4 20 179 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/311/Dibble_Text0231.pdf d647a3e3fccaf61db206675417de79ec PDF Text Text Charles J. McCann 5844 Gate Post Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 January 16, 2003 Dear Jim, Here are a few thoughts I remember of these two missions, August 25 and August 30, 1943.1 hope this may be of some help. Foggia Strafing - August 25, 1943 Approximately a week prior to August 25, we started practicing low level squadron formation flying, 50 feet above the desert sand south of Tunis. These practice flights were made after the group return from the mission flown that day. No real reason was given for this practice but, it certainly raised some questions for giving this order. We all felt something was coming upThe squadron formation was made up of three (3) flights, four (4) P-3 8s per flight, for a total of twelve (12) P-38s. The flights flew line abreast and the squadron leader flew the middle flight. We practiced making 90-degree turns at this low level. When the squadron leader made a turn, the flight into which the squadron leader had turned, would pass under the squadron leader’s flight and at the same time, start turning with the squadron leader. The other flight leader would lead his flight behind and over, if necessary, the squadron leader’s flight and at the same time, turn with the squadron leader. After the 90-degree turn had been completed, the three flights would be line abreast. This maneuver between the flights and the ground was very tight and very tricky at times. When the orders came down, they specified that each squadron in the group had to put up two squadrons plus spares. This was a very tough assignment, taking into consideration damage planes and planes needing repair. I don’t remember exactly how many planes were in a squadron but feel sure it was between 30 and 35. In any event, each squadron had to put up 24 planes plus 4 spares for a total of 28 planes. Each of the groups, 1st, 14th and the 82nd, had three squadrons each. Each group put up six (6) squadrons, 72 planes, for a total of 216 planes over the target. The squadrons flew the mission three flights line abreast, squadrons in trail and stacked down. The mission leader led his group of squadrons, all in trail and stacked down, out over the Bay of Tunis to an altitude of 1000 feet. He circled around over the Bay of Tunis until the other two groups of squadrons, all in trail and stacked down, joined up in trail of his squadrons. It was quite a sight to see eighteen (18) squadrons in this formation. The mission leader led us on a course toward the islands off the west coast of Sicily, letting down, en route, to 50 feet above the water. We turned and flew east, parallel to the north coast of Sicily. We were never in sight of Sicily. The water was very calm, no waves, just big swells, which made it very difficult to judge your height above the water. I actually saw ripples on the sea from the prop wash of the plane ahead of me. At the Isle of Stromboli, the mission leader picked up a predetermined compass heading that was calculated to provide an entrance into Italy through a radar gap in the German Radar System, provided we had maintained at an altitude of fifth (50) feet or less. �As we made landfall, we had to immediately climb through the valleys up to an altitude of 4000 feet in order to clear the mountain range. The formation was flying line abreast while dropping belly tanks. After we cleared the mountains and started over flatter terrain, we were able to readjust and fly our previous squadron formation. When we reach the Adriatic Sea, we turned northwest and flew parallel to the coast of Italy, with all squadrons in trail and fifty (50) feet off the water. We passed by a small Italian gunboat and the crew was waving to as we went by. When the mission leader reached his IP, he turned his squadron into the land and all the other squadrons in trail turned, in place, into the land and started shooting up every plane and military object on the ground. We had 216 “P-38’s” in a company front formation sweeping the Foggia Area. My squadron turned southeast after passing over all the targets. We flew parallel to the mountains. The Germans shot their 88mm cannon up and down the line of the P-38 formation. Lt. Warren caught an 88 shell in his right boom. After the impact, the right gear hung down about 45 degrees to the boom. Before he had to feather his right engine and turn off all of his electrical equipment, we told him we would lead, cover and stay with him until he got to Sicily. He lost his generator when he lost his right engine. We flew this course until we thought we were about where we entered and cross Italy. We turned west and started to cross the mountains. We had to fly slower to stay with Lt. Warren. On single engine, he was able to climb over 4.000 feet of mountains and crash-land at an abandoned airstrip in Sicily. Lt. Warren performed an amazing feat during this flight. He had to hold the rudder pressure with his feet the whole time after he lost his right engine. He lost the rudder trim tab when he was hit by the 88 shell. The rudder pressure increases when the air speed decreases during his climb over the mountains. Lt. Warren said he had to put both feet on the same side of the console so he could switch feet and rest his legs. Aversa, Italy B-26 Bomber Escort Mission - August 30, 1943 There is very little I can add to what is written about this mission. You have received documents that I have never seen and have talked with a lot of pilots who were on this mission with me. I never heard of there being a fourth fighter squadron called “Broadway” that flew with us. The only briefing I remember attending was held in the squadron area. I only saw three squadrons en route to the rendezvous and weaving over the bombers. The rendezvous was at sea and not very far from Italy. I never saw a fourth squadron. We flew three (3) squadrons line abreast. The group leader was the middle squadron. Over the bombers, his squadron would “S” back and forth and the other two squadrons would weave back and forth swapping sides. As far as I can recall, I feel we had only 36 fighters (P-38s)'over the target, less early returns turns that left after spares had left. Frankly, some of the descriptions of the flight to the target sounded like it was written by an intelligence clerk who wrote up the mission report for the intelligence officer, pin pointing where �we crossed the coast, type of cloud coverage and forming up a Luffberry circle. I can’t possibly believe any squadron had the time to perform such a maneuver with the constant attacks and still try to stay with the bombers. A lot of us called the maneuver of the German as the yo yo. They had us in their yo-yo, diving down on us and climbing back up after we turned into the attack. Attacking from both sides finally broke up the coverage we were trying to give to the bombers. I distinctly remember a radio transmission, “all the bombers have moved out to sea, lets start trying to work our way out to sea.” I never heard that the Germans were firing rockets at us. That is real news. Also, I didn’t see any Me-109s flying around with belly tanks. That is news. Of course, we were breaking right and left into attacks and I didn’t pay any attention to detail. I just knew they were Germans. I never saw the Italians press an attack like that. / I was surprised to see the comment about me taking my flight back to help one of our / buddies, who was all alone and under attack He was above us and when the Germans saw us / coming back, they broke off their attack. Our buddy dove down and under our flight to freedom. / To help assure we had a better chance to get out without an attack by the Germans, I called my / element leader to pull up even with me. In this formation, we could weave back and