VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 06:46:55 10/08/10 Fri
Author: Obit
Subject: George E. Dirr Jr., class of 1936

George Elmer Dirr, Jr. 93, New Palestine, IN. He was born November 30, 1916 in Poseyville, IN. Mr. Dirr worked as a mechanic at Standard Oil and the New Palestine School Bus Garage. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and a graduate of Tech High School. He served in WWII in the Army Air Corp as a pilot of a B-17, the Famous Blackjack. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 10, 2010 in Zion Lutheran Church, 6513 W. 300 S., New Palestine, IN, with calling there from 1 p.m. until the time of service. He was preceded in death by wife, Mary Catherine Day Dirr; brother, William Dirr; grandson, Eric Myers; son, George Elmer Dirr II. Survivors include son, Mike A. Dirr (Deborah); daughters, Sandra Myers (Kenneth) and Linda Curtis; sisters, Margaret Eberle, Jane Russell, Martha Noblett; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Hendryx Mortuary, New Palestine.

http://b17blackjack.com/crew/staley/

George E. Dirr Jr. attended Arsenal Technical High School for the years 1932 to 1936. He went in as a Tech Sergeant and was stationed in Panama , California and Hawaii before going to Australia . The 25 year old Flight Maintenance Gunner did receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for the action against the enemy over Rabaul. He also received during his enlistment a Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cross with the 102 5th AF 43, Air Medal GO 86 5th AF 5th 43, Unit Citation GO with the 43rd Bomb Group, Good Conduct Medal AR 600-68, American DEF SV Medal with One Bronze Star.

His primary responsibilities was the B-17 engineer for the upkeep and operation of the plane. He also loged 385 hours of combat time with the B-17, which during that time of the war was the 3rd most combat time recorded. He also logged 1183 hours of pilot time in the cockpit of a Flying Fortress B-17 named the famous “Black Jack”. An article dedicated to the Famous “Black Jack” plane is in the National Geographic Dated April 1988 Vol. 173 #4 the article is called the Ghost of War.

Subject : Letter Recommendation

I have known T/Sgt. George E Dirr Jr. ASN6668584, 43rd Bombardment Group (h), since August 1942. During that time I have found him to be a person of excellent character.

For 10 month’s T/Sgt. Dirr, and I were on the same combat crew of a Flying Fortress. We flew approximately forty-five combat missions together, encountering severe weather conditions, flying through enemy anti-aircraft fire, and searchlights, and being attacked by enemy fighters. At no time during any of these times did he show the slightest signs of weaking, and was always ready for the next mission.

I unhesitatingly recommend T/Sgt Dirr for any duty, or appointment he may seek.

Harry A. Staley
Capt. , Air Corps
Group Tech. Inspector.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.