h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sgt Charles Tuttle (Kentucky) - ball-turret gunner was my father's first cousin - so my first cousin once removed.

I am going to be in England May 27 thru June 4th (2006) and my father has a photo of the crew that he would like me to give to the Sheffield Library, RAF, others who might be interested. I am having a difficult time trying to find contact info for anybody. Do you happen to have any?

I never expected relatives to read this, and feel a little humbled. As you may have realised from the other conversations below the article, Lt John Kriegshauser's nephew has also been here. I didn't write the piece from a position of great personal knowledge of Mi Amigo, though I am a Sheffielder. This unfortunately means I have no instant answers, but I'm going to do all I can to help. Please let us know where in the UK you will be visiting. If you would like to communicate with me in real-life, then let me know and I will provide a phone number. I am going to try get help from the h2g2 site administrators. Another person has written about this article, called JonathanJay2. His most pertinent posting is this one : http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/F3466907?thread=2304639. If you click this, you'll see what he said to Lt Kriegshauser's nephew, and that his connections are probably the ones we need. JonathanJay2 hasn't visited h2g2 since the time of the anniversary (ie late February) but the BBC will know his e-mail address because they processed his registration. They might be prepared to send a message alerting him to your request. I will also contact St Augustine's Church, where the memorial service is held annually. I feel sure that they will have some way to contact the right people in the RAF Association. Do you have a copy of Harvey's book about Mi Amigo? If not, would you like one? I will post here again when I have something. There are many other angles too, to complicated and numerous to explain, but I know we'll get there somehow. Pin

You might find Feisor's welcome to the site. It includes a suggestion to start an Askh2g2 thread. I already did, and a helpful Researcher suggests these websites :

For Sheffield libraries :
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/libraries/find/all-libraries/local-studies-library
This one I can confirm is certainly the right place. I use the Local Studies Library myself, and they would (for example) be able to get you reproductions of the local newspaper's contemporary coverage of the crash, if you're interested.

For the RAF (possibly) :
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/

To see the Askh2g2 thread, click this link :
F19585?thread=3059967?thread=&post=35215941#p35215941

My locations:
May 27th: Leeds/York area
May 28th - May 31: London touring
June 1: Leeds/York area maybe touring
June 2: Leeds
June 3 - June 4: Leeds/York area

I have a couple of friends in the Leeds/York area, that I'll be staying with part of the time, but am not sure exactly where, it'll be my first time to England.

No, I do not have a book, but that was another task my father gave me was to purchase 2 books.

I am really amazed at how great everyone has been in trying to help. I am overwhelmed. Thank you so much!

Yes, I guess it would be a good idea to be able to get in contact directly without the whole world listening I leave early May 26, so tomorrow (May 25) will be my last day of being able to communicate until I am in England.

If you open this link, you'll find my contact details : A12044378

2 books are already ordered. We can work out how to get them to you.

Sheffield is about 35 miles south of Leeds, less than an hour's drive down the M1 motorway. I guess you might plan to come here to see Endcliffe Park and the memorial. If you'd like to meet, just say. During your stay, I'll be out of the UK 29th till late on the 1st, but that only precludes one day when you're in the area.

I've not yet made contact with anyone with deep connections to Mi Amigo, but I haven't stopped trying.

You've been so wonderful! Thanks so much! I will give you a shout once I've arrived and gotten my cell in order - then we can discuss the hows and whos and whys. And by the way, my name is Robin and I'm a she.

Hi Robin

Hope you had a pleasant flight and that you're enjoying first impressions.

Will post more later. (The website fell over so we're only just back on line)

Pin

Hi Robin

My trip to Europe has been called off. If you wish to do so, you can now contact me at any time this week using those phone numbers you have.

I've also telephoned your father and we had a pleasant talk.

I've made contact with David Harvey, author of the book, and with people at the Church. Both have provided contact details and are eager to help your father make the trip.

I will pick the books up Tuesday - that just got easier too!

Lots of other news, but it can wait. I hope you're enjoying your holiday.

Pin (Mick)

Hello I'm sorry that I've been away so long.

I live in Sheffield and have a large 8th AAF collection dedicated to the crew of Mi Amigo. This is mainly correct Class A uniforms and combat gear. But it does include a copy of the exact map the crew must have used on their last mission. If anyone would like photos please let me know. My partner and I tour the U.K with the collection and exhibit it in places like museums and air shows. Our next venue will be at the Military Tattoo at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York on Sunday September 3rd 2006.

