tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.comments2020-10-15T15:16:09.626-05:00414 Night Fighter SquadronRandall W. Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17242831577186782375noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-59772419772880938002012-03-22T21:56:40.947-05:002012-03-22T21:56:40.947-05:00Hi Charles, I'm happy to post your request. I...Hi Charles, I'm happy to post your request. I'll take a look through my photos as well. RandyRandall W. Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242831577186782375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-9510780964293759292011-11-09T01:04:41.885-06:002011-11-09T01:04:41.885-06:00This was an exellent video. Thank you for sharing ...This was an exellent video. Thank you for sharing your story. I found this site researching information about 2LT ROY FRIESEN, who was a member of the 414th and was killed in November 1943. I am a teacher at the high school where Roy graduated from in 1936. We are putting together a tribute to our fallen alumni and would be interested in any information or pictures anyone could share about Roy Friesen's time in the 414th. Thank you for the information this blog has provided.<br /><br />DennisDennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04715258818776960761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-3631360161534330562011-08-14T13:08:58.763-05:002011-08-14T13:08:58.763-05:00I have a large collection of pictures from the 414...I have a large collection of pictures from the 414 taken by my late father in law who was in the squadron. They are not currently available, but I can provide any research assistance if you ask.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-58331674278879294052011-03-03T13:56:09.544-06:002011-03-03T13:56:09.544-06:00Thanks for your comment on the 414th blog. The Fl...Thanks for your comment on the 414th blog. The Flub Dub was a B-25 bomber that was use to transport men and supplies. When new pilot<br />came into the squadron they were given their flight check in the Flub Dud by Major Patterson who was the operations officer.Randall W. Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242831577186782375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-71197572630821413022011-03-03T13:48:52.087-06:002011-03-03T13:48:52.087-06:00Thank you for your remarks on the 414th insignia....Thank you for your remarks on the 414th insignia. From the time of the 414th inception to the end of WWII, there was no official insignia. There was at the Mid Atlantic Museum a fight jacket worn Lt. Col. Bolender with the insignia of a black panther jumping through the night sky. I have asked for a copy of photo so I could post it on the blog.Randall W. Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242831577186782375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-48256242632228468542011-03-02T08:30:39.335-06:002011-03-02T08:30:39.335-06:00Is there any additional information about 2nd Lt. ...Is there any additional information about 2nd Lt. Clement J.A. (KIA)<br />It seems that I purchased his Class A officers jacket in 2009 at a military fair in the Netherlands. <br />Regards,<br /><br />Rietkerk. A<br />The NetherlandsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-43657149060178506932011-02-18T17:13:23.227-06:002011-02-18T17:13:23.227-06:00Airman, Frank F. Weaver was my mother-inlaw's ...Airman, Frank F. Weaver was my mother-inlaw's Uncle. His plane crashed April 22nd 1945 near Reggiolo, Italy. My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy this June and would like to find any memorial of the crash site, if any, and also the Italian cemetery where he was buried, at least initially. Is there any information about this crash anywhere and the men who flew the mission?Alan Lefebvrehttp://bestfilm@verizon.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-38588641015438985962010-07-30T13:48:30.237-05:002010-07-30T13:48:30.237-05:00On one of your websites, it says there was no offi...On one of your websites, it says there was no official insignia for the 414th. I was in the squadron when in Rio Hata, Panama, and our squadron insignia was a shield with side view of a skull with a sword vertically through it and a black bat wing from the skull to the upper right. I still have this painted on the back of my flight jacket. Ken Umpenhour email srgtump@tampabay.rr.