28 May 2010

MEMO TO:  FELLOW MARINES AND VMB-613 FRIENDS

Well, the school year is winding down and summer is rapidly approaching.  All is well here in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, especially with the advent of warmer weather.  I have not received a great deal of correspondence this month, so this newsletter will be shorter than most.  Nonetheless, I hope that you will enjoy reading it and hearing about your fellow Leathernecks.

NOTES FROM MEMBERS AND VMB-613 FRIENDS: I received a letter from armorer-turret gunner Louis Layton.  Louis lives in Riverdale, Maryland and wrote to tell me that although he served with VMB-613, he was sent overseas after training at Boca Chica as a replacement and wound up in VMB-443.  In his letter, Lou mentioned that while with VMB-613, Paul Tafel was his pilot and that the navigator-bombardier for his crew was George Bartlett.  Lou asked me if I had any contact information for any of the guys from VMB-443, so I put him in touch with George Bartlett since he too wound up overseas with VMB-443.  George wrote me the next day to say he gave Lou a call and they caught each other up on the last sixty years and made arrangements to meet for lunch in the near future.  Hopefully, we’ll hear how that went in next month’s newsletter, although I’m sure they had a swell time.  Lou also mentioned that he keeps in touch with fellow VMB-613 armorer-turret gunner Pasty Lisa.  Lou, if you could send me Pat’s mailing address and phone number, I would appreciate it so I can add him to our newsletter distribution list.

From Austin, Texas I received a very nice card from Betty Robinson, wife for intelligence clerk Frank Robinson.  Betty sent the card to say “thanks” for continuing to send her the newsletter.  She reported that she is doing well, especially since summer is approaching.  In seem to recall someone telling me that Frank, seen to the right, was initially assigned to the squadron as an ordnanceman, but was subsequently transferred to intelligence.  If someone knows for sure, please let me know.

Aircraft armorer, Robert Shock wrote to say hello to one and all from Cridersville, Ohio.  Robert, seen to the left, very clearly remembered the accident I mentioned in last month’s newsletter in which Robert Ackerman was the victim of a hit and run accident following one of the outdoor movies on Kwajalein.  Robert remembered that the culprit was never caught and that this incident resulted in the shore patrol being on the lookout for “speeders” following the incident.  He added that a few days later he was returning from the flight line driving an ordnance truck and got pulled over and put on report for exceeding the speed limit by three miles per hour.  As a result of that incident, Robert had to go before Lieutenant Colonel Nevils who was intent on “throwing the book” at him.  Fortunately, Sergeant Major Abrams stepped in and “convinced” Lieutenant Colonel Nevils of a reasonable punishment for this minor infraction.  Robert received four hours of Extra Punitive Duties (EPD) and four hours of restriction to quarters.  Robert closed by mentioning the baseball photograph that appeared in last month’s newsletter, remarking that he was surprised that fellow ordnanceman, Anthony Mihelich was not in that photograph since he too was on the team.  I can only guess that perhaps Anthony was on duty when that particular photograph was taken.

I received and e-mail from Bill Gaynor.  Bill’s wife, Becky, is pilot Robert Litzau’s granddaughter.  Bill reported that he and his wife recently visited Bob, seen to the right, in Plover, Wisconsin.  Bill reported that he and his wife enjoyed their visit with Bob, and that he is doing well.  While visiting, Bob shared some of his photographs with Bill and Becky and they both enjoyed seeing them and hearing about some of the guys.  Bill added that the best part was Bob’s crew photograph in which each member of the crew signed the photograph and Bob wrote their names on the reverse side.  I let Bill know that Bob’s assigned aircraft was MB-8, named “8-Ball” and that that Bob flew with fellow pilot, Jack Barton.  Per Bill’s request, I provided him with contact information to Jack so that perhaps Jack can elaborate on some of Bob’s stories of the various activities as member of VMB-613.

