September 2012 Mission Update! News from the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum |
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Museum Staff
President and CEO
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Let the Mighty 8th be a part of your legacy
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For more information about Planned Gifts and the Mighty Eighth Foundation, please contact Pam Vining |
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Support the Mighty Eighth
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Follow this QR Code to view a video by B-24 Pilot Paul Grassey
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Flying Fortress 5K Run
The 3rd annual Flying Fortress 5K is to benefit the restoration of the Museum's B-17, the "City of Savannah". The 5K (3.1 mile) course will make its way through the campus of JCB, Inc., starting and finishing at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
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Flying Legends Summer Camp
by Jaime Hanna
The Mighty Eighth has been holding summer camp for five years. Children from all over Coastal Georgia and the South Carolina Low Country attend. Some students are visiting grandparents from far away. This year we had a first. Matt Kemery loves WWII history but he lives in New Jersey. He wanted to attend our camp last year but his parents couldn't figure out a way for him to come. This year things worked out. Matt's mom had a conference here and luckily we were offering an all day camp that week. Matt and his family came down and he was able to join us. Here he is pictured with his AAF flying goggles and his white "silk" scarf, which is decorated with his missions and the number of Nazi fighters he helped to shoot down. He is also carrying his "Victory Garden in a cup" and his tin can telephone. The campers are always amazed that you can actually hear people through the string and cans. Matt had a great time and was a wonderful addition to our camp.
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Upcoming Events
 November 11 - Veterans Day On Sunday, November 11, 2012, come remember those who served our country at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. All military veterans and active duty military will be recognized. Military veterans will receive a special admission rate of $5 to the Museum and active duty a rate of $6. All World War II Veterans will receive complimentary admission. December 2 - Pearl Harbor Memorial 2:00 to 3:00 p.m The Savannah Council of the Navy League and the Fleet Reserve Association J.J. Burke Branch 215 are hosting a Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Service on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 2:00 pm in the Rotunda of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. This service is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. This year marks the 71st Anniversary of the Attack of Pearl Harbor. |
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388th Bomb Group Reunite at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum
 | | Article courtesy of Savannah Morning News |
The 388th Bombardment Group - part of the 8th Air Force - gathered at the Mighty Eighth as part of the unit's 63rd annual reunion.
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Legacy of Honor
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum's Legacy of Honor Program.
Please help us keep admission free for World War II Veterans by donating $10 to the "Legacy of Honor Program"
Follow the link below to make your donation.
Legacy of Honor Program
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We Need Your Support
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum does not receive funding from the local, state, or federal government. We depend solely on grants, support from corporations, and individual donations from Museum supporters. If you are interested in helping us upgrade and develop exhibits, expand our Character Counts character education program, and continue the historic restoration on our B-17 Flying Fortress City of Savannah, please visit our website:
http://mightyeighth.org/support-the-museum/contribute-to-the-museum/ or contact:
Meghan Lowe
Director of Development
912-748-8888 ext. 165
mlowe@mightyeighth.org
We appreciate any gifts to help the Museum carry out its mission!
Become a Member! The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum introduces new membership levels for active duty military and their families! An individual active duty military membership is now $25.00 and a family with at least one adult serving in the armed forces is $60.00. We have also added new benefits for the Squadron Leader and Wing Commander members. Become a member today and help support "one of the world's most powerful museum experiences." As a member of the Mighty Eighth, you are entitled to unlimited admission for one year, subscription to the Museum e-newsletter, a 10% discount at the Museum Gift Store, a personalized membership card, and access to the Mighty Eighth's Members Only Online Forum. Memberships range from $25 to $1,000 for individuals and families! For more information, please visit our membership website: http://mightyeighth.org/support-the-museum/membership/ Danira Beckmann Membership Coordinator 912-748-8888 ext. 101 dbeckmann@mightyeighth.org Please also consider having your employer become a corporate member! Corporate Membership information can be found at: http://mightyeighth.org/corporate-membership-page/ |
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Museum Gift Store
Happy Labor Day. We hope you all enjoy this holiday.
