Into the Air Against Germany - Diary of a B-17 Pilot's 20th Combat Mission in 1945

By Mary Dodge Allen 

Our country is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. To honor those who have served our country and put their lives on the line during WWII, I am revisiting the blog I wrote in 2022 - the summary of pilot Ralph "Lee' Minker's diary of his 20th B-17 mission. The co-pilot on this mission was my uncle, Gordon Dodge.

Lt. Ralph "Lee" Minker, Pilot

U.S. Eighth Air Force,  447th Bomb Group, 709th Squadron

"Hey, men, the board is red, and the sky is clear. Get some sleep!"

WWII combat bomber crews stationed in East Anglia, England are on red alert to fly a bombing mission tomorrow. Before preparing for bed at 20:00 (8:00 P.M.), letters are written to mothers, wives and sweethearts back home. Idle gossip is exchanged, along with speculation about tomorrow’s target. In the background, the A.F.N. (Armed Forces Network) broadcasts the latest hit songs, such as “Rum and Coca Cola” by the Andrews Sisters.

At 02:30 (2:30 A.M.) the C.Q. (Charge of Quarters) awakens us from our fitful, nervous sleep. We wash, get dressed and then stop to eat a tasteless breakfast of soggy powdered eggs before reporting to the group briefing room. One by one, we file into the large bare room and sit as crew units on the wooden benches. Some of us engage in hushed conversation, while others fidget restlessly as they stare at the large white sheet covering the map of Europe and the combat route for today.

Promptly at 03:30 (3:30 A.M.) the briefing officer pulls back the sheet. We all focus on the end of the black tape marking the target—Frankfurt am Main. An excited buzz breaks out. “We were sure hit hard by the Luftwaffe over there last month... This ain’t no milk run brother...” 

All quiet down as the officer begins briefing the target M.P.I. (mean point of impact): the city railway marshaling yards, a hub connecting vital enemy areas of the Ruhr, Bavaria and Berlin. He describes the bomb–run, possible flak and fighters, radio interference, decoy planes and messages. The weatherman flashes a meteorology chart on an improvised screen. He concludes by warning us about fog at takeoff. A veteran who flew with the R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) in the Battle of Britain gives the briefing for takeoff, formation, flight altitudes and fighter escort. The C.O. (Commanding Officer) emphasizes tight defensive formation and bombs on target and wishes us happy landings.

Pilots, navigators, bombardiers and radio operators separate for specialized briefing before getting dressed for the mission. Gunners dress right away and head out to their B-17 bombers to put the fifty calibers in fighting order.

Dressing for a combat flying mission— where temperatures can reach 45 degrees below zero centigrade at 30,000 feet—requires layers of clothing, beginning with long winter underwear. Over that, I wear a khaki shirt and khaki pants (my lucky pair), and then an electrically-heated rayon suit, topped with a cotton flying suit and a wool-lined flying jacket. Wool socks are covered with electrically-heated felt slippers and wool-lined flying boots. 

I pull on skin-tight silk inner gloves and electrically-heated leather outer gloves, which I detest for their clumsiness. Before takeoff, I will don a wool-lined flying helmet equipped with radio earphones. I’ll also wear a parachute and harness, which has a “Mae West” water float that inflates around the chest, if necessary. I worry about working up a sweat, which can freeze at icy high altitudes.

By 04:30 (4:30 A.M.) I am driven with the rest of my crew to our B-17 G, Boeing Flying Fortress. Al, our ground crew chief from Tennessee, informs me that he’s completed preflight checks of all four engines and we’re ready to fly. (Al and his Connecticut-born assistant, Art have been up all night working on the number two engine fuel line, which gave us trouble on yesterday’s mission). I call a last-minute crew briefing, and then we pause for a quiet prayer together. My crew is ready to go.

