Today in Ohio World War II history

Today in Ohio Military History:

September 17, 1944: Norman Trapp (pictured center bottom row), pilots his first bombing mission of the war with the 351st Bomb Group over Nijmegan, Holland in B-17 43-37956, in support of Operation Market Garden.

September 17, 1945: Hoyt Graham departs Wright Field to points west, including Los Angeles, on an inspection tour of various aircraft factories in California.

September 17, 1946: Joe Kelly departs the Philippines bound for the United States. Troy Reisinger departs the Pacific bound for the United States.

Today in Ohio WWII history: Clarksburg's Sgt Carl Dinkler moves closer to Brest, Norman Trapp prepares to lead B-17 crew

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

August 8, 1942: Corporal Forrest Hicks is based in Panama defending the canal zone and eastern seaboard attached to the 1st Coastal Artillery, Battery K at Fort Sherman.

August 8, 1944: SGT Carl Dinkler, A Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry is attached to the 6th Armored Division to pressure Germans in the Brittany Peninsula and cut off the port city of Brest. The group meets at the village of Landivisiau in preparation for scouting the German defense in the area. Captain Norman Trapp departs the U.S. bound for England to serve as a command pilot of a B-17 Bomber crew with the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron.

August 8, 1945: PFC Almer Sowers (pictured during the war and in 1984 on his farm outside Clarksburg Ohio) returns to the U.S. from the Philippines and is interned in a hospital in Kentucky, following his service as a light truck driver in the Pacific. Corporal Warren Martin departs Antwerp, Belgium on the U.S.S. Howard A. Kelly liberty ship bound for New York.

August 8, 1946: SSGT John Roseboom is discharged from the U.S. Army following honorable service in the 1st Cavalry Division’s 760th Field Artillery Battalion.

Today in Ohio Military History: Spotlight on Clarksburg Ohio WWII veterans: Trapp flies his 25th B-17 mission

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II History, April 17:

April 17, 1942: William Merz departs Melbourne, Australia for repositioning in a "censored" location of the South Pacific.

April 17, 1945: Dale Boyer begins fighting against the Japanese at Okinawa serving with an anti-aircraft artillery group. Jack Ater is in the vicinity of Solingen, Germany when one of the 97th Division's other regiments captures the city. Norman Trapp flies his 25th and final bombing mission on targets over Dresden, Germany in 351st Bomb Group B-17 44-8468.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II personnel spreading throughout Germany in pursuit to the end of the war

March 30, 1942: Ephraim Shull enlists in the U.S. Army and eventually serves with the 58th Ordnance Ammunition Company.

March 30, 1943: Clarence Radcliff enlists in the U.S. Army and eventually serves with the 436th Combat Military Police in Europe. Gerald Bethel graduates from Great Lakes Naval Training Center in preparation for serving aboard DD-470, the USS Bache destroyer. Mert Garrison enlists in the U.S. Army and eventually serves in the 168th Field Artillery in the Pacific Theater as a heavy truck driver.

March 30, 1945: Back in the states, Robert E. Dawson (pictured) receives a promotion from Captain to Major while based in Tampa, Florida training fighter pilots. Clifford Minnix, a radio operator for the 129th AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery), Battery D is commended for his service in defending secured bridges and pontoon bridges along the Rhine River in Germany, from aircraft attacks while Allied forces cross the Rhine in pursuit of retreating Germans. Fred Rittenhouse, part of the 777th Tank Battalion is ordered to travel from Weinahr to Gaudenbach, Germany. All of the battalion's Sherman tanks carry infantry troops to advance more quickly on retreating German forces. Tanks biovauck in the woods near Wehrburg, Germany. Norman Trapp flies his 22nd bombing mission on targets in Bremen, Germany in B-17 44-8079 nicknamed "Janet," with the 351st Bomb Group.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II heavy bomber crewmembers busy on March 24!

Today in Ohio World War II veteran history:

March 24, 1942: Bob Anderson attends a war benefit at Santa Monica High School, including performances by actors Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, and Philip Dorary.

March 24, 1943: John Martin arrives Clarksburg, Ohio for a ten day furlough from infantry training. Warren Martin arrives Clarksburg, Ohio for a multi-day furlough with parents and his brother John.

March 24, 1944: Jack Morris flies his 11th bombing mission on the St. Dizier airfield near Metz, France, which at the time was being utilized by the German Luftwaffe. Morris attached to the 392nd Bomb Group.

March 24, 1945: Don Adams flies his tenth bombing mission on the Neuberg Airdrome in Neuberg, Germany. Adams attached to the 485th Bomb Group, 83oth Bomb Squadron, flying B-24 Liberators. Lewis Garrison sees brother Dick Garrison for the first time since the beginning of the war while on a furlough. Norman Trapp flies his 21st bombing mission in a B-17, on the Vechte Airfield in B-17 44-8468 (pictured above) attached to the 351st Bomb Group. Roy Hawkins crosses the Rhine River at 0200 hours as part of the 463rd AAA.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II servicemen busy on March 19.

Today in Ohio World War II history: Focus on Clarksburg Ohio servicemen!

March 19, 1943: Morris Templin is serving in Banning, CA. Wendell Bryant is serving overseas in North Africa.

March 19, 1944: Corrine Bochard returns to Clarksburg on a 10-day furlough from Ft. Monmouth, NJ..

March 19, 1945: Don Adams flies his eighth bombing mission piloting a B-24 with the 485th Bomb Group on the Muhldorf Marshalling Yard in Germany. Fred Rittenhouse, part of the 777th Tank Battalion, travels from Ettringen to Wassenach, Germany. Norman Trapp flies his 20th bombing mission part of the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron, on secondary targets near Plauen, in B-17 44-8774. VISIT THIS website 508th Bomb Squadron and type in "Trapp" to see his entire mission record! Video of the 351st Bomb Group

March 19, 1946: Max McPherson officially ends his service in the Pacific Theater as a USMC Guard Patrolman.