Tyler Morning Telegraph article

Thanks to Dave Berry for a recent mention in the Tyler Morning Telegraph!  To see the article, click here.

Texarkana - October 7, 2014

"Sentimental Journey", courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Tony will be at Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK) on Tuesday, October 7th, with Sentimental Journey, the B-17 of the Commemorative Air Force's Arizona Wing.  Come out to see and hear this beautiful aircraft, and stop by to visit with Tony.  He will have new updates about the efforts to lift Miss Deal from the Dollart.  This will be the first B-17 raised from Dutch waters in 45 years.

Tony will also be autographing copies of his book 25 June 1943:  The Search for Miss Deal and the Early Raiders on the Reich.  As always, proceeds from the book will go towards lifting the aircraft and bringing home 2LT John R Way and SSGT Charles E Crawford.  Tony will be available with advice and encouragement to others who are missing friends and family members from WWII.  Please stop by and visit!

Where:      Texarkana Regional Airport
                  South Ramp (via Gate 3, Flying Club)
                  201 Airport Drive
                  Texarkana, AR  71854
                  AirNav Page

When:       Tuesday, October 7th
                  10:00AM- 5:00PM

Contact:     Tony Crawford:  972-467-4884
                   TXK Airport:  870-773-4816
                   Sentimental Journey Ride Coordinator:  602-448-9415


More about the B-17 Sentimental Journey
                  

September Tour

Tony has done a lot of traveling during the month of September trying to raise awareness about Miss Deal.  Here are just a few of the places he has been:





September 6th     Tulsa, OK:  R.L. Jones Airport with Commemorative Air Force
                              (Texas Raiders scratched)

September 20th    Terrell, TX:  Airshow and FlyIn at TRL

September 21st      San Antonio, TX:  Stinson Airport - 5th Bomb Group Reunion


September 27-28    Dallas, TX:  ADS Cavanaugh Flight Museum - Fall FlyIn Days

P-40s at Cavanaugh, T. Crawford photo

For those of you who stopped by to buy a book and support our efforts to lift the submerged aircraft and her precious cargo - we are deeply grateful!  And to all who had a friendly hello or a few minutes of conversation, thank you too!  This kind of project can be full of delays and setbacks, disappointments and dead ends... but you folks who encourage us in this effort, well... feel you are all a part of our team, and your support really means a lot to us.  Thanks to all for your kind words and assistance in this endeavor. 

If you were there, please leave a comment!

Dallas Love Field - August 24 2014

Stop by and see Tony at the Frontiers of Flight Museum this Sunday.  Buy a book and support the efforts to raise Miss Deal, 2LT John Way, and SSGT Charles Crawford, or just take a minute to chat.  Tony has had good things to say about the interesting people he has met at the museum.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

Corpus Christi Int'l - August 23 2014

Tony will be out at Corpus Christi today with the Commemorative Air Force's Texas Raiders.  Come out and visit!
Corpus Christi Caller article

For more information on Texas Raiders and the CAF's Gulf Coast Wing, see their website.

Saturday, August 2nd

Tony will be signing books at the Hastings in Waco this Saturday.  Come out and buy a book!  As usual, all proceeds will help lift "Miss Deal" and bring John Way and Charles Crawford home.
The Hastings of Waco is located at
5526 Bosque.  Tony will be there from 1 to 4.

This weekend in Waco, TX

Come out to Waco Regional Airport this weekend to see the Commemorative Air Force's B17 "Texas Raiders" and to tour the rest of their collection.  Tony will be on hand Saturday morning and all day Sunday.
Tickets are only $5 for children and $10 for adults.

This weekend at Dallas/Love Field

Today is Moon Day at Love Field's Frontiers of Flight Museum!
Come out to this excellent facility and learn about Earth's amazing satellite, various moon expeditions, and more.  There will be many exhibits and programs to celebrate tomorrow's 45th anniversary of the lunar landing! 
Tony will be on hand today and tomorrow selling and signing books to fund the recovery of Miss Deal,her pilot 2LT John R Way, and Tony's uncle SSGT Charles E Crawford.  Even if you don't make a donation, take a few minutes to chat with him about the difficulties involved in lifting a piece of world history out of the Netherlands' waters, the progress that has already been made, and where these beloved servicemen will be interred once they are finally brought home after more than 70 years.  It's worth the trip!

Saturday, July 5 - TYLER, TX!