We just received our new jackets for the fall. These jackets are weather resistant and light weight. The jackets are available in navy/red, navy/yellow or tan/forest. We are very excited about them! They look great and they're only $44.99.
For the ladies we just received our new Fifinella t-shirts and they look great!
These unique shirts are $15.99! We know you're going to love them as much as we do.
For the month of September all children's t-shirts are 10% off. Now is the time to stock up for the children and grandchildren. Also, we are offering 10% off on all baseball caps. Hurry while supplies last.
Keep watching our WEB site for more exciting new product!
Follow this QR Code for extra savings!
Shop the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum Gift Store Today!
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Character Counts!
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Operation Barbarossa
continued...
by Museum Volunteer Gary Silver
 Leningrad and Kiev (August - October 1941)
For its final attack on Leningrad, Army Group North's Panzer Army was reinforced by tanks transferred from AG Center. On August 8, the Panzers broke through Soviet defenses and the German Army advanced northeast by the end of the month to within 30 miles of Leningrad. At this stage, Hitler ordered the final destruction of Leningrad - with no prisoners taken. On September 9, AG North began its final push, which advanced in ten days to within 7 miles from the city. However, the last 6 miles were so slow and costly in casualties that Hitler lost patience and ordered that Leningrad not be overrun but starved into submission. Further south, AG Center - static without its Panzer forces - was subjected to numerous Soviet counter-attacks in which the Germans suffered their first major tactical defeats since their invasion began. These attacks drew Hitler's attention back to AG Center and its drive on Moscow. Now he ordered his panzer armies to depart Leningrad and move south to support AG Center in its attack on Moscow. Despite the loss of Panzers, the siege of Leningrad was to continue with unrelenting air and artillery attacks as well as severe shortages of food and fuel, until the Germans were finally driven back from the city's approaches in early 1944. The 900 day siege resulted in the deaths of approximately one million, approximately 20 percent, of the city's inhabitants, primarily from disease and starvation. While the noose around Leningrad tightened in the north, Army Group South had advanced into the Ukraine and come within a few miles of Kiev. Two of its five army formations then deployed south, trapping two Soviet armies near the city of Uman. By August 8, Soviet resistance there waned, and remnants of 20 Soviet divisions were trapped, resulting in 103,000 troops taken prisoner. Before the attack on Moscow could begin, operations in Kiev needed to be finished. Army Group Centre and Army Group South then advanced from opposite directions on Soviet Forces located west of Kiev, achieving another spectacular encirclement on September 16. A savage battle ensued in which the Soviets were hammered with tanks, artillery, and aerial bombardment. In the end, after ten days of vicious fighting, the Germans claimed over 600,000 Soviet soldiers captured, along with 3,870 artillery guns and mortars from 43 Divisions of four Soviet Armies. Once more, vast columns of dejected prisoners tramped westward towards cages in which they would starve. [Hastings, p.154] To be continued in October... ______________________________________________________________________ Bibliography Hastings, Max. Inferno: The World At War, 1939 -1945, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011 History Learning Site, Operation Barbarossa, (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_barbarossa.htm) Willmont, H.P.; Messenger, Charles; Cross, Robin. World War II. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2009 The History Place web site, The Defeat of Hitler: Attack on Russia; The Defeat of Hitler: Catastrophe at Stalingrad (http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/defeat/attack-russia.htm) (http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/defeat/catastrophe-stalingrad.htm) |
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Silk Escape Maps
by Dr. Vivian Rogers-Price
 | | This silk escape map showing Holland with sections of Belgium, France and Germany is included in the research center collection. |
During World War II U.S. flyers generally received silk escape maps showing the rivers, roads and population areas they would be flying over while on a mission. Designed to be used to escape from enemy territory after being shot down, these silk maps, unlike paper ones, made no noise when folded, were durable, and could be dried if they became wet. In 1940 Clayton Hutton, a British MI 9 officer, had discovered how to successfully print road maps of hostile territory on silk. By combining the ink with Pectin, the maps remained perfectly legible even when wet. When the United States entered World War II, the Americans adopted this same technique so that each member of an air crew had the correct silk escape maps prior on each mission.