Front row, L-R: Joe Trambley (Tail Gunner); Max Shepherd (Ball Turret Gunner); Olaf Larsen (Radio Operator); Jim Shannon (Engineer); Harold McKay (Armorer, Waist Gunner)
Back row, L-R: Lt. Gordon Dodge (Co-Pilot); Wesley Pitts (Navigator); Johnny Rosiala (Bombardier); Lt. Ralph “Lee” Minker (Pilot)

Number one engine sputters, coughs and then turns over with a steady blasting roar. We start the other three without undue trouble. They warm up as we slowly taxi out and join the line of bombers ready for takeoff. When we get a green light flash from the control tower, we roar down the long black runway and enter the air. The powerful surge and lift of a plane into flight always thrills me, for “I have slipped the surly bonds of earth…”

The bombers circle as they jockey into formation. I glance down at the patterns of land, visible through the blue haze of fog beneath us. We leave the English coast, and tension builds during the dull, tiring monotony of flight over the sinister black North Sea. I chew gum to moisten my mouth and relieve stress. Crew members take their last smokes and exchange nervous chatter on the plane interphone as we approach the enemy coast.

WWII B-17 Bombers in flight formation (Public Domain)

We don our oxygen masks and heavy flak helmets and jackets as we climb to a bombing altitude of 27,000 feet. A dull, penetrating cold surrounds me as I guide the bomber forward. Up ahead over the target, I see a black, hypnotizing cloud of flak explosions. It looks thick enough to walk on. The number two engine prop governor surges erratically. I can feel myself sweat.

We reach the I. P. (Initial Point) and begin the bombing run, flying straight and level with the bombardier in control. Flak explodes around us, cruel and close as we maintain a steady flight course toward the target. Ugly black bursts shake the bomber’s frame.

“We’re hit in the tail!” Joe shouts over the interphone.

“Hold steady, men!”

Johnny shouts, “Bombs Away!” Our plane surges upward at the release of the bomb weight.

“Let’s get the hell out of here!”

We turn and dive sharply. German FW 190 (Focke-Wulf) fighters attack. The loud, booming fire of our fifty-calibers breaks out. Our P-51 Mustang fighters drive the fighters away without serious damage to our plane. Our group reassembles, and I see planes missing from red squadron. 

Our number two engine quits, and I feather the prop. We’ll have to sweat out the flight back over the North Sea. We begin a painfully gradual descent. At 10,000 feet, I take off my oxygen mask and taste the wonderful fresh cold air as I eat a delicious frozen chocolate bar. The crew is talkative, happy. Our beautiful home base comes into view. We circle and land on the asphalt with a squeal of our tires at 15:30 (3:30 P.M.) and then taxi to our hardstand.

We are totally drained... so tired we talk in hand jerks as we unload. “Number two engine went bad again, Al. Better patch up that tail.” A G.I. truck picks us up. We drink Red Cross coffee, along with a couple of relaxing shots of Scotch, and gulp down donuts and sandwiches. Then the pilot debriefing: we hit the target, but two of our planes and their men are believed lost.

We return to the barracks and find that the damn board is red alert for another mission tomorrow.

_____________

Ralph “Lee” Minker flew 37 combat missions in the B-17 he named Blue Hen Chick, in honor of the name given to the Delaware soldiers in the American Revolution – the fightin’ “Blue Hen Chickens.” Ralph returned to the U.S. in August, 1945 at the rank of Captain. In September, he returned to Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. He wrote this mission summary for his Winter, 1946 WWII History class. The nearly 700 letters he exchanged with his family during the war are held in The Ralph Minker/Minker Family Letters Collection at the Delaware Historical Society. Below is the link:

https://dehistory.org/.../digital.../minker-family-letters/

Lt. Gordon B. Dodge, Co-Pilot on Minker's crew

Gordon Dodge completed 35 missions and returned to the U.S. in 1945

On February 15, 2015, Uncle Gordon, age 95, flew with us on a B-17 at a Venice, FL airshow. He met with the other riders and answered their questions about his combat missions. He said he enjoyed this flight because, "nobody was shooting at me."

Note: Crew photo and photo of bombers in formation, Public Domain.
Individual photos, used with permission of the Minker and Dodge families.

_______________

Mary Dodge Allen is currently finishing her sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. She's won a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Recent release, anthology devotional: El Jireh, The God Who Provides

Mary's story, entitled: A Mother's Desperate Prayer, describes her struggle with guilt and despair after her young son is badly burned in a kitchen accident. When we are at the end of all we have, El Jireh provides what we need. 

