Mission Belle
Martin B-26 Marauder
41-34955 Martin B-26C Marauder flew 149 missions with the 455th Bombardment Squadron, 323rd Bombardment Group. Flying from Earls Colne in Essex in 1943/44, she was lost on a mission near St Vith, Belgium on 26th December 1944.
(Acrylic on 20" x 30" Canvas Board - framed)
In the Collection of Boxted Airfield Historical Group
It is wonderful when a story comes ‘full circle’. Gary Creakbaum saw ‘Mission Belle’ at Boxted Air Museum. Gary’s Dad, Ronald Adelbert Creakbaum, actually flew in ‘Mission Belle’!
“Dad was trained as an Armourer / Air Gunner primarily for the Tail Gunner Position on a B-26 Marauder. He was with the 9th Army Air force, 455th Bomb Squadron, 323rd Bomb Group, of the 3rd Bomb Wing and was based at Earl Colne Airfield (station 358), Essex County, England”
Here is Gary in his office with a print of my painting on his wall and his Dad's picture on his desk. The picture of Ronald Creakbaum is shown to the right.
I thought that this story had come 'full circle' when Gary asked for a print of 'Mission Belle' for his office. Well, it did not quite! It did in July 2017 when John Camp contacted me with a photograph of Gary and his wife Ellen at Boxted Museum with 'Mission Belle' in the background. I cannot express how pleased I was to see this photograph!
I am indebted to Roy R. Bozych (323rd BG Historian) for his unstinting assistance in verifying the 'nose art' on "Mission Belle"
Serendipity can be a wonderful thing. From my research into B26 Marauders I got to 'know' Roy Bozych. Roy had commissioned a
Commemorative Coin for the 323rd BG. He had some problems getting an image of a B26C for the engraver. I had previously made a drawing of Lucky Graki / Rockhill Special and Roy asked if I could make a line drawing of it for the engraver. Below is the original drawing, the outline copy and the coin that was produced using it.
I am immensely proud to have been able to help.
Just when I thought this story could not get any better, Roy told me he was visiting Boxted Airfield Historical Group in August 2018. I was invited along to his lecture and we finally got to meet in person! Roy is the good looking one, I am the one with the beard.
2nd Lt John A Weese
Republic P-47
There is an involved story behind this painting.
In August 2014 I was shown this picture and was asked to research the unit and the pilot:
2nd Lt. John A Weese
What came to light urged me to capture this aircraft in paint and, in some small way, preserve the memory of this man and those like him who came to Europe to fight for our freedom.
John Alfred Weese was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan U.S.A. on 26th January 1920 to Douglas and Lorena Weese. John had three sisters; Virginia, Mary and Nancy
He graduated from Durand High School in 1938. The 1940 US Census shows him at 515 Sixth Street, Ann Arbor, Washentaw County, Michigan. He attended the Lawrence Institute of Technology in Detroit and worked as a machinist for the American Broach & Machine Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Enlisting in the Air Corps on August 5th 1943, he trained at Southern Field and Cochran Field in Georgia. On 3rd November 1943 he was commissioned at Craig Field, Alabama. Whilst on leave after receiving his ‘wings’ John announced his engagement to Irma Barnard who also lived in Ann Arbor. He completed his Combat Training at Mitchell Field, New York and Bluthenthal Field, North Carolina.
In January 1944 he travelled to England as part of the United States’ 9th Air Force. According to the 365th Fighter Bomber Group’s history, John joined the 386th Fighter Squadron in April 1944. From their arrival in England on 22nd December 1943 the 365th FBG were based at Gosfield in Essex. They moved to Army Air Force Base 408 at Beaulieu in Hampshire on 5th and 6th March 1944. From Beaulieu John flew six missions: two on June 6th, two on June 7th, one on June 8th, and his last on 10th June 1944 when he was posted ”Missing In Action”.
After being hit by anti-aircraft fire, 2nd Lt John A Weese was killed in the attempt to put his P47 down in the sea off St Aubin-sur-Mer on the 10th June 1944 . This area is RED beach in the NAN sector of JUNO beach where British and Canadian troops landed during Operation Overlord (D-Day) on 6th June 1944.
Since I started this project I have had the privilege to have been in contact with John's only surviving sister Mary plus his nieces and nephew.
I would like to thank Darla Welshons of the Ann Arbor District Library who found for me many articles from the Ann Arbor News relating to this brave pilot.
Acrylic on canvas board - framed (73cm x 55 cm 28" x 21.5")
In the collection of Mr. Robert Mathieson
2018 was a good year for me with respect to meeting 'friends' I had only known via the internet and e-mails. Marti Watson is 2nd Lt. John Weese's niece. She and I have enjoyed long e-mail based dialogue since 2014. In September, Marti and her husband Gordon stopped off in London as part of their european tour. Hazel and I were able to travel up to meet them. We spent a wonderful day with Marti and Gordon including a visit to Kensington Palace. Magical!
Here we are in Kensington Gardens. Marti is the pretty one. I am still the one with the beard!
Once again, this painting has provided wonderful events. In November 2019 Marti's sister Kristeen visited London with her choir. Hazel and I were able to meet Kristeen and spend a fantastic day with another of 2nd Lt J A Weese's relatives.
All this from a request to find a pilot's name!!
Kristeen and I in Trinity Square Gardens, London.