SERVICE AWARDS
Winston James Tucker was born in Durant, Oklahoma January 15, 1918. At an early age, his family moved to Seymour, Texas.
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Winston attended Harden-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas from 1936-1941, where he also played football and is in their Hall of Fame. Please visit his bio on the Hardin-Simmons athletics website @ (https://www.hsuathletics.com/Hall_of_Fame/HOF_Bios/tucker_winston?view=bio)
“Winston Tucker played the guard position on both offense and defense. He was part of the undefeated, untied team. In 1940 Coach Frank Kimbrough referred to him as the best trapping guard he ever coached. He was elected Vice-President of Student Government in the 1940-41 school year. After graduating from Hardin-Simmons he was a decorated B-17 pilot during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war he began teaching and coaching at Van Nuys High School in California and later became the Athletic Director.”
(“Winston Tucker,” Hardin-Simmons, accessed September 15, 2022, https://www.hsuathletics.com/Hall_of_Fame/HOF_Bios/tucker_winston?view=bio)
Primary Flight Training
Shortly after graduating from Hardin-Simmons, Winston enlisted in the US Army Air Corps at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas in January 1942. Winston underwent primary flight training at Victory Field, in Wilbarger County, Texas, six miles south of Vernon, Texas. This field was active from 1942 to 1945 and primary flight training was provided under contract by Hunter flying Service and Richy Flying Service using the Fairchild PT-19 as the trainer on the field. Winston’s first training flight was February 26, 1942 with his first solo flight after 7.5 hours of total flight time. His last primary training flight was April 27, 1942 with 56 total flight hours.
“Winston Tucker played the guard position on both offense and defense. He was part of the undefeated, untied team. In 1940 Coach Frank Kimbrough referred to him as the best trapping guard he ever coached. He was elected Vice-President of Student Government in the 1940-41 school year. After graduating from Hardin-Simmons he was a decorated B-17 pilot during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war he began teaching and coaching at Van Nuys High School in California and later became the Athletic Director.”
(“Winston Tucker,” Hardin-Simmons, accessed September 15, 2022, https://www.hsuathletics.com/Hall_of_Fame/HOF_Bios/tucker_winston?view=bio)
Primary Flight Training
Shortly after graduating from Hardin-Simmons, Winston enlisted in the US Army Air Corps at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas in January 1942. Winston underwent primary flight training at Victory Field, in Wilbarger County, Texas, six miles south of Vernon, Texas. This field was active from 1942 to 1945 and primary flight training was provided under contract by Hunter flying Service and Richy Flying Service using the Fairchild PT-19 as the trainer on the field. Winston’s first training flight was February 26, 1942 with his first solo flight after 7.5 hours of total flight time. His last primary training flight was April 27, 1942 with 56 total flight hours.
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Photo right: (From Winston J. Tucker family collection)
Photo left: PT-19, United States Army Air Forces, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AAFTC_Fairchild_PT-19.jpg)
(Side-Note: Over 7,000 PT-19 trainers were built starting in 1939 and less than 100 are reportedly operational today.)
Basic Flight Training
Next up was basic flight training at Randolph Field in Universal City, Texas, 14 miles east/north east of San Antonio, Texas. This base was active from 1930 to 2010 when it merged with Lackland AFB and Fort Sam Houston to form Joint Base San Antonio.
The aircraft used for Winston’s basic flight training was the North American BT-14, known as the Yale.
Photo left: PT-19, United States Army Air Forces, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AAFTC_Fairchild_PT-19.jpg)
(Side-Note: Over 7,000 PT-19 trainers were built starting in 1939 and less than 100 are reportedly operational today.)
Basic Flight Training
Next up was basic flight training at Randolph Field in Universal City, Texas, 14 miles east/north east of San Antonio, Texas. This base was active from 1930 to 2010 when it merged with Lackland AFB and Fort Sam Houston to form Joint Base San Antonio.
The aircraft used for Winston’s basic flight training was the North American BT-14, known as the Yale.
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BT-14, Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_American_BT-14_in_flight.jpg, Accessed October 7, 2022.
Winston’s first basic training flight was May 4, 1942 with Instructor 2nd Lt. R.C. Roof (AAF) who conducted the majority of Winston’s basic flight training. His last BT-14 flight was on June 29, 1942 with 80 hours accumulated time in the aircraft.
Multi-engine/advanced Flight Training
Multi-engine/advanced training for Winston took place at Lubbock Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School. Aircraft flown by Winston from this base included the AT-17 Cessna Bobcat (also known as the “Bamboo bomber”) and the AT-9 Jeep manufactured by the Curtis Wright Corporation. (The base was closed at the end of 1945 after graduating over 7,000 pilots).
Winston’s first multi-engine training flight was in the AT-17 on July 7, 1942.
Winston’s first basic training flight was May 4, 1942 with Instructor 2nd Lt. R.C. Roof (AAF) who conducted the majority of Winston’s basic flight training. His last BT-14 flight was on June 29, 1942 with 80 hours accumulated time in the aircraft.
Multi-engine/advanced Flight Training
Multi-engine/advanced training for Winston took place at Lubbock Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School. Aircraft flown by Winston from this base included the AT-17 Cessna Bobcat (also known as the “Bamboo bomber”) and the AT-9 Jeep manufactured by the Curtis Wright Corporation. (The base was closed at the end of 1945 after graduating over 7,000 pilots).
Winston’s first multi-engine training flight was in the AT-17 on July 7, 1942.
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Photo left: AT-17, Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cessna_AT-17_(cropped).jpg
Photo right: AT-17 From Winston Tucker family memorabilia
Winston’s first training flight in the AT-9 was on July 9, 1942.
Photo right: AT-17 From Winston Tucker family memorabilia
Winston’s first training flight in the AT-9 was on July 9, 1942.
AT-9, United Sates Army Air Forces, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, File: Randolph Field - Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeeps on Parking Ramp.jpg - Wikipedia
Winston’s last multi-engine/advanced training flight occurred on August 29, 1942 having accumulated approximately 77 hours in multi-engine aircraft; his total accumulated flight time on this date was 214 hours.
B-17 Heavy Bomber Flight Training
B-17 Heavy bomber flight training began for Winston in September of 1943 at Hendricks Army Airfield, Sebring, Florida.
Winston’s last multi-engine/advanced training flight occurred on August 29, 1942 having accumulated approximately 77 hours in multi-engine aircraft; his total accumulated flight time on this date was 214 hours.