Northeast Texas residents - come see Tony at the Hastings in Tyler, TX on July 5th!  He will be on hand to explain about the efforts to raise Miss Deal from the Dollart, and bring home the pilot, 2LT John R. Way as well as Tony's uncle, SSGT Charles E Crawford, to final resting places beside their parents.
Autographed copies of his book will be available for purchase as well - remember, all profits go to fund the efforts to recover these heroes.

Hastings in Tyler is located at 4015 Broadway Avenue.  The store phone numbers are (903) 534-9278 and (903) 534-9279.  We hope to see you then!

Saturday, June 28 - back in Greenville, TX!

Tony Crawford will be back out at the Hastings bookstore on Saturday, June 28^h.   Once again he will be signing copies of his book to help raise money for the expedition to the Netherlands. Come out and get updated about the effort to recover the wreckage of Miss Deal, and raise the remains of pilot, 2LT John R Way, and Tony’s Uncle Charlie, who was ball turret gunner.

Hastings is located at 5101 Wesley Street. The store phone number is (903) 454-3629.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, June 14, 2014 - Wiley Post Airport

Thanks to all who came out to Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City last Saturday!  A great crowd was there and Tony met many interesting people.

The Liberty Foundation's B-17 Memphis Belle was on hand to give flights and ground tours.  Friends, one of these rare airplanes should not be missed!  Until you have stepped inside a Flying Fortress, you cannot truly appreciate what our American flight crews felt and experienced.  From the first light brush against the hand-riveted skin, a peep into the surprisingly confined spaces, to the ultimate realization of what the beautiful aircraft really is - you will walk away under a different, meaningful impression.  And you will want to do it again!

Many thanks to organizations like the Liberty Foundation that keep these old warbirds flying.  There is nothing like experiencing the real thing!  For more information on the Memphis Belle's schedule, and more about the Foundation and its mission, please visit their website.  Consider purchasing a flight for yourself or a loved one.  The price is reasonable and helps to offset the immense cost of maintaining these lovely ladies of history. Their goal to educate and keep the memory of WWII aviators alive is a noble one. 

Bill "Big Dog" Harvey

Bill Harvey was the original co-pilot of Miss Deal.  By a stroke of luck, he missed the 25 June 1943 mission which saw Miss Deal's demise. Luck seemed to take an interest in Harvey throughout his war service - even on his 25th mission - when the B17 he was piloting was brought down over occupied France.



Photo courtesy of Betty Harvey
 

Tony devotes an entire chapter to Harvey's exciting story in his book. 

An article was published this past Sunday that continues the story of the Dykstra family, who helped Harvey and his bombardier, Dick Rader, to hide from the Germans in France.  Please click the link below, and enjoy:

Robaire's Bakery Owner Dina Desormes details WWII-era France

Young Eagles at Cleburne!

Hello Young Eagles!

This post is for you, future pilots!  Tony enjoyed meeting you at Cleburne Airport and talking to you about World War II, his missing Uncle Charlie, the pilot John Way, and Miss Deal.

 

We hope you had a great time today, and learned a lot of new things.

Looks like you had fun!


Here is an old but great ad featuring a B-17 Flying Fortress  from Texas.  You might remember hearing that this is the kind of airplane that Tony's uncle flew on.


Don't Mess with Texas!


There is an old saying that goes, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Indeed, many people are only interested in today and in the future.  Nonetheless, there is great value in the knowledge of history!  One of the easiest ways to develop an interest in history is to make it personal.  Take World War II, for instance.  Can you imagine what life was like for someone your age in 1941?  In the United States, perhaps you would have relatives - a brother, an uncle -  joining the Army.  Perhaps you yourself would be joining in a few years, or going to work in a factory to help with the war effort. 

Suppose you lived in Germany, or other parts of Europe in 1941.  Would you have been a member of the Hitler Youth?  Or maybe you would have had to go into hiding with your family, like Anne Frank.  Or perhaps you would have sheltered those who were persecuted, like Corrie ten Boom. 

Your life would have been quite different in those days.  You would only have had a radio instead of a TV.  Your dinner and your everyday life would have been affected by rationing.

You can begin your own World War II research by finding out about relatives who may have participated in the war effort.  Ask your family members what they know about relatives who lived in the 1940s.  Ask older relatives what they remember about the war years.  Ask to look at old photographs.  There are many great stories within your own family, if you only take the time to find out!


About B-17s

More information on WWII aircraft

About becoming a pilot

Aviation Careers


Keep the shiny side up!


 

Saturday, June 7th - Cleburne Regional Airport

Cleburne Regional Airport (KCPT) will be hosting an EAA Young Eagles event tomorrow from 8am to noon.  The event gives local youths from ages 8 - 17 a free flight experience.  Trained pilots donate their time, aircraft and fuel to introduce youngsters to aviation.

