Operation Frantic Joe 1944

Miscellaneous other stuff having to do with Military Vehicles and Trucks....NO POLITICS!

This will be monitored!
Post Reply
Bill_Wolf
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2367
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Tilton, NH
Contact:

Operation Frantic Joe 1944

Post by Bill_Wolf »

As some of you may know (from me posting his stuff on my Web sites) my father was a 50 mission B-17 pilot who served with the 15th Airforce, 97th Bomb Group (Heavy), in the 342 Bomb Squadron. He was based in Amendola 1 (Foggia) Italy from May of 1944 to September of 1944. Among his many accomplishments....He went to Ploesti 7 times and flew in the First Shuttle Raid to Russia called operation "Frantic" or "Frantic Joe".

My father was very proud of his service to his country and always was eager to share his thoughts with his kids. I can remember him telling me about the shuttle raid and that on the way to Russia he had an 11 man crew (1 more than usual). Number 11 was a videographer who kept shooting film all during the trip. It was a total effort by the 97th in operation Frantic. They had Gen Eaker on the trip and never had less than 100 fighters escorting them at all times.

2 years ago I was poking around on the net and found a Video web site selling a video called "Operation Titanic" about the shuttle raid to Russia. I purchased it not connecting what my father told me because of the difference in the name. (My mistake as this film was released during the war and apparently they did not want to use the mission's real name).

The video came and as I sat and watched it I notice that it was all war time footage, most of it not staged. As it wound it's way toward the end there was my Dad sitting in the front row of a Russian Army USO show with a little Russian Boy chewing Gum....A chill came over me and tears welled up in my eyes....My Dad had been right after all these years.

Unfortunately my Dad passed on from Cancer in 1993 and never got to see himself as a movie star but I am proud to say his legacy lives on.

Today, I again got out the video, this time to transfer it over to a DVD using my computer. I watched it again during the transfer and now that I am more HMV savy I was amazed to see all the excellent pictures of WW2 trucks in it.

Great picture of what looks like a Kenworth Tractor (m1 missing the wrecker stuff) hauling around a double axle fuel trailer. A CCKW with 500# bombs (actually) rolling around in the back, a WC-52 standing by with a Class 1010 fire trailer on the back of it. There are numerous other pictures of vehilcles in it that you don't really see anywhere else....and of course my Dad. :D

It is a great video and has now made me very happy on both the family front and the HMV front.

Just me rambling.....

Bill Wolf


I will try and post some pics if I can do a decent screen capture off the DVD.

Bill
1945 GMC DUKW
1942 Chevy 125 Crash Truck from Dow AAFB,
1944 Chevy 325 Fire Truck
1942 WC-54 Ambulance
1944 M29C Weasel (x6)
1945 CCKW 353 A2 Open Cab "Air-portable"
1943 M5 High Speed Tractor
1942 Sperry Searchlight setup with GE Generator
1942 M-1 Fruehauf Searchlight Trailer (G221)
1942 M-17 Fruehauf Quad 50 Trailer (G221)
1942 M-10 Ammo Trailer (x3)
194? Steel Ben Hur (x4) 194? Wood Ben Hur (x2)
1945 Case VAIW-3 Aircraft Tug
1943 Case VAI USAAF with Mower
1944 Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
1944 PE-95G, 1944 PE-99B
joel gopan
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2493
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Hampden, ME

Post by joel gopan »

REO and Beiderman made a 7 1/2 Ton 6X6 Tractor that USAAF used for Fuel Trailers, and occasional Lowboy Trailers that were used to recoverwrecked aircraft. They do not survive Father Time Well, because of wooden posts and sills in side of the cab sheetmetal. There are no TMs for them, they are all TOs (Tech Orders) and not easily found.
Joel
44 MB 356378- 54 M-38A1-41 CCKW 352-51 M-37-42TW6-45MBT-43 M1 BOMB LIFT (WEAVER)- RECORD SETTING HONOR GRADUATE Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics School, U.S. ARMY 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL 1962 - MVPA 1064 - RED BALL CHAPTER - PHONY VETERAN HEADHUNTER - ARMY FIXED & ROTARY WING MECHANIC/CREWCHIEF-STILL FIT WARBIRD COCKPITS
Bill_Wolf
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2367
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Tilton, NH
Contact:

Post by Bill_Wolf »

As promised some pictures captured from the DVD

My Dad with a Russian Kid watching the show

Image

Fuel Truck Tractor....

