissance Squadron moved to the 36th Street Airport, Miami, Florida where it was attached to the Navy and began to fly Neutrality Patrol, sea search and weather reconnaissance missions. The 21st Reconnaissance Squadron operated from several locations along the Atlantic Coast, flying coastal patrol missions. On September 3, 1941 the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron was attached to the 29th Bombardment Group at MacDill Field, Florida, flying antisubmarine patrols from various locations in south Florida over the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits along the Atlantic Coast as noted in the prior paragraph. Flack closed out the month of January 1942 with the 21st Recon Squadron, 29th Bomb Group by flying four antisubmarine patrol missions from Tuesday the 27th thru Friday the 30th in a Douglas B-18A Bolo and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator (aka LB-30) for 5 hours and 15 minutes (5:15). Flack earned the American Campaign Medal with a bronze star for these and other antisubmarine patrol missions. On January 28, 1942 the 24th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) (along with the 97th Bombardment Group Heavy) was constituted (officially created on paper). On February 1, 1942 1st Lt. Flack was promoted to Captain. On February 3, 1942 the 24th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) (along with the 97th Bombardment Group Heavy) was activated and Capt. Flack appointed as the 24th Recon/414th Bomb Squadron Commander on Friday, February 6, 1942. On March 29, 1942, the 97th Bomb Group with its four Bomb Squadrons (340th, 341st, 342nd and the 414th), was transferred from MacDill Field to Sarasota-Bradenton Field, 32 miles to the south. As a Flying Fortress squadron commander, Flack did not select a permanent aircraft and crew to pilot as did most squadron commanders. Instead, Flack piloted a different one of his squadron’s aircraft for each mission (combat, administrative, training, etc.). Consequently, the aircraft’s normal pilot would move to copilot and the normal copilot would occupy a different crew position. This tactic enhanced morale, furthered personnel bonding, improved operational performance, provided additional on the job and hands on training for all of his Squadron crewmen; and lastly, it put additional pressure on all of his squadron’s individual Flying Fortress Crew Chiefs and their Ground Crew as they never knew which B-17 commander Flack would pilot on any given day sometimes accompanied by high ranking military officers or VIP’s occupying various positions (copilot, observer or passenger). From December 22, 1941 through April 28, 1942 Flack flew one hundred and forty-four hours (144:00).

Code Name Operation BOLERO
On May 13/14, 1942 the 97th Bomb Group departed Sarasota-Bradenton Field for their new base assignments in England as part of Operation BOLERO (Florida ► Maine ► Canada ► Greenland ► Iceland ► Scotland ► England). Once the 97th departed Sarasota-Bradenton Field, each squadron typically split its Flying Fortresses into two separate flight echelons for each mission flown (flying in either an inverted "V" formation for flights in the U.S. or a staggered single column with significant separation for the North Atlantic crossing) until arriving in England. Two more B-17 bomb squadrons from two other bomb groups were assigned to Operation BOLERO for weather observation support and they were the 303rd Bomb Group’s 359th Bomb Squadron and the 419th Bomb Group’s 301st Bomb Squadron. The 97th Bomb Group HQ personnel, and the 340th and 341st Bomb Squadrons were assigned to RAF Polebrook, and the 342nd and 414th Bomb Squadrons were initially assigned to RAF Grafton Underwood. The first 97th Bomb Group B-17's to arrive at their assigned base in England were from the 342nd and 414th Bomb Squadrons landing at RAF Grafton Underwood on July 6, 1942 as delineated in Table 1 to follow.

The 97th was the first Flying Fortress Bomb Group assigned to the Eighth Air Force’s VIII Bomber Command and to arrive in England, and the first Flying Fortress Bomb Group to begin flying combat bombing missions in German-occupied Europe (and the first Flying Fortress Bomb Group sent to Northwest Africa, Twelfth Air Force); and as such, the 97th pioneered the way and set standards for all Bomb Groups, which followed. Flack’s 84-day Operation BOLERO journey included a one-month diversion to the U.S. West Coast, which included one week flying Antisubmarine patrol missions off the Pacific coastline while temporarily stationed at McChord Field just south of Tacoma, Washington. Commander Flack and his 414th was the only squadron out of the six Flying Fortress squadrons assigned to Operation BOLERO that did not lose one B-17 or accompanying P-38 Fighter during their perilous 2-1/2 month journey from Florida to England; whereas, the other five squadrons lost a combined total of eight B-17's and twelve P-38's (just lost aircraft, no loss of life). Once Flack and his 414th’s second Flying Fortress flight echelon landed at RAF Grafton Underwood airfield on July 26, 1942 as shown in Table 2 to follow, Captain Flack was assigned as the Station (Base) Commander. From May 14, 1942 through July 26, 1942 Flack flew one hundred and nine hours and fifteen minutes (109:15).