B-17 Heavy Bomber Flight Training
B-17 Heavy bomber flight training began for Winston in September of 1943 at Hendricks Army Airfield, Sebring, Florida.
B-17B Flying Fortress 38-270 Hendricks Army Airfield, Florida, 1942
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-17B_Flying_Fortress_38-270.jpg) Source =Hendricks Field Yearbook for 1942 |Author =United States Army Air Forces |Date =1943 |Permission =USGOV-PD.
(Side-Note: Hendricks Army Airfield became operational in January 1942 with the first B-17’s arriving in late January. Graduation from the first combat school occurred in April, 1942. In peak operation, about 120 B-17’s were assigned to Hendricks and over 10,000 pilots and other crewmembers were trained. March 1942 was the beginning of the program that would train and coordinate combat crews; pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier, aerial engineer, radio operator, and gunners. As many as 7,000 B-17 takeoffs and landings per week was not unusual. The field was operational until 1946. Aircraft used for training included the B-17E, 4 engine heavy bomber which was operational from 1939 to 1945. A total of 12,731 were manufactured by Boeing, Douglas and Vega. Over 4,700 B-17’s were reported lost in combat operations.)
Winston’s first B-17 training flight was September 12, 1942. After training in instrument, formation, day and night navigation, gunnery, and bombing, he accumulated 100 hours of flight time in the B-17E. His last training flight was recorded on November 16, 1942.
With a total of 314 hours total flight time, Winston was rated and qualified to fly pilot in command on a heavy 4 engine bomber with a crew of 10 airmen.
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-17B_Flying_Fortress_38-270.jpg) Source =Hendricks Field Yearbook for 1942 |Author =United States Army Air Forces |Date =1943 |Permission =USGOV-PD.
(Side-Note: Hendricks Army Airfield became operational in January 1942 with the first B-17’s arriving in late January. Graduation from the first combat school occurred in April, 1942. In peak operation, about 120 B-17’s were assigned to Hendricks and over 10,000 pilots and other crewmembers were trained. March 1942 was the beginning of the program that would train and coordinate combat crews; pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier, aerial engineer, radio operator, and gunners. As many as 7,000 B-17 takeoffs and landings per week was not unusual. The field was operational until 1946. Aircraft used for training included the B-17E, 4 engine heavy bomber which was operational from 1939 to 1945. A total of 12,731 were manufactured by Boeing, Douglas and Vega. Over 4,700 B-17’s were reported lost in combat operations.)
Winston’s first B-17 training flight was September 12, 1942. After training in instrument, formation, day and night navigation, gunnery, and bombing, he accumulated 100 hours of flight time in the B-17E. His last training flight was recorded on November 16, 1942.
With a total of 314 hours total flight time, Winston was rated and qualified to fly pilot in command on a heavy 4 engine bomber with a crew of 10 airmen.
(Training Record Photo from Winston J. Tucker family)
Heading Overseas
While preparing to go overseas, Winston and his crew were one of thirteen crews, pulled out of their staging area and sent to El Paso and later to Florida for special training in the YB-40. 12 of these special gunship versions of the B-17F were delivered to Alconbury, U.K. in May of 1943.
(Side-Notes: The YB-40 was a modified version of the B-17F developed to act as a gunship to self-escort bombers. The aircraft differences from the B-17F included an additional upper turret, a twin gun chin turret, and two twin waist gun mounts. The ammunition supplies for the YB-40 were nearly triple that of a standard B-17F. It is likely the aircraft name “Seymour Angel” was carried by multiple aircraft Winston was associated with including YB-40 42-5734 as well as B-17F 42-30617)
Research indicates Winston likely ferried YB-40 42-5734 “Seymour Angel” to Alconbury and flew additional missions in this aircraft while he was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 327th Bomb Squadron in Alconbury U.K.
Heading Overseas
While preparing to go overseas, Winston and his crew were one of thirteen crews, pulled out of their staging area and sent to El Paso and later to Florida for special training in the YB-40. 12 of these special gunship versions of the B-17F were delivered to Alconbury, U.K. in May of 1943.
(Side-Notes: The YB-40 was a modified version of the B-17F developed to act as a gunship to self-escort bombers. The aircraft differences from the B-17F included an additional upper turret, a twin gun chin turret, and two twin waist gun mounts. The ammunition supplies for the YB-40 were nearly triple that of a standard B-17F. It is likely the aircraft name “Seymour Angel” was carried by multiple aircraft Winston was associated with including YB-40 42-5734 as well as B-17F 42-30617)
Research indicates Winston likely ferried YB-40 42-5734 “Seymour Angel” to Alconbury and flew additional missions in this aircraft while he was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 327th Bomb Squadron in Alconbury U.K.
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Ground crew of the 92nd Bomb Group wait with an ambulance as a B-17 Flying Fortress (UX-D, serial number 42-5734) nicknamed "Seymour Angel" lands at Alconbury. Printed caption on reverse: 'BRITISH OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH DISTRIBUTED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED. BRITISH EQUIPMENT AT AMERICAN AIR-FIELD. Members of the U.S. Army Air Force stationed in Great Britain are in a good position to appreciate the British end of Lend-Lease arrangements. A visit to an American bomber station "somewhere in England" shows some of the many varieties of equipment with which Britain supplies her American Ally. No.7. British made cash tenders and ambulances wait, ready for an emergency, at the strategic corners of the field, as the B-17 Fortresses land after a mission over the Rhur. The engines of the trucks are kept running, the men stand alert at their posts read to move into instant action should a plane, damaged by enemy action, foul its landing. On the back of the crash tender is an asbestos suit. Its wearer can work in fire for several minutes - vital ones, should a plane catch fire and its crew be trapped. In the background a B-17 has landed. Already the sergeant on the telephone is watching the next plane land. No.D.15116. For other prints in this series see miniature and feature set file. USA(BRI)CCC.FIR.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '1/ British Equipment at American Airfield. 2/ Reverse lease-lend 3/ Cash tenders.'
(Roger Freeman Collection FRE757| American Air Museum In Britain, Contributor AAM, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/201 , accessed October 7, 2022. 
