414 Night Fighter Squadron

New Information from Blog

2009-04-17T21:27:00.005-05:00

There has been a lot of new information coming in about the 414th. It is the reason why there has not been any new entries recently.

A special thanks needs to go to Tom Kelly. His father, Jim Kelly, a Radio Operator with the 414th, helped identify some of the people in the photographs on this blog. Sadly, the day Tom contacted me, his father passed away.

My family would like to express our condolences to the Kelly family.

Tom was able to locate Andy Pieper, who wrote a wonderful book about individual experiences of the members of the 414th, called "The Squadron".

"The Squadron by Andy Pieper" is an assembly of personal diaries and letters, and official diaries and records. It is not yet officially published, but it is a very good record of the history of the 414th and its members.

I also heard from the Great Nephew of "Eddie" Foy. Eddie was known for his ability to play the spoons.

Excerpt from "The Squadron by Andy Pieper"
"FOY NIGHT ON THE TOWN IN ALGIERS"
"Foy wasn't on the wagon, so he had a few, and when Foy had a few, it brought out the musician in him. He was very clever with spoons. He could play anything with a couple of spoons. There were plenty of spoons in the restaurant, and an orchestra too.

Pretty soon Foy was leading the orchestra. He had the whole place in an uproar. He was sure good with those spoons!"

I will be posting more excerpts from "The Squadron".

I would appreciate it if anyone can send me copies of any photos (no originals please). You can send us the copies electronically. They need to be scanned in at 300dpi, and burned to a CD or DVD. You can mail them to Randall Patterson, 1307B W. Main St. #106, Gun Barrel City, TX 75156. Please identify the people with names, dates and location, or as much information as possible.

I truly appreciate all of the help that so many people have generously shared with me about the 414th.

Nose Art Update

2008-12-18T07:07:00.000-06:00

I recently learned that Rip Bolinder flew Black Magic, a P-61-15.

My father, Lt. John E. Patterson (at the time) piloted the Old John Cornell, a British Beaufighter.

Anyone who can add to this is invited to post to this blog, or to call me, Randall W. Patterson, toll free at (800) 490-7434.

414 NFS Dance

2008-12-11T04:14:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of a dance. There is no date on the photo. I wonder who found the women?

Who is this pilot?

2008-12-05T04:14:00.000-06:00

Can anyone supply me with information about this pilot? The caption on the back of the photo reads: "Pat 12-20-44"

What a landing!

2008-11-27T04:14:00.000-06:00

Any landing that you can walk away from .....

414 NFS Dispensary - Doc Blair's Hangout

2008-11-20T04:14:00.000-06:00

The caption on the back of this photo reads:
"Doc Blair's Hangout"

Lt. Landry

2008-11-13T04:14:00.000-06:00

The caption on the back of this photo reads:
"Lt. Landry gives a demonstration of how a Night Fighter Pilot sleeps all day and flies all night."

Christmas 1944?

2008-11-06T11:22:00.006-06:00

Lt. Patterson is second from the left on the sofa. Can anyone identify any of the other people in the photo.

My son asked me "What is the War Department?"

2008-09-23T15:28:00.000-05:00

Not too long ago, I was going through my father's war memorabilia and found his World War II I.D. Card. I showed it to my oldest son, who is ex-military, and he was astonished. First, he wanted to know what the War Department was, and second, his grandfather held the rank of Major at the young age of 25. I had to remind him that over 8 million men and women served in the armed forces at that time, which means more opportunity for rank.

By the way, the War Department became the Department of Defense after the war on August 10, 1949.

May 1944 in Sardinia

2008-09-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

Photo of members of the 414th in Sardinia during May 1944.
Left to Right:
Patten (navigator for John Patterson), Loveland, Berkowitz, Murphy, Penn, Ryan

Please contact me, if you can provide additional information about the members of the 414th.

Living Quarters

2008-09-17T13:44:00.000-05:00

In WWII these tents were probably considered luxury accomodations. This is my father, Lt. Col. John E. Patterson, beside his tent.

