(Letter written to website owner - March 6, 2005)
Dear Sue,
I celebrated my 60th birthday on February 20th. I consider hearing from you and receiving your info one of the greatest gifts of my life. Thank you so much!
You are the first people I have been able to share my pain and my pride with. That plane carried a precious cargo. It's a comfort to me to know that your Jack was the pilot. An angel's voice for sure!
First off - I don't have a computer, so please excuse the writing. After this amazing journey on the information highway, I plan to buy one! This year!
Secondly - I'm sending some of my things for you to review. I don't want to overload your website - so feel free to pick and choose. It is really an honor for my girls and I. Thank you.
My mother passed away 11/03 after 3 years of being unwell. She lived with me. Mom and I were very close. More like sisters. She loved John Lowell but never shared much information. I quizzed her alot, i.e. his last 2 to 3 months and she didn't know anything. She'd talk of the trip to Minneapolis to see Leo Stephens but would say, "He wouldn't talked to us." You can imagine my surprise at seeing her detailed letter of the visit. Her last words to me were, "Johnnie, please know that I never forgot your Dad. I thought of him every day." We both cried.
Like with your family - the pain never goes away. It just mutes down. Even for Sue and I - who never knew Jack or John - they've always been very real to us. With real love and real pain. My children feel the same. The guys still live on.
I spent a lot of time snooping in attics and old cedar chests and at every opportunity, pulling Mom aside and asking questions. And yes - a lot of time crying. My Mom and I never went into great depth about the war. Obviously she cared a lot. I have tons of photos, letters, etc. And I knew she loved him dearly.
Mother had a wonderful time in Pueblo - that's where she conceived me. Since all leave was cancelled - that trip was my, "only chance." She and John Lowell ran around with the Butlers and the Hinkleys (and baby Carol). Mom spoke of Lt. Buxton. Said he was dark and handsome and very serious about his responsibilities. Very competent. Very mature.
Mother and Kathleen saw the plane off in Colorado. Or at least that was the last time they saw the guys before catching their trains. Mom said Kathleen clutched the fence and sobbed. Said, "Oh Felva - we'll never see them again." Mom tried to reassure her, but couldn't. She knew.
I was at the funeral in 1951. I was the white-headed 5 year old who was scared to death. I remember a lot. It was very cold. My 10 year old Uncle was scaring us with his bad language. We sat on cold folding chairs in a cold tent. There were 3 caskets and I kept whispering to my Mom - how could all the people fit into there?
She kept shushing me. I remember standing and looking at a stone wall - down hill. When the rifles started firing, I finally came apart, sobbing to leave. That's all I remember except 35 years later - I took my Mom and my two girls and walked them straight to the grave. No questions asked. Mother had no memory of the location. Also - Mom and I stayed at a hotel in St. Louis for the funeral. I remember playing house with Carolyn Hinkley.
In 2001 - the Collings Foundation (B-24) came to Homer, Alaska. Mom and I decided that we had to do it! The B-24 and the B-17 flew over our cabin in the hills (en route to the airport). It was a foggy morning. Mom and I both heard them at the same time. We ran to the deck. They were invisible above us - like ghost ships. Their deep, throaty rumble vibrated our chest. We both cried. Mom said, "That's them!"
The ride was pretty amazing. My kids and grandkids (and the crowd) watched us soar. Apparently we wing-dipped the crowd and they roared and cheered. Then we flew into a double rainbow. My girls cried. I had the crew's picture with me as I wanted them to fly again. That was the first and last time my Mom, Dad and I were together. My Mother became seriously ill in 12 weeks. (If you look closely at the B-24 wing, you can see the rainbow beginning to form. It was vivid when we took off.) Unbelievable. We all felt a special thing was happening. And it turned out to be exactly that.
Warmly,
Johnnie Osborn
(daughter of John Lowell Burkhead)
John Lowell Burkhead
July 18, 1925 - Born in Metropolis, IL
August 1927 - Sister Imogene L. Burkhead born
February 1939 - Brother Marshall W. Burkhead born
June 1939 - Graduated from Metropolis Junior High
June 1943 - Graduated from Metropolis High School
September 12, 1943 - Married Felva Marie Cummins
November 1943 - Military Induction
Stationed:
- Co. C
Fort Sheridan, IL - Sqd. C 36 Training Group
Jefferson Barracks, MO - Student Sqd #7 Class 44-15
Las Vegas Army Air Force Base
Las Vegas, NV - CRP 2nd Air Force
Lincoln, NE - 215th Combat Crew Section
Army Air Force Base
Pueblo, Colorado - AAF
448th Bomb Group
714th Bomb Squadron
Seething Field, England - August 16, 1944 - killed in action
- February 20, 1945 - Daughter Johnnie Jean Burkhead born Metropolis, IL
- February 7, 1951 - 8 member crew buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
- November 21, 2003 - Died: Felva C. Burkhead-Collie (wife)
Letter One
Well I am glad that you have gotten you a good job. I hope that you and mom like it there. Write and tell me what kind of work you are doing.
Letter Two
Here I am again a long way from home and I am still out in the west, but I think that I will like it better here than I did at Las Vegas.
Letter Three
Darling, I love you with all my heart and I always will, so please don't lose faith because this thing will end some day and then we can take up where we left off at.