On at least one occasion, these maps became the only navigational aid available to guide an Eighth Army Air Force bomber crew back to England. On 12 May 1944 the Eighth Air Force attacked Nazi Germany's oil production, sending 886 bombers to bomb a series of targets. The 452nd BG attacked the Zwickau Oil Installations in Germany and came under fighter attacks. S/Sgt Merl D. Orcutt, the Flight Engineer on B-17 42-31345, was hit in the head and died instantly. On the return flight in their damaged Flying Fortress, this crew had to fly on the deck with only their silk escape maps to guide them. Just before reaching the English shore at a location approximately 2,600 yards west of Knockfortjohn, Kent, they were forced to ditch in the English Channel. The crew was rescued by Air Sea Rescue but the body of the Flight Engineer went down with the aircraft. Bombardier 2nd Lt. Cornelius Kohlman remembers this mission vividly, especially his crew's use of silk escape maps to fly back toward England.
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A Tasty Talk with Teri
MISS SOPHIE: Back-to-school nightmare? Kid-friendly recipes
save the day.
by Teri Bell
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Article courtesy of Savannah Morning News
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Parents of school age children, don your armor and let the battle begin - school is now in progress.
The peaceful lazy days of summer have come to an end. Late sleepers will have to be jostled out of bed and hurried out the door with proper supplies, homework papers and lunch money. As the evening hour approaches, the most ferocious battles begin. Sneak attacks from video games, television, cellphones and computers will steal the life out of homework, baths and bedtimes. It is a tough battle, but it must fought, so be strong and courageous and the victory will be yours!
As a working mother with three children, I often felt like the first six weeks of school were nothing short of a battle. After the excitement of wearing new clothes and catching up on what everyone is doing, which takes about a week, the sleepy heads no longer like rising so early. Homework, baths and bedtimes were always a challenge, especially when I didn't get home until 5:30 or 6 and they had to be in bed by 9. It got even worse when they were old enough to participate in after-school activities. My heart goes out to each and every one of you who are facing these battles.
Read Further
Teri Bell is co-owner of Miss Sophie's Marketplace at the Mighty Eighth in Pooler. Go to sophiesmarketplace.com.
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Tom Daniels and Tom White - Museum Volunteers who will never be forgotten
by Heather Thies
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Museum Volunteer Col. Tom Daniels
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Tom was a native of Savannah. He attended Armstrong College and the University of Georgia. He entered the U.S. Army in World War II, graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School and served in the Pacific Theatre. In 1947 he joined the Georgia Army National Guard and retired as a Colonel in 1983. He was a life member and past president of the Chatham Artillery. During his life he was active with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Boy Scouts Council, and YMCA. An avid golfer, Tom was Club Champion and Senior Champion of the Savannah Golf Club in 1974. He is believed to be the only golfer to hold both titles in the same year. Tom worked in the insurance business until his death. He was a former Vice president of Atlantic Insurance & Investment Co. In 1980 he founded Daniels Insurance and in 2000 joined Bernard Williams & Company where he continued his highly successful career. Colonel Thomas Daniels passed away on August 21, 2012 at the age of 89. He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Nita. Tom was a greeter at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum for several years. He was a wonderful friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
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Museum Volunteer Tom White
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Tom White was born in Newport News, VA in 1919. He was a graduate of Virginia Tech where he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering. He was a veteran of the United States Army where he served in the Pacific during World War II and was honorably discharged at the rank of Major. Tom worked for many years with General Electric where he retired in 1986 as an engineer in industrial sales. During his career Tom and his family lived all over the country and ultimately retired in Savannah, GA. Tom loved golf, gardening, reading, and traveling, but most of all he loved his family. Tom was very active in his community. As a member of the Southside Fire Department for 25 years, he served as the President of the board twice as well as volunteering as a fireman and first responder. Tom became certified as a Master Gardener and was a member of both the Rose Society and the Camellia Society. Tom passed away on August 15, 2012. He was a greeter at the museum for several years. He was a kind and friendly person and will be missed by all who knew him.
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