2. WWII Veterans and Their Story

2nd Lt Sheldon I. Vernon, B-17 pilot 384th Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force, Grafton-Underwood, England 1943-1944

This gallery is dedicated to Col. Sheldon I Vernon, USAF. As a 1st Lt. he piloted the B-17 "Hot Nuts" out of Grafton-Underwood Air Field, England from 1943-1944 as part of the 384th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force in WW2.

Lt. Vernon flew 30 missions over Occupied Europe including the first daylight raid on Berlin. I pulled some strings and got Sheldon a personal tour of the B-17 Texas Raider which was located in the Tomball Airport.

The photos are of my friend Sheldon, his USAF medals and the tour of that B-17.
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  • Sheldon-Vernon_Crew

    Sheldon-Vernon_Crew

  • Photo of the B-17 "HOTNUTS" which carried Lt Vernon and his crew into combat for 30 missions He said that the maintenance crew named the plane because they would stay longer and the plane would be passed on to another crew. He and his crew had made plans to complete their 30 mission and they were planning to rotate back to the US which they did in May 1944. The plane was eventually flown back in 1945 and mothballed in Arizona.

    Photo of the B-17 "HOTNUTS" which carried Lt Vernon and his crew into combat for 30 missions He said that the maintenance crew named the plane because they would stay longer and the plane would be passed on to another crew. He and his crew had made plans to complete their 30 mission and they were planning to rotate back to the US which they did in May 1944. The plane was eventually flown back in 1945 and mothballed in Arizona.

  • When General Jimmie Doolittle took command of the 8th Air Force in 1943 he changed the "tour of duty" from 25 missions to 30. This is the list of missions then 2nd Lt. Vernon flew. On 24 April, Vernon flew as the Navigator and Lt. James Foster was the pilot because Foster needed to be checked out in the left seat of a B-17.

    When General Jimmie Doolittle took command of the 8th Air Force in 1943 he changed the "tour of duty" from 25 missions to 30. This is the list of missions then 2nd Lt. Vernon flew. On 24 April, Vernon flew as the Navigator and Lt. James Foster was the pilot because Foster needed to be checked out in the left seat of a B-17.

  • Wings Over Houston Air Show

    Wings Over Houston Air Show

  • Lt. Gabe Farazzi, Bombardier on the B-17 "Hot Nuts"

    Lt. Gabe Farazzi, Bombardier on the B-17 "Hot Nuts"

    Vernon_Bombardier

  • 2nd Lt. Sheldon I. Vernon, 384th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, 1943 Grafton Underwood, England

    2nd Lt. Sheldon I. Vernon, 384th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, 1943 Grafton Underwood, England

  • Same pose, 67 years later

    Same pose, 67 years later

  • B-17 "HOTNUTS" shortly after arriving at Grafton-Underwood. Sheldon stated that they had to RTB, return to base after engine problems with a supercharger. It is believed that Sheldon is the crew member on the right wearing the officers cap.

    B-17 "HOTNUTS" shortly after arriving at Grafton-Underwood. Sheldon stated that they had to RTB, return to base after engine problems with a supercharger. It is believed that Sheldon is the crew member on the right wearing the officers cap.

  • 544th Squadron, 384th B.G. This photo was taken shortly after the Berlin mission. Their squadron commander is standing addressing the flight crews. See next photo.

    544th Squadron, 384th B.G. This photo was taken shortly after the Berlin mission. Their squadron commander is standing addressing the flight crews. See next photo.

  • Unit patch of the 384th Bombardment Group, "KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD" Sheldon stated that a pilot from the 348th had been shot down and taken prisoner of war. The captured pilot sent the unit a postcard which the German censors did not catch. The phrase "KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD" became their motto.

    Unit patch of the 384th Bombardment Group, "KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD" Sheldon stated that a pilot from the 348th had been shot down and taken prisoner of war. The captured pilot sent the unit a postcard which the German censors did not catch. The phrase "KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD" became their motto.

  • 8th Air Force patch

    8th Air Force patch

  • USAF Decorations; Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Unit Citations, European-Middle Easter-African Campaign for his service with the 384th B.G.

    USAF Decorations; Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Unit Citations, European-Middle Easter-African Campaign for his service with the 384th B.G.

  • Sheldon with his USAF Decorations

    Sheldon with his USAF Decorations

  • Wings Over Houston Air Show

    Wings Over Houston Air Show

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders" located at Hooks Airport, near Tomball, Texas

    B-17 "Texas Raiders" located at Hooks Airport, near Tomball, Texas

  • Nose section B-17

    Nose section B-17

  • Lance Summers, Sheldon Vernon, Bob Fenimore

    Lance Summers, Sheldon Vernon, Bob Fenimore

  • #1 Engine B-17

    #1 Engine B-17

  • War Stories

    War Stories

  • Tail Section B-17

    Tail Section B-17

  • Questions and answers about WW2 air war over Europe

    Questions and answers about WW2 air war over Europe

  • B-17 in the hangar

    B-17 in the hangar

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders"

    B-17 "Texas Raiders"

  • Ball turret

    Ball turret

  • Chin turret

    Chin turret

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders"

    B-17 "Texas Raiders"

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders"

    B-17 "Texas Raiders"

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders"

    B-17 "Texas Raiders"

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders" nose art

    B-17 "Texas Raiders" nose art

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders" #1 engine

    B-17 "Texas Raiders" #1 engine

  • Sheldon Vernon

    Sheldon Vernon

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders"

    B-17 "Texas Raiders"

  • B-17 "Texas Raiders"

    B-17 "Texas Raiders"

  • Sheldon and Me

    Sheldon and Me

  • This hatch is where the pilots boarded the B-17

    This hatch is where the pilots boarded the B-17

  • A Last Look

    A Last Look

  • 2nd Lt. Sheldon I Vernon is indicated. Click on geography and look at the distance between Grafton-Underwood (384th BG) and their target, Berlin.

    2nd Lt. Sheldon I Vernon is indicated. Click on geography and look at the distance between Grafton-Underwood (384th BG) and their target, Berlin.

  • The Crew who Flew with Lt.Vernon

    The Crew who Flew with Lt.Vernon

    Lt. Sheldon Vernon is in the first row, middle with the garrison cap. The son of his bombardier, Gabe Farazzi, sent this photo of the crew. Gabe Farazzi is also in the first row, on Vernon's immediate left. Thank you Jim Farazzi. I know Sheldon would love to see this.

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