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Hope & Romano 7-7-43
(Above photos of Winston J. Tucker’s crew and USO Entertainment are from the Winston Tucker family collection)
25 Missions: Notes From Winston J. Tucker
(Above photos of Winston J. Tucker’s crew and USO Entertainment are from the Winston Tucker family collection)
25 Missions: Notes From Winston J. Tucker
B-17F-BO*, *Circa blocks 90-115 and 42-30XXX . Identified on AAM as follows: Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 27-Aug-43 in B-17 42-30617. Plane ditched in North Sea. Returned to duty (RTD). See also UX Q 42-30408 327th BS, 92 BG, FORTLOG as another possibility. Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), BS, GC, WWII Victory, EAME. SERVICE TBC Picture taken 12/7/1943 Theodore R Thurston bottom right of picture. I believe the rest of the crew is, "Names not in order" Pilot: Winston James Tucker, Co-pilot: Carl R Carlson, Flight engineer/Top turret gunner: Richard Hanson Bragdon, Waist gunner: Cloe Redford Crutchfield, Tail gunner: Robert K Gailey, Bombardier/Toggler: Thomas Keith Johnson, Waist gunner: Lewis Arthur Kuhnz, Navigator: Joseph Barth Liebman, Radio operator/Gunner: David Blaine Stewart, Bombardier: Thomas K Thompson Sr, Ball turret gunner: Theodore R Thurston.
Photo and caption above are from 42-30617 American Air Museum In Britain, Phil Marchese and RandyJustice1 contributors, Justice Collection, American Air Museum.com. https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4631. Photo has been colorized and Winston Tucker highlighted in this adaptation.
Photo and caption above are from 42-30617 American Air Museum In Britain, Phil Marchese and RandyJustice1 contributors, Justice Collection, American Air Museum.com. https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4631. Photo has been colorized and Winston Tucker highlighted in this adaptation.
(Above photos from Winston J. Tucker family collection
YB-40 B-17F-10-VE 42-5734 Seymour Angel 92nd BG 327BS Fame’s Favored Few Alconbury UK June 15 1943, Justice Collection UPL 37393, Contributors Emily, RandyJustice1, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/37393, accessed September 15, 2022
Research shows this (YB-40) was delivered to Tulsa October 29, 1942; Biggs Army Air Field near El Paso Texas March 15, 1943, Presque Isle Maine May 6, 1943 prior to being flown overseas to the UK. The aircraft was assigned to the 327BS/92BG [UX-D] Alconbury and carried the name SEYMOUR ANGEL May 14, 1943. Later the aircraft was transferred to 323BS/91BG [OR-R] Bassingbourn where it carried the name RED BALLOON July 16, 1943 and subsequently returned to the USA Eglin Army Air Field in Florida September 4, 1944; to Yuma May 4, 1945; to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Ontario California May 18, 1945 18/5/45 with the name OLD IRONSIDES.
Research shows this (YB-40) was delivered to Tulsa October 29, 1942; Biggs Army Air Field near El Paso Texas March 15, 1943, Presque Isle Maine May 6, 1943 prior to being flown overseas to the UK. The aircraft was assigned to the 327BS/92BG [UX-D] Alconbury and carried the name SEYMOUR ANGEL May 14, 1943. Later the aircraft was transferred to 323BS/91BG [OR-R] Bassingbourn where it carried the name RED BALLOON July 16, 1943 and subsequently returned to the USA Eglin Army Air Field in Florida September 4, 1944; to Yuma May 4, 1945; to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Ontario California May 18, 1945 18/5/45 with the name OLD IRONSIDES.
YB-40 B-17F-10-VE 42-5734 Seymour Angel 92nd BG 327BS Fame’s Favored Few Alconbury UK June 15 1943, Justice Collection UPL 37391, Contributors Emily, RandyJustice1, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/37391, accessed September 15, 2022
-17F-BO* *blocks 90/115, s/n 42-30XXX . This plane has sometimes been identified as a reconverted YB-40 Vega airframe, however it is a later Boeing airframe from 2Q43 or early 3Q43. TBC Picture taken Circa November 1943 Theodore R Thurston bottom on the left of guy with the dog. Do not know who the ground crew are. I believe the rest of the crew is, "Names not in order" Pilot: Winston James Tucker, Co-pilot: Carl R Carlson, Flight engineer/Top turret gunner: Richard Hanson Bragdon, Waist gunner: Cloe Redford Crutchfield, Tail gunner: Robert K Gailey, Bombardier/Toggler: Thomas Keith Johnson, Waist gunner: Lewis Arthur Kuhnz, Navigator: Joseph Barth Liebman, Radio operator/Gunner: David Blaine Stewart, Bombadier: Thomas K Thompson Sr, Ball turret gunner: Theodore R Thurston.
Justice Collection UPL 41409, Contributors Phil Marchese, RandyJustice1, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41409, accessed October 7, 2022.
The American Air Museum in Britain reports the aircraft markings include “Miss Billie on the port side of the aircraft in white lettering. UX-N”
(Side-Note: In the above photo Winston Tucker is second row far right. Also note the missions (indicated by bomb symbols, in this photo shows fewer missions that the previous photo of Winston with this aircraft.)
Winston personally recorded mission notes after each mission in a “diary”, and are shown below as transcribed from copies provided by Winston J. Tuckers family, with supplemental researched pictures and information as noted:
(Diary from original little “Diary”- book kept and recorded after each mission
By:
First Lt. Winston J. Tucker
World War Il - Pilot
Winston J. Tucker, Lt. Col retired, U.S. Air Force – De-Briefing Notes
Tuesday, June 22, 1943
First Raid - Huls, Germany
Horvay co-Pilot
Carlson sick - Got hard attacks from M.E.109's. Flak over target thick and accurate. Hit target – Large fires started. Best friend Bill Carey went down over target. Spitfires met us and escorted us home. On return home found that we had been hit. Thirty holes in our airplane. My airplane was named “Hard Luck. No one in my crew hurt.
Friday June 25, 1943
Second Raid – Hamburg, Germany
Up early, head for Hamburg. Weather bad. Start out over North Sea, then head in for Germany. Enemy fighters hit us just inside Germany. Visibility very bad. Flying in soup most of trip. Ships were lost from formation. Lost Twenty forts. Hardest flying in my life. Target not hit.
Saturday, June 26 1943
Left for raid on Villa Coublay in Paris, France. Plane Repair Factories. Attacked on way by enemy fighters. Saw two forts explode in front of me. Could not see target because of clouds. Returned without dropping bombs.
Monday June 28, 1943
Late start for target which is sub base at St. Nazaire, France. Have good day. Clear over target. Get direct hits on target. Good bit of flack over target. Hit hard by enemy fighters after leaving target. Run out of gas as we reached England and land, get gas and returned.
Saturday, July 10, 1943
Up at 1:00am for early start. Target Villa Coubley at Paris. Get light flack as we enter France. No enemy fighters for once. Target covered over. Finally dropped bombs on Air Field on coast of France. Easy mission. I was awarded the Air Medal.