Click the link below to purchase on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/El-Jireh-God-Who-Provides/dp/1963611608

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Book

Weird Inventions That Saved Lives: Pigeon Vest

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Continuing our series on Weird Inventions That Saved Lives, today we discover a device created by the company, Maidenform. Most women are familiar with this company and have probably purchased one of their products at one point or another. However, did you know this company played an important role in saving lives during WWII?

It is well known that during WWII, many companies that made products during peacetime had to find a way to repurpose and fit into a wartime economy. Maidenform was not exempt from this phenomenon. But how does a company that usually makes undergarments for women adapt to wartime? By making something to strap to soldier’s chests, of course. 

I know this sounds very strange, but bear with me for a moment, because it actually made a lot of sense.

The most reliable form of communication for the US and its allies during WWII were carrier pigeons. These were less likely to be intercepted by the enemy and 95% of the messages delivered this way were successful. There was actually an army of 56,000 pigeons trained to serve in WWII. But while the pigeons could fly themselves back to base, getting them on the ground with the units who needed them was the challenge. That’s where Maidenform came in. 

Pigeon vest blueprint. 
 National Museum of American History, Archives Center,
Maidenform Collection, 1922-1997. 

Maidenform designed and produced two devices that aided in getting the pigeons where they needed to be. The first option was for them to travel along with the soldiers. They designed “pigeon vests” that securely cradled the birds to the chest of the paratroopers as they deployed to their positions. The vest was shaped to the pigeon’s body, holding true to Maidenform’s slogan, “There’s a Maiden Form for every type of figure.” The pigeon vest was strapped to the outer jacket of the paratrooper, as pictured below. The birds could then be released with a message when the unit was on the ground and needed to send one.

Pigeon in pigeon vest harnessed to a paratrooper.
National Museum of American History, Archives Center,
Maidenform Collection, 1922-1997. 

The other method was to deliver pigeons to troops already on the ground. Maidenform also designed and produced “pigeon parachutes” which attached to a cage and would float the birds down to the troops below. 

Between these two devices, the army could use the birds to communicate effectively and without enemy interference. 

As strange as these inventions are, they saved many lives, howbeit in an indirect way. Carrier pigeons saved thousands during WWII, including one instance when a message to call off a bombing was successfully delivered by a pigeon, saving the lives of over 1,000 allied troops. 

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award, Amber Lemus writes enthralling non-fiction for children and adults alike. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior, so her writing is centered around faith, family and history.

She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with her prince charming and two boys. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberLemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

WWII Hawaii Overprint Money - In Case of Japanese Invasion After Pearl Harbor

By Mary Dodge Allen 

Have you ever seen a one dollar bill with the word HAWAII printed on it? It might be worth more than you think.

Hawaiian Overprint note (Smithsonian Institution)

Why Print Hawaiian Money?

The shocking attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Imperial Army on December 7, 1941 propelled the United States into WWII. It also ignited fears that the Hawaiian Territory - essentially a group of isolated Pacific Islands - was in danger of a Japanese invasion.

Pearl Harbor Attack, December 7, 1941 (Public Domain)

Territorial Governor J. B. Poindexter (with the approval of President Franklin Roosevelt) placed Hawaii under martial law and ceded administrative control of the islands to the United States Army. Lt. General Delos C. Emmons was appointed military governor.

Lt. General Delos C. Emmons (Public Domain)

After the Pearl Harbor attack, people in Hawaii began hoarding money to be used as emergency funds in the event of a Japanese invasion. 

Lt. General Emmons realized that if the Japanese successfully invaded the islands, they could seize millions of dollars in U.S. currency from Hawaiian financial institutions. This, in turn, could be harmful to the larger American economy.

A new strict monetary policy was devised to prevent this from happening - the creation of Hawaii Overprint Notes. 

A New Monetary Policy

On January 9, 1942, Lt. General Emmons issued an order that made it illegal for individuals to hold more than $200 cash per month. Businesses could only hold up to $500 in cash. 

Any excess cash needed to be deposited in local banks immediately. (To help ensure compliance, the deadline was extended to August 1). Violators could be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned.

BYU-Hawaii History Professor Isaiah Walker described the challenges his grandmother faced as she lived through this period of martial law: 

"She remembered the mandatory blackouts, people opening and reading your mail and listening in on your personal phone calls. The confiscation of currency was another adjustment that everyday people had to endure."

