What's New Since July 2003
August 25, 2007 - Letter Received from granddaughter of Jack's Navigator
August 9, 2005 - Ruth DeBeck - note received from Jack's first girlfriend!
January 31, 2005 - "Biography of a Fatal Mission" - Jack's last flight
January 31, 2005 - "A Journey with Jack" - an outline of how this website came to be - written by Jack's sister
January 23, 2005 - Several letters to this website now featured in the "Years Later" section of our website
May 15, 2004 - Creator of HeroInFlight.com featured in College Alumni Newsletter. The article:
Sue Memke Veldkamp is one busy woman. In the autumn issue of our newsletter, we mentioned that she has been working with Paul Jones, comedian and bipolar sufferer to educate the public, caregivers, and our students about bipolar disease. Sue and Paul will be offering a presentation at our fall alumni seminar.
Sue's dedication to worthy causes surfaced again in the Cincinnati Enquirer's Mother's Day/military feature. Using a personal story related to each of the wars our country has endured during the twentieth century and beyond, it described the special anguish mothers feel at having sons in combat and in losing them.
The World War II soldier featured was Sue's Uncle, John Milton Buxton, who died at age 21 when his plane was shot down over Magdeburg, Germany. Sue was born years after his death but made his acquaintance through the letters her mother, who was 13 when her brother was killed, had preserved. Using the letters, photos, and songs recorded by the young baritone, Sue has created a website dedicated to keeping his memory alive.
At a time when the opening of the World War II Memorial and the rapidly declining numbers of WWII veterans are much in the news, we are proud that one of our own is making this contribution to that conflict's history. To visit the site, go to www.heroinflight.com.
May 8, 2004 - HeroInFlight.com featured in the Mother's Day Edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
December 12, 2003 - We've added many newspaper clippings that were just recently found. Also added was the letter that Jack's parents had to sign in order for him to enlist (he was still considered a minor at age 19 - added is a letter written to Jack by his mother dated 2 months after he was declared MIA - Jack's life insurance policy also added. Click here to visit this section of the website.
November 24, 2003 - Replacement crew list added to website
November 24, 2003 - Casualty list documentation added to website
September 2, 2003 - Ghostwings.com has added Hero In Flight to their extensive listing of websites
August 15, 2003 - After 2 years of research, we have finally found the plane that Jack was piloting on August 16, 1944 over Magdeburg, Germany. Click here to see a picture
August 6, 2003 - Added .AVI video of an actual B-24 during takoff in the Flight Manual section
August 4, 2003 - Added letter written to Jack's mother from Telva Burkhead, mother of Ball Turret Gunner John Burkhead, describing their fatal mission after meeting with Leo Stephens, the sole survivor
August 4, 2003 - Added Group narrative for the 448th Bombardment Group (H), APO 558, for August 1944
