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>Dear Debra and Steve: > >My Dad, Frank Z. Patterson, passed away on Monday, >March 24. He was a hump pilot in WWII, flying 384 >missions from Aug. of 1942. Since Dad would never >speak of the war, we did not even know that he was >awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross until after his >death. I would like to learn as much as I can about >the hump pilots, and would also love to contribute and >visit any sites. Could you possibly reply to this >post and guide me in learning about the heroism that >my father was part of? >Thank you, > >Marita Reichenberger >>Hello All: >> >>Reading all of your postings supports the notion that >>the pilots who flew the "Hump", during WW II, are the >>most unrecognized, and least appreciated group that >>risked their lives for "The Cause." A wealth of >>information, about this group, has already slipped >>through our fingers, and the memory of all the lost >>airmen, has never been memorialized. >> >>My wife's grandfather flew a C-47 over the Hump, and >>my father was on the receiving end of his cargo runs. >>Dad (William Kulinski) worked for General Channault's >>group.....and my wife's Granddad (Emil Henrotte) was >>delivering fuel drums and cargo to P-40 bases. >>Captain Henrotte died two years ago, and >>unfortunately, most of the history of his involvement >>died with him. (The postings that we have read, lead >>us to believe that many of you are in the same boat.) >>Most of the Airmen, involved with this event in >>history, came home after the war, and figured that >>nobody was interested in their story..... and most of >>them died without the world really knowing just how >>brave and vital a role they played in history. They >>passed on with a wealth of information still inside of >>their minds and hearts. Deb and I would like to see >>this trend reversed. >> >>Fortunately, my job allows me to have ties to the EAA >>Air Venture Museum in Oshkosh, WI. A recent >>conversation with Tom Poberezny (President) confirmed >>that the EAA would like to expand their current floor >>plan to include a proper memorial to these brave CBI >>pilots, and a historical display that documents their >>heroic feats. >> >>If anyone would like to contribute information, >>memorabilia, or contact links,....please e-mail me. >>Any information.....no matter how seemingly trivial, >>might open the door to a room full of knowledge. Let's >>be sure to give these guys the recognition that they >>deserve, and allow their future generations to know >>about the heroic deeds their ancestors were reponsible >>for. >> >>Thank You >> >>Debra & Steve

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