New Money For Hawaii

In early March 1942, a U.S. Treasury detail arrived in Hawaii with $20 million U.S. dollars specifically printed for circulation in the Hawaiian Territory, in exchange for $20 million in regular currency held by Hawaiian banks.

(Smithsonian Institution)

(Smithsonian Institution)

(Smithsonian Institution)

The new bills, in $1, $5, $10, and $20 denominations all had "HAWAII" printed in large letters on the back, and printed in small letters in two places on the front. These San Francisco Reserve notes also featured brown seals and serial numbers, for easy identification.

(Smithsonian Institution)

In the case of a Japanese invasion, this specially-marked currency would immediately be rendered useless.

The Hawaii Overprint notes went into circulation in June 1942 and were in use through October 1944. They were issued by the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank - and were sometimes referred to as, "Emmons Notes."

They were initially intended for use only in the Hawaiian Islands, but these notes spread throughout the Pacific Theater of the war, partly because some U.S. troops received specimens with their pay packets.

The End of the Japanese Threat 

By mid-1944, a Japanese invasion was no longer considered a threat. On October 21, 1944, the U.S. Treasury Department announced the end of the Hawaii currency rules. And President Roosevelt followed up with Executive Order 9489, which ended martial law on the islands.

In total, the Treasury issued 65 million overprint notes, with a face value of 

$400 million.

During August and September 1945, following the end of the Pacific war, huge amounts of Hawaiian overprint currency notes were redeemed. An estimated $200 million in notes were subsequently burned at incinerators on the islands, including the Aiea Sugar Mill in Oahu.

Aiea Sugar Mill, Oahu (Public Domain)

One of the locations where the Hawaii Overprint notes were burned.

But many of these Hawaii Overprint notes survived, kept as souvenirs by servicemen. Some notes circulated on the U.S. Mainland through the 1940s and 1950s. The United States Navy even paid overseas vendors with these notes through the 1960s.

Collectors of these notes can be found at coin and currency auctions. I recently saw a Hawaii Overprint note for sale on eBay for over $200.00.

___________________

Mary Dodge Allen is currently finishing her sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. She's won a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Recent release, anthology devotional: El Jireh, The God Who Provides

Mary's story, entitled: A Mother's Desperate Prayer, describes her struggle with guilt and despair after her young son is badly burned in a kitchen accident. When we are at the end of all we have, El Jireh provides what we need. 

Click the link below to purchase on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/El-Jireh-God-Who-Provides/dp/1963611608

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Book

Weird Inventions That Saved Lives: The Morrison Shelter

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Hello friends!

Today we are starting a new series on Weird Inventions That Saved Lives. I post on the 2nd of each month, so be sure to check back for the next article in the series on May 2nd!

Take a look at this contraption. Upon first glance, it looks very strange to see a couple sleeping in what appears to be a cage. I did a double take the first time I saw this photo. But this odd invention actually saved thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of lives during WWII. This is a Morrison Air Raid Shelter. 

We are very familiar with the photos of WWII showing families entering cellars or bunkers or huddling in underground tunnels. But especially in Europe, not every family had a backyard with a cellar, or access to an underground tunnel. The British government noted that thousands of lives were being lost, not from the actual impact of the bombs, but from the surrounding destruction. Walls would cave in or blow out from the blast and then the entire roof would collapse on top of innocent civilians, killing many. So they did what any good government would do, they brainstormed ways to keep their population safe. 

The Morrison Shelter, also known as the Table Shelter, was designed by John Baker and named after Herbert Morrison who was the Minister of Home Security at the time. The device was designed with all functionality and practicality in mind. During the day, it could be used as a table, thus the nickname 'table shelter'. But during the night, or during air raids, it could be used as a shelter. The top was a 3mm steel plate and the frame was also steel with wire mesh. Even the bottom of the shelter was made with a metal lath "mattress" type of design. 

A couple demonstrates the use of the Morrison Shelter
Photo By Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Imperial War Museums, Public Domain.

The government tested the shelters before they began distribution. In this photo, you can see how the shelters would function as protection during the air raids. This photo is from one of the said tests with dummies inside the shelter. 

Test of the Morrison Shelter with dummies inside.
Photo By Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Imperial War Museums, Public Domain.

