The GMC CCKW

My former Boss at DOT was a B-24 pilot with 67 missions in the B-24 and C-47s. He was assigned to Berndt Balchen to fly sensitive C-47 low level missions into Norway near wars end to check on Nazi activity. Berndt Balchen was pilot for Admiral Peary's Polar Flight, and later the USAF officer in charge of constructing the USAF Base at Thule Greenland. Berndt Balchen died in 1975. Berndt Balchen was from the old school who got things done in the most expeditious manner. He retired as a USAF Colonel in 1959. My old boss Everett Stevens, Carmel, ME, is still kicking. He likes to tell tales of "Foo Fighters", and his former 467 BG CO Col Albert Shower. Col Shower is the pilot that flew one of the last B-17s to the City of Tulare California for display. Col Albert Shower is immortilized as a Plane Sponser on the side of the Collings Foundation B-24.(costs $5000) I soon hope to be.
Joel

Great story Joel. I was surprised when I saw your reference to the 467th Bomb Group Heavy. I have, as a part of my WWII aviation collection, the high altitude fleece flight boots that belonged to Colonel Frederick E. Glantsberg, who was the first commander of the 467th before being re-assigned to the 461st BG as it's commander. Glantsberg retired as a major general from the Air Force and is buried at the National Cemetary on Fort Sam Houston. In fact there are 334 flag officers buried at Fort Sam Houston and 14 Congressional Medal of Honor receipients.
Back to the boots, they are late war when Glantsberg was promoted to the rank of Brig. General as they have the white name tag with Brig. Gen. sewn inside the boots . They are in excellent condition and a great item connected to an American hero. Thanks for the story Joel, it is kind of funny that a connection was made on this subject with our postings.

I forgot . They have a great website. Just go to google, type in 467th Bomb Group and their whole story will come in. Just click on the photos of the B-24's to get the information. When you bring up the history of the unit there will be a photo to the lower right. That is Glantsberg in the fighter seat. He was also trained as a fighter pilot before he became a bomber pilot. In Italy, where the 461st was stationed they mid-night requisitioned a P-40 from the British, repainted it and he would fly it as the group commander for training to keep the formations tight and also act as fighter escort for short missions for his group.
Thanks again Joel for posting your original post. It is great to be able to relate the history of those hero's of WWII.

Col Shower took the group to England from Wendover, and was the only wartime commander that remained in command of a group from the time it arrived in England to the end of hostilities. Col shower was also Base Commander at Dow Field here in Bangor at some time around late 1942 prior to serving in Europe.

My WC-56 was an original vehicle of the 1229th Quartermaster Co,467th BG.when I stripped off the post war paint I found it's markings and have since spoken with Al Touchette who was CO of the 1229th.we exchanged "then and now" photos of his command car.

Matt.

That is a super connection Matt. It is always fun to be able to connect ones vehicle to a unit and one as important as one of the 8th Air Force Units in England.

Joel is correct in his post. Shower would have been a Lt. Colonel in 42 and was Glantsberg deputy commander when Glantsberg was reassigned to the command of the 461st Bomb Group. Shower was promoted to colonel and given command of the 467th when Glantsberg was reassigned. It is my understanding Colonel Shower died in 2001, a true American hero in every sense of the word.

Not quite correct, the B-17 that Col Shower delivered for display, was B-17G 44-85599, and was flown to Abilene TX to be displayed by the 96BG Memorial Assn back in 1960. It is on display at Dyess AFB as of 1975.
The other one is still in California, and was flown there by General Maurice Preston and others in 1965 from Egglin AFB. The Revised Edition of the excellent B-17 Book "Final Cut", Col Shower is shown with his crew prior to the flight on P.160. It is amazing how sharp a good aircrew looks in Flying Coveralls. There is a nice 56 Chevrolet Staff Car in the background.
Joel

I hope you do sponser one of these fine old historical aircraft Joel. That is what keeps them flying for airshows around the country. I am a sponser on the CAF's PBJ, Devil Dog. ( Navy/Marine version of the B-25). It is an investment in history that will continue to teach future generations the importance of these great aircraft and their contribution to our victory in WWII.