Table 1 – First 97th BG B-17's to Land at their Base in England on July 6, 1942:

Table 2 – Last 97th BG B-17's to Land at their Base in England on July 26, 1942:

European Theater of Operation
Peter Hurd, a 39 year old American artist, was commissioned by LIFE to paint the "men" and their activities with the Eighth Air Force’s VIII Bomber Command in England from July thru November 1942 and was assigned to Flack’s 414th Bomb Squadron. All portraits were 414th squadron members except for one, which was Captain Fred Dallas from the 342nd, who flew with Flack’s 414th second flight echelon during their North Atlantic crossing landing at RAF Grafton Underwood airfield on July 26, 1942 as shown in Table 2 above. In LIFE Magazine’s February 15, 1943 publication is an 8-page article filled with Peter Hurd’s paintings on pages 63 thru 70.

On August 17, 1942 Captain Flack served as the mission commander of the first All American Flying Fortress bombing mission against German-occupied Europe, the railway marshalling yards (M/Y) at Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, and piloted the lead aircraft, the B-17E YANKEE DOODLE 41-9023, in the 2nd Flight group with Brig. Gen. Ira C. Eaker, the commander of the Eighth Air Force’s VIII Bomber Command in England, aboard as an observer.

The following table contains a recap of Flack’s missions (primarily combat) while stationed in England beginning on August 17, 1942, while serving as Squadron and Station (Base) Commander. The first line of each mission contains the Date followed by the Target or Destination and lastly, in parenthesis, one or more (digital X-Y Coordinates) each of which shows the approximate location center. The second line contains a 1-line mission summary including a 97th Bomb Group Mission number, M#, if applicable:

In the third full week of October 1942, the 97th Bomb Group began its support role for Operation TOURCH and started transferring segmented flight echelons of each Bomb Squadron to the Twelfth Air Force in Northwest Africa. On November 18, 1942 Commander Flack and his final 414th flight echelon were the last to depart Polebrook and flew to RAF Hurn airfield on the southern central coastline of England with Col. Joseph Hampton Atkinson (the 97th BG CO) as his copilot. From August 6, 1942 through November 18, 1942 Flack flew sixty hours and fifteen minutes (60:15) while in England.

The photo on the right was taken on January 1, 1943 in front of the 97th Bomb Group Mess Tent at the Biskra, Algeria Base (airfield) in Northwest Africa. In this photo from left to right are: Brig. Gen. Joseph H. Atkinson (Commanding Officer of the 97th Bomb Group), Major Rudolph E. Flack (Commanding Officer of the 414th Bomb Squadron and Biskra Base CO) and Major Paul W. Tibbets, Jr. (Commanding Officer of the 340th Bomb Squadron).

Mediterranean Theater of Operation
On November 22, 1942, Flack landed at Tafaraoui Airfield at Oran, Algeria and assigned as Base Commander. The following is a recap of Flack’s missions (primarily combat) while stationed in Northwest Africa with the Twelfth Air Force, while serving as the Commanding Officer of the 414th Bombardment Squadron (97th Bomb Group Mission numbers, M#, are noted, if applicable):

From November 20, 1942 through March 1, 1943 Flack flew one hundred thirty-one hours and five minutes (131:05) with the Twelfth Air Force in Northwest Africa. On March 5, 1943 Major Flack relinquished command of his 414th Bomb Squadron, which he held since February 3, 1942, and received a major promotion serving in two positions as part of the Northwest African Air Force (NAAF), under the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC), under the Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ).

The photo on the right was taken on July 26, 1943 in one of the NASAF Mission Planning Rooms in Northwest Africa. In this photo facing forward and sitting at the table on the left is Major Rudolph E. Flack (NASAF Assistant Operations Officer and Staff Bombardment Officer) and on the right is Major Gen. Jimmy Doolittle (NASAF commanding officer). The middle Officer sitting at the table with his back to the camera with his left hand (see wrist watch) on his left cheek is Brig. Gen. Lauris Norstad, Major Gen. Jimmy Doolittle’s Assistant Chief of Staff. When this photo was taken, the planning of bombing missions against Axis targets in Sicily, Italy and shipping in the Mediterranean were continuing on a daily basis. The execution of Operation Husky against Sicily began on August 10, 1943 and the Axis forces surrendered on August 17, 1943.