The next step was to distribute some of these shelters to see them working in real time. The British government provided these shelter kits free to low-income families and at a price to wealthy families. The shelter came in a box, and the families were required to assemble the shelter themselves. The kit provided three tools and three-hundred-fifty-nine parts which they would then bolt together inside the home. Half a million of these shelters were distributed by the end of 1941, and another round of one-hundred thousand by the end of 1943.

In one examination, the British government observed forty-four houses that had been damaged in an air raid. Inside those forty-four houses were one-hundred-thirty-six people. Three people were killed, thirteen seriously injured and another sixteen were slightly injured. The three that were killed were directly hit by the bomb. And of those thirteen who were seriously injured, some of those had not sited the shelter properly. The result was that the shelters did indeed save lives. Those 44 homes had suffered severe damage from the attack, and yet one-hundred-twenty of the one-hundred-thirty-six escaped without severe injury. 

While the Morrison Shelter may be a weird or strange-looking contraption, it was invaluable during WWII. 

Have you ever heard of the Morrison Shelter? How would you feel about sleeping inside a metal cage to keep your family safe?

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with her prince charming and three children. Between enjoying life as a mom of three littles, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/  and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Knitting and Spying by Nancy J. Farrier

 Do you like to knit? Do you have the nerve to knit in the middle of an enemy stronghold and work messages into your knitting to pass on to your country’s armed forces? That is what the women featured in today’s blog did during war time. I salute them for their bravery and determination. Let’s take a look at what they accomplished and how they alerted their forces using their needlework.

Knit/Purl Stitches by WillowW
Wikimedia Commons

First, keep in mind how knitting is done. There are two basic stitches. The knit stitch looks like a “v” and the purl stitch makes a small bump. Also, dropped stitches were used to make a hole. That means these patterns could have been read by feel in low light if needed. Plus, women were encouraged to knit and make items to help soldiers, so nothing was thought about a woman sitting in her window or in public with her knitting needles clicking away. Little did the opposition realize that she didn’t have to focus on her work, but could be watching and listening to later report conversations and movements. A perfect spy!

Phyllis Latour Doyle

Phyllis joined the RAF in 1941 after a friend was killed by Nazi soldiers. She planned to train to be an airplane mechanic but others noted her potential. Because her father was French, Phyllis grew up speaking fluent French and would be valuable as a spy behind lines. She agreed to become a spy and was trained by a cat burglar to do things like cross a roof top undetected.

1904 Picture of
Woman Knitting

At the end of her training, Phyllis parachuted into Normandy. She pretended to be a teenager to throw off suspicion. She traveled by bicycle and chatted with German soldiers. She would then go someplace secret, bring out her knitting and use one of her 2,000 codes to send a message. She would hide the knitted message by winding the strip around a knitting needle and inserting it in a hair tie. Each time she used one of the codes she’d been given she would mark the code, so she wouldn’t use it again.

Phyllis had to keep on the move. She would send her message and then go quickly before the Germans could trace the source of the message. They did not catch her. She often had to sleep on the forest floor unless she found some Allied sympathizers. She ate what food she could find and was often hungry, but she always had her knitting and her silk thread she used for her patterns.

In 2014, Phyllis was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration. She did not want to get this award but did it for her family. She was 93 at the time. Her family found out about her spy work in the late 1900’s when one of her sons read about her on the internet. She did not want to brag about the service she’d done for her country.

Madame Lavengle

WWI Ad for Knitting
By Marguerite Martyn
Wikimedia Commons

During WWI the Germans occupied her home putting her and her children at risk. Madame Lavengle did not quake in fear. Instead, she joined the resistance and used her knitting and her children to send coded messages right under the noses of the Germans in her home.

In an upper room, Lavengle sat at a window knitting. Every day she would sit there and knit. Such an innocent pastime, right? Meanwhile, she would tap her foot on the floor and her children below her would copy down the code she signaled with the tapping. The German Marshall in her home never suspected she was gathering and passing on information. Amazing.

Molly “Mom” Rinker

Molly Rinker owned a tavern during the Revolutionary War. She often had British soldiers in her town and in her tavern. She wanted to do something to help the Revolution, so she would go to the park and sit on a high hill or rock and knit. As she watched and listened, she would tie knots in her ball of yarn as a code. Then she would drop the yarn at a certain place for the Revolutionary soldiers to find. In this way, a woman in a lowly occupation, helped out her fledgling country. Thank you, Molly.