forth i together. My element leader, I am sure, was very glad to get this order. Normally, I never talk i about this. I did mention it to Fred Nichol when we were talking about this mission, during one I of our reunions. He knew the pilot’s name that was involved in this little rescue but I never knew \._who it was until Fred told me. So, you must have learned this from Fred. This might be interesting to you in regard to your comment about flying four flights squadron formation. We in the 71st received a new squadron commander in September 1943, Major Hanes. He had been in the air corps a number of years before the war began. He was an excellent pilot and commander - a real leader. He had undoubtedly served with the group commander, Col. Richards, and was close friend. One day in a very casual manor, he asked me for my opinion about starting to fly our missions with four flights in stead of three flights- two flights with two flights behind and stacked down. After thinking about it for a minute or so; I told him I thought it would be a great idea because I thought it would give us greater maneuverability and more firepower. He agreed with my comments and let me know he thought our present formation was too cumbersome and I agreed. Later on I believe the group started flying this type of squadron formations. I know Major Hanes could have sold Col. Richard on this idea, as well as, the 15th Air Force. I left for home shortly after this conversation with Major Hanes. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read your file. I hope my efforts will be helpful. Sincerely, Charlie (Charlie McCann) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection: "Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1st Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army." A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy. See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Notes from Charles McCann clarifying events of August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Notes from Charles McCann clarifying events of August 30, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Historical account Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Charles McCann Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1/16/2003 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/11/253/Dibble_Text0107.pdf 2aaf29827865e43aacba8f450cfb8df1 PDF Text Text � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Letters Home Description An account of the resource Getting letters from home was always a highlight of the week for everyone overseas. They wrote home frequently as well as evidenced by the volume of James' letters. Here is a collection of letters and postcards he sent home to his wife Maxine, brother Bill and parents while serving in Africa and Italy. Be sure to look at the letter dated 1943-04-10. Notice how James indicated he censored his own letter and look at the special form he had to use to send it home. Notice on other letters where they are stamped whether they were censored or not. Like most others, James had to be careful not to divulge too much information about where he was. James was killed on September 9, 1943. Be sure to read his last letter home, sent the day before. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Hand-written letter Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from James in North Africa to his wife Maxine (Micky), 1943-05-22 Subject The topic of the resource James Dibble. Correspondence. Description An account of the resource Letter from James in North Africa to his wife Maxine (Micky). Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Personal correspondence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource James Dibble Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-05-22 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/10/219/Dibble_Text0160.pdf 2b7328ce8d45aa4a644e3f196a47699e PDF Text Text 7 .94TH FIGHTER SQUADRON . j 1ST.FIGHTER GROUP A.P.O. 520 ’ ’ 1' I 1 - ■ July 1, 1943 • No missions this date. ‘ ''' ' ‘ 5^ . ... - • ■' ' ' July 2 ’1943 No missions this date. * , r-4- , - M ? • ;i ' > . 7 ' ■ . 1 1?U. u . i BdcEER ESCORT liLSSlC. 23 P-38s, Captain Wellensiek, Lts. Hantcn, Lentz ' Dibble, -Brown, GilUa i/ Newsome, Cogswell, Whalen, Grieshaber, Niles, Stephan, Jacobs?:: combe, Bower, Fell, Eirper, Johnson, Opdahl, Bomb Group over udblS A/D, SARDINIA. The formation rendezvous?, over CARE .SBffiAT.at 1015 hours at 4,000 feet. .The entire formation was over Bhl' .ISUdiaiarsal area, one laree column of ifctt'e «tak» and oil fdrew were left . ' JI gw MvSxi.wre^^-WSi^adis, uLa upon B-24'ooqrn. Win ' ’ , return to base by same route. 1 surface vehJel was seen in the Gulf of __________ __ __ ___ _r____ _ . "SeWlSrawiMl ™ formation a.f. ?. Lt. ~ hours but could not fi.™ find the and:land?! landed _t at llOJ 1105 h;ur hours. Grieshaber reti^r.r.d and landed at 1115 hours because of mechanic-.1 failure. • The remainder ci :he formation returned and landed at 1325 hours. ! * f’ t w I .’ f gg 11 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Mission Reports Description An account of the resource A collection of Mission reports from James' combat flights. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed mission report Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 1 to July 3, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource United States. Air Force. 12th Air Force. 94th Fighter Squadron. Description An account of the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 1 to July 3, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Flight Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Randolph A. Brown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/13/163/Dibble_Text0082.pdf 3b2c2c6804100aecd37983511cf1b7f1 PDF Text Text � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Killed in Action Description An account of the resource Typically pilots rotated home after their 50th mission. James took off for his 49th mission on Septemebr 9, 1943, and never returned. He was shot down on a straffing run near the town of Padula, Italy. Initially there was much confusion amongst the other P-38 pilots, and it was thought James survivied and may have been taken prisoner. Ultimately it was discovered that James had been shot down and then killed by German soldiers. James was ultiamtely brought home and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Michigan. See information on his gravesite at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40312090/james-p-dibble" target="_blank" title="James P. Dibble's Gravesite" rel="noreferrer noopener">FindAGrave.com</a>. See reports, documents and letters around James' missing in action status and then the determination that he was killed in action. Included are letters from the Army to his wife Maxine and parents, newspaper clippings and local memorials. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Newspaper clipping mentioning James' mother Mrs. James Dibble being appointed to a war memorial committee Subject The topic of the resource Mrs. James Dibble Description An account of the resource Newspaper clipping mentioning James' mother Mrs. James Dibble being appointed to a war memorial committee. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. unknown Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Rapids Press? Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 2022-01-18 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/13/342/Dibble_Text0211.pdf ab7cd9fc96be53c8f02960c293add502 PDF Text Text The Mayy 19, 1949 Hastings Ban inner included ' >to and the following phot, information: “Memorial Fountain — Pictured above is the memorial ut_ fountain which will be ■onv dedicated in a ceremony ' J Friday afternoon, May / 2,,’ to the former Hastin^ 0 ings High School students:w t ho supre made the s 1 reme sacrifice during] \Wor jrld War II. Shown at tt the memorial, which was erected with funds raised by the students themselves, are William Cortright, ITheodore Knopf ar ind Paul McKeough...” The heads of the drinking fountains at either end of the memorial were removed many years ago, leaving only the pipes exposed. This stone monument stands as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice of 31 former Hastings High School students and graduates during World War II. FILLER,I, if in color: The flag agpole stands at the opposi. >site end of Johnson Field. Memorial fountain was emotional project for ma son Students made it possible John Youngg was respected in the Ha lastings area for his skills as a st stone mason in the early hr half of the 20th century. Mo: lost of his stonework stands today as a testament to his craftsman craftsr ship, the largest of which is St. Rose Catholic Church on South Jefferson Street in Hastings. Though much more diminutive in size compared to the chur lurch, the memorial fountain at the i north end of Hastings IHigh School’s ield was a much Johnson Fit bigger challenge for Young, “He always said it was the hardest job he ever did,” recalled Young’s greattnald, ncPhe'v Roberl McDonald, “because his son Morton ton’s name was on the plaque. ]ue.”” Morton Your Young is one of 3] former former Hao Hastings- " High 31 :->h School students who died in World War II and are remembered with the stone monument. Bill Cotant was just out of high school and worke ced as a mason tender for Young, r-----mixing the mud as Young carefully placed each rock being „ all-too ffamiliar with its significance. According to articles in the Hastings Banner,•, the memorial was severalil years lid for in the making and paid mainly by students. “During World War II, everything was recycled, The student council at Hastings High School decided to take on the project of recycling newspaper,” said John “Jack” Walton, a Hastings graduate who later served the community as an op tometrist and is now retired. “I was in charge of this pro ject for a time. Every Mon day morning, students brought bundled newspapers and left then at the south en tryway to the gym” The bundles were stored in a room in the unoccupied “White Building,” he said. When the room got full, a semi was brought in and de livered the paper to a recy cling center. The student council was paid for these loads, and the money was put into escrow. “Some of the people me morialized on the bronze plaque undoubtedly helped with the project before en tering the service,” said Walton. Johnson Field, part of i------------------------- lures once owneC| horse pastures Hastings industrialist Abcn jwi.noon, Johnsor was offi- cially dedicated nearly three years prior, Oct. 19, 1945. Hastings lost the game against Charlotte by cone point, 7-6, tbut Bob Brar anch, now 85, st still recalls ithe dedication of a new field and a flagpole. Prior to that,, football games and track and field events were conducted at the fairgrounds, near where the fait Kmart Plaza is today. Kn The daytime memorial fountain dedication in 1949 vyas a more somber occa- The memorial fountain, once backed by evergreens, provided a sometimes quiet place to sit and reflect. The basins for the drinking fountains at either end of the memorial were formed with cement. It has long since ceased being beint a drinking fountain, the fountain heads having been removed. The monument itself is often used for group photos, mainly the track and field teams, be cause of its various elevations. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Killed in Action Description An account of the resource Typically pilots rotated home after their 50th mission. James took off for his 49th mission on Septemebr 9, 1943, and never returned. He was shot down on a straffing run near the town of Padula, Italy. Initially there was much confusion amongst the other P-38 pilots, and it was thought James survivied and may have been taken prisoner. Ultimately it was discovered that James had been shot down and then killed by German soldiers. James was ultiamtely brought home and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Michigan. See information on his gravesite at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40312090/james-p-dibble" target="_blank" title="James P. Dibble's Gravesite" rel="noreferrer noopener">FindAGrave.com</a>. See reports, documents and letters around James' missing in action status and then the determination that he was killed in action. Included are letters from the Army to his wife Maxine and parents, newspaper clippings and local memorials. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Excerpts from The Reminder recapping articles from the Banner and discussing changes to the memorial fountain over the years Subject The topic of the resource Hastings, Michigan. War Memorials. Description An account of the resource Excerpts from The Reminder recapping articles from the Banner and discussing changes to the memorial fountain over the years. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/279/Dibble_Image0092.jpg 713f86f53b0596d6a6f87da2bb7aa86d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection: "Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1st Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army." A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy. See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview unknown Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6.25" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann flying his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann flying his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/11/256/Dibble_Text0110.pdf 209038cc4b587df98086e65118c44835 PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Letters Home Description An account of the resource Getting letters from home was always a highlight of the week for everyone overseas. They wrote home frequently as well as evidenced by the volume of James' letters. Here is a collection of letters and postcards he sent home to his wife Maxine, brother Bill and parents while serving in Africa and Italy. Be sure to look at the letter dated 1943-04-10. Notice how James indicated he censored his own letter and look at the special form he had to use to send it home. Notice on other letters where they are stamped whether they were censored or not. Like most others, James had to be careful not to divulge too much information about where he was. James was killed on September 9, 1943. Be sure to read his last letter home, sent the day before. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Hand-written letter Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from James in North Africa to his wife Maxine (Micky), 1943-05-26 Subject The topic of the resource James Dibble. Correspondence. Description An account of the resource Letter from James in North Africa to his wife Maxine (Micky). Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Personal correspondence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource James Dibble Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-05-26 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/10/220/Dibble_Text0161.pdf 12fbb221e9996ad46502194ad80e97c7 PDF Text Text 1 . “■ J<n July 4, 1943. a-i 94TH FIGHTER SQUADRON 1ST TESTER GROUP A.P.O. 520 ■. ? U,.. .