Wednesday, July 14, 1943
Dottie Shaws birthday which I forgot. Takeoff 5:35a.m., Villa Coubley, Paris is target. Beautiful day. Flack bad over target. Fly through heavy flack all the way home. Have some fighter attacks on way, not hit. Hit target.
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Takeoff 0540, target Hanover, Germany. See no fighters on way over. Never reached target because of weather. Met heavy fighter attacks on way home. Got several attacks on our ship alone. Did evasive action against fighters. Nose Turret Guns out. Twenty MM shells exploded in waist seriously wounding both waist gunners. Tail gunner also hit. Another shell exploded in waist, 20mm shell hit left wing tip making a large hole. Shell hit left wing at root cutting our electrical system. Our landing flaps would not work. Burned out brakes trying to stop. Several more holes in ship. Some of control cables shot up. One waist gunner hit in back with piece entering lung, other hit several times in legs. One leg broken. Both will get along O.K. Tail gunner hit lightly in tail. Pride hurt only. Hard mission. Waist gunner finally lost right leg.
(Side-Note: Research notes indicate Winston flew YB-40 42-5742 “Plain Dealing Express” on this mission.
42-5742 (YB-40) Delivered Tulsa 15/11/42; Montbrook 31/3/43; Presque Is 30/4/43; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-L] Alconbury 13/5/43; 1 BAD Burtonwood 5/10/43; Returned US 3/4/44; 3036 BU Yuma 4/5/44; RFC Ontario 18/5/45. PLAIN DEALING EXPRESS.
Pictures of this aircraft awaiting being scrapped can be found on the following link:)
https://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4501
July 24, 1943
Up early for takeoff. Target is Aluminum Factory in Norway. I flew Lt. Webb’s ship and took his crew. Longest trip ever made by Forts. Also, first American trip to Norway. Went over target at 16,000 ft. Flack was moderate. Fighter hit us after leaving target. We lost no ships. Upper turret man shot down one enemy ship. Hit target. Eight hours on Mission. Very tired.
July 28, 1943
Up at 1:30a.m., takeoff early. Target is airplane factory in Kassles, Germany. Gas runs low before entering Germany. Seem to be losing gas out of one tank. Have trouble staying in formation. I am leading the second flight of low squadron. Both my wing-men aborted before we reached Germany. Decided my gas would run out before getting back to England. Hit by enemy fighter early. Tail gunner shot down Ju88. Hit target, head for England. Gas very low. One engine quit on edge of Holland, just after enemy fighters have attacked. Feathered engine. Second engine quit at middle of channel. Have crew to tear everything out of ship and throw overboard. Get ready for crash landing in mid-channel. P47’s save us from enemy fighters as we drop out of formation and head down. Sight English coast. Barely make land. Land on unfinished runway. Men run off runway as I land. Glad to be back on ground. Encountered heavy flack over target. Ben Smotherman went down. One of my best friends. He is from Texas. Pollack went down with him. Hope they bailed out in time.
Justice Collection UPL 41409, Contributors Phil Marchese, RandyJustice1, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41409, accessed October 7, 2022.
The American Air Museum in Britain reports the aircraft markings include “Miss Billie on the port side of the aircraft in white lettering. UX-N”
(Side-Note: In the above photo Winston Tucker is second row far right. Also note the missions (indicated by bomb symbols, in this photo shows fewer missions that the previous photo of Winston with this aircraft.)
Winston personally recorded mission notes after each mission in a “diary”, and are shown below as transcribed from copies provided by Winston J. Tuckers family, with supplemental researched pictures and information as noted:
(Diary from original little “Diary”- book kept and recorded after each mission
By:
First Lt. Winston J. Tucker
World War Il - Pilot
Winston J. Tucker, Lt. Col retired, U.S. Air Force – De-Briefing Notes
Tuesday, June 22, 1943
First Raid - Huls, Germany
Horvay co-Pilot
Carlson sick - Got hard attacks from M.E.109's. Flak over target thick and accurate. Hit target – Large fires started. Best friend Bill Carey went down over target. Spitfires met us and escorted us home. On return home found that we had been hit. Thirty holes in our airplane. My airplane was named “Hard Luck. No one in my crew hurt.
Friday June 25, 1943
Second Raid – Hamburg, Germany
Up early, head for Hamburg. Weather bad. Start out over North Sea, then head in for Germany. Enemy fighters hit us just inside Germany. Visibility very bad. Flying in soup most of trip. Ships were lost from formation. Lost Twenty forts. Hardest flying in my life. Target not hit.
Saturday, June 26 1943
Left for raid on Villa Coublay in Paris, France. Plane Repair Factories. Attacked on way by enemy fighters. Saw two forts explode in front of me. Could not see target because of clouds. Returned without dropping bombs.
Monday June 28, 1943
Late start for target which is sub base at St. Nazaire, France. Have good day. Clear over target. Get direct hits on target. Good bit of flack over target. Hit hard by enemy fighters after leaving target. Run out of gas as we reached England and land, get gas and returned.
Saturday, July 10, 1943
Up at 1:00am for early start. Target Villa Coubley at Paris. Get light flack as we enter France. No enemy fighters for once. Target covered over. Finally dropped bombs on Air Field on coast of France. Easy mission. I was awarded the Air Medal.
Wednesday, July 14, 1943
Dottie Shaws birthday which I forgot. Takeoff 5:35a.m., Villa Coubley, Paris is target. Beautiful day. Flack bad over target. Fly through heavy flack all the way home. Have some fighter attacks on way, not hit. Hit target.
Saturday, July 17, 1943
Takeoff 0540, target Hanover, Germany. See no fighters on way over. Never reached target because of weather. Met heavy fighter attacks on way home. Got several attacks on our ship alone. Did evasive action against fighters. Nose Turret Guns out. Twenty MM shells exploded in waist seriously wounding both waist gunners. Tail gunner also hit. Another shell exploded in waist, 20mm shell hit left wing tip making a large hole. Shell hit left wing at root cutting our electrical system. Our landing flaps would not work. Burned out brakes trying to stop. Several more holes in ship. Some of control cables shot up. One waist gunner hit in back with piece entering lung, other hit several times in legs. One leg broken. Both will get along O.K. Tail gunner hit lightly in tail. Pride hurt only. Hard mission. Waist gunner finally lost right leg.