Binary Pattern by Kurt Pippen Fowler

Many people enjoy the art of knitting. With the onset of computer coding and languages, knitters learned to do patterns in binary language. When Morse code was invented, they used a variation of stitches to make the dot and dash for Morse code and sent messages that way. Knitting is so much more than making a pretty garment.

Do you knit? Do you do another type of needlework? Would you have been brave enough to be a spy? To be dropped behind enemy lines and send coded messages? Or to gather information right under the enemy’s noses? What a challenge and what amazing women.

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning, best-selling author who lives in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats and dog, and spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.

A WOOPs, A Blue Moon, & A Secret City

These three things may seem to have nothing in common. Yet they do in my latest release, a novella called Beneath the Rare Blue Moon.

The story takes place in eastern Tennessee and begins on October 31, 1944, the night of a blue moon.

WOOPs

The heroine, Kathleen Forrest, is with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Women Officer of Public Safety unit. These women were not part of the military, like WACs or WAVEs, and their stories aren’t nearly as well-known.

Yet, their responsibilities were considered so important they were taught judo, trained to handle guns, issued .38 caliber pistols, and often worked with trained military dogs.

Since the men were heading off to fight in WWII, the TVA hired these women to guard and protect potential targets, such as hydroelectric dams, aluminum factories, and other important industries, from sabotage (TVA).

“Blue Moon”

You’ve probably heard of the phrase “once in a blue moon” which, literally, has three definitions:

The second full moon in a month. That means the date falls at the end of the month. 

The third full moon when four moons appear in a season. Usually, only three moons appear in winter, spring, summer, or fall.

The moon’s appearance when, under certain atmospheric conditions, it takes on a bluish hue. This can happen when “volcanic eruptions or large-scale fires release particles into the atmosphere” (Blue Moon).

The next blue moon is May 31, 2026.

Our next seasonal blue moon is May 20, 2027.

The Story ~ Kathleen Forrest, a WOOPs heroine of Beneath the Rare Blue Moon, has an unusual experience on a blue moon night when she disarms a potential “saboteur.”

“Secret City”

To find the “Secret City” on a map, you’ll need to locate Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

It’s also known as the “Atomic City” and, by those who lived and worked there, “The Reservation.”

The town was built by the military as a base for the Manhattan Project, the top-secret atomic bomb research program. 

Here’s the scientific info: 

“The Y-12, K-25, and S-50 plants were each built in Oak Ridge to separate the fissile isotope uranium-235 from natural uranium, which consists almost entirely of the isotope uranium-238. The X-10 site, now the site of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was established as a pilot plant for production of plutonium using the Graphite Reactor, used to develop full-scale plutonium production…” (Oak Ridge).

The Story ~ Kathleen and Army intelligence officer Roger Craig are recruited on a secret mission to find a possible saboteur in the "Secret City." 

I visited Oak Ridge a few years ago. The community center built by the Army as a gathering place for the residents is now a small history museum with amazing exhibits that preserve and honor the town’s legacy.

Beneath a Rare Blue Moon released this week and is available on Amazon.

Johnnie Alexander writes award-winning stories of enduring love and quiet courage. Her historical and contemporary novels weave together unforgettable romance, compelling characters, and a touch of mystery. A sometime hermit and occasional vagabond who most often kicks off her shoes in Florida, Johnnie cherishes cozy family times and enjoys long road trips. Readers are invited to discover glimpses of grace and timeless truth in her stories. Connect with her at johnnie-alexander.com.

Photos

Norris Dam ~ By Johnnie Alexander

City Seal. By http://www.cortn.org/PW-html/CDBGConsolidatedPlanHomePage2008.htm, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64434822

Aerial View. By Department of Energy Oak Ridge - http://www.oakridge.doe.gov/em/ssab/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1931232 

Shift Change. By Ed Westcott / US Army / Manhattan Engineer District - Ed Westcott / American Museum of Science and Energy, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7006834

Billboard outside Oak Ridge. By James E. Westcott - https://www.flickr.com/photos/amse/2965051856/sizes/z/in/photostream/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12075242

The Chapel on the Hill ~ By Johnnie Alexander

Sources ~ Each source accessed on December 5, 2025.