- .BOMBS! SSGQKT,.MISSION - 19 .P-38a, _Lts. Johnson, Hanton, .Anderson, GiOliam^ophy, .. " ^leffi^FTlJ^n/Sokol,NeWscmo/Jacobisen, Fell, • Lentz, Kipper, Brown, Ahd Cogswell, took off at 1125 hours, together with forma tions from the 2?th ar 1 71srt Fighter Squadrons, to escort 33 B-26e from the 319th Bomb Group over GERBINI A/D near CATANIA, SICHZ at 1400 hours. The P-38srendezvcused with .the b-26e at 1215 hours over DJEDEIDA at 4.000 feet. This formation rdndezroueeiiMth a formation of Spitfires over MASSA (which acted as top caver) [;■ at 1330. hours. -26ss /ere over target at 10,000 feet, P-^Ss at 12,000 feet. No „ ,’e. bb-26 one observed the borir Lng. 4 jie.lOSs were sighted near the target at 14fC0 feet but they did net att; sk the formation. Flak: about a dozen puffs south of the ta H get, heavy, light in! msity and inaccurate. Route: Fonation flew at 13,000 feet to PANTEi1eRIAp thenc4: :to-M|LTA, thence to target, and .returned by sama route, Weather: to target, hazy; over target, hazy with overcast at 18,000 feet. Lt. Jacobsen returned early because of mechanical failure, landing at 1215 hours. Lt. Sager returned early because of mechanical failure, landing at 1300 hours. r h 1 si ■ ? f hits were seen on the airdrome but the dust obscured the view. No enemy aircraft . h ; ji heavy, light intensity and inaccurate; scattered puffs 20 miles south of the targetyog about 6 red bursts about 2 miles south of SCORDIA. Route: direct to DJEPEIDA, -■? Sp thence to :,'? “ thence to target, and return by same route. ’.'...it appeared to be >fc a new airfield Ld wi's seen about 3 miles south of ME. ETNA. Two cargo vessels and $ several small boats were seen in AUGUSTA HARBOb at about 1330 hours. Weather: to JxK target, hazy; over target CAVU. Lt. fpdahl returned early because of mechanical failure and landed at 1345 hours. The remainder of the formation landed at 152 5 hours. ■ ■ to|| 1 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Mission Reports Description An account of the resource A collection of Mission reports from James' combat flights. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed mission report Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 4 to July 5, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource United States. Air Force. 12th Air Force. 94th Fighter Squadron. Description An account of the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 4 to July 5, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Flight Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Randolph A. Brown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/13/341/Dibble_Text0210.pdf dce75e58f755b9874162340fe5ee1112 PDF Text Text The bronze plaque at Hastings High School is a tribute to 31 former students who died while serving in World War II. A stone memorial and bronze plaqu ]ue has rested al the south er end of Johnson Field near Hastir — ’High J:-U tings School for 65 year., _____ o :ars, bearing the names of 31 service men who died while serving in World War II. Some names are still common in the area, others not so much. So, who were these for mer Hastings High School students? A few had earned college degrees; others were still pursuing a college educa tion. A couple had not graduated from high school, preferring instead to enlist and fight for their country. Several of them still worked on their families’ farms. Two were employed at Kroger stores, one at Woolworth’s, another at a bakery. Some worked in fac tories, one worked at nearby the state fish hatchery that has become a city park. Many were married, leav ing behind young widows, some of whom they had married shortly before their departures. A couple had fa thered children they would never see. One was his par ents’ only child. Charles Casey, just,t H ig the was the youngest among wood 31 men. Harold Norw .... and Cleo Card were among ly of the oldest, at 34. Many the men were 21 yearss old or younger. Following ing is a brief biography of each man, developed from sources lilistcd at the end. Corp. Richard A. Bab cock was born Sept. 8, 1923, to Ray and Luella (Talmage) Babcock. He at tended Burroughs School ... in iship. He Johnstown Towns 1' mily farm worked on the fami before joining the Army, Babcock was a military po- liceman in the infantry until mia Aug. 30, 1945, in Dearhis death Nov. 29, 1945, at born. n. He was 18 years y old. age 22. He was killed in ac- Christy iwling hristy is buried at Dot lion in France and remained Cer smetery. Staff Sgt. Orville Cooley buried there. Sgt. Sgt Cleo E. Card was was born in 1923 to Mr. 1 He born Dec - 1 L >910, the son Mrs. JStephen J. Cooley. F ** roseph and Clarissa gradut of Josepi uated from Hastin' ngs (Dudley) ~y) Card. C He attended High School in 1942 and ai Macomber mber School. He was was working ;at the Krog roger employed ■—d at t Hastings Ma 1anu- store in Ionia before joi lining facturing mg prior p to joining tg the the Army. Ht He served with ' Army. He H was in Company the 79th Divis ision, ' Army, : , 7th M, 411th ith Infantry Regiment Cooley >ley was about 21 year years of the: 9th Army Arm) a: as a ma- old when he was killed zat chine gunner. g' Cardd was 34 the Battle of the Bulge in when he he died Feb. 27, 1945, France. Jan. 8, 1945. He is in Germany from wounds buried in Ri liverside Cemereceived in battle. He is bur- tery, Hasting' ings. lhapeile Cemeied in Henri-Chapelle Fit First Lt. 4. Bernard D. tery, near Liege, „ge,. Belgium. „ Davis was born around Fireman 2nd id Class Char- 1919, the son of Mr. and les A. Casey was born April Mrs. Henry Henn Davis. He grew 22, 1927, to Winifred and up in Baltimore Township uauip Alice (Johncock) Casey,’. He and graduated from Hastir"" stings attended Hinds School t High School in 1937. Da )avis then Hastings High School served in the Army .Air through 10th grade. He left Corps and was about 23 school to join the Navy,. Ca- years old when he died in a sey died Feb. 21, 1945,. dur< plane crash in Panama May ing the Battle of Iwo ' Jima. 5, 1942. He was buried at sea. Staff Sgt. William “Bill” Pfc. George H. 1 Cash- DeCou was born about 1924 more was born Nov. 22, to Clair and Hazel DeCou. 1924. He was orpha laned as a He graduated from Hastings child and raisedi by his High School in 1941 and grandparents, Edwin and soon joined the Army Air Minnie Smith. He attended Corps. DeCou died at age- 20 school in Assyria Township. in an aircraft accident Mar irch Cashmore worked at Kel- 3, 1944, near nea San Borlogg; Company in Battle nadino, Calif. uii. He is buried j. Cemetery r> ■in Creel :k before joining the ini 1Riverside Marines,, where he was in Has astings. the 4th Mlarine e Division,i, 1st First Lt. James P. Dibble Amp! ihibious Corps, Mari nine was born Nov. 3, 1921, the Raide ier Unit. Cashr tmore died son of James E. and Estelle just 1944 near Ivvo M. Dibble. He graduated in ln August Jima- He was killed in ac- 1939 and wor irked at Schultz l'on ar|d *s buried at a ceme- Bakery iin Chicago before tery 'n Bedford. joining ththe Army Air Corps, Lewis Castle was born He was aa fighter pilot in the Feb. 23, 1921, in Orangev- First Figi ghter Group. Dibble,. ille to Frank and Flossie 21, diedJ 5Sept. 9, 1943, when (Lectka) Castle. He gradu his plane was shot down ated from Hastings High overr Italy. He H is buried in School in 1939. Cer Mt. Hope Cemetery in MidWilliam A. Chris' iristy was dleville. /ille. born Oct. 16, 1926. Pfc. Robert C. Gardner 16. Raised by his foster mother, Nellie was born Dec. 30, 1923, to Clcmence, he gradua jaretha Gardudated in Roy and Margaretha 1944 ar*d soon joined ’ J the ■’ ner. He had worked at UnArmy Air Corps. Christy ion Stamp ar and Pump Comwas given a medical dis- pany in Battle Battle Creek and left charge £and' was considered a high school durir during his junior veteran when he died of ane- year to join the ZArmy. Gard- ner died in Germany , atl age 21 after an unknown explosion occurred in a building he was in Feb. 22, 1945. He is buried at Striker Cemetery ini Maple Grove Township. Second Lt. Martin Haw thorne was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hawthorne. He gr; graduated from Hastings Highh School in 1940 and then served as produce p man ager for the Has astings Kroger store before; joining ‘ the Air Force as a fighter pilot. He died Jan. 22, 1944, when his ' plane was shot down near New Guinea. He