'Keep 'em Flyin''Ground Crews of the Eighth Air Force; 8th AFHS Oregon Chapter Meeting May 13, 2006

A panel discussion with ground crew members and their part in keeping the B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-26s, A-20s, A-26s and the fighters of the 8th Air Force in the air during World War II.

(PRWEB) April 15, 2006 -- Eighth Air Force Historical Society of Oregon (8th AFHS Oregon) May 13, 2006 meeting will be centered around the ground crews that kept the thousands of planes of the 8th flying for over three years of combat in Europe during World War Two.

The program is panel discussion with Ray Winters, Urban Klutthe, and Max Pyles.

Unlike the flight crews who flew anywhere from 25 to 50 missions before being sent home, ground crews (and staff personnel) were there "for the duration." They arrived, were assigned to a base, and worked in their speciality until the war was won.

They toiled in all sorts of weather from balmy summers to the harsh winter of 1944/45 repairing battle damaged aircraft, salvaging crashed aircraft, fixing weapons, swapping engines overnight so that the plane could again fly the next day for the next "maximum effort" mission.

Truly unsung soldiers of the "Mighty Eighth" the ground personnel worked hard - and sometimes died - so that aircraft could hit strategic targets, support the ground troops in tactical support, and defeat the Luftwaffe to achieve air supremacy in Europe.

The meeting doors open at 10:00 and the meeting adjourns at 2 PM. Social hour starts at 10:30. Call to order of the meeting starts at 11:30. Lunch starts at Noon and the panel discussion starts at 1 PM. The meeting room in on the North side of the building. Drive around the main entrance and enter from the side right into the meeting room.

Lunch can be purchased at the Elks Lodge and costs $9.50 per person. Lunch consists of sandwiches, rolls, condiments and coffee or tea. You must contact Tom Philo at 503-350-3744 and tell him if you plan to eat at the meeting so he can get an accurate headcount. You can also notify him via e-mail at secretary @ 8thafhsoregon.com.

The Beaverton Elks Lodge address is:

3500 SW 104th Avenue

Beaverton, Oregon 97005-1941

Elks Lodge web site: http://www.teleport.com/~elks1989

The 8th AFHS main web site is at: http://www.8thafhs.org

The Oregon chapter web site is at: http://www.8thafhsoregon.com/

Meetings are held on the first Saturday of the first full week of February, May, August, & November.

The "Mighty Eighth" is the United States Army Air Forces Bomber and Fighter Command that flew strategic precision daylight bombing missions against Germany in World War II from July 4, 1942 until May 8, 1945 - VE Day - in Europe.

Meetings are free and anyone can attend. You do not have to be a member to attend any meeting.

People interested in learning more about the 8th Air Force, or to pass on what they know to others concerning the 8th AF contribution and other aviation unit histories that brought victory to the Allies in the European theatre of war (ETO) or other combat theatres, are encouraged to join the Oregon Chapter. Please fill out a membership form at the meeting. The annual dues is $10. In addition, you have to join the national organization whose dues are $25 a year. The national chapter puts out a quarterly magazine while the Oregon chapter puts out a quarterly newsletter.

The Oregon Chapter of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society is a registered non-profit corporation in the State of Oregon. Money contributed above the annual dues is normally tax-deductible.

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