Blue Moon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon.

Oak Ridge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Ridge,_Tennessee. Accessed December 5, 2025.

TVA. https://www.tva.com/the-powerhouse/stories/home-front-defenders. Accessed December 5, 2025.

A WWII German Pilot's Surprising Act of Mercy

 By Mary Dodge Allen

On December 20, 1943, a few days before Christmas, the surviving American crewmen of a severely damaged B-17 bomber named "Ye Olde Pub" received an unexpected gift... their lives.

Crew of B-17, "Ye Olde Pub" 

L-R standing: Bertrund "Frenchy" Coulombe; Alex Yelesanko; Dick Pechout; Lloyd Jennings; Hugh Eckenrode; Sam "Blackie" Blackford

L-R kneeling: Charles Brown, pilot; Spencer Luke, co-pilot; Al "Doc" Sadok, navigator; Robert Andrews, bombardier (Public Domain)

B-17 Bomber Pilot Charles Brown:

It was only the second bombing mission for pilot Charles Brown, age 21, who grew up on a poor West Virginia farm. But it was the first mission for the rest of his B-17 crew, and it was a grueling one.

Lt. Charles Brown, B-17 Bomber Pilot (Public Domain)

The mission target: A Focke-Wulf 190 fighter aircraft plant near Bremen, Germany.

The aircraft plant was well-defended. Anti-aircraft guns filled the sky with exploding flak, while German fighter planes flew through the B-17 bomber formation, their machine guns firing.

Charles Brown's B-17, named "Ye Olde Pub," was hit several times on the bombing run. After releasing its bombs over the target, the B-17 sustained more damage from pursuing fighters. One engine was dead, causing the bomber's speed to drop. As it fell behind the formation, Charles Brown knew his B-17 was now a sitting duck.

Multiple fighters continued attacking, and Charles resorted to the daring move of flying directly at them to make his B-17 less of a target. One attack damaged the cockpit's oxygen system. Since they were flying at twenty-two thousand feet, an altitude with scarce oxygen, Charles and his co-pilot passed out. The bomber's wings tilted to the side as it went into a steep dive. 

B-17 Bomber in a dive (Adobe)

When the B-17 reached the oxygen-rich air at ten thousand feet, the pilots came to and took action. The damaged bomber shook violently as they pulled back on the controls with all their strength to stop the dive. Miraculously, the bomber's plunge gradually slowed. It finally leveled out close to the ground; so close it blew leaves from trees and roof shingles from houses.

The B-17 was now flying with only one good engine and two rough engines. They were 35 miles from the English Channel and would soon be flying over the heavily-defended German coastline. Because two of his crewmen were too badly injured to bail out, Charles decided to stay with the plane and try to make it back to England. He told the rest of his crew to bail out, but they all agreed to stay on the bomber with Charles.

German Fighter Pilot, Franz Stigler:

Lt. Ludwig Franz Stigler, ace German fighter pilot (Public Domain)

Franz Stigler, an ace fighter pilot, spotted the B-17 bomber flying slowly toward the English Channel. He began his attack run, knowing he only needed one more downed bomber to earn the coveted Knight's Cross.

 Knight's Cross Medal (Public Domain)

But as he focused through his gun sight, he realized something was wrong. He flew closer to the shot up B-17 and was amazed it was still flying, with the entire left half of its horizontal stabilizer gone, part of its nose blown away, and huge holes in the fuselage.

When he looked through the gaping holes, he saw the dead tail gunner and wounded crew members tending each other. At that moment, something happened inside him. Franz lifted his finger off the trigger and decided, "This will be no victory for me. I will not have this on my conscience for the rest of my life."

Franz knew, up ahead, the German coastal anti-aircraft gunners would be getting ready to shoot the wounded bomber down. He could be court-martialed for sparing the lives of the B-17's crew, but he was committed. He flew alongside and slightly above the bomber, gambling that the flak crews below would recognize the familiar shape of a Messerschmitt fighter plane and hold their fire. They did.