is buried in Rock Island National Ceme tery in Rock Island, Ill. Second Lt. Robert H. Hem Ilenney was born Jan. 19, 1919, the only child of Fred and Lusena (Nichols) Hen ney. He grew up in Carlton Center and graduated from Hastings High School in 1937. He went on to Michi gan State University, where he earned a degree in agri culture economics in 1942, beforei joining the Army. He was kil illed in action Jan. 29, 19^ 944, in Cassino, Italy. He is buried at Riverside Ceme tery in Hastings. Pvt. Ernest M. Howell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Howell. He graduated in 1943 and worked on the family farm before joinjng Army. Howell was __ ___ he was killed in ac19 when tion April /; 25, 1945, in Luzon, Philippines. Philippin He is buried at nati m the me national cemetery in New Albany, Alban’ Ind. Pfc. Merrill E. Isham was born Dec. 20, 1917, to Howard and Sarah (Ham mond) Isham. He attended Barney Mills School and then Hastings High School, graduating in 1935. He was employed at Ralston Purina and Weston Biscuit Company in Battle Creek before joining the Army. Isham worked in ordnance and was about 28 years old when he died of malaria May 14, 1945, at Camp Atterbury, Ind. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Baltimore Township. �Staff Sgt. Frank R. G. H. McPharlin McPharIir graduated He is buried at the Freeport Charles VanDenberg. He atHigh* tended Hastings High “Bob” Kelly was born in from Hastings High ' School Cemetery. 1916, the son of Frank and in !- 1930. ,'v,n He flew fit lew with the Second Lt. Cleon L. School before transferring to Gladys (Beck) Kelly. He British Royal Air Force. Smith was born June 15, Nashville High School from 8-----duated in 1940. graduated from Hastings Pvt. Harold W. Norwood 1919, the son of Ernest and which he gradt He graduated graduated He He worked worked for Kellogg High School in 1933 and was was born born Dec. Dec. 14, 14, 1909, 1909, the the Sopha Smith. He 1 worked as a lineman before son of Russell ell and and Franc Frances from Hastings stings High High School School Company Company ”Battle " Creek bejoining the Army Air ’ Corps ~ (Germain) ’ Norwood. He in 1937 and then went on to fore joinii joining the Army. He as an armorer-gunner. Kelly graduated in 1927 and was MSU to earn an engineering was a plate platoon commander in died when his plane Company E, 361st Infantry, ne was employed at Eaton Manu- degree in 1942 before join- Comp shot down near Derben, )erben, facturing before joining the ing the Army Air Force. VanI VanDenberg died Oct. 11, Germany, Jan. 14, 1945. He Army’s Third Infantry Divi- Smith died Dec. 1, 1943, in 1944, in Italy, due to a morwas 21 years old. sion. sion. Norwood Norwood died died in in an airplane accident in tar fire attack. He is buried Pvt. Neil L. Kidder was March 1944 near Cisterna, Idaho. in Wilcox Cemetery, Maple born Jan. 22, 1923, to Mr. Italy, killed in action in the Corp. Donald L. Solo- Grove and Mrs. Clem Kidder. He Battk Battle of Anzio. He is buried mon was born Aug. 14, Machinists Mate 2nd Class attended Dunham School in in North Cemetery, Hickory 1914, 14, to Mr. and Mrs. Char- Morton F. Young, the son of Maple Grove Township “ '> as a Corners les Solomon. les He Solomon. was in theHeJohn was in andthe Edna John Young, and Edna was . . . warfare child. He worked for WilWilPfc. Robert Reid was chemical service in born about 1924. He was recox-Rich in Battle Creek be- born Oct. 16, 1922, to Wil- the Army. Solomon died of ported missing in action May fore joining the Army. He liam liam and and Alta Alta (Callihan) (Callihan) cerebral cerebral malaria malaria at at age age 28 28 27,1945, while serving in the was in the 36th Armored Reid. Reid. He He attended attended Starr Starr while while in in aa prison prison camp camp in in U.S. Navy. Regiment, ”3rd' Division, ' ’'1,1st 1st School before5 joining the Taralic, Japan, June 1, 1942. Sources: Hastings High Army. Kidder, 21, died ied in Army. Army. He He served served in in the the He isHe buried is buried in Portland. in Portland. School yearbooks and France July 17, 1944,, of 131st 131st Infantry Infantry itry Re Regiment Regiment of of Technician 5th Class De- graduation graduation programs; p"'°' Hastwounds received in battle, title. the 33rd Division ivisior until his Forest Snyder Jr. was bom ings Banner; — Barry County He is buried in Wilcox death at age 22. Reid was May 28, 1921, the son of Veterans of the World War Cemetery in Maple Grove killed in action March 24, DeForest and Hazel (Bar- // II Era (2002); A Collection Township. 1945, near 'Luzon, Philip------ num) Snyder. Philip °-yder. He graduated of Memories — Personal Technician 4th Class Es- pines. He is bun buried tu ,in Hast- in i?-rv 1940 nom from Hastings High Stories from World War II tie V. King was born in ings Township Ceme Cemetery. School and was working as Veterans of Ionia County 1917, the son of Rev. and Second Lt. Frai Frank W. an assistant manager at the (2008); U.S. National Park Mrs. Fred W. King. He Rogers was born Aug. j 4, Woolworth store in San San- Service; and the National graduated from Hastings ngs 1919, the son of 1Mr. and dusky, Ohio, before joining Archives. High School in 1934 andJ at- Mrs. Frank Roge Rogers. He grew the Army. Snyder, 23, died Compiled by Kathy Mautended college for one year, up in Dowling and It later Sept. 10, 1944, near Cr Or- rer, copy editor. He was in the Army’s 11th graduated from Hasti Hastings leans, France, of" wounds reInfantry Regiment, 5thh In- High School in 1937. He ceived after the tl vehicle he fantry Division before his earned a bachelor of science was in was blowni up. He is death at age 28. King was degree from Western Michi- buried at Hastings: Township ' killed in action Jan. 25, gan University before join- Cemetery. 1949, near Lippersche leid, ing the Marines as a pilot. Second Lt. Duane D. Luxembourg. He is buried P~;—. 25, died in an air- Stamm was the son of Mr. ' J in ’ Rogers, Luxembourg American plane accident ac Feb.. 2, 1945, and Mrs. L. D. Stamm. The Cemetery. near Mt. Whitney, Calif. He 1943 graduate joined the Pvt. Hubert McCal is buried in Riverside lubert L. McCalGuard in the ide Ceme- Army National Na lum was born in 1911 to tery, Hastings. 32nd “Re Red Arrow” Division. Donald “Dan” and Rosa M. Lt. Howard A. Shellingtiling- He died in a fplane crash. McCallum. He attended ton was born Oct. 3,, 1923, Sgt. Merl Merle G. Tasker Brush Ridge School and to to Emmett Emmett and and Mary Mary was was born born June 13, 1913, to •raduated from from Hastings Hastings Shellington. Mrs. (Oliver Tasker. graduated Shellington. He He attended attended Mr. and Mrs. HighhSchool School in in 1928. 1928. He He Ryan Ryan School School and and later later He He sgrew up in Assyria worked on the. family farm graduated graduated from from Hastings Hastings Township Towr and graduated and built and operated his High High School School in in 1941. 1941. He He from from Hastings He High School own sawmill before >efore joining was working :as a tool and in 1933. He was employed the Army. He was in the die dieapprentice apprentice before joining at the state fish hatchery in Company B, 103rd Combat the the Army Army Air Air Corps. irps. Hastings before joining the Battalion of Replacement Shellington was a fighter ‘ „ sr pi- Army. Tasker was killed in Engineers when /hen he was lol with the 2nd Bombardjmbard- action near New Guinea < Jan. killed in action when he was ment S Squadron H, 22nd 1, 1943, at age 29. He is about 33 years old. McCal- Bomban ardment Group H. He buried in Riverside Rivers Cemelum died Dec. 9, 1944, in died at age 21 when his tery, Hastings. Second Lt. Wesley R. ic was shot down June France. He is buried juried in Riv- plane tch VanDenberg, was born Aug. erside Cemetery, Hastings. Has tings. 25,1! 1945, near Maros, Dutc and Mrs. ia). 