HELP--military folks may be able

[Leo Tanner]

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I've been trying like crazy to get information about my Great Uncle.  His name was Joseph F. Mihelic.  The F most likely stands for Francis.  He was a tailgunner on a B-17 in WWII.  His serial number was 39270286 T-43-33 B  with a C for Catholic below it on the dog tags.  I've carried those tags in my pocket for years.

I've tried Google and some other places and there is no record of him at all, even in cemetaries.  My dad don't remember much anymore but it was his favorite uncle and I really wanted to find some info for him and me as well.

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, Did you check with the Veteran's Administration? Maybe Social Security? AF records at Dothan, Alabama?

[litl rooster]

someone at your local VFW might be able to point you in the right direction.

[Leo Tanner]

I'll give it a shot.  I've delved into this before and come up empty handed every time.  What would really tickle me is to find the crew photo from his plane.

[Ozark Tracker]

I went to one of the genelogy sights,  didn't find that last name at all,  should be one somewhere, did he have any kids?  grandkids. what was his hometown?  Maybe a local paper of the time.

[Leo Tanner]

Home town was Pittsburg PA, died in Southern California.  Was a confirmed batchelor for years and then finally met a gal after the war.  Don't think they ever married or had kids.  Gonna keep lookin.  I have his ring too, which I wore til my fingers got too fat, tail gunners are built like jockeys. 

Thank you for the reccomendations.

[Ozark Tracker]

http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Mihelic-family-history.ashx

heres the one from ancestry.com  might look it over   interesting that PA has the most of that name,

[St. George]

You won't find much in his Military Records - 'if' you can locate them.

There's a very good chance that they were destroyed in the St. Louis fire, some years ago.

Mostly, you'll see things like his Date of Enlistment, Promotions, Description, Awards (if any), Units of Assignment and Date of Discharge.

In many cases, the unit discharging him was not the unit he served in combat with, since men were reassigned to those units charged with discharging returning veterans.

That's about it - there won't be a 'tale to tell' in those records at all, unless he was awarded a 'serious' medal like a Silver Star, and in that case, the Citation can usually be tracked down.

Not quite so for WWII-issued Bronze Stars and Air Medals and such - there were/are too many to easily locate without serious time being spent in the National Archives.

They're not online...

If his aircraft was involved in a particular action - it may've been mentioned in the Unit logs.

To find those - you need his Group and Squadron and then, you can track down their Reunion Group (they 'all' have one) and see what's what.

Finding his reunion outfit will put you in touch with guys who knew him 'at that time' - but perhaps no further than the War.

If so, then your best bet is to turn to your family for any and all letters they may've gotten through the years.

His old high School 'may' have some information as well, and if he ever was treated for anything at the Veteran's Hospital - the VA has 'some' record of it, with personal information current at the time of treatment.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Leo Tanner]

Thanks guys.  St George's info at least made me realize how hard this is.  I have another Great Uncle I was going to do next and am now thinking I'll have to go another route to put all this together.

OT, thank you for that link.  Who knows where it could lead.  I gotta report in an have that map updated.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Check in with Slim, Leo. He did some searching years back. Might have some tips for you.........Buck

[St. George]

It 'is' difficult to do this sort of research - you need access to the National Archives to do it well, but that either takes personal time (lodging and meals and travel are expensive in the region), or you can pay someone to do it.

My suggestions are going to be the least expensive for 'you' to do on your own, and they work well, if you're patient.

I did a 'St. George's Note' titled 'Your Civil War Ancestor' awhile back - the search information's still accurate, though the conflict may've changed.

I'd suggest reviewing it.

I'd also suggest you stop carrying those dogtags.

They 'do' wear out, and you're not going to be able to get another pair.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Ozark Tracker]

here's another geneology site Leo

http://genforum.genealogy.com/mihelich/

[Curley Cole]

If  you are near a Mormon Temple (they have one in most medium to large cities. They have a Family Center where you can do research. If you have SS and service numbers they can check the major record centers. Be prepared for a lengthly process. Documentation is difficult to find at best. I was looking for my father and they found some stuff but I think he changed his social when he dropped out, Anyways you can go to these family centers for free even if you are not Mormon. If you want to look at mircofilch that they don't have in their building they may charge you for the shipping of the record (and they keep the micro)

The Los Angeles even has European records going waaaaay back.

hope you find what you need.
curley

[Leo Tanner]

Thanks to all again.  I got a few more leads from my Dad.  I will let you know how this all pans out.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Leo,

My father's best friend was also a 'Brown Shoe Mustang' (Brown Shoe= Army Air Force; Mustang= an officer who can up through the ranks from enilisted)

I wish he had not passed for so many reasons ... but the ones I am thinking of now was that as an enlisted person, he was a B-17 tail gunner in the 8th AF in England ... and was from a town just a little south of Pittsburgh PA ...

[Four-Eyed Buck]

I was surprised to see a Leo post. Turns out this is an oldie( at least a year). anybody have any contact from him lately?

As far as the St. Louis records go, my Dad's went up in smoke for sure. Tried after he passed and that's the answer I got......Buck

[Ozark Tracker]

Buck I asked his wife about him the other day over on facebook,  she said he was doing fine,  just staying busy with house things.

I haven't seen him on anywhere in a while.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Thanks, OT. I figure that the phone number I had for him isn't good now. Just worried about him......Buck