(Side-Note: Research notes indicate Winston flew YB-40 42-5742 “Plain Dealing Express” on this mission.
42-5742 (YB-40) Delivered Tulsa 15/11/42; Montbrook 31/3/43; Presque Is 30/4/43; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-L] Alconbury 13/5/43; 1 BAD Burtonwood 5/10/43; Returned US 3/4/44; 3036 BU Yuma 4/5/44; RFC Ontario 18/5/45. PLAIN DEALING EXPRESS.
Pictures of this aircraft awaiting being scrapped can be found on the following link:)
https://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4501
July 24, 1943
Up early for takeoff. Target is Aluminum Factory in Norway. I flew Lt. Webb’s ship and took his crew. Longest trip ever made by Forts. Also, first American trip to Norway. Went over target at 16,000 ft. Flack was moderate. Fighter hit us after leaving target. We lost no ships. Upper turret man shot down one enemy ship. Hit target. Eight hours on Mission. Very tired.
July 28, 1943
Up at 1:30a.m., takeoff early. Target is airplane factory in Kassles, Germany. Gas runs low before entering Germany. Seem to be losing gas out of one tank. Have trouble staying in formation. I am leading the second flight of low squadron. Both my wing-men aborted before we reached Germany. Decided my gas would run out before getting back to England. Hit by enemy fighter early. Tail gunner shot down Ju88. Hit target, head for England. Gas very low. One engine quit on edge of Holland, just after enemy fighters have attacked. Feathered engine. Second engine quit at middle of channel. Have crew to tear everything out of ship and throw overboard. Get ready for crash landing in mid-channel. P47’s save us from enemy fighters as we drop out of formation and head down. Sight English coast. Barely make land. Land on unfinished runway. Men run off runway as I land. Glad to be back on ground. Encountered heavy flack over target. Ben Smotherman went down. One of my best friends. He is from Texas. Pollack went down with him. Hope they bailed out in time.
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Sunday August 15, 1943
Pilot----Captain Winston J. Tucker (promotion from Lt. to Captain). Takeoff at 4:30PM. Target is Airfield in edge of France. Weather is bad. Meet no fighter opposition. Flack was light but accurate over target. Landed after dark. Easy mission I got Oak Leaf Cluster on this raid. |
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Monday August 16, 1943
Takeoff 7:20a.m., target airfield and Aircraft Works at Le Bourget, three miles from Paris, France. Have fighter escort all the way. Flack is moderate and very inaccurate. Have three enemy fighters attack my ship. No damage done. One enemy fighter slow rolled right beside my ship. I led second element of low squadron. Fairly easy mission. Hit target. Clear day. Paris looked beautiful.
August 19, 1943
Takeoff at 3:20p.m. Target, Airfield on coast of Belgium. Short and easy mission. I was leader of Second Flight of High Squadron. Light flack. One B-17 in front of me was blown in half at the waist.
(Supplemental Pictures and Information: Research notes indicate Winston flew this mission in 42-30408.)
Pictures of bombs being released over target on this mission by Winston's aircraft are published in the book “Mission 85: the U.S. Eighth Air Force’s Battle over Holland, August 19, 1943”, by Ivo De Jong.
42-30408 is shown below with a later crew:
Takeoff 7:20a.m., target airfield and Aircraft Works at Le Bourget, three miles from Paris, France. Have fighter escort all the way. Flack is moderate and very inaccurate. Have three enemy fighters attack my ship. No damage done. One enemy fighter slow rolled right beside my ship. I led second element of low squadron. Fairly easy mission. Hit target. Clear day. Paris looked beautiful.
August 19, 1943
Takeoff at 3:20p.m. Target, Airfield on coast of Belgium. Short and easy mission. I was leader of Second Flight of High Squadron. Light flack. One B-17 in front of me was blown in half at the waist.
(Supplemental Pictures and Information: Research notes indicate Winston flew this mission in 42-30408.)
Pictures of bombs being released over target on this mission by Winston's aircraft are published in the book “Mission 85: the U.S. Eighth Air Force’s Battle over Holland, August 19, 1943”, by Ivo De Jong.
42-30408 is shown below with a later crew:
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42-30408 American Air| Museum in Britain, Contributors: American Air Museum, JoCarter, LucyMay, William Pugh, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4401, accessed October 7, 2022. |
August 27, 1943 Flight 13th
Takeoff at 4:30P.M. Target near St. Omar in France. Short mission. Drop bombs. See no enemy fighters. Run into accurate flack leaving French Coast. No. 4 engine catches fire. No. 1 prop runs away. Am knocked out of formation. Ack-Ack shell gets direct hit on left wing, explodes two feet above wing. Ship is thrown upon one wing. Went out of control for a minute. Head for English coast. Can’t spot field. Land ship in water about two miles off English coast. No one hurt. Picked up by English boat. Got home two days later.
Unlucky Thirteen
I led the second element of the High Squadron.
(Side-Note: A picture and narrative of the downed B-17 Miss Billie and notes of the crew rescue are shown below as obtained from the website:
http://www.wildfire3.com/raf-r-101.html )
From: RAF R-101 (wildfire3.com)
27 August, 1943. Air-sea rescue boars from sheerness saved ten crewmen from a ditched US air force Flying fortress. They were found in the Thames Estuary in two rubber dingies. Flotation bags were fitted to the plane and it was towed to shore and beached at Maring Parade, near the Coal Pier, Sheerness. While it was being cut up a spark ignited fuel, causing an explosion which seriously injured a dockyard worker.
Takeoff at 4:30P.M. Target near St. Omar in France. Short mission. Drop bombs. See no enemy fighters. Run into accurate flack leaving French Coast. No. 4 engine catches fire. No. 1 prop runs away. Am knocked out of formation. Ack-Ack shell gets direct hit on left wing, explodes two feet above wing. Ship is thrown upon one wing. Went out of control for a minute. Head for English coast. Can’t spot field. Land ship in water about two miles off English coast. No one hurt. Picked up by English boat. Got home two days later.
Unlucky Thirteen
I led the second element of the High Squadron.
(Side-Note: A picture and narrative of the downed B-17 Miss Billie and notes of the crew rescue are shown below as obtained from the website:
http://www.wildfire3.com/raf-r-101.html )
From: RAF R-101 (wildfire3.com)
27 August, 1943. Air-sea rescue boars from sheerness saved ten crewmen from a ditched US air force Flying fortress. They were found in the Thames Estuary in two rubber dingies. Flotation bags were fitted to the plane and it was towed to shore and beached at Maring Parade, near the Coal Pier, Sheerness. While it was being cut up a spark ignited fuel, causing an explosion which seriously injured a dockyard worker.