XII Bomber Command and NASAF
On March 5, 1943 Major Flack was assigned as the Assistant Operations Officer of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF), and as a Staff Bombardment Officer (A-3) with the XII Bomber Command, both under the direct command of Maj. Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, the commander officer of the NASAF. In turn, Maj. Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle reported directly to Lt. Gen. Carl A. "Tooey" Spaatz, the commanding officer of the Northwest African Air Force (NAAF). One of Flack’s responsibilities was to assist in the planning of bombing missions aiding in the removal (surrender) of Axis forces in North Africa (Tunisia was last on May 13, 1943), Pantelleria Island (on June 11, 1943 via Operation Corkscrew), Sicily (on August 17, 1943 via Operation Husky), and Sardinia, Corsica and Italy (on September 8, 1943 via Operation Avalanche). Another responsibility of Flack’s was to inspect Allied Airfields in North Africa. Lastly, Flack continued to fly on combat missions for the next six months, but not at the same monthly pace as the prior seven months. The following is a recap of Flack’s missions (primarily combat) while stationed in Northwest Africa, which included the Ninth and Twelfth Air Force as part of the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC). All combat missions Flack flew on, which included his former Flying Fortress Bomb Group, have the corresponding 97th Bomb Group Mission number identified as M#:

From March 20, 1943 through August 16, 1943 Flack flew one hundred and forty-four hours and ten minutes (144:10) while under the command of the NASAF.

Second Air Force Stateside Assignment
The photo on the right was taken on July 11, 1945 in Colorado Springs, CO, which was the Headquarters of the 2nd Air Force. Note on Flack’s dress shirt his rank of Colonel Pin on his right collar, his Prop and Wings Pin on his left collar, his Senior Pilot Wings above his left pocket and his 2nd Air Force Patch on his left shoulder sleeve.

On September 17, 1943 Major Flack was appointed as the Air Inspector of the 46th Bombardment Operations Training Wing (BOTW) located at the Second Air Forces Ardmore Army Airfield in Ardmore, Oklahoma under the command of Brig. Gen. Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr., who was instrumental in having Flack reassigned stateside. On October 25, 1943 Major Flack was rated Senior Pilot and awarded his Senior Pilot Wings. On November 4, 1943 Major Flack was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. On April 1, 1944 Flack was appointed as the Assistant Wing Commander and then the Director of Training for the 220th AAF BU. On June 20, 1945 Lt. Col. Flack was promoted to Colonel. On June 21, 1945 Col. Flack was appointed as the Commander of Operations and Testing Division, Air Crew Training Unit, Training Secretary and Chief of the "H" Bomb Unit for the Second Air Force headquartered at the Colorado Springs Army Airfield. During this timeframe, Col. Flack’s command jurisdiction included the 509th Composite Group under the command of Col. Paul Warfield Tibbers, Jr. On October 25, 1945 Col. Flack was appointed to Office of the Chief of Staff of the Second Air Force headquartered at the Colorado Springs Army Airfield. Flack retired from active duty on May 6, 1946 and served as a Colonel in the Army Air Force Reserves superseded by the Air Force Reserves through September 18, 1957. From September 26, 1943 through December 28, 1945 Flack flew four hundred and eighty-seven hours and five minutes (487:05) while under the command of the Second Air Force. The following is a summary of Flack’s flying hours from the summer 1931 through December 28, 1945, which totals 2,502 hours and 15 minutes (this total does not includes the hours Flack flew from January 1, 1946 through his last known flights at Ryan Field in Baton Rouge, Louisiana during the summer of 1966):

Civilian Life
The photo on the right was taken on August 30, 1959 at Melrose Lanes in Baton Rouge, LA. Rudy Flack was one of the top eight finalists bowling for the City Match Game Bowling Championship at Melrose Lanes (one of his Louisiana Bowling Centers, which he owned and operated).

Civilian life began in May 1946 in Corpus Christi, TX when Flack became an entrepreneur in the family recreation and entertainment business, building and operating modern bowling centers in Texas and Louisiana for the next 21 years. Dr. Al Stander, Flack’s 414th Bomb Squadron Doctor and Flight Surgeon, already residing in Baton Rouge, LA, persuaded Flack to move there in January 1950 as the City needed a modern bowling center. Here the Flack’s (with two sons) and Stander’s (with two daughters) raised their families and continued their professional careers. While living in Texas and Louisiana, Flack played key roles in various community services and activities; such as, church, charities, associations and elected positions. Various military reunions were attended from 1954 thru 1996. In May 1967 Flack sold his Businesses and the family (Rudy, Dorothy and Rick) moved to San Fernando Valley, CA where Flack’s two brothers lived (Tom and Jerry). Rudy and Dorothy Flack moved to the city of Oxnard in Ventura County, CA in June 1972, less than three miles from Port Hueneme on the Pacific Ocean with its sun, sandy beach, ocean breezes and palm trees; very reminiscent of their three years in Honolulu, Hawaii. Rudy Flack died on January 20, 1974 from heart disease (Atherosclerosis) in Oxnard, CA as he unknowingly possessed the high risk "cholesterol gene" referred to as Familial hypercholesterolemia, which he inherited from his father (Fred) who died from the same disease at age 59. Flack had the same physique at 57 as he did when he was 27 and left this world at too young of an age.

Awards and Decorations
Senior Pilot Wings

Silver Star

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Medal with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters

American Defense Service Medal with bronze foreign service star

American Campaign Medal with bronze anti-submarine patrol star

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign stars

World War II Victory Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass device

Distinguished Unit Citation (2)