User:Texvanwinkle

Creator/author of ZeamersEagerBeavers.com. Have spent almost thirty years researching the story and war of the crew. Research consists of:

INTERVIEWS

The Eager Beavers Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer Jr. Lt. William Vaughan (regular crew) S/Sgt. Herb Pugh (regular crew) Col. Ruby Johnston (regular crew) Lt. Col. J.T. Britton (copilot, 16 June 1943 mission)

22nd Bomb Group Maj. Walter Krell (19th BS) Capt. John Wells (408th BS)

43rd Bomb Group 1st Lt. Lloyd Boren (65th) Capt. Richard Bennett (65th) T/Sgt. Frank Hohmann (403rd & 65th/43rd, also 93rd/19th) M/Sgt. Ed Gammill (63rd) Maj. Milton “Bud” Gusack (65th) Maj. Bill Wilson (65th) Col. David Hassemer (65th)

8th Photo Recon Squadron T/Sgt. Jim McEwan

Family Members Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer, Jr. (spouse) 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarnoski (two brothers, sister, nephew, niece) 1st Sgt. Johnnie Able, Jr. (daughter) M/Sgt. Emil “Bud” Thues (brother, son) Lt. William Vaughan (son, daughter) Capt. George Kendrick (step-brother) S/Sgt. Herb Pugh (spouse, daughter) Capt. Hank Dyminski (two sons, daughter) Col. Ruby Johnston (son) Lt. Col. J.T. Britton (son, daughter) Col. Art Durbeck (spouse) Maj. Milton “Doc” Gusack (son)

DOCUMENTS

Crew Statements on 16 June 1943 Mission (given in support of Zeamer CMoH) 1st Sgt. Johnnie Able, Jr. Lt. Col. J. T. Britton Capt. George Kendrick S/Sgt. Herb Pugh M/Sgt. Forrest Dillman

Diaries Capt. Henry “Hank” Dyminski T/Sgt. William Eaton (403rd/43rd) M/Sgt. Ed Gammill T/Sgt. Frank Hohmann Col. Art Durbeck (403rd/43rd)

Personal Letters Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer, Jr. 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarnoski 1st Sgt. Johnnie Able, Jr.

Flight Logs Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer, Jr. Capt. Henry “Hank” Dyminski

Individual Flight Records Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer, Jr. 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarnoski

Official Histories and Diaries 43rd Bomb Group 63rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd BG 65th Bomb Squadron, 43rd BG 403rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd BG 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron

Squadron Reports Morning Reports, 403rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd BG Morning Reports, 65th Bomb Squadron, 43rd BG Morning Reports, 19th Bomb Squadron, 22nd BG Payroll Reports, 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th AF

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS AND THANKS

David Armstrong, Researcher Joe Bowman, Author/Historian Larry Hickey, Author/Historian, IHRA Steve Birdsall, Author/Historian Damian Waters, Author/Historian Roger Marks, Author/Historian Chuck Varney, Historian Richard Dunn, Author/Historian Randy Ashenbranner, Researcher Geoff Gentilini, Researcher Ed Rogers, Author/Historian Bruce Hoy, former curator, PNG War Museum Michael Musumeci, Author/Historian Barrett Tillman, Author/Historian Michael Claringbould, Author/Historian/Artist including interviews with surviving crew members and their squadron mates and almost two dozen family members. Personally consulted with numerous author/historians and researchers of the air war in the SW Pacific and on the B-17, including but not limited to Larry Hickey and his staff at IHRA, Steve Birdsall, Michael Clairingbould, Richard Dunn, Ed Rogers, and Bob Rocker.

"When I see something that's obviously wrong, I usually speak up."