jdown Report post Posted June 7 3 minutes ago, forepaw said: There was also a POW camp for German prisoners on the N. side of town of Florence - S. bank of the Gila River I believe, but could be N. bank. I thought the Gila river camp was one of the Japanese Internment camps? I think Az had a couple of those as well as the German POW camps and I thought one was on the Gila? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted June 7 Wasn't there a POW camp on Mt. Lemmon? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatfishKev Report post Posted June 8 19 hours ago, Edge said: Lol I had to look more closely. Then he looked like a kid, buck teeth and acne. My tablet went to see Jesus, I mostly ride using a phone now... But just meant he looks older then 17 imo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sky Island junkie Report post Posted June 8 On 6/6/2024 at 11:02 AM, Edge said: Dad looking mighty smug for a 17 year old heading to the Pacific, June 1944. He had a determined look on his face. Acne, baby face and all! Not certain many 17 year olds nowadays would look so confident facing what those young men knew was coming! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sky Island junkie Report post Posted June 8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McCudden The latest young man I read about and watched a documentary about on YouTube was this guy. Not an American aviator but a Brit in WW1. Ace status by 23 and only lived a few months after that, died in an accident on the airstrip when engine failed. Talk about a baby face! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted June 8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted June 8 7 minutes ago, PRDATR said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy One of my heroes growing up 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdown Report post Posted June 8 Not a household name but should be. Read up or watch some documentaries on Robert A Bob Hoover. One of the greatest pilots ever - even better than Yeager according to Yeager. Escaped a German pow camp in a stolen German Wulf along 100s of other stories including out dog fighting guys in trainers vs p38s and mustangs. Just an amazing pilot and taught dive bombing during Korea after his ww2 service. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted June 8 2 minutes ago, Edge said: One of my heroes growing up Mine too Tim. He died just after I graduated HS. I hoped he would run for President. My grandfather served in WWI. Dad couldn't serve in WWII because his two older brothers were already in. Both pilots. I enlisted in 71 but the doctor failed me and changed me to 4F because I had eczema on my arms. My youngest brother enlisted when he was 16. Mom signed off while we were living in Northern Maine and barley getting by. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted June 8 53 minutes ago, Sky Island junkie said: He had a determined look on his face. Acne, baby face and all! Not certain many 17 year olds nowadays would look so confident facing what those young men knew was coming! After growing up in the Depression he was probably looking forward to some excitement and getting out of town. Worked in the fields and his grandfather's coal mine from early on. Dropped out of high school as a freshman to help support the family, kept rabbit and squirrel on the table for the family of eight. I don't think he'd cotton much to today's teens. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted June 8 2 minutes ago, PRDATR said: Mine too Tim. He died just after I graduated HS. I hoped he would run for President. My grandfather served in WWI. Dad couldn't serve in WWII because his two older brothers were already in. Both pilots. I enlisted in 71 but the doctor failed me and changed me to 4F because I had eczema on my arms. My youngest brother enlisted when he was 16. Mom signed off while we were living in Northern Maine and barley getting by. I have a pic of Major Murphy on my desk. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted June 8 2 hours ago, Edge said: One of my heroes growing up His mom was so poor she could only afford to buy a few .22 bullets a week. For Audie to miss a squirrel or rabbit while foraging could mean no protein for the family meal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twistzz Report post Posted June 8 I've seen Bob Hoover in many air shows, and he flew a p38 was so awesome! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted June 8 This is my mother's uncle, on her Dad's side. He was one of seven brothers. I knew him for time, through my teens. He was an extraordinary man...larger than life, to me. He was a gunner on a flying fortress, which was shot down. The crew parachuted out, behind German lines. His chute malfunctiond, causing him to hit the ground hard, breaking his leg, ankle, and injured his back. He was captured and a POW for nearly a year. Attached is more of his story. Interesting read. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arizonian Report post Posted June 9 On 6/7/2024 at 10:17 AM, firstcoueswas80 said: Wasn't there a POW camp on Mt. Lemmon? Mt Lemmon Honor Prison Camp was started to build the road up to Mt Lemmon in the '30's, later during the war also used to house Japanese draft resistors. My dad took me up there before it was torn down, though I have few memories of it. Then we continued up to Furnace Road and went squirrel hunting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