Interested parties please contact the Coordinator, Michelle Daniels at mpdaniel@prodigy.net, or call 817-718-6995.

Tony will be speaking at the event, and all are encouraged to attend.

Click here for KCPT's AirNav page.

On this day in World War II.... June 6, 1944

D Day... The largest seaborne invasion in history, Operation Neptune heralded the invasion of Western Europe and was a substantial contribution to the eventual Allied victory.

Please click below for seven minutes of D Day footage.  This film was produced by the OSS, and is presented for public view by the Imperial War Museums.

D Day Footage

Hello Mississippi!

Tony will be visiting at the McComb and Meadville public libraries today.  Please drop by to say hello and visit about the efforts to recover Miss Deal.

Tony to sign books in Greenville, TX - MAY 17 2014

Greenville residents, come see Tony Crawford at the Hastings bookstore on Saturday, May 17^th from 1 to 4pm.  He will be signing copies of his book to help raise money for the expedition to the Netherlands.  Come out and talk to him about the effort to recover the wreckage of Miss Deal, and raise the remains of pilot, 2LT John R Way, and Tony’s Uncle Charlie.

Hastings is located at 5101 Wesley Street.  The store phone number is (903) 454-3629.

Hope to see you there!

Propwash Airport - Saturday May 10, 2014

Tony will be out at Propwash Airport 16X (click here for AirNav page) this coming Saturday to sign a few books.  Come on out and visit!

Propwash is a great aviation community located 3 miles west of Justin, TX, with a 3000' lighted asphalt runway.  For more information about the airport, click here for their website.

On this day in World War II... APRIL 29, 1945

Stalag VII-A, an 86-acre prisoner-of-war camp (the largest in Germany) located north of the town of Moosburg in southern Bavaria, was liberated on this day in 1945. 

 At the time of liberation, there were approximately 80,000 prisoners detained in the camp, mostly French and Soviet.  Over 1,000 POWs died at the camp during its 5 ½ year history.  Combat Command A of the 14^th Armored Division freed the camp after a short battle. 

Sources:  Wikipedia and Moosburg Online

PROFILE: SSGT Raymond E Dodge

Known to his fellow crewmembers as “Young Dodge” or “Trigger”, Raymond Earl Dodge entered the service 12 days after his 18^th birthday in 1942.  He was right waist gunner on Miss Deal.

photo courtesy of the Dodge Family

Enemy fire almost completely severed Dodge's hands during the return flight from Hamburg.   He was awarded the Purple Heart, and is buried with his family at Moe Lutheran Church Cemetery, in Clear Lake, Wisconsin.

BLUEBONNET AIRSHOW REMINDER!!!

Texas Hill Country residents... don't forget to visit the Bluebonnet Airshow this coming Saturday, April 26th.  Gates open at 10am and close at 4pm.

Tickets:  Adults - 15.00, Seniors and Military - 10.00, Students (6-17) - 5.00, Age 5 and under FREE

Stop by and see Tony... he will have autographed copies of his book available for $20.  Stop by to chat and learn more about the expedition to lift Miss Deal from the Dollart.

Hope to see you there!

On this day in World War II… APRIL 18

1942

The famous Doolittle Raid – the first American air raid to strike the Japanese Home Islands, including the capital of Tokyo.  Little significant damage was done, but perhaps more importantly, American morale was boosted, and doubts were raised in Japan of their ability to defend the homeland.

1943

Also on this day, but one year later...Admiral Isoruko Yamamoto, Japanese naval strategist, was killed when his aircraft was shot down by American P-38s.  He was commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the battles of Pearl Harbor and Midway.  Codebreakers intercepted and decrypted Admiral Yamamoto’s itinerary on April 14^th, and Operation Vengeance was underway.

Admiral Yamamoto and staff were on an inspection tour in Papua New Guinea, and would be traveling in two Mitsubishi G4M Bettys of the 204^th Kokutai, escorted by six Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters.  They would be departing New Britain and traveling to Bougainville Island.

To avoid detection by Japanese radar, the flight would be 1000 miles roundtrip, well beyond the range of many American fighters.  Eighteen wave-hopping Lockheed P-38 Lightnings from the 339^th were the tool of choice, toting auxiliary tanks to extend their range.  The mission was a success, both Japanese bombers lost with the loss of only one American aircraft and pilot, and a morale defeat for the Japanese Navy. General MacArthur called Operation Vengeance “one of the singularly most significant actions of the Pacific War.”

source:  Wikipedia