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November 1, 1942
In the early morning hours of November 1, 1942
Ground personnel from the 324th F.G. found
themselves on the docks at Staten Island N.Y.
Carrying two barracks bags, a field pack and rifle
they descended seemingly endless stairways leading to their quarters - some 30feet below the waterline! This was to be "home" for the next 30 days of travel overseas.
The U.S.S. West Point
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" I'm going overseas.
So from now on it's
'Over there' for me!"
The ship's deck was crowded to the
point of standing room only as servicemen
seek a breath of fresh air topside
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Initiation into the "Shell Backs"
on board the U.S.S. West Point
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As the Westpoint crossed the equator,
some members of the 324th were initiated
into the "Shell Backs". Above is the member-
ship card awarded to those who passed.
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Sugar Loaf Mountain as viewed from the deck
of the U.S.S. Westpoint. This was the first stop;
Rio De Janerio, but no shore leave. From here it
was on to the southern tip of Africa, another
crossing of the equator, and then on to Bombay.
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After 2 days of shore leave in Bombay, the men traveled by train to a British Rest Camp in Deolali where they spent 10 days devoted to R & R. Then back to Bombay to board the H.M.S. Dinera. Both noted on the menu card above by a soldier trying to keep track of his trip.
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Egypt
Squadron members take in the sights
under the watchful gaze of the Sphinx.
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Back view of photo card at left, listing
Sgts.Champion, Lynch, Holenchak, Kunces,
Inat, and Konapka. (Left to right.)
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A painted leather patch of the Hell's Belles insignia
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From the original - Hell's Belles Insignia
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El Haouaria
The Northern most tip of the
Cape Bon Peninnusla.
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Italy
The airfield at Cercola, Italy showing the close proximity to
MT. Vesuvius (pictured in the background.)
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Hike up Mt. Vesuvius
Standing on a hardened lava flow, these
members of the 316th posed for a snapshot
with the angry Mt. Vesuvius in the background
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Edmund Chevalier and George Cohen
waiting on the mess tent to open
Both Cohen & Chevalier were armorers with the 316th.
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One of the covers of the Squadron
Newsletter produced during W.W.II
artwork by Vincent Martens
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Col. L. C. Lydon, Capt. L.L. Raphun
Sgt. Wm. Holenchak in rear
Altitude 6000 / Visibility 0
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Pignatoro
Hubert Buss
Pilot for the 316th
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Cercola qq
Above: In full gear, H. Buss standing on the
wing of his P-40
George Luscher,
Crew Chief for Hubert Buss
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Harold Fravel
Headquarters Personnel
(Rear) Carlson, Betts, Fravel
(Front) Apperson, Kowalkowski
C/C W.Holenchak and C/C E. Champion
# 78 was a P-40 piloted by 1ST LT.
Buchanan W.S. Jr.  A.K.A. "Bucky"
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From John Fravel's collection,
of 316th patchs.
John is the son of Harold Fravel, pictured opposite.
A painted leather patch
A tooled leather patch 
 A cloth patch
John W. Haun piloted # 94 (a P-47)
for the Hell's Bells.
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Andrew Kandis
Pilot for the 316th
Holding down a German Tiger Tank
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Jerry Wurmser, 316th Pilot and his plane.
Troy Upton,
Pilot with the 316th and his P-40.
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1st Lt. Duane E. Wetter,
Pilot who transferred from the RCAF
to fly with the 316th.
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Duane Wetter in his P-47 Thunderbolt
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Friend of the 316th
William David Gatling, of the 315th FS
was attached to the 316th for combat
indoctrination while waiting for remaining
personnel from the 315th to arrive from Egypt.
While flying his P-40 Warhawk with the
"Hell's Belles" Squadron attached to the British 8th Army, Gatling was credited with the first recorded
victory of United States fighter aircraft over an
enemy warship at sea in the MTO.
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Corsica 12 August 1944
Dave Gatling in his P-47 Thunderbolt, "Puddin".
This photo was taken after Gatling had flown
his 200th combat mission, setting a MTO record
for consecutive sorties.
Gatling was awarded the Air Medal
with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters,
the Distinguished Flying Cross
with one Oak Leaf Cluster and
the Silver Star for his service
during World War II.
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Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star
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Jack (Mort) Thompson 316th Pilot
Thompson flew 126 missions and is credited with shooting down the first German Jet bomber, the
Arado 234. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with
13 Oak Leaf clusters.
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316th armorers at work
Big Bertha
in the wake of Hell's Belles Fury
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Jack Boyer
316th Pilot
JB and his toys
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Charles Reinitz, pilot with the 316th
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James L. Legette, 316th pilot
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Robert J. Jubin in his P-47
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Pilot, Russell V. Cobb
flew # 72 for the 316th
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William E. "Whirlwind" McCool
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Lt. Col. Franklin W. Horton (left)
Maj. Frederick P. Woodson (right)
Stuttgart, Germany
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At right:
Maj. Kenneth D. Scheiwe (Pilot) abord
"Miss Ginna III"
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Welcome 
