Radman95611
Airman
Hello everyone. While I am not exactly new to this site (I've visited for many months now), this is my first post. I've enjoyed all of the model building and discussions about everything military aircraft. I am an Air Force vet (20 years) and have been around the world a few times. I have a story and then a request to ask of you.
In March of 2012 the B-17 Memphis Belle (the one from the movie) flew into the Tallahasse airport. I took my youngest son (27years old) and girlfriend to go see it. As I was looking at the gift rack that was set up I noticed this frail man sitting in his walker in full WWII uniform. His daughter was talking to the gentlemanselling some book and tee-shirts about her father. How he was a waist gunner in a B-17 that was shot down over Germany. When she was done I introduced myself and asked if I could talk with her father and that I was interested in his story. She said I could and told me everything she knew (which I found out was quite a bit. I talked with the old SSgt.and found out that he was wounded on his last mission before being shot down. I asked if I could take some pictures of him and they said that was ok. So I took a few. I found out that SSgt. Fink was in a retirement home here in town and that his daughter lived up north somewhere. After I got home and say the picture, I made contact with the daughter and shared all of the pictures that I had from that day. I also made a DVD of the pictures with music from the 40's. They loved it and was really appreciative of what I had done.
Jump to present day. SSgt Fink past away on Febuary 11, 2015. My girlfriend came across his obit. She agreed to go to the visitation with me. I had a very strong feeling that I should go, but could not understand why I should go for someone I only knew for a total of four hours. When I walked in to the viewing room I now understand. The DVD I had made was playing. I paid my respects and snapped the best parade ground salute I could. When I turned around I ran into one of his friends and she asked how I knew SSgt. Fink. I told her I took the pictures that was used in the DVD playing. I then talked to all of the family members and then left.
His first time back into a B-17 since being shot down in 1943.
Here is all of the info I have of his last mission.
He was a B-17 waist gunner in WWII and was shot down in the second raid on the ball bearing plant in Schweinfurt on Oct 14, 1943. Loren spent 19 months as a German POW, and survived the Death March at the end of war - 86 days and over 600 miles.
My question to all of you is this. Where can I find out more information about the aircraft he was in? Maybe a tail number or a photo of the aircraft? His family could not help me much because SSgt. Fink's memory was already failing him when they started asking him about his wartime missions. The photos that had did not show a tail number either (at least the ones that I saw at the funeral home).
Any and all help would be extremely appreciated.
Radman.
In March of 2012 the B-17 Memphis Belle (the one from the movie) flew into the Tallahasse airport. I took my youngest son (27years old) and girlfriend to go see it. As I was looking at the gift rack that was set up I noticed this frail man sitting in his walker in full WWII uniform. His daughter was talking to the gentlemanselling some book and tee-shirts about her father. How he was a waist gunner in a B-17 that was shot down over Germany. When she was done I introduced myself and asked if I could talk with her father and that I was interested in his story. She said I could and told me everything she knew (which I found out was quite a bit. I talked with the old SSgt.and found out that he was wounded on his last mission before being shot down. I asked if I could take some pictures of him and they said that was ok. So I took a few. I found out that SSgt. Fink was in a retirement home here in town and that his daughter lived up north somewhere. After I got home and say the picture, I made contact with the daughter and shared all of the pictures that I had from that day. I also made a DVD of the pictures with music from the 40's. They loved it and was really appreciative of what I had done.
Jump to present day. SSgt Fink past away on Febuary 11, 2015. My girlfriend came across his obit. She agreed to go to the visitation with me. I had a very strong feeling that I should go, but could not understand why I should go for someone I only knew for a total of four hours. When I walked in to the viewing room I now understand. The DVD I had made was playing. I paid my respects and snapped the best parade ground salute I could. When I turned around I ran into one of his friends and she asked how I knew SSgt. Fink. I told her I took the pictures that was used in the DVD playing. I then talked to all of the family members and then left.
His first time back into a B-17 since being shot down in 1943.
Here is all of the info I have of his last mission.
He was a B-17 waist gunner in WWII and was shot down in the second raid on the ball bearing plant in Schweinfurt on Oct 14, 1943. Loren spent 19 months as a German POW, and survived the Death March at the end of war - 86 days and over 600 miles.
My question to all of you is this. Where can I find out more information about the aircraft he was in? Maybe a tail number or a photo of the aircraft? His family could not help me much because SSgt. Fink's memory was already failing him when they started asking him about his wartime missions. The photos that had did not show a tail number either (at least the ones that I saw at the funeral home).
Any and all help would be extremely appreciated.
Radman.