B17 flying fortress which crashed landed in the sea off Sheppey and the crew were rescued by the Sheerness RAF air-Sea Rescue Boats. The chair which appears to be an office chair is the chair of the Bombardier. The Bombardier sits in the plastic dome at the very front of the B17 “Flying Fortress” in order to give him as clear a view of the approaching target as possible.
B-17 42-30617/Miss Billie
92nd bomb Group, 327th Bomb Squadron.
Flak damage forced to ditch in the Thames Estuary on the 27th august 1943. All crew rescued by R-101, RAF Air Sea Rescue Motor-Boat based at Wildfire, Sheerness.
Crew: Pilot, Winston Tucker, Co-pilot, Cark Carlson. Navigator, Joe Liebman. Bombardier, Tom Thompson. Flight Engineer/top turret gunner, Dick Bragdon. Radio Operator, Dave Stewart. Ball turret gunner, Theo Thurson. Waist gunners, Lewis Kuhnz and Cloe Cruthchfield. Tail gunner, Bob Gailey.
From: B-17 #42-30617 Photo B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen of The Skies (https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-30617/42-30617-2/)
Delivered Cheyenne 29/6/43; Gore 30/6/43; Gr Isle 16/7/43; Dalhart 20/7/43; Gr Isle 26/7/43; Presque Is 2/8/43; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-N ] Alconbury 21/8/43; Missing in Action Watten 27/8/43 with Winston Tucker, Co-pilot: Carl Carlson, Navigator: Joe Liebman, Bombardier: Tom Thompson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dick Bragdon, Radio Operator: Dave Stewart, Ball turret gunner: Theo Thurston, Waist gunner: Lewis Kuhnz, Waist gunner: Cloe Crutchfield, Tail gunner: Bob Gailey (10 Returned to Duty); flak damage forced to ditch in The Channel, off Isle of Sheppey, Kent, UK, all rescued by Air Sea Rescue launch. No MACR.
The photo and associated caption and narrative above are with permission from: RAF R-101, http://www.wildfire3.com/raf-r-101.html, accessed October 7, 2022.)
September 3, 1943
Target Airfield in France. Takeoff at 5:30 a.m. don’t see much flack, are attacked by enemy fighters near target. Our P47 jumped the enemy. FW190 gets one of our Forts. P47 gets FW190. Ran out of gas on reaching English coast. Land on small airfield. Get gas and return home. I led the second Element of the Lead Squadron.
September 6, 1943
Early takeoff. Target Stuttgart, Germany. Long trip. Attacked by fighters early. Got some flack on way in. target was covered over. Target was fairly heavy with flack. Gas runs low. Barely make English coast. Lose seven ships of our formation. Lots of Forts run out of gas on way back. I was leader of the Low squadron. Got third Oak Leaf Cluster on the trip. Hard mission.
September 9, 1943
Early morning takeoff. Target Airfield at Lille, France. Flack light. No enemy fighters. Hit target using Fragmentation Bombs. Easy mission. I was leader of Second Element of the High Squadron.
Monday September 27, 1943
Up early Takeoff 0700 o’clock. Target Emden Germany. Saw fighters and flack but neither bothered us much. Do not know result of Bombing. I led the second element of Low Squadron. Easy mission.
October 5, 1943
Target is Frankfurt, Germany. Long trip, flack moderate at the target. Hit by lots of enemy fighters after leaving target. Got several head-on attacks. Ju88’s fired on us with large Rocket guns. Hit target. I led second element of High Squadron. Hard mission. Lost 15 Forts.
Friday October 8, 1943
Target Brenem, Germany. See more enemy fighters than ever before. Mostly Ju88’s. Lots of tail attacks. Rocket guns fired on us. Flack was so thick and heavy at target could hardly see through it. I led low Squadron. Very hard mission. Lost 30 Forts.
Saturday October 9, 1943
Target ship building yards in Gdynia, Poland. Longest trip made by Forts. Flack over Denmark. Flack moderate over target. Attacked by fighters over North Sea. I led Second element of Lead Squadron. Hard Mission. Lost 29 Forts.
Sunday, October 10, 1943
Target Munster, Germany. Accurate flack near target. Enemy fighters around but P47’s kept them away from our group. I led the high squadron.
Thursday, October 14, 1943
Takeoff 10:00 o’clock. Target Schweinfurt, Germany. Raining at takeoff. Zero weather. Get heavy fighter attacks twenty minutes inside Germany. Attacked by wave after wave of single engine and twin-engine fighters. Twin engine were shooting large rockets at us, sometime as many as twenty attacked at one time. Forts burst into flames all around us. One blew up just below me and almost blew us out of air. Lt. Brown was in ship that exploded. Fighters stayed with us for three hours. Hit target. Lost about 70 Forts. My crew shot down four fighters. Several holes knocked in ship. Twenty MM shell burst in nose, wounded Navigator. Returned to base and weather closed in, couldn’t find field. Started to have men bail out. Happened to locate field in hole in clouds. Hardest mission ever pulled. Lost six ships out of our group. I was leader of low squadron.
(Side-Note: This Schweinfurt Raid was also known as “Black Thursday”. Records indicate of 291 Flying Fortresses sent on the mission, 60 were lost and 17 damaged severely requiring them to be scrapped, and 121 others with battle damage. Losses included 650 of 2900 bomber crewmen.)
November 3, 1943
Target Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Overcast over target. Flack moderate. Good escort by P47’s and P38’s. Few enemy fighters. Fairly easy mission. I was leader of high squadron.
Friday November 6, 1943
Target Gelsen-Kirchen, Germany in the center of the Rhur Valley. Most flack I have ever seen. Leader shot down over target. Several holes in ship. One large piece hit above Co-pilots head and brushed my arm. P47 escort. Some enemy fighters. Hard raid. I led second element of lead group. ONE MORE TO GO!!!!
December 5, 1943
Early takeoff. Target La Rochelle, France. My fourth start on my 25/th mission. Lost one engine before takeoff. Had given up going. Another stuck in the mud. Had them pull it out and took off an hour and a half late. Almost crashed on takeoff when snow completely covered windshield, cutting off all vision. Finally caught group twenty minutes inside France. Lost engine after catching them. Target was covered by clouds. Had to salvo my bombs to keep up.
Last Mission – S/Sgt. Thurston and S/Sgt. Gailey finished also. The rest of my crew have two missions to go. Received the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal upon completing this 25th mission.
