Veterans Papers #2

R E M E M B E R I N G   A   M A N   I   N E V E R   K N E W

The Martin B-26 Marauder

As a kid, I hated delivering Joe Vano's newspaper, especially in July and August. The summers were hot and dry in the afternoon; Joe was the last paper on the route, and it was uphill to his driveway, then another uphill to get to the house.  But when I was done, I usually stopped by Bob's for a very cold Pepsi or Nehi Grape before parking my bike at home and chilling in front of the fan.  I spent the evening looking at books on World War II or building airplane models not knowing I had an expert pilot that I could have talked to if I hadn't been in such a hurry to finish my route.

The author and his wife at Sembach's Officer Ball, ca 1988

The Eighth Air Force got all the press.  Stationed in Britain, host to Glenn Miller and his band (yes, my wife and I danced to his music in a formal wear at Sembach Air Base in Germany), the Eighth Air Force was the big kid on the bloc.  If you have seen the movie Memphis Belle, this is what I am talking about.  The Air Force is divided into Major Commands which control Numbered Air Forces.  This is where most people drift off.  So... if there is an Eighth Air Force, you can well imagine there is a Ninth Air Force.

A number of years ago, a colleague of mine, Mark Clodfelter, wrote The Limits of Airpower, a monumental and groundbreaking book that finally put an end to the 1930s mindset on big bombers.  But in World War II, Joe Vano was a part of a new form of warfare and the use of airpower.  The old mindset was based on big bombers massed in huge formations that would obliviate the enemy's will and ability to fight.  All the Army had to do, so it was thought, was mop up any remaining resistance on the ground.  Spit-spot, your war is won.  Sadly, it does not work that way, as Robert Hannahs proved.

The Ninth Air Force was designed to do things differently through Combat Air Support/Close Air Support (CAS, either way).  The idea was that the air forces would/could/should be available to help ground units to destroy the enemy in front of them.  This was ground-breaking.  If a ground unit became pinned down by enemy gunfire, call in the bombers...   a few bombs on the enemy's heads can be a game-changer.  The Ninth Air Force was instrumental in proving the concept.

Joe was born in Patterson, New Jersey, in 1922.  Joe had some experience in working in a machine shop before being accepted as a cadet in the US Army Air Corps.  He, like I, was shipped to beautiful San Antonio, Texas, to receive basic military and flight training.  From there, he was selected to receive his Advanced Flight Training at MacDill Army Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, in the then-new Martin B-26 Marauder. 

Up to this point, the Air Corps had been content with North American's B-25 Mitchell medium bomber, which became popular with Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders.  Ninth Air Force passed their initial stock of B-25s to Twelfth Air Force for operations against Italy.  The B-26 was fast, sleek, and agile.  These qualities were coveted until it became time to land.  The locals in Tampa used to say, 'One a day in Tampa Bay.'  Joe's granddaughter was quick to point out the B-26 was known as the 'Widow Maker.'   The B-26 was, in many ways, well ahead of its time, but took a special hand to master.

Joe’s unit, the 344^th Bombardment Group, saw service in Europe.  The 344^th had four squadrons – approximately 50 aircraft – the 494^th, 495^th, 496^th, and 497^th Bombardment Squadrons.  Throughout the war the 344^th was stationed at first at MacDill Field, FL (September 8, 1942), then Drane Field (Lakeland), FL (December 28, 1942), Hunter Field (Savannh), GA (December 19, 1943- January 26, 1944), Stansted, England (RAF Stansted Mountfitchet) (February 9, 1944), Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France, (September 30, 1944), Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium (April 5, 1945), and Schleissheim, Germany, (ca. September 15, 1945-February 15, 1946.)

Joe mastered the Marauder.  Joe mastered the concept of tactical air forces.  Joe mastered combat air support.  Joe retired, as a Lieutenant Colonel, to Alexandria and served the community as a volunteer fireman among a number of other service organizations.  Joe passed away in May, 2011.

I wish I had taken the time to talk to Joe, but I did not even know the questions to ask.  Sadly, I never knew Joe.  Rest in peace, my brother. 

Author’s Note:  I would like to thank Joe’s granddaughter Kristin for her kind appreciation in helping me honor one of our heroes.