Painting "A Higher Call" by John D. Shaw

Inside the B-17 Bomber:

Charles Brown saw the English Channel up ahead, but then his heart sank when he saw the German fighter plane flying just above his right wingtip. It stayed in that position as they began flying over the Channel. Charles couldn't believe the fighter pilot hadn't shot his B-17 down.

German Messerschmitt bf 109 (Public Domain)

Charles turned toward the fighter, locked eyes with its pilot, and - to his surprise - the German pilot saluted him, before breaking off and flying back home. Charles wasn't able to hear his parting words, "Good luck, you're in God's hands."

The B-17 continued losing altitude as it flew over the English Channel, but somehow Charles Brown managed to keep it flying until it landed safely at an American airfield close to the English coastline.

Charles Brown couldn't shake the image of the enemy fighter pilot saluting him. He wondered who the pilot was, and why he had spared their lives.

After the War - Charles Brown:

In the late 1980's Charles was retired and living in Miami with his wife, Jackie. He had always remained curious about the German pilot, so he decided to search for him, realizing his chances of finding him were slim. Even if the German pilot had survived the war, he might not still be alive.

In 1989, Charles wrote a letter to the editor of the Jagerblatt (Fighter Journal), the official newsletter of the Association of German Fighter Pilots. He described his encounter with the German fighter plane, the date, and that he'd like to make contact with the German pilot. He included his Miami mailing address. (Charles left out specific details about the encounter, as a verification test for whoever might respond to his letter.)

After the War - Franz Stigler:

Franz moved to Vancouver, BC, Canada, where his first wife had family. He quickly learned English and worked as a diesel mechanic for logging companies until his retirement. He was now living a quiet life in Canada with his second wife. Over the years, Franz had also remained curious about the fate of the damaged B-17. He wondered if the pilot and crew had made it safely back to England.

In January 1990, his issue of Jagerblatt arrived. Franz was stunned when he read the letter Charles Brown had written. He immediately wrote a letter in response and mailed it to the Miami address.

The Phone Call:

Charles was excited to read Franz's letter. He dialed information, obtained Franz's Vancouver phone number and called him. At first, the phone call was awkward. Then Franz began accurately describing the details of the encounter.

"My God, it is you!" Charles said, as tears filled his eyes. After the call, he wrote Franz a letter. Here is a short excerpt:

"I have the distinct feeling that some power greater than that of our respective governments was looking out for most of us on Dec. 20, 1943. To say THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU on behalf of my surviving crew members and their families appears totally inadequate."

The Two Pilots Meet:

Charles and Franz first met in person in Seattle on June 21, 1990. The two former enemies hugged each other and cried. They spent the next few days touring Seattle and getting to know each other.

On September 13, 1990, they met again in Massachusetts, at a reunion of the 379th Bomb Group, where CBS News filmed a show about them. Two other surviving B-17 crew members were also there: Sam "Blackie" Blackford and Dick Pechout. Through hugs and tears, they thanked Franz for allowing them to live full lives, filled with children and grandchildren.

But Franz also felt grateful. He never received the Knight's Cross, but he felt he got something better. He wrote this note to Charles:

"In 1940, I lost my only brother as a night fighter. On the 20th of December (1943), four days before Christmas, I had the chance to save a B-17 from destruction, a plane so badly damaged it was a wonder that she was still flying. The pilot, Charlie Brown, is for me, as precious as my brother was.

"Thanks Charlie.

"Your Brother,

Franz"

Franz Stigler, (left), and Charles Brown on one of their many get-togethers 

Source, the novel: A Higher Call 

The two men traveled across America, speaking at air museums, civic clubs and military gatherings. Their message: Enemies are better off as friends.

Franz Stigler passed away in March 2008, and Charles Brown passed away a few months later, in November 2008.

You can read the detailed story of their lives and their fateful encounter in the excellent book, A Higher Call, written by Adam Makos.

Book Graphic, Amazon.com

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Mary Dodge Allen is currently finishing her sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. She's won a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Recent release, anthology devotional: El Jireh, The God Who Provides

Mary's story, entitled: A Mother's Desperate Prayer, describes her struggle with guilt and despair after her young son is badly burned in a kitchen accident. When we are at the end of all we have, El Jireh provides what we need. 

Click the link below to purchase on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/El-Jireh-God-Who-Provides/dp/1963611608

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Books