Recent content by jasonmchenry

So much has transpired with regard to this story and I've built a little website to share whatever information we have so far. You're encouraged to check out The Bum's Rush B17 Flying Fortress for that and please do let me know if there is information not covered.

Front Row: [L to R] • F/O Otis S. Lee - Pilot • F/O Carlton O. Alderson - Co-Pilot • 2nd Lt. Rudy Menchl - Navigator • [?] James Markowitz - Bombardier • 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Carver - Bombardier * [* Replacement - Not Pictured] Back Row: [L to R] • S/Sgt. Harry L. Cunningham - Waist Gunner •...

The first image is a detail from the Thomas Carver entry in the Diamondbacks book. Carver isn't pictured in the crew photo as he was a replacement for James Markesiten. [No info beyond his name.] Carver describes some of what happened with the plane going down and then after. One of the...

Thanks for catching that! I edited the original post to reflect the correct date.

I didn't mean to imply the article had anything to do with the Bum's Rush and Brescia. Just to say that stranger things have happened than the Italians assisting the Americans in evading capture. I just now found this article with an interview from the father of the Bum's Rush pilot Otis Lee...

That's the post that started all of this for me. The Italian team reached out to me and then the whole project evolved immediately from there. Pretty cool how it's all turning out.

Yeah, I'm not sure of how/why the Italians that assisted the Americans felt the way they did. Stranger things have happened and the whole Operation Husky thing reads like fantastic fiction. [Lucky Luciano and WWII's Operation Husky - The History Reader] There is a report from Thomas Carver who...

Some new developments in this story: The folks in the town where the plane went down look at the whole crew as heroes. They dedicated a plaque in their honor and the ceremony was recorded here: View: https://youtu.be/uJbmU7vE9-4 And we have a crew photo with nose art now. I'm pretty certain...

They were though. I've just been in touch with the family of both pilots and they relay the same story that the folks in the town helped them evade capture. More to come on this as my email campaign is paying off and the story is getting good.

My Grandfather was Harry L. Cunningham and he was captured as a POW and held in Stalag 17b after his plane the Bum's Rush was shot down. I have the MACR and all the readily available info relating to the event. I had made a few posts about my Grandfather and was eventually contacted by some...

I am working with the Italians on a documentary about the Bum's Rush and would love to talk to you. Please contact me at 520-955-9025 or by email at [email protected] Thank you! - Jason

My Grandfather was Staff Sgt., AAC Harry L. Cunningham - ASN 37384700 and he was on the same plane as your Great Uncle. My Grandfather had a letter from one of the crew that landed safely after the plane was shot down. The letter described a lot of what you said happened to your Great Uncle and...