Due to a mix-up in communication we were unable to exhibit our collection at the Mi Amigo memorial service February last, but we'll have even more items to show this February coming.

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan

As you'll probably guess from the above thread, Robin Tuttle (daughter of the cousin of Sgt Charles Tuttle) visited Endcliffe Park a few weeks ago. She took two copies of the David Harvey book back to the US for her father. He'll come over to attend the 2007 service himself.

I have a photo she brought (remiss of me not to have found a home for it by now). It's an A4-size print of the crew at Spokane, WA in October 1943. They're posed in front of another B-17 (Shebolli). The same photo appears in DH's book, in the form of an Oklahoma newspaper cutting. There is also a photocopy of the annotated back of the original print, in the hand of Sgt Tuttle's sister.

Robin's visit was uplifting for me too, and put me back in touch with Tony Kemplen after many years. I also spoke with David Harvey by phone. I can't claim to be very Mi Amigo-wise personally, but the story remains an inspiring one.

If you would like to receive the photo, please reply here.

Yours

Pinniped (Mick Steeper in RL - and the phone book!)

Hi Mick,

I visited Sgt Tuttle's grave only a few weeks ago. We had just finished a major exhibition down at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford and we were headed back north, still wearing our HBT's (coveralls). I decided to stop off at Madingley even though it had closed for the day. There were no proper barriers to speak of so we went into the American Cemetery for a moment of quiet contemplation. As you may be aware, Sgt Tuttle's grave is easily located as it is on the edge of the path that goes up the gentle incline towards the visitor centre.

I sometimes represent American families by proxy at the cemetery if they wish to have shots taken of their loved one's grave. We fill the white inscriptions with damp sand taken from the Normandy beaches to ensure the lettering is bolder for the pictures.

Reading your post I'm saddened to hear that I missed Sgt Tuttle's sister's visit to my home city. I drive past the crash site almost every day as it's on my way to work. I also pop into the park when I can just to make sure everything's okay at the memorial.

I was completely gutted when I realised with horror that I'd missed the weekend of the memorial service this year. I went to the memorial with my girlfriend soon afterwards to kind of apologise for my oversight. Afer all, I'd been working hard the prvious six months to get my Mi Amigo exhibition to a state of presentability and at the last second wires got crossed and I blew it. As I was stood there feeling kind of numb one of the ten oaks planted for the crew leaned over in the breeze and placed a low branch on my shoulder. I'll never forget that.

Yes, I certainly would appreciate any material conneced with Mi Amigo. It would be added to the collection so that a wider audience could appreciate the sacrifice of not only the crew of Mi Amigo but also all the Allied crews who gave their lives in those dark days.

Cheers, Jonathan

If those who possess a copy of Harvey's great book turn to the back cover, they will see a photo of a pair of goggles recovered from the site. Initially this may pose a mystery as the goggles are the RAF Mk VII type with the flip-down eye shield removed. So what's it doing in a USAAF plane?

As the USAAF build up in the UK progressed, demand outstripped supply and so the RAF pitched in with surplus equipment. As the goggles were reportedly retrieved from the stream which runs at the foot of the memorial and where the nose came to rest, it is almost certain that these goggles belonged to one of the four officers who were located at the front of the plane as the momentum of impact would have shot the goggles forward.

Does anyone know of any information regarding the condition of the nose at the crash site? This is all supposition of course as the goggles may simply have been dislodged or disregarded when the wreck was recovered. However, the goggles do not appear to show any scorch marks from the fire.

Furthermore, does anyone know where I could locate a pair of these goggles for the Mi Amigo collection? They rarely appear on eBay.

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan
I've assumed so far that you know David Harvey himself. You do, don't you?
Pin/Mick Steeper
(look for me in the Sheffield phone book re the Tuttle photo)

Hi Mick,

No, I've never met Mr Harvey I'm afraid. I'll look you up in the Sheffield phonebook soon and give you a quick call.

Folks may wish to know that the memorial to the 305th Bombardment Group (parent group of Mi Amigo) will be officially unveiled next year on May 27th I do believe. It's located in the village of Chelveston. I plan to have my collection on display down there.

Jonathan