The 49th Fighter Squadron Association has a long history of serving it’s members and helping the future 49th Fighter Training Squadron.

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Email from Robey included the following. He had came across this article written by Merle Flaugher after her ride on a KC-135 supporting refueling 49FIS F-106s. Juli Armour was on the flight too. Robey said he only flew in the F-106 once but, even if you didn’t fly the F-106, he thought everyone might enjoy it.

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SHARING SOURCE MATERIAL FROM
“THE JAGGED EDGE OF DUTY” BOOK

During World War II, millions of young men and women rose to serve their country in the Armed Services.  Hundreds of thousands were sent overseas, and many did not return.  Regardless of their branch of service, their rank, or the extent to which they may have seen combat, each individual has a story to tell, a story worth listening to.

Surely most stories will go unheard.  But this story about one pilot now has a voice.  The Jagged Edge of Duty describes Air Force combat in World War II, and relates how this pilot came to be in North Aftrica, what he did when he got there, and the results of his selfless service.

While researching this book, ROBERT L. RICHARDSON took a good look into the lives of the 49th Fighter Squadron and his research has involved several years and extensive travel, including multiple visits to the National Archives and the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

The material uncovered for this book may be of interest to other readers and researchers – especially those in the 49th.

The Research Documents can be found on The Jagged Edge of Duty’s website. Scroll down through the several topics.

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CONTINUING TRADITION

The Frank Mullinax Memorial Fund purchases nametags for new students and instructors assigned to the 49th Fighter Training Squadron. As we transition to 49th FSA funding, we will rename the effort the Founder Fund–to honor our WWII founding members–and continue helping the active duty troops with the name tags and other items as appropriate.

We will continue, as funds allow, to support memorial services held in France each year for our WWII P-38 pilots lost in combat.

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P38F’s REFUELING

This is a rare photo of a P38F’s refueling in Labrador on their way to Atcham Field England July 1942 in preparation for landing in North Africa after several months of training. These pilots flew from Hamilton Field California across the US and over the sea, Greenland to Atcham. Although this is most likely the 1st FG, the 14th including the 49th and 48th squadrons were close behind.

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SHORT SNORTER

A short snorter is a banknote inscribed by people traveling together on an aircraft. The tradition was started by Alaskan Bush flyers in the 1920s and spread through the military and commercial aviation.  During World War II short snorters were signed by flight crews and conveyed good luck to soldiers crossing the Atlantic.  Friends would take the local currency and sign each others bills creating a “keepsake of your buddy’s signatures”.

Lt. Robert K. Seidman        Two more Short Snorters
Lt. Jack R. Schetler            (above) from John Schill’s
Lt. R. T. Sparks                  nephews via Mark LaScotte
Jerome LaScotte
John Grant
Thom. Purdy
Leiter
M. A. Foster (?)
Greenup
Jack Lenox
Robert E. Hoke
Frank Gerry
Brewer F/O (?)