27, 1922, to Mr. 1 Major Michael1 “Mickey” Eastt 1Indies (now Indonesia � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Killed in Action Description An account of the resource Typically pilots rotated home after their 50th mission. James took off for his 49th mission on Septemebr 9, 1943, and never returned. He was shot down on a straffing run near the town of Padula, Italy. Initially there was much confusion amongst the other P-38 pilots, and it was thought James survivied and may have been taken prisoner. Ultimately it was discovered that James had been shot down and then killed by German soldiers. James was ultiamtely brought home and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Michigan. See information on his gravesite at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40312090/james-p-dibble" target="_blank" title="James P. Dibble's Gravesite" rel="noreferrer noopener">FindAGrave.com</a>. See reports, documents and letters around James' missing in action status and then the determination that he was killed in action. Included are letters from the Army to his wife Maxine and parents, newspaper clippings and local memorials. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photocopy of the newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Excerpt from The Reminder listing names of former Hastings High School students who died in World War II Subject The topic of the resource Hastings, Michigan. War Memorials. Description An account of the resource Excerpt from The Reminder listing names of former Hastings High School students who died in World War II. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 5/17/2014 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/280/Dibble_Image0093.jpg 690ae69a6db07fae29766e5d3a298a42 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection: "Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1st Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army." A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy. See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview unknown Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6.25" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Notes from Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann on the photo of him flying his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Notes from Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann on the photo of him flying his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/10/218/Dibble_Text0145.pdf 19e1c5c8d6361e80c88c52182355f39e PDF Text Text CONFIDENTIAL 4»z Weakly Encounters ___ DATE; 7/£/4? - 2^^^ ’ MISSION: e/a PLANE © PLACE TTbiF, A\JiT ALT □Jr, ppc? TYPE DEST <? PROB DEST DAM / NO. ROUNDS OR BURSTS \s ?| | <1 fl I » s < . ;p. . ■ i © z*Z SQDN: DESCRIPTION OF ENCOUNTER £/A J ig^l 11- I GRS7P: £ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Mission Reports Description An account of the resource A collection of Mission reports from James' combat flights. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed mission report Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Weekly encounter report, 1943-07-04 to 1943-07-10 Subject The topic of the resource United States. Air Force. 12th Air Force. 94th Fighter Squadron. Description An account of the resource Weekly encounter report, 1943-07-04 to 1943-07-10, listing Lt. Dibble as "probable" for downing an enemy plane. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/11/148/Dibble_Text0069.pdf 8d5579974b6587d44817c4519853fcbe PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Letters Home Description An account of the resource Getting letters from home was always a highlight of the week for everyone overseas. They wrote home frequently as well as evidenced by the volume of James' letters. Here is a collection of letters and postcards he sent home to his wife Maxine, brother Bill and parents while serving in Africa and Italy. Be sure to look at the letter dated 1943-04-10. Notice how James indicated he censored his own letter and look at the special form he had to use to send it home. Notice on other letters where they are stamped whether they were censored or not. Like most others, James had to be careful not to divulge too much information about where he was. James was killed on September 9, 1943. Be sure to read his last letter home, sent the day before. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Hand-written letter Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from James in North Africa to his parents, 1943-05-30 Subject The topic of the resource James Dibble. Correspondence. Description An account of the resource Letter from James in North Africa to his parents. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Personal correspondence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource James Dibble Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-05-30 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 2022-01-18 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/13/330/Dibble_Text0206.pdf 0ae9547f608eaef3fd2707aa7002d835 PDF Text Text HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY STUDENT ASSOCIATION HASTINGS, MICHIGAN Hay 31, 1946 Mr. and id’s. James Dibble 402 E. Green Street Hastings, Michigan Dear Er. and i.rs. Dibble: At an all-school assembly held in Central auditorium on Wednesday, Hay 29, we paid solemn tribute to James and twenty-six of his school mates wtio made the supreme sacrifice during Jorld l/ar II. ..e are enclosing a program of the memorial service. Again, we here at Hastings High extend our deepest sympathy to you in this hour of national sorrow. Sincerely yours, Robert S. Casey, president Facult; St ien , lout cLI � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Killed in Action Description An account of the resource Typically pilots rotated home after their 50th mission. James took off for his 49th mission on Septemebr 9, 1943, and never returned. He was shot down on a straffing run near the town of Padula, Italy. Initially there was much confusion amongst the other P-38 pilots, and it was thought James survivied and may have been taken prisoner. Ultimately it was discovered that James had been shot down and then killed by German soldiers. James was ultiamtely brought home and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Michigan. See information on his gravesite at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40312090/james-p-dibble" target="_blank" title="James P. Dibble's Gravesite" rel="noreferrer noopener">FindAGrave.com</a>. See reports, documents and letters around James' missing in action status and then the determination that he was killed in action. Included are letters from the Army to his wife Maxine and parents, newspaper clippings and local memorials. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed letter Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter to James Dibble's parents about the High School memorial Subject The topic of the resource Hastings, Michigan. War Memorials. Description An account of the resource Letter to James Dibble's parents about the High School memorial. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Personal correspondence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Robert S. Casey Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 5/31/1946 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/281/Dibble_Image0094.jpg ab56efe8347756dc533cea9fef81f36a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection: "Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1st Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army." A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy. See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview Cagliari, Sardinia Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 8" x 10" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Pilot Capt. McCann just landed his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann just landed his P-38 "Lady Beverly". Crew chief Pillard is kneeling by the cockpit. Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/11/257/Dibble_Text0111.pdf 6fddf30c7c63052a72ab66b185eb147a PDF Text Text � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Letters Home Description An account of the resource Getting letters from home was always a highlight of the week for everyone overseas. They wrote home frequently as well as evidenced by the volume of James' letters. Here is a collection of letters and postcards he sent home to his wife Maxine, brother Bill and parents while serving in Africa and Italy. Be sure to look at the letter dated 1943-04-10. Notice how James indicated he censored his own letter and look at the special form he had to use to send it home. Notice on other letters where they are stamped whether they were censored or not. Like most others, James had to be careful not to divulge too much information about where he was. James was killed on September 9, 1943. Be sure to read his last letter home, sent the day before. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Hand-written letter Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter fragment from James in North Africa to his wife Maxine (Micky), 1943-06-04 Subject The topic of the resource James Dibble. Correspondence. Description An account of the resource Letter fragment from James in North Africa to his wife Maxine (Micky). Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Personal correspondence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource James Dibble Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-06-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/10/221/Dibble_Text0162.pdf 8a5e73372a6fb88883ac99945bbd8139 PDF Text Text July 6, 1943. rCMBER ESCORT MISSICW - 12 P-38s, Capt. Wellensiek, its. Hanton, Holcombe, bokol, Stephan, jacobsen, Niles, Dibble, Brown, Kipper, Pace and Cogswell, H «- ■■? The F-38s rendezvoused with the b-17s at 12,000 feet over HAMMAMET at. 1337 . hours, Formation then flew to MALTA, thence around east coast of SlCUZ to CATANIA. thence to target, .thence to MAIffA and thence home by the same route. . 1-he f option irae over target at 1515 hours, tJ-17e at 21,<K)0 feet; r-3es at 22,000 feet. B®nblag? two rows of about 1.0 hits each were laid down the beriter of a/D. About 25 SA, Me.109s and Fw.l90s attacked the formation three times from various angles.' Lt. Dibble probably destroyed «n Me.10J. Gapt. Welle; aiek damaged an me. 109. Flak; over target only, heavy, ligi ; intensity, * ■ difficult for the r~38e. it. Kipper returned early because of met. anical fail ure, landing at 1405 hours, it. Brown returned early because of mtchanical failure, landing at U25 hours. It. Niles took off at 1340 hours, attanptWio ■ landed at rANTEIIERIA because of shortage of gas at 1630 hours, took ---------off at 1330 hours and landcc here st 1930 Keiurs, It. Jo.r.otson Isnded at ijALTA. becausf shortage drgas. Remainder of formation landed here: kt 1705 hours. 3 ■ v.y, / y ; ; • ' . . • $4*^ / -(y.f< ?.< July?, 1943. , '. y BCRBER TRCORT MTS^CN -'18 p-38s, Captain 'Stoverj'lts.Wilsdn, Holcombe,' w ..., ■ -.; Gilliam, Gill lam, Wlenj-Kipper, Whalen, ..Kipper,: Bower, Dibble,'Hageiback, Dibblt Cogswell, Pace', Niles, - - vZ' 'BrOwri,'Pell, ‘0pdahl, 'Brown,' Fell'/tr^* ’'1' Millei-,''Grieshaber^ and Anderson,’took off at 0850,'hcrars ' ' ‘f together I iV— with ,-ith formations frcm the 27th and 71st Fighter Fquadrons to'escort 2S about ?0 B-2$s • rehdeivoued w±1 proceeded thenc led bythe same'route. The formation was over the target at 1105 hours, ?S and teturnt the --26s at s 10,000 feet, the F-3?s fro- 11,07' :: 23,000 feet. Bombing: three . > s rings of bombs were laid'down on either side of runway. No enany aircraft ' encountt encountered. Flak: heavy, scattered around the target, not intense, inaccurate, and barrage; scattered puffs toward the south of the target for 10 or 15'miles. 'miles. weather: to target, very hazy with visibility 3 to 5 miles; ovei target,, CATO «> bit hazy. Lt. Grieshaber returned early because of mechaiical failure and id landed landed ; 0910 hours. The rest of the fo nr at ion aland^d at 1320 hom■ f ;■ �' 94TH I SOTOTOOH ’ - I ■ ■. July 7, 1943 (Cont’d) .... 1ICTE: On July 6, Lt. Jacobsen landed at MAITA'at 1540 hours because of a ’ her^^rt^l^^^ours^® K-- -3 lW0chaur8 and, landed. July 8, 1943. • i > STRAFFING ICTSFICN- 4 P-38s, Its’. Holcombe, Gilliam, Opdahl and.Niles, took off at 0755 hours on a straffing mission against a.Radar Station, 1| miles'southwest of CATANIA A/r> on the coast of the r.uTP nF CATANIA, SIGHT. The formation left : the:’codst Of' TUNISTA'at CAPE MAMOUPA, thence to a p-tint half way between MALTA and SICTIY, thence around southeastern coast of r*' lv to the CUIF CF CATANIA ;k.; - 5 then.ee to target and returned by the same rdute. Th ? formation flew”on the .deck” > '' and was''over' the target'at 1C10 hevrs. "he formstio ’’hit what' was believed’to be the target on the coast; they also hit a lighthouse ind radio station on CAPE L , .P4SSER0; they.also.,hit two fishing boats in the GULF .OF CATANIA about 4 miles off | ’ "shore due east of CATANIA A/D. "Flak: none around target; flak was thrown up from b . b L. - shots, mot intense, inaccurate: at CAPE PAS8ER0,light barrase, medium intensity ant, ir.t z: urate. No t.r.t-.y ciicr-.*’. eiol.c: it. i!.t air cr on p’.e grout.1. Thredarmy trucks were seen just north'of CATANIA A/D moving'toward CATANIA*. Che large warship was seen 2 or 3 miles'south of RELIGIONS point. Weather: toand over r .1 '. B'CKBER K8C0RT MISSION L k F r' i ■■i iS ... 16 R-38s, Its". Fell,'Herr, Bower,' Nibble, Stephan, Han Squadrons to escort 48 B^26s from the 17th Bomb Group and 320th Bomb Group over i-Sg ffiRBINI.A/b near CATANIA, SICILY, The.P-38s rendezvoused .over DJTDEIDA with the B-2«J|. '.at 5,000 feet at -0948'hours. The formation then flew to MALTA’ .where it rendezvoused^ g g with a formation of Spitfires at 1103 hours4 Formation then flew to target'and re-| = | turned by7 same at 1125 hours, B-26s at 11,000 feetjglf same route. route. Formation Formation was was over over target tarf P-3?s at 12,500 feet. Bombing: hit: sser, on A/? which had apparently been abandoned,f No enemy aircraft encountered. Flak: heavy barrage and tracking over target, heavy tj '■ intensity, and accurate; coast of the GULF OF NOTO, scattered puffs. 12 small^B ite; along ale boats seen in CATANIAA harbor harboi at 1130 hours. Weather: to target; CAVU but hazy; ove^mB target, CAVU. Lt. Miller returned early because of mechanical failure, landing at Sjg 0935 hours. Lt. Pace returned early because of m^_..anical failure, landing at 1040^ hours. Lt. Anderson landed at MAT"! because of t. tage of gas at 12A5 hours, took- Jg' off at laCC hcur^ s-.' .. . . '1 ' f-'r.--*:or: i'r/'j r" 1345 hours. -0 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Mission Reports Description An account of the resource A collection of Mission reports from James' combat flights. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed mission report Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 6 to July 8, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource United States. Air Force. 12th Air Force. 