B-17 42-30617/Miss Billie
92nd bomb Group, 327th Bomb Squadron.
Flak damage forced to ditch in the Thames Estuary on the 27th august 1943. All crew rescued by R-101, RAF Air Sea Rescue Motor-Boat based at Wildfire, Sheerness.
Crew: Pilot, Winston Tucker, Co-pilot, Cark Carlson. Navigator, Joe Liebman. Bombardier, Tom Thompson. Flight Engineer/top turret gunner, Dick Bragdon. Radio Operator, Dave Stewart. Ball turret gunner, Theo Thurson. Waist gunners, Lewis Kuhnz and Cloe Cruthchfield. Tail gunner, Bob Gailey.
From: B-17 #42-30617 Photo B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen of The Skies (https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-30617/42-30617-2/)
Delivered Cheyenne 29/6/43; Gore 30/6/43; Gr Isle 16/7/43; Dalhart 20/7/43; Gr Isle 26/7/43; Presque Is 2/8/43; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-N ] Alconbury 21/8/43; Missing in Action Watten 27/8/43 with Winston Tucker, Co-pilot: Carl Carlson, Navigator: Joe Liebman, Bombardier: Tom Thompson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dick Bragdon, Radio Operator: Dave Stewart, Ball turret gunner: Theo Thurston, Waist gunner: Lewis Kuhnz, Waist gunner: Cloe Crutchfield, Tail gunner: Bob Gailey (10 Returned to Duty); flak damage forced to ditch in The Channel, off Isle of Sheppey, Kent, UK, all rescued by Air Sea Rescue launch. No MACR.
The photo and associated caption and narrative above are with permission from: RAF R-101, http://www.wildfire3.com/raf-r-101.html, accessed October 7, 2022.)
September 3, 1943
Target Airfield in France. Takeoff at 5:30 a.m. don’t see much flack, are attacked by enemy fighters near target. Our P47 jumped the enemy. FW190 gets one of our Forts. P47 gets FW190. Ran out of gas on reaching English coast. Land on small airfield. Get gas and return home. I led the second Element of the Lead Squadron.
September 6, 1943
Early takeoff. Target Stuttgart, Germany. Long trip. Attacked by fighters early. Got some flack on way in. target was covered over. Target was fairly heavy with flack. Gas runs low. Barely make English coast. Lose seven ships of our formation. Lots of Forts run out of gas on way back. I was leader of the Low squadron. Got third Oak Leaf Cluster on the trip. Hard mission.
September 9, 1943
Early morning takeoff. Target Airfield at Lille, France. Flack light. No enemy fighters. Hit target using Fragmentation Bombs. Easy mission. I was leader of Second Element of the High Squadron.
Monday September 27, 1943
Up early Takeoff 0700 o’clock. Target Emden Germany. Saw fighters and flack but neither bothered us much. Do not know result of Bombing. I led the second element of Low Squadron. Easy mission.
October 5, 1943
Target is Frankfurt, Germany. Long trip, flack moderate at the target. Hit by lots of enemy fighters after leaving target. Got several head-on attacks. Ju88’s fired on us with large Rocket guns. Hit target. I led second element of High Squadron. Hard mission. Lost 15 Forts.
Friday October 8, 1943
Target Brenem, Germany. See more enemy fighters than ever before. Mostly Ju88’s. Lots of tail attacks. Rocket guns fired on us. Flack was so thick and heavy at target could hardly see through it. I led low Squadron. Very hard mission. Lost 30 Forts.
Saturday October 9, 1943
Target ship building yards in Gdynia, Poland. Longest trip made by Forts. Flack over Denmark. Flack moderate over target. Attacked by fighters over North Sea. I led Second element of Lead Squadron. Hard Mission. Lost 29 Forts.
Sunday, October 10, 1943
Target Munster, Germany. Accurate flack near target. Enemy fighters around but P47’s kept them away from our group. I led the high squadron.
Thursday, October 14, 1943
Takeoff 10:00 o’clock. Target Schweinfurt, Germany. Raining at takeoff. Zero weather. Get heavy fighter attacks twenty minutes inside Germany. Attacked by wave after wave of single engine and twin-engine fighters. Twin engine were shooting large rockets at us, sometime as many as twenty attacked at one time. Forts burst into flames all around us. One blew up just below me and almost blew us out of air. Lt. Brown was in ship that exploded. Fighters stayed with us for three hours. Hit target. Lost about 70 Forts. My crew shot down four fighters. Several holes knocked in ship. Twenty MM shell burst in nose, wounded Navigator. Returned to base and weather closed in, couldn’t find field. Started to have men bail out. Happened to locate field in hole in clouds. Hardest mission ever pulled. Lost six ships out of our group. I was leader of low squadron.
(Side-Note: This Schweinfurt Raid was also known as “Black Thursday”. Records indicate of 291 Flying Fortresses sent on the mission, 60 were lost and 17 damaged severely requiring them to be scrapped, and 121 others with battle damage. Losses included 650 of 2900 bomber crewmen.)
November 3, 1943
Target Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Overcast over target. Flack moderate. Good escort by P47’s and P38’s. Few enemy fighters. Fairly easy mission. I was leader of high squadron.
Friday November 6, 1943
Target Gelsen-Kirchen, Germany in the center of the Rhur Valley. Most flack I have ever seen. Leader shot down over target. Several holes in ship. One large piece hit above Co-pilots head and brushed my arm. P47 escort. Some enemy fighters. Hard raid. I led second element of lead group. ONE MORE TO GO!!!!
December 5, 1943
Early takeoff. Target La Rochelle, France. My fourth start on my 25/th mission. Lost one engine before takeoff. Had given up going. Another stuck in the mud. Had them pull it out and took off an hour and a half late. Almost crashed on takeoff when snow completely covered windshield, cutting off all vision. Finally caught group twenty minutes inside France. Lost engine after catching them. Target was covered by clouds. Had to salvo my bombs to keep up.
Last Mission – S/Sgt. Thurston and S/Sgt. Gailey finished also. The rest of my crew have two missions to go. Received the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal upon completing this 25th mission.
THE END
Recorded Notes from my Twenty-Five completed Missions in World War II
Winston J. Tucker, (Lt. Colonel of the U.S. Air Force, Retired).
Recorded Notes from my Twenty-Five completed Missions in World War II
Winston J. Tucker, (Lt. Colonel of the U.S. Air Force, Retired).