From Kimberly, Wicsonsin, I received a surprise telephone call from radio-gunner Robert Polakowski.  Bob called to report that he is doing well and that he is planning a rather lengthy drive from Wisconsin to Washington this week.  Bob is headed to Washington along with his son and daughters to visit the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia and to attend the Sunset Parade at the Marine Barracks in Washington.  Needless to say, the entire family is rather excited about their upcoming visit.  Bob also let me know that following his visit in Washington he will be going back to Wisconsin, most likely via North Carolina.  If he does go by way of North Carolina, he may stop by to pay me a visit.  Regardless of whether or not he can stop by for a visit, we all hope he has a safe and most memorable visit.

From Butler, Pennsylvania, George Deal wrote to say “hello” to one and all, especially his friends from engineering.  George reported that he turned 88 last month, and despite arthritis in his back, he still manages to get in at least one game of golf each week.  George, like so many others added that he enjoys receiving our newsletter each month so he can remain informed of any new happenings.

PHOTO FLASHBACK: The below photographs are provided for the enjoyment of those without Internet access and show various personnel, scenes, and locations.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Major David M. Danser.  Following the transfer of Lieutenant Colonel Nevils in October 1945, Major Danser assumed command of the squadron until it was decommissioned the following month.

ADMINISTRATION: Front Row (L-R) Sergeant Major George Abrams, First Lieutenant Arthur Navarre, and Technical Sergeant Francis Jordan.  Back Row (L-R) Technical Sergeant George Tompkins, Sergeant Conas Roberts, Staff Sergeant Howard Odoms, and Staff Sergeant Wendell H. Wood.

Located in the Communications Office were the ground radios that maintained contact with the aircraft and the flight line.

Corporal Robert O. Wechtler, and Private First Class Raymond P. Zebrowsk (L-R) at work in the machine shop.

The "Love Bug" taken on Eniwetok Island just before its loss over Ponape on 6 February 1945.  Note the absence of the package guns on the side of the fuselage and the absence of the upper turret.  Both of these were removed shortly after arriving on Kwajalein in order to increase the patrol range of the squadron’s aircraft.

Below is a list of the aircraft operated by VMB-613 while on Kwajalein.  MB-6 was the aircraft that was lost over Ponape with Bill Love and Tom Stone.  It was replaced by MB-16 in May 1945.  If anyone can identify the names or which pilots were assigned to any of these aircraft, please let me know.  Some of the other aircraft’s names which I have identified are: Betty Lou, Flaming Fury, Green Weenie, Long Gone, and Pregnant Annie.

OLD ASSOCIATION BUSINESS:

1. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this newsletter through correspondence and telephone conversations.  Your efforts are appreciated and make the newsletter more informative and interesting to all of our members.

2.  To the right are four memorabilia items I currently have in stock.  All prices include shipping.  At the top is our license plate frame, priced at $5.  It is constructed from red plastic and has gold lettering proclaiming “U.S. Marine Corps” and “VMB 613 WWII.”  The popular VMB-613 ball cap is shown next and is priced at $12.  On the bottom left is the VMB-613 pin which is one-inch in diameter and mounts with a clutch-back fastener.  This pin can be ordered in either a pewter finish (shown) or a gold-plated finish with a hand-painted VMB-613 insignia and is priced at $5.50.  Last is an official squadron patch.  This felt and embroidered patch is six-inches in diameter and is an exact reproduction of VMB-613’s insignia that was used on Kwajalein.  They are an excellent value at $7 each.

3.  Remember, donations made to the VMB-613 Association are tax-deductible for individual federal income tax returns to the extent permitted by law.  Our appreciation is, extended to those who have contributed in this manner, as each gift helps to preserve our proud Marine Corps aviation heritage.

NEW ASSOCIATION BUSINESS:

1. Thanks once again to those who paid their annual dues to maintain their membership.  Members who have paid their dues during the month will find a laminated membership card enclosed with this newsletter.  As membership dues are paid for 2010, I will include laminated membership cards in future editions of the newsletter.  Checks for membership dues in the amount of $20 should be made out to the “VMB-613 Association.”

2.      Members wishing to contact me via telephone are asked to call anytime on the weekends, or after 6PM (Eastern), Monday through Friday as I’m at work earlier each workday.  My contact information is provided at the header of this newsletter.

Semper Fidelis,

Robert J. Yanacek

M/Sgt, USMCR (Ret)