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Rev. 6/29/2023

Boomers & Beyond There have been many “Nexters” (next generation) out there expressing their interests in learning more about their parents, grandparents, and other relatives. We welcome any pictures, documents, and stories you would like to share on this website. Please email me – mileshamby@cox.net. Some of you are “Baby-boomers” and some are even later generations. Following are contributions from so many of you! Thank you for keeping the memory alive!

Monuments Men, & Women On the location of the old Spanhoe airfleld in Lincolnshire, England, a monument deidicated to the 315^th TCG had been erected. Over the years, a local farmer had tended to its care. Recently, a group of American servicemembers, boomers and beyond, representing all (now) six branches of the U.S. military – Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Space Force – have taken over its care. (Left) the Spanhoe Monument (photos courtesy of CDR Robert J. Hamilton , USN, Deputy Senior Collection Manager, AFRICOM, J2-ISR Division J2-M RAF Molesworth) CDR Hamilton wrote: “I’ve attached some pictures from our trip out to the monument. We were able to get a lot of the organic material off (lichen, and such), but the stains were stubborn. We left a biodegradable, organic, “leave-on” solution on it before we left. Haven’t been back yet to see how well (or if) it worked on any of the stains. The team pictured below represents Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Civilian. The Navy rep (yours truly) is on the other side of the camera.”

Preserving Spanhoe Clive Roth, local English resident, contacted me (Miles Hamby, 315Group webmaster) to tell me about the renewed interest in Spanhoe and the 315^th. Regarding a memorial event in November 2022, he wrote: “Are you able to help with some details on the 315th TCG please? I recognise the fact that this was all back in 1944 and that the group was disbanded in 1983. However, I am trying to research into, what for us is a LOCAL interest, living as we do, just 7 miles from Spanhoe in Northamptonshire, UK The war memorial erected in 1983 has some 54 names on it. I have traced some 25 of these as KIA in 1944 and 1945 using the daily squadron reports on the website and other local sources. Are you able to produce any further details if I give you some names please? Please understand that the memorial is well kept and is respected and honoured throughout the year locally and in particular on Remembrance Sunday, this coming nearest Sunday to 11 November 2022. With kind regards, Clive Rothwell”

(Left) Spanhoe Operaations building, refurbished in 2005. Note the WW2/1940s era vintage vehicles. Following the event Clive mentioned, Clive reported: “Approximately 70 folk turned up for the parade.  The Royal British Legion organisers were delighted that the event has seen such a resurgence in recent years. A lovely event today that with the help of your photo added just that little bit extra.”

(Left) Clive Rothwell Below are photos Clive sent of the event. Note the WW2 military vehicles.

Remembrance and Re-enactment The 315th lives on! Many of the children – the sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews – had come to our reunions when they active. Some of them, as a way of 'getting in touch' with their parents and forebears, have begun collecting uniforms, photos, equipment and other memorabilia from there progenitors. Some have even re-enacted their lives through involvement in living history.

Operation Spanhoe 2005 In May 2005, local resident Stephen Barker, associate member of the 315TCG WWII Veterans Association coordinated a major airshow event on the original site of Spanhoe. The event included many re-enactor units, including some young British women portraying the 818^th MAETS (see 315Group home page), who were delighted to meet one of the guests of honor, Lt. Evelyn “Chappie” Kowalchuck (now deceased), chief flight nurse of the 818^th MAETS at Spanhow in 1944.

(Near right) Chappie Kowalchuc in England, ca 1943 (Far right) Chappie Kowalchuk dancing with webmaster Miles Hamby at the 2002 315Group WW2 Veterans Association reunion.

(Left) Miles ‘Chip’ Hamby, son of member Henry Hamby, standing in front of an R4-D (Navy version of the C-47).Miles “Chip” Hamby as a Troop Carrier re-enactor, ca 1997. Miles is also a veteran C-130 pilot of the 317^th Tactical Airlift Wing. Believe it or not, World War II Re-enactment is increasing in popularity as a hobby for the ‘Baby-boomers’ and now the “Millennials” and beyond. As the picture to the left suggests, is it the original, or is it re-creation? (Right) Henry Hamby, 310th TCS, and middle son Miles wearing his Dad’s old pinks 'n greens at the '98 reunion.

(Above) Katherine Dols, Associate 315th Association Member, at the controls of a C-47 during Frederick Historic Aircraft Airshow held annually in Frederick, MD. (ca 2005). The aircraft was configured for medical evacuation and Katherine occasionally portrays a flight nurse of the era

(Left) Katherine Dols portraying fictitious personality 'Katherine Culling of the USO's Hollywood Canteen', wearing an authentic WW2 era uniform and USO devices (Right) Daughter of a veteran, Christine ?, wearing her Dad’s Cooper A-2 flight jacket and crush cap on Halloween.

Hamby’s Rough Riders Below, Bert de Jong of the Netherlands has recreated LtCol. Hamby’s squadron “Hamby’s Rough Riders”, 310^th TCS, and takes the display to shows and events throughout Europe. (Below, far left, stannding) Bert de Jong

(Left) Taken ca 2005, Col. Henry Hamby (US AF, Ret., 310TCS Commander, now deceased) with son Miles Hamby in Miles’s 1943 GPW jeep. Note vehicle ID number “2082656” recreated by Miles after a period photo of a jeep belinging to the 315^th TCG. (see pictures in 310 TCS History). (Right) USAF veteran Capt. Miles Hamby (on right) with friend US Army veteren Cap. Kent Lakind (on left) in front of Miles’s meep before the Catonsville, MD, 4^th of July parade, 2019.. Note the bumper marking “9 « 315TCG” signifying the vehicle belonged to the 9^th Air Force, 315^th Troop Carrier Group

(Right) Miles Hamby, son of 310th TCS veteran Henry Hamby and Pete Connelly, son of 34th TCS veteran Edward Connelly, in Miles’s jeep for the 2023 4th of July parade in Catonsville, MD. Both of their fathers were in the same squadron, 34th TCS in 1942 and 1943. In 1944, the 34thTCS was divided to create the 310th TCS in anticipation of the Normandy invasion. (See 34th TCS and 310th TCS War Diaries for May 1944.) Note the 9th Air Force 315th Troop Carrier Group designation on the bumper. The “Your fight is our fight” sign is in support of the Ukranian fight against the dictator Putin’s attmept to overthrow democracy in the world - what our fathers fought to save in World War 2.