**** see bulleted text below for additional info ****

40th Annual National Reunion
Colorado Springs, CO
04 thru 08- September, 2008
Crowne Plaza Hotel ($79/night +tax)

View Larger Map

Registration Deadline is 01-Aug-08

·    Cripple Creek Tour – please provide your date(s) of birth on your registration card (or email C.K. Westbrook at westbrook ... or call (405)-865-2712 or (405)-366-6166 in order that your complimentary discount coupons can be completed in advance to save your fun time there.

·  Raffles, silent auctions, door prizes – were a great success last reunion. Anyone wishing to contribute crafts, bottles of wine, or other goodies as prizes please feel free to do so. We have some very imaginative and talented members!! We have also applied for complimentary airline vouchers !!

·      Colorado Springs has a great western heritage. So this reunion has a definite western flair. Please feel free to wear your jeans, boots, and other western duds !!  We’re going to have a great time !!

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
OF THE MEN OF THE 57^th BOMB WING

With the advent of the internet we have found the means to provide our members and their families with a recorded history of the deeds of this great bomb wing. I see more and more wonderful pictures, stories, and diaries of those never to be forgotten days.

The 57^th Bomb Wing Association puts out a magazine every quarter and we will, we pray for some years to come. The journal, newsletter, and magazine; call it what you will: provides the hard copy records of the 57^th Wing in action from North Africa to Italy, to Corsica and from the Adriatic coast of Italy where it completed its duty.

Now our young sons and daughters, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and great grandchildren have embraced the memories of their loved ones and placed those histories on the internet, and providing loving memorials.

More and more, I see this outpouring of love and respect for their loved ones in this manner, and am deeply touched to know of their love for family and country. The tributes make a heartwarming to those privileged to read them.

Our numbers are diminishing and along with that our publication is sent out to fewer and fewer members and the replacements are not there. The Wing will not live on unless more of you decide to join us and carry on the history of the 57^th Bomb Wing.

The “Men of the 57^th” is first hand history, written, in most part, by those who served our country. Second hand accounts are written by those who love the organization and are Associate Members.  None of what is written is ‘revisionist’ history. It happened! It is true! It is not exaggerated!

Many of you have treasure stores of material which you share on the internet. But you can share more if you join your ‘fathers’ organization. Your sharing and support will assure the future of which will soon become your organization.

You have a rich heritage. Accept it.  Join the Men of the 57^th Bomb Wing Association today!

 Membership Dues:

LIFE MEMBERSHIP   70+                                         $50.00
LIFE MEMBERSHIP   UNDER 70                             $150.00
THREE YEARS                                                          $25.00
ONE YEAR                                                                 $10.00*

You will receive 4 issues of the Men of the 57^th each year. You will have hard copy memories to read and review and save for your children. MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU WILL PARTICIPATE, HOLD OFFICES, AND PERPERTUATE THE ORGANIZATION. 

*A yearly membership costs the Wing, as each issue requires approximately $3.00 an issue to print and mail.

Title: Recoaro 1945 - La resa Delle Armate Tedesche in Italia

A book, that details the 340th Bomb Group's 20-Apr-1945 mission over German Headquarters in Italy, has been written by Maurizio Dal Lago, Giorgio Trivelli and, our friend, Giuseppe Versolato. This historic book was recently published in the town of Recoaro, Italy. It can be purchased by writing to Dr. Flavio Bettanin.

Online Publications (click here for Forum links)

Pantelleria, 1943 (US Air Force Magazine article)

*****************************************

New Gallery Albums and Sub-albums

It's hard to keep track of all the new additions to the 57th photo galleries. Please visit often, click around and leave comments! Special thanks to Barbara Connolly, proud daughter of Edward C. Ennis (321st, 447th), for the incredible amount of work she does toward keeping the memories of our 57th BW heros alive!!

321st, 446th Photos

Lt. John Fitzgerald (321st, 446th)

321st, 447th Photos

321st, 448th Crew Photo posted by Micky

*****************************************

New Links

Bob Crouse - 310th, 379th

Casimir "Charlie" Klujsza - 340th, 487th

Hymie Setzer - 340th, 487th

Hymie Setzer Tribute Page

*** 321st History UPDATES ***

*** 340th Bomb Group History ***

Marc-François Casanova's website (in French)

USAF B-25 Art Collection

B-17 "Little Miss Mischief" Model

B-25 "Russel's Raiders" Photos