My friend, Lorraine Hudock, sent me this postcard this week. Her friend got this at an antique store, thinking that she'd like it, but she sent to me to add to my collection. How thoughtful.
Unfortunately, whoever had it originally, pasted it into a scrapbook of some sort. I was able to read most of it, in spite of the paper and glue on the back.
This is what I garnered from it, tonight.
Postmarked Macon, GA Oct 9, 1942 2:30 PM
Pvt. G Katora CO A-1 ?
Medic Training Dept. ?
Robins Field ?
Warner Robins, GA
Hello Ralph:
How are you doing? I'm fine. Hear you some rough weather.up ???.
? nice down here ?? seldom rains. Am very busy in my training now. Hear
Anna went on a vacation. Better get your crops in ?????
haha
Addressed to Mr Ralph Thompson
RD 2 Box
Tarentum Penn
Did some preliminary searches this evening and came up with the following:
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World War II
Spurred on by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the number of construction workers reached 2,200 by Christmas 1941. The Army enlarged the project by purchasing 2,637 additional acres and leasing 782 more south of the depot for troop training. In May 1942, the number of construction workers peaked at 6,600. The contractors essentially completed the project by 31 August 1942. Construction on the industrial and cantonment areas was completed by 31 August 1942. The second and third phases were completed the following April.
The rapidly growing town of Wellston changed its name to Warner Robins on 1 September 1942. Known as the Georgia Air Depot in the beginning, the depot has undergone many name changes. It was redesignated seven times, eventually being named Warner Robins Army Air Depot on 14 October 1942.
Warner Robins Army Air Depot eventually assumed overall command of the Air Service Command's installations in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, a portion of Florida, and North Carolina. Warner Robins supported approximately 6,500 Army aircraft in this area with depot maintenance and supply.
Throughout World War II (1941–45), 23,670 employees repaired almost every kind of AAF aircraft, including B-17s, C-47s, B-29s, B-24s, P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s. Its training facilities turned out nearly 60,000 field repair mechanics for every theater of war. The workforce supplied every kind of part necessary to keep AAF planes flying, especially spark plugs. It also maintained thousands of parachutes, aircraft electronic and radio systems, and AAF small arms.
In addition to aircraft maintenance and supply, air depots also trained aviation support personnel. These included air depot groups and air service groups, plus medical, military police, quartermaster, ordnance, chemical, and signal personnel. Warner Robins sent its first trained unit, the 38th Air Depot Group, overseas in December 1942. It is estimated that over 50,000 Army personnel trained at Warner Robins during the war.
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Then did a search for G Katora in Tarentum, PA and actually found the name of A George Katora who was born in 1921 and passed away in July of 1986. This would be the right time period and age. Am looking up some other records right now. Would love to be able to get in touch with the family, if possible. This is in Allegheny County.
Does anyone have a current account on Ancestry.com? If so, could you look up George Katora for me and see if you can find his military history or anything else related to him. I'd greatly appreciate it.
I was online doing some research about details for the 612 engineer corp that my father was in. I couldn’t help but notice the sketches that you used.
Who is the artist?
The reason I ask is because they have an uncanny resemblance to my father’s work, of which I possess 10 originals.
Are you still involved in this project?
Thank you for your reply.
Sincerely,
Laura McAtee
I was given copies from various artists from the archives. I have no idea who did the actual drawings for they are contributions from dozens of engineers from WWII.
Let me know.
Marion
It's not necessary to delete them, but giving him credit would be nice. I can see if I can get photographs taken of these as well. They are large - like 3' x 4'. some are smaller.
My father's name is Howard J. Partney, he was CPL in 612 Engineer light equipment battalion; their biggest assignments was to build the bridges, and blow up enemy bridges.
I can't seem to find much online about the engineer corp group. Most of the men that served with him are now deceased.
Attached is an article about him and his brothers that served.
Ah, that is wonderful news and trust me, I am more than happy to give your father credit. I am always wondering who did all these magnificent drawings from the war and would love to know more about all of the men involved.
I am going to share our correspondence and thus, start a topic on his unit. I have found some info and will continue on, adding as I go.
I will NOT share your email address, etc. That I always keep private.
M1 has been a very busy little bee and just finished her first children's book entitled, The Story of Q, which is aimed at the mid-grade or 'tween' crowd, ages 9-12.
The Kindle (mobi) and Nook/I-Pad (EPub) versions have already been released and I'm waiting to get confirmation regarding the print book within the next day or so.
As you can imagine, we (my illustrator and I) are very excited about the prospects and feeling quite optimistic about the future.
Here's the book's description:
In book one of, The Story of ‘Q’, ten-year-old Rachael Lexington, lives with her parents and six-year-old sister, Melanie. She is a fifth-grader and excellent student at Neil Armstrong Elementary School. She loves learning new things, meeting new people and shares her father’s love of science and astronomy.
One day while attending the annual garage sale event in her neighborhood, she stumbles upon a porcelain letter ‘Q’ and cannot understand why she feels compelled to buy it. However, she convinces herself to make the purchase, for it just happens to match the decor of her newly re-decorated bedroom. Embarrassed that others may think it too childish, the ‘Q’ remains stuffed in her closet for weeks, until she has the nerve to display it on her desk.
Weeks later her best friend Jenny, spends the night at Rachael’s house, when they accidentally discover that the ‘Q’ may be more than a simple decorative item, after her little sister mysteriously goes missing later that night.
For more info regarding the book/release dates, etc, please visit