Romance in WWII

2008-09-07T12:58:00.000-05:00

These photos of Lt. John E. Patterson, United States Army Air Corp. and Ruth Evelyn Cornell, soon to be Mrs. Patterson, reflect the romance of the time period. John and Ruth were married earlier than they planned because his orders to ship out were moved up.

Meet the Gang of the 414th

2008-08-29T13:39:00.000-05:00

Left to Right:
Penn, Henry, Morrell, Burk, and Cotton.

Please contact me, if you can provide additional information about the members of the 414th.

Airplane Nose Art of the 414th

2008-08-22T13:09:00.000-05:00

These are a few examples of the nose art of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron. View larger photos of the airplane nose art.

Lt. Col. John E. Patterson

2008-08-15T13:07:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of my father, Lt. Col. John E. Patterson.

Burton Clark - Member of the 414th

2008-08-08T13:41:00.000-05:00

Burton Clark in 1943 (I don't know the name of the donkey.)

Please contact me, if you can provide additional information about the members of the 414th.

Photos are working again

2008-07-16T18:05:00.001-05:00

The photos on this blog were moved to a new server, and are now available for viewing. Please let me know if you have any problems with the photos or any of the links.

2007 WWII Night Fighters Reunion at MAAM

2008-06-20T20:29:00.000-05:00

Recently, my oldest son went to this blog and clicked on the link for the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM). The museum is rebuilding a P-61 Night Fighter.

He clicked on a link "2007 WWII Night Fighters Reunion at MAAM". At that location is a large selection of photographs. One photograph is a flight jacket with the 414 patch. The circular patch of a panther jumping through the night. There is also a name on the jacket, but the name was not legible in the photo.

My son called the Air Museum to inquire whose name was on the jacket and learned that it belonged to Rip Bolender, Commander of the 414th during WWII.

Jacob Attone

2008-04-19T14:58:00.000-05:00

My plan for this blog is to get the type of personnal information of individuals to make a docummentary about life in the 414th. How they lived and coped day to day or should I say night to night. But to do this I need the help from those of you that have this information, or better yet I would love to interview on-camera any surviving members of the 414th. Below is an example of the type of information that I am looking for. Any information would be a big help.

Jacob Attone's family had emigrated from Italy. The original family name was Altadonna, but it had been mangled at Ellis Island when his parents came to America. Over the years various members of the family changed the name back to Altadonna. Jacob's brothers, Anthony and Rosario, known as Russell, changed it when they went into the service. Jacob enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard on June 3, 1940 as Jacob Attone, and was called to active duty when the Guard was mobilized on September 16, 1940. Jacob Attone was planning on re-taking the Altadonna name but sadly, his time ran out.

Jacob Attone graduated from the Boca Raton Florida Army Air Field, after which he went overseas. His first flying mission was on September 24, 1944, as a radar observer.

Jacob was reported as missing in action on September 25, 1944. Presumably, the entire flight crew was reported missing in action, but their names are unknown at this time.

The Department of War changed Jacob Attone's status to killed in action on April 11, 1945.

You can read more about Jacob's story at http://www.dvrbs.com/ccwd-WW2/CamdenWW2-JacobAttone.htm

Our Family is Expanding

2008-03-25T12:02:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share a personal note.

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

Rip Bolender - Commander of the 414th

2008-03-25T11:43:00.000-05:00

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

2008-03-25T11:42:00.001-05:00

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

2008-03-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

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

2008-03-06T14:25:00.000-06:00

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."

Captain John Patterson in his plane, Flub Dub

2008-02-28T10:04:00.000-06:00

This is Captain John E. Patterson in the cockpit of his P-61 Black Widow Airplane. Due to the number of missions indicated on the side of his plane, the photo was probably taken in late 1944. I never asked my father why he named his plane the Flub Dub, when other planes had more menacing names like Hell's Angels and Midnight Menace. To my way of thinking, Flub Dub didn't instill fear of any kind. If any member of the 414th can give an explanation, please add it as a comment on this blog or send me an email at Video7pro.com.