94th Fighter Squadron. Description An account of the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 6 to July 8, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Flight Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Randolph A. Brown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/13/329/Dibble_Text0205.pdf 86f435d4b49dc4ad843858ef58c85778 PDF Text Text HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL SERVICE Wednesday, May 29, 1946 Central Auditorium Piano Prelude Richard Branch Flag Salute (By the Assembly) Kingsley Zerbel (By the Assembly) Hymn: “America” Mrs. Lower Our father :rs’ God, to thee, Author off Liberty, To Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright, b~; With freedom iom’s holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King! My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing: Land where my fathers died! Land of the Pilgrims’ pride! From every mountain side Let freedom ring! Those We Remember: Fred McDonald 'Names of Hastings High School students who gave their lives in World War II Robert Gardner Martin Hawthorne Robert Henney Ernest Howell Merrill Isham Frank (Bob) Kelly Neil Kidder Estle King Hubert McCallum Cleo Card Charles Casey George Cash more Lewis Castle Orville Cooley Richard Babcock Bernard Davis William DeCou James Dibble Michael McPharlin Robert Reid Frank Rogers Howard Shellington Cleon Smith DeForest Snyder Duane Stamm Merle Tasker Wesley VandenBerg Words in Remembrance Raymond Kenyon Poems in Remembrance Songs in Remembrance Mrs. Hamilton . . (By the High School Choir) Mrs. Lower “Our Flag” . O’Hara “Madam Jeanette” Murray Mr. King Talk: “War is Not Romantic” Hymn: “America the Beautiful” . (By the Assembly) Mrs. Lower O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties, Above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with broth brotherhood From sea to shining sea. O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine. (By the Assembly) The Lord’s Prayer Fred McDonald Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy' Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive ius our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever, Amen. Piano Postlude Richard Branch � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Killed in Action Description An account of the resource Typically pilots rotated home after their 50th mission. James took off for his 49th mission on Septemebr 9, 1943, and never returned. He was shot down on a straffing run near the town of Padula, Italy. Initially there was much confusion amongst the other P-38 pilots, and it was thought James survivied and may have been taken prisoner. Ultimately it was discovered that James had been shot down and then killed by German soldiers. James was ultiamtely brought home and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Michigan. See information on his gravesite at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40312090/james-p-dibble" target="_blank" title="James P. Dibble's Gravesite" rel="noreferrer noopener">FindAGrave.com</a>. See reports, documents and letters around James' missing in action status and then the determination that he was killed in action. Included are letters from the Army to his wife Maxine and parents, newspaper clippings and local memorials. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Printed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Memorial Service Program for the ceremony honoring war dead at Hastings High School Subject The topic of the resource Hastings, Michigan. War Memorials. Description An account of the resource Memorial Service Program held at Hastings High School in 1946 honoring 27 Hastings residents who died in World War II. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Program Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hastings High School Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 5/29/1946 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/282/Dibble_Image0095.jpg 5a7f14f00a0a3ed0e74a319dd0f1189a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection: "Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1st Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army." A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy. See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview Cagliari, Sardinia Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 8" x 10" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Notes from Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann on the photo of him landing his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Notes from Pilot Capt. Charlie McCann on the photo of him flying his P-38 "Lady Beverly" Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/10/222/Dibble_Text0163.pdf 3ea582f1ff45114b52855c446aa0af9e PDF Text Text ■’: [; ! " "■;•'■ ' ' i. , hr .• ! '' ’ ■ i *- ft* * -; - '94TH FIGiiTER .: SQUADRON : 1ST FIGHTER GROUP -. - ? A.P.O. 520 • ’ - ‘ < . Ju^ 9’ 19*5, . pyryw ESCORT "IS-"?"1!' - 7 P-583, Lts. Stephan, Anderson, Hagenbeck (fonattior. over GERBINI L/C j?7 near CATANIA, SICILY'.' Rendezvous was made with the R-25s . ’ over KORBA at 2,000 feet at’1550:hours and the entire formation was over target at 1705 .hours, the P-58s at 10,000 feet, B-25s at 9,000 feet. Bombing: - . -'hits were seen ..on the runway, and accross. the' highway from the runway, a largp > ~ '■ 'fire Which appeared to .be ah-oil dump was left burning on -the L/G, a firewas. ■uT'Tt'Iseen in:ihe\taen .on the docks. No enemy aircraft'were encountered but 8 unl,, ..._M..,identified..siiigls/X'.gine aircraft '"re seen in the target area which-climbed. X-k.T "Tinto th^ sun-buTdid not attr ck t> Vormati6n. ' About 50" enemy aircraft’were T" T - aisperpec. on il t on ' 10 Fid:: heaty barrage over tar-ci. .. l„a0=^te; .. ■ ,ee„ tS8;ttSyh8^S£t^0JU?Fsa H ?’.. iust north of VITTG~ .i t.'v.'.ce to < • et and returned from same route. R' ' E ... I ■•-■ < Two H-.Ur. ■;+.hn <->+.h.?r tiirnin’" to the .> eft, thus tendering the ------- ------- -• biif—I . ■ target, .light barrage (ZOi.El.) light intensity and inaccui’c.te; light barrage » h taW ■'e,' thence ■ hdme Ty - hazy wit> ;h 5 to 8 riles ■lies visibility. WS5 . -Ml Constant-radio chatter of other squaor -n £g' > "-S: RANDOLPH A. BEGUN, Capt., Air Corps, In-’-c? it yoC» Of'ic-r. ’■-» ' � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Mission Reports Description An account of the resource A collection of Mission reports from James' combat flights. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed mission report Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 9, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource United States. Air Force. 12th Air Force. 94th Fighter Squadron. Description An account of the resource Mission Report for the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, July 9, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Flight Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Randolph A. Brown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/11/168/Dibble_Text0087.pdf 14fbf4f940ad75a05c3930c70fdf4459 PDF Text Text � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Letters Home Description An account of the resource Getting letters from home was always a highlight of the week for everyone overseas. They wrote home frequently as well as evidenced by the volume of James' letters. Here is a collection of letters and postcards he sent home to his wife Maxine, brother Bill and parents while serving in Africa and Italy. Be sure to look at the letter dated 1943-04-10. Notice how James indicated he censored his own letter and look at the special form he had to use to send it home. Notice on other letters where they are stamped whether they were censored or not. Like most others, James had to be careful not to divulge too much information about where he was. James was killed on September 9, 1943. Be sure to read his last letter home, sent the day before. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Newspaper clipping reporting James' gifts to his parents for Mother's and Father's Day Subject The topic of the resource James Dibble. Wedding. Description An account of the resource Newspaper clipping reporting James' gifts to his parents for Mother's and Father's Day. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. unknown Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 2022-01-18