Image

The rest of the refueler....

Image

Image

More to come....

Bill
1945 GMC DUKW
1942 Chevy 125 Crash Truck from Dow AAFB,
1944 Chevy 325 Fire Truck
1942 WC-54 Ambulance
1944 M29C Weasel (x6)
1945 CCKW 353 A2 Open Cab "Air-portable"
1943 M5 High Speed Tractor
1942 Sperry Searchlight setup with GE Generator
1942 M-1 Fruehauf Searchlight Trailer (G221)
1942 M-17 Fruehauf Quad 50 Trailer (G221)
1942 M-10 Ammo Trailer (x3)
194? Steel Ben Hur (x4) 194? Wood Ben Hur (x2)
1945 Case VAIW-3 Aircraft Tug
1943 Case VAI USAAF with Mower
1944 Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
1944 PE-95G, 1944 PE-99B
bobc
Captain
Captain
Posts: 298
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Extreme Northern AZ

Great story and pics

Post by bobc »

Hi Bill, that was a great story,finding your dad in an old video like that is amazing.I've always enjoyed your post on the G, it's good to see we share other interest. Maybe some day we'll get to meet at a show,but I think you are back east,so it might be a while. Enjoy your post. Bobc
Restored M-2-A-1 half-track, 41 CCKW SWB closed cab yard truck, working on open cab G-506 cargo truck
Bill_Wolf
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2367
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Tilton, NH
Contact:

Post by Bill_Wolf »

Thanks for the comments Bob...

Please enjoy the site.

See you at Aberdeen?

Bill
1945 GMC DUKW
1942 Chevy 125 Crash Truck from Dow AAFB,
1944 Chevy 325 Fire Truck
1942 WC-54 Ambulance
1944 M29C Weasel (x6)
1945 CCKW 353 A2 Open Cab "Air-portable"
1943 M5 High Speed Tractor
1942 Sperry Searchlight setup with GE Generator
1942 M-1 Fruehauf Searchlight Trailer (G221)
1942 M-17 Fruehauf Quad 50 Trailer (G221)
1942 M-10 Ammo Trailer (x3)
194? Steel Ben Hur (x4) 194? Wood Ben Hur (x2)
1945 Case VAIW-3 Aircraft Tug
1943 Case VAI USAAF with Mower
1944 Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
1944 PE-95G, 1944 PE-99B
bobc
Captain
Captain
Posts: 298
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Extreme Northern AZ

aberdeen!

Post by bobc »

Ah the mecca of the MVer,some day I hope to get back for that,but unless alot of good things happen quickly it won't be this year,but some day I will make it back there,I've been dreaming about a trip since I learned they have Anzio Annie! I have family outside Philly so it would make a great excuse for long raod trip. Keep up the great work you all are doing. Bob.
Restored M-2-A-1 half-track, 41 CCKW SWB closed cab yard truck, working on open cab G-506 cargo truck
armydriver
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2595
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Post by armydriver »

Hey thanks for the great story and photos. This was worth the read.
52 M38 Willy's
Former owner and restorer of CCKW353 " Betty Boop"

proud father of a career Army officer/Blackhawk pilot/ War in Iraq veteran
Retired high school history teacher at Lt. Colonel Robert G. Cole CMH High School, Fort Sam Houston Texas
proud great grandson of four Confederate soldiers.
great great grandson of a War of 1812 veteran
great great great grandson of 2 American Revolutionary war veterans
Post Reply