Our Family is Expanding

I wanted to share a personal note.

My son and his wife had twin boys on March 18th.

Rip Bolender - Commander of the 414th

Rip Bolender was in charge of the 414th Night Fighter Squardon. He retired as a Major General.

Rip was one of my father's best friends. Rip passed away in 1995.


Rip Bolender circa 1944

Harold L. Price - Member of the 414th

Harold L. Price flew 67 combat missions with the 414th. He retired as a Major General in 1975.

Jack K. Gamble - Member of the 414th

Many of the 414th went on to make the airforce a career.

Jack K. Gamble was assigned in July of 1943 to the 414th and completed 93 combat missions. Jack retired as a Major General in 1975.


Jack Gamble in May 1944




Look at his patch




Jack Gamble after the war with my mother and father in California.


Left to right: Jack Gamble, John Patterson, and Ruth Patterson.

My Dad in the War Years

When I was a young boy, I loved to watch the old black & white war movies about the air war in World War II. When I learned that my father was in the air war, I was constantly asking him which war movie was about his squadron. His answer: "None of them." Well, I asked what did you do? We bombed, strafed and harrassed the Germans. Then I came across the following picture:



The letter, dated August 1943, with this picture read:
"I am sure this is a picture only a mother would love so I am sending it to you. I hope you know which one is me."