After returning from the European theater of Operations Winston was based at Topeka, Kansas and in Memphis/Nashville, Tennessee, where he served the Fourth Ferrying Group of the Air Transport Command. This group ferried new aircraft from Vultee Aircraft factory in Nashville and Curtis-Wright corporation near St. Louis to modification centers in the US.
While assigned to the Air Transport Command (ATC), Winston played football for the Air Transport Command Rockets, the ATC service team:
While assigned to the Air Transport Command (ATC), Winston played football for the Air Transport Command Rockets, the ATC service team:
Winston J. Tucker is #35 in the photo above.
(Above photos from Winston J. Tucker family collection)
A Souvenir Program from a game he played Air Transport Command Rockets vs. First Air Force Aces can be found at the following link:
GenKY - Northern Kentucky Local History Databases 1 (kentonlibrary.org)
By August of 1944 Winston was serving with the 556th AAF Base Unit, established in Long Beach, CA where the unit was responsible for ferrying aircraft from Consolidated Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft, Lockheed Aircraft, North American Aircraft, Ryan Aeronautical, Northrop aircraft and Vega Aircraft factories.
Winston’s flight training records show he had flown the following aircraft: Aeronca, PT-19, BT-14, AT-9, AT-17, B-17, B-24, UC-78, B-25, C-45, C-54, C-47.
A Souvenir Program from a game he played Air Transport Command Rockets vs. First Air Force Aces can be found at the following link:
GenKY - Northern Kentucky Local History Databases 1 (kentonlibrary.org)
By August of 1944 Winston was serving with the 556th AAF Base Unit, established in Long Beach, CA where the unit was responsible for ferrying aircraft from Consolidated Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft, Lockheed Aircraft, North American Aircraft, Ryan Aeronautical, Northrop aircraft and Vega Aircraft factories.
Winston’s flight training records show he had flown the following aircraft: Aeronca, PT-19, BT-14, AT-9, AT-17, B-17, B-24, UC-78, B-25, C-45, C-54, C-47.
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(Above photos from Winston J. Tucker family collection)
Post War Years
Winston continued to serve our country after the war as a member of the USAF Reserve.
Post War Years
Winston continued to serve our country after the war as a member of the USAF Reserve.
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(Above photos from Winston J. Tucker family collection)
In civilian life Winston taught health, driver’s training and driver’s education and coached football at Van Nuys High School in California from 1948-1970 and later became the Athletic Director. He was chairman of the boy’s physical education department. In 1957 he was chosen head coach of the Southern Division of the Annual Shrine North-South High School Football Classic.
Winston passed away in 1995 in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
In civilian life Winston taught health, driver’s training and driver’s education and coached football at Van Nuys High School in California from 1948-1970 and later became the Athletic Director. He was chairman of the boy’s physical education department. In 1957 he was chosen head coach of the Southern Division of the Annual Shrine North-South High School Football Classic.
Winston passed away in 1995 in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
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CONTRAILS MUST BE REMEMBERED FOR THEY QUICKLY FADE
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Not uncommon at this time in history, Winston was not the only member of his family to serve during World War II. See the below excerpts from the Baylor County Texas, WWII Service Book 1941-1945 with a summary of Winston and his brothers:
Warbirds Unlimited expresses it’s utmost sincere gratitude, admiration, and deepest thanks to the entire Tucker family for this story, their sacrifices and service to our country. They are all true shining examples of our “Greatest Generation”.
Sources and References:
Warbirds Unlimited gratefully acknowledges the consent and significant contributions to this story from the Winston J. Tucker family, Hardin-Simmons University, American Air Museum in Britain and Wikimedia Commons.
Use of Material from the American Air Museum in Britain is with their express consent under these Terms and Conditions and License: Use of Wiki Commons material is in accordance with the following terms: (Warbirds Unlimited encourages readers to visit the contributing websites through the links above.)
Sources and References:
Warbirds Unlimited gratefully acknowledges the consent and significant contributions to this story from the Winston J. Tucker family, Hardin-Simmons University, American Air Museum in Britain and Wikimedia Commons.
- hsuathletics.com/Hall_of_Fame/HOF_Bios/tucker_winston?view=bio. n.d.
- “Winston Tucker,” Hardin-Simmons, accessed September 15, 2022, https://www.hsuathletics.com/Hall_of_Fame/HOF_Bios/tucker_winston?view=bio
- United States Army Air Forces, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, accessed September 15, 2022, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AAFTC_Fairchild_PT-19.jpg
- Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, accessed September 15, 2022, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_American_BT-14_in_flight.jpg
- Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, accessed September 15, 2022, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cessna_AT-17_(cropped).jpg
- United Sates Army Air Forces, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, accessed September 15, 2022, File:Randolph Field - Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeeps on Parking Ramp.jpg - Wikipedia
- B-17B Flying Fortress 38-270 Hendricks Army Airfield, Florida, 1942, accessed September 15, 2022, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-17B_Flying_Fortress_38-270.jpg) Source =Hendricks Field Yearbook for 1942 |Author =United States Army Air Forces |Date =1943 |Permission =USGOV-PD
- “Ground crew of the 92nd Bomb Group “, accessed September 15, 2022. https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/201
- 42-30617 American Air Museum In Britain, Phil Marchese and RandyJustice1 contributors, Justice Collection, American Air Museum.com, accessed September 15, 2022. https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4631
- YB-40 B-17F-10-VE 42-5734 Seymour Angel 92nd BG 327BS Fame’s Favored Few Alconbury UK June 15 1943, Justice Collection UPL 37393, Contributors Emily, RandyJustice1, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/37393, accessed September 15, 2022
- YB-40 B-17F-10-VE 42-5734 Seymour Angel 92nd BG 327BS Fame’s Favored Few Alconbury UK June 15 1943, Justice Collection UPL 37391, Contributors Emily, RandyJustice1, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/37391, accessed September 15, 2022
- 42-30408 American Air| Museum in Britain, Contributors: American Air Museum, JoCarter, LucyMay, William Pugh, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4401, accessed October 7, 2022.
- RAF R-101, http://www.wildfire3.com/raf-r-101.html, accessed October 7, 2022.
- GenKY - Northern Kentucky Local History Databases 1 (kentonlibrary.org)
- Various photos and memorabilia courtesy of the Winston J. Tucker Family.
Use of Material from the American Air Museum in Britain is with their express consent under these Terms and Conditions and License: Use of Wiki Commons material is in accordance with the following terms: (Warbirds Unlimited encourages readers to visit the contributing websites through the links above.)