The 489th Bombardment Squadron in Corsica

1. 489th BS Insignia from B-25 at MAAM,
2. 340th BG Insignia from Q. Kaiser's A2 flight jacket (1944),
3. NASA space shuttle photo of Corsica,
4. 12th Air Force patch,
5. U.S. Army Air Corps Patch .

German Stuff at Alesani, Corsica

QCK on motorcycle left behind by the Germans.

Two land mines left behind by the Germans.

The Germans occupied the island of Corsica and constructed some of the airfields there before they were forced to leave the island around October of 1943. There were many signs of the German occupation around the base for the 340th Bombardment Group at Alesani, Corsica. Left photo: Quentin Kaiser on a German motorcycle. Combat personnel were not allowed to ride these so my dad just sat on this one to have his picture taken. Right photo: Two German land mines that were found on the base.

'QCK at the Littoria Airdrome near Rome standing by a downed German plane.

Neither of these planes were on Corsica. Left photo: My dad stands by a downed German plane at the Littoria Airdrome near Rome while on leave. Right photo: I don't know where this picture was taken but it may be one of my dad's brother's photographs from his war years.

QCK in German helmet found at Alesani, Corsica.

My dad and some of his buddies found this German helmet near their tent on the base at Alesani, Corsica. This is my dad doing his best impersonation of the stereotypical German soldier.

Photos from S/Sgt. Russell J. Callahan provided by his son, Tom Callahan

A guy from the 489th BS fooling around while dressed in a German uniform.

This picture and the ones below seem to substantiate the fact that dressing up as German soldiers was a favorite pastime for some of the men of the 489th Bombardment Squadron. These great photographs were sent to me by Tom Callahan whose father, Russell J. Callahan was a mechanic who worked with crew chief Russell Callahan Boeing Aeronautics School 1942 John Cameron</a> on B-25J 9B Legal Eagle on Corsica.

These photographs were most likely taken near Comiso or Catania, Sicily when the 340th Bombardment Group was based there from August-October, 1943.

This picture shows another 489th guy fooling around in German dress but also a great view of the 489th Operations tent and sign.

A bunch of guys from the 489th BS fooling around.

Here are a bunch of guys presumably from the 489th BS and possibly from the other squadrons of the 340th Bombardment Group fooling around with some German uniforms they acquired.

This picture shows a guidon (pennant) for the 489th Bombardment Squadron, 340th Bombardment Group.

Two guys from the 489th BS fooling around.

Here's another view of the 489th/340th guidon and another German impersonator from the 489th.

Four guys from the 489th BS fooling around in German uniforms.

S/Sgt. Russell J. Callahan, mechanic in the 489th BS is on the left.

This is Colonel Parrish from the 489th Bomb Squadron posing by the 489th Operations Tent.

Four guys from the 489th BS fooling around.

These guys could have had their own Vaudeville USO show.

Exit, Stage Left..........

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