Warbird Information Exchange

I might have posted this before, but its good

ak 214- ETO HQ 45 8890, 16 Jan 45, Soldiers of the 43rd Mobile Repair and Reclamation, Squad H, assemble metal wing superstructure for piper cub in shop in Bettelainville, France. L to R: PFC Pasey L. McBride, Roanoke, VA, PFC Robert Conway, Galena Park, TX.




Oak 215- ETO HQ 45, 8891, 16 Jan 45, Soldiers of a mobile repair & reclamation squad repair battle damaged cub in snow-covered field at Bettelainville, France. L to R: SGT Arthur H. Wolfert, Peoria, Ill., CPL Ben W. Ruscoe, Greenwood, Miss., T/SGT Julius Nelson, Baltimore, MD, and T/SGT Roland Brule, Central Falls, RI





Oak 216- ETO HQ 45 8892, 16 Jan 45, Soldiers of a mobile repair and reclamation squad repair salvaged cub shot down while observing enemy artillery action. They are at repair shop in Bettelainville, France. L to R: CPL Tex Dunson, Du Quoin, Ill., CPL Ben W. Ruscoe, Greenwood, Miss., and SSG Kenneth Douthitt, Oakland, Ind. 43rd Mobile Repair & Recalmation, Squad





Oak 217- ETO HQ 45 8893, 16 Jan 45, Soldiers of a mobile repair and reclamation squad apply dope to cub wing before painting it in shop in Bettelainville, France. L to R: SGT Earl L. Lizana, New Orleans, LA, and Willard R. Slover, Everton, ?.





Oak 218- ETO HQ 45 8894, 16 Jan 45, MAJ Colven E. Candell, Louisville, Ala., right, inspects engine, while two soldiers of a mobile repair and reclamation squad assemble windshield on cub in snow-covered field at Bettelainville, France. MAJ Candell is CO of the squadron. The other soldiers are, L to R, SSG William E. Densnore, Woonsocket, RI, and SGT John E. Adams, Shirley, Mass. 43rd MR&R., Sq H.





Oak 219- ETO HQ 45 8895, 16 Jan 45, Soldiers of a mobile repair & reclamation squad give cub engine final check before PVT William Jensen, San Diego, CA, in cockpit, takes plane up for test flight at Bettlelainville, France. Other soldiers are, L to R: SGT Leo J. Battaglioli, Summerville, Mass., PFC Desiderio Baca, Winslow, AZ, and SGT John Persites, St. Albans, Long Island, NY. 43rd

That is pretty cool; It looks COLD!

Tom P.

Some people get angry when things are reposted, but i like it. taking a second look at an old post just raises more questions/thoughts/discussion. What I find interesting here, a PVT is taking the plane up for a test flight. I was always under the impression that one needed to be an officer to attend flight training in the AAF. A PVT with a pilot rating is intriguing to me. However, being assigned to a rag and tube unarmed Piper cub, low and slow to observe enemy artillery units, doesn't sound like a choice assignment either.

Remember, there was a difference between the USAAF and the Army.
There were enlisted/NCO liaison pilots in the AAF and the Army artillery pilots in the Army were officers.

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Great photos!

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Photo #2 looks more like they're stripping parts or posing for a photo. That airframe has a long way to go to repair it out in the open.... but yes...Great photos!
(Galena Park, Texas is just across the ship channel from me.)

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