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-44943651904341863292009-09-22T18:38:27.142-05:002009-09-22T18:38:27.142-05:00Flub your dub was an expression in the 40's, m...Flub your dub was an expression in the 40's, meaning to make a big mistake, but I don'tknow why anyone would put that on their airplane. Also, I flew P-61s out of David, Panama in the late 40's, and that place does not appear to be a p-61 to me, it looks more like an A-20 or A-26, but it does not resemble a P-61. LOok closely at the cockpit configuration and you will see. Ken Umpenhour email srgtump@tampabay.rr.comken umpenhourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392872207846486722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-15475656530810964412009-08-05T09:44:22.537-05:002009-08-05T09:44:22.537-05:00Dear Sir, happen to be reading the New Jersey Sta...Dear Sir, happen to be reading the New Jersey Star Ledger today8/5/09that another member of the 414th squadron has passed,sorry to say. His name is Cosmo Nicholas Bocchini he lived in Nutley NJ and was 94 yrs old. I am from Nutley also,never new this man butI thought you would like to know this info for future archives. My name is John Minichini I can be reached at LORI11528@AOL.COM if you feel you want to contact me. thanksjohn minichininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-41318184599551705482009-04-04T15:29:00.000-05:002009-04-04T15:29:00.000-05:00My Great Uncle Anselm G. Foy was a member of the 4...My Great Uncle Anselm G. Foy was a member of the 414. He was known by his nickname, Eddie Foy (after a popular vaudeville act of the day, Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys, although he was not related).<BR/><BR/>Eddie was a lifetime baseball enthusiast. He was born in October 1903 in Brooklyn and was the manager of a team called the Brooklyn Edison Club, part of the Industrial Twilight League. He used to write to military base commanders and challenge their teams to a game.<BR/><BR/>He joined the US Army Air Force in October 1942 as a private in the 414 Night Fighters. He was promoted to Corporal in May/June 1943. <BR/><BR/>On March 2, 1944 he was promoted to Sergeant, and marked the occasion by mailing money orders to his sisters (including my grandmother) and at least one of the girlfriends he corresponded with back home (he wrote to at least 4 women he referred to as sweetheart!). He thanked them all for the candy and magazines they were all sending him, and ended every letter by asking for more.<BR/><BR/>In a letter dated 4/29/44, he mentions organizing and managing a baseball team of servicemen on Sardinia. He also mentions that his plane was named /nicknamed "Stuka", although he does not say why.<BR/><BR/>In a letter dated 5/6/44, he mentions visiting the Sardinian town of Iglesias for recreation.<BR/><BR/>In a letter dated 5/7/44, he mentions seeing the film "A Guy Named Joe", which was screened for the service men.<BR/><BR/>The last letter I have from him in Sardinia is dated 5/8/44. By 12/10/44, he was writing from Herington, Kansas. He may have been transferred out of the 414 around the time the unit moved to Pisa, but I cannot be sure.<BR/><BR/>In any case, by 12/10/44 he was in Section A-2, 274th AAF Base Unit in Herington, Kansas, which he hated. He apparently drunk dialed a Lt. Colonel Robert J. Mason in the middle of the night requesting a transfer and was denied (politely!) in writing on 1/3/45.<BR/><BR/>On 7/19/45, he was honorably discharged from the service and returned home. He continued to be a hit with the ladies until he finally married for the first time at the age of 60. He died of natural causes in January 1977. <BR/><BR/>I may be able to provide more information on request. Contact me at redhighlander@yahoo.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-38698699774817604742009-03-22T10:32:00.000-05:002009-03-22T10:32:00.000-05:00Hello Mr. Patterson,I'm writing a history of Germa...Hello Mr. Patterson,<BR/><BR/>I'm writing a history of German radio-controlled glide bombs in WWII. It turns out that the He 177 shot down by the 414th NFS on 23 January 1944 (F8+AM) carried two Hs 293 glide bombs. Its wreckage provided vital clues -- including nearly intact receivers -- used to develop advanced jamming devices against these radio-contolled weapons. <BR/><BR/>I'm hoping to learn more about the crew that show down this arcraft. Can anyone help?<BR/><BR/>Marty Bollinger<BR/>mjbollinger@cox.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-35491434508640178252008-11-30T16:02:00.000-06:002008-11-30T16:02:00.000-06:00dub was for Dubby, my aunt's nick name, for Doroth...dub was for Dubby, my aunt's nick name, for Dorothy as her son Larry was a rear gunner, CBI, during the war.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520346270543211707.post-35019968509498111522008-07-14T09:39:00.000-05:002008-07-14T09:39:00.000-05:00Hi Randy,My name is John Cowgill, my father, Arden...Hi Randy,<BR/><BR/>My name is John Cowgill, my father, Arden W. Cowgill, was the first commander of the 414th, when it left Orlando, FL for England and North Africa. I still have his flight jacket with the patch on it. He left the service after the war, but returned a few years later and stayed until being medically retired in December 1958. He passed away Feb 1, 1987, at The Presidio, while on a day trip to San Francisco with my son and I. I have a few pictures from that era, unfortunately they are not easy to get to right now. I, too, was in the Air Force for 21 years and the airline industry for the last 19, so all of that is packed away in a couple of different places across the country. Thank you for your interest in the 414th and your time to do something about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com