Item Description
Original Items: One-of-a-kind set. This is an incredible set obtained directly from the veteran’s family. Jack. H. Vale serial No 17133828 a sergeant in the 15th Air Force who enlisted on the 13 December, 1942. He saw service with the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group 517 Bomb Squadron based in Italy. He then was reassigned to the 461st Bomb Group 765th Bomb Squadron and flew as a member of the GREEN HORNETS crew captained by Edward Demmond. He was the radio operator on that plane.
Here is a story recounted by Frank Procopio, flight engineer of the Green Hornet.
The Edward Demmond Crew Flight Home
by Frank Procopio
Our crew, known as the "Green Hornets", was given orders to fly home in June 1945. I do not remember the exact date or the B-24 we flew. I do remember that we were assigned the northern route from Torretta, Italy to Marrakech, Morrocco, Africa. From there to the Azores and then on to Gander, Newfoundland, with our final stop at Bradley Field, Connecticut. The news made me happy because Bradley Field was not far from my hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
On the first leg of the flight out pilot "Doc" Demmond became sick and we lost a day in Marrakech while he recovered. Because the routes were changed daily, when "Doc" was well enough to fly, we were reassigned to the southern route. This meant we would fly to Dakar, Senegal, Africa; Fortaleza, Brazil; British Guiana; Puerto Rico and Savannah, GA. This route in turn made "Doc" very happy since Savannah was his hometown!
At each stop we were only to spend the night. However, at Fortaleza we lost three days replacing a supercharger. This time on the ground did give me the opportunity to find the answer to something I had been complaining about. At each stop the aircraft was fumigated before we could dismount. I found this irritating and approached the Brazilian Agriculture Agent about the situation. He said he understood, and wanted to show me something. He opened a cotton lined box with several bugs inside. He went on to explain that they had been removed from our aircraft, and had these alien bugs escaped alive it could have been devastating to local crops. I didn't complain again.
We made the rest of the trip without incident. I was discharged from the Army in September at Fort Bragg, NC, and the "Green Hornets" went their separate ways.
This photo was taken during our training at Westover, MA, AAFB, August 1944. Shortly thereafter we were shipped to the European Theater of Operations and assigned to the Italian based 376th Bomb Group / 513th Bomb Squadron. About three months before the end of the war, the 376th was disbanded and some of the crews went state side to train on the B-29. Our crew, and others, were reassigned to the 461st Bomb Group / 765th Bomb Squadron.
Something stands out in my mind from those state side training days. We were not together long before we began to click as a team and named ourselves the Green Hornets. Our pilot, who we called "Doc", bought us all green ski caps. We were still on post, heading for the gate to the flight line in our brand new green caps, when the Provost Marshall drove up. He dressed us down for being out of uniform on post and confiscated our caps on the spot. Needless to say, we were hot.
After our training flight, "Doc" Demmond went to Headquarters and spoke his piece. It wasn't the last time "Doc" was in the dog house on our behalf. While that was going on, co-pilot James Franks went off post and bought more green caps for the crew out of his own pocket. After that we kept our caps in our pockets until we got on the flight line or in the aircraft.
Frank J. Procopio, Flight Engineer, 461st / 765th
Included in this exceptional set is an original size 40 type A-2 leather flight jacket. It was professionally relined and re-banded after that war by MAX KUTTEN LEATHER JACKETS. The jacket features some amazing squadron patches including:
Rear:
B-24 Liberator GREEN HORNET dropping bombs with puffs of smoke representing successful missions that include: Moosbierbaun, Vienna, Bolland, Maribor, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Munich, and Innsbruck.
Left Shoulder:
Sergeant chevron
15th Air Force Patch
Right Shoulder:
Sergeant chevron
American Flag
Bugs Bunny Static Chaser patch (for radio operator).
Front:
Leather flight wings with JACK H. VALE.
DAFFY DUCK 461st Bomb Group, 765th Bomb Squadron Patch ALATAQUE patch
513th Bomb Squadron with eagle and bomb LIBERANDOS
Also included with this grouping are the following medals awarded to Jack Vale in WW2.
Sterling Silver Wings
Medals: WWII Victory Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European- Africa- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Air Medal
Medal ribbons: WWII Victory, Army Good Conduct, American Campaign, European- Africa- Middle Eastern Campaign, WWII Air Medal ribbon
Finally we include:
Three original wartime photos on Jack H. Vale in uniform, one with his entire Green Hornets flight crew, all with nick names listed. You can see this same photo at the 461st BG website at this link- http://www.461st.org/Crews/765th%20Crews/demmond.html
A folder with research and documentation of Jack H Vale’s service in WW2.
This is an exceptional grouping with provenance providing a complete vision of one hero’s service in the greatest war ever fought.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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