Ralph L. Minker, Jr. Scrapbook

Original Commentary on Scrapbook by Ralph L. Minker, Jr. written in 1998
Transcription

Description of Ralph L. Minker, Jr. Scrapbook

Note that some pages contain several images and will open as a multi-page PDF.

Cover
Original Cover
Transcription
Inside cover – 8th Army Air Force woven emblem

Page 1
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Wilmington, Delaware
Draft card and telegram releasing Ralph L. Minker, Jr. to enlist in Aviation Cadet Corps

Page 2
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February 17, 1943
Wilmington, Delaware
Orders to report to Basic Training Center, Miami, Florida

Page 3
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March-April, 1943
Army Air Corps training, Miami, Florida
Phase: Basic
Home newspaper article on Ralph L. Minker, Jr. assignment, vaccination record, place for dog tag, news photo of soldiers on the beach. Early days of basic training.

Page 4
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March-April, 1943
Army Air Corps training, Miami, Florida
Phase: Basic
Ad for Coral Reef Hotel Miami Beach, soldiers in formation, Ralph L. Minker, Jr. in air cadet uniform, Ralph L. Minker, Jr. in front of formation, and in front of hotel.

Page 5
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March-April, 1943
Army Air Corps Training, Miami, Florida
Phase: Basic
Photos of four “new buddies”

Page 6
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March-April, 1943
AAA training, Miami
Phase: Basic
Photo of Hap Arnold

Page 7
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June, 1943
Phase: Basic
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
Phase: College Training Detachment
Ralph L. Minker, Jr. in Piper Cub and with Instructor Jorgensen

Page 8
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June, 1943
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
Phase: College Training Detachment
Photos of University of Nebraska campus and Lincoln

Page 9
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June, 1943
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
Phase: College Training Detachment
Photo of Ralph L. Minker, Jr. on campus and other soldiers

Page 10
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July 13, 1943
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Phase: Classification and pre-flight
Aviation Cadet Ralph L. Minker, Jr. classification as pilot

Page 11
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July 13, 1943
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Phase: Classification and pre-flight
Classification letter to Mr. Ralph L. Minker, Sr. from Colonel Robertson. Aviation cadet insignia glued to letter.

Page 12
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July, 1943
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Phase: Classification and pre-flight
R.L. Minker, Jr. Aviation Cadet nameplate, group photo, Ralph L. Minker, Jr. in dress uniform, ticket stub from Palladium, Hollywood Canteen autographs. Invitation to graduation dance, August 21, 1943.

Page 13
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July, 1943
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Phase: Classification and pre-flight
Large photo of Ralph L. Minker, Jr. (missing)

Page 14
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July, 1943
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Phase: Classification and pre-flight
Army Air Corps Song (circa 1942-1943)

Page 15
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October, 1943
Thunderbird Field II, Arizona
Phase: Basic Flight
Photos clipped from magazine, Thunderbird Patch

Page 16
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October, 1943
Thunderbird Field II, Arizona
Phase: Basic Flight
Photos clipped from magazine of ground school, mess, physical training

Page 17
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October, 1943
Thunderbird Field II, Arizona
Phase: Basic Flight
Article on Boeing PT-17 Kaydet

Page 18
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October, 1943
Thunderbird Field II, Arizona
Phase: Basic Flight
Photo missing of Ralph L. Minker, Jr. with instructor, article from Wilmington paper

Page 19
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November-December, 1943
Basic Flight
Pecos, Texas
Photo of BT-13, Vultee Vibrator, Link Trainer and instructor

Page 20
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November-December, 1943
Pecos, Texas
Christmas dinner menu, laundry slip

Page 21
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January-March, 1944
Pecos, Texas
Phase: Advanced Flight
Print photo of AT-17 Cessna, photo of cadets with instructor

Page 22
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March 12, 1944
Pecos, Texas
Phase: Advanced Flight
News articles from Wilmington papers, graduation dance announcement, list of pilots

Page 23
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Mid-March, 1944
Pecos, Texas
Phase: Advanced Flight
Graduation program Pecos AAF, Class 44C, graduation announcement, press release about graduation. Photo of Ralph L. Minker, Jr. with his parents, grandmother Jones looking out the window, Wilmington, Delaware.

Page 24
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March 12, 1944
Pecos, Texas
Phase: Advanced Flight
Appointment letter, temporary 2nd lieutenant, ID photo, card

Page 25
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April-June, 1944
Roswell, New Mexico
Phase: Transitional
Article on Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

Page 26
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April-June, 1944
Roswell, New Mexico
Phase: Transitional
Graduation photo of Ralph L. Minker, Jr., photos of buddies from Roswell, New Mexico.

Page 27
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July-August, 1944
Gulfport, Mississippi
Phase: Operational
Ralph L. Minker, Jr., crew photo: Ralph L. Minker, Jr., Rosiala, Pitts, Rohl, Larsen, McKay, Shannon, Miller, Trambley

Page 28
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October 1944-September 1945
Eighth Air Force
Phase: Combat
Article on Jimmy Doolittle; five page write-up of a mission by Ralph L. Minker, Jr.

Page 29
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November-December, 1944
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Newspaper articles on various raids from the Daily Sketch, a British newspaper. Ralph L. Minker, Jr. circled the names of the raids; he flew several of these missions.

Page 30
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Seven newspaper articles on 8th Air Force raids

Page 31
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Crew photo; photo of tail of Blue Hen Chick; four photos missing. Article from Wilmington, Delaware paper.

Page 32
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Six photos of Blue Hen Chick; three are missing

Page 33
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Five photos of planes in formation

Page 34
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Photos: bombs away, plane down, going home. Autographed color print of Jimmy Doolittle.

Page 35
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Color newsprint photo of 709th Squadron in formation

Page 36
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Escape photos of the crew (Ralph L. Minker, Jr., Dodge, Pitts, Rosiala, Shannon) to be used in case they were shot down

Page 37
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Escape photos of the crew (Larsen, McKay, Shepherd, Trambley) to be used in case they were shot down

Page 38
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
News photo of December 24, 1944 mission; description by Ralph L. Minker, Jr.

Page 39
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May, 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Map for “Liberty Tours” which took ground crew on flights to see targets in Europe.

Page 40
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Five photos of Paris, France after the war

Page 41
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Five photos of bomb results over Germany

Page 42
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Four photos of bomb results over Germany

Page 43
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Poem written by Margaret Sanders, family friend. Article on peace.

Page 44
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Three articles on Ralph L. Minker, Jr. from Wilmington, Delaware newspapers. Cartoon and a Baker’s chocolate bar wrapper with flying fortress.

Page 45
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Nine photos of the base, operations, officers club

Page 46
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Leaflet in German dropped to warn of the invasion

Page 47
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August 16, 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Newspaper photos from Stars and Stripes on the end of the war

Page 48
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October 1944-September 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Handwritten words to “High Flight” poem.

Page 49
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June, 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Invitation and souvenir program for 447th Bombing Group celebration of Victory in Europe. Article on coping with loss and the job of bombers.

Page 50
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Summer, 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Pull-out drawing on what it takes to sustain a heavy bomber

Page 51
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May 30, 1945
Rattlesden Army AIr Base, England
Phase: Combat
Railway pass to London, 2 photos of London, England

Page 52
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November, 1944
London, England
Phase: Combat
Four photos of London, England; see letter Nov. 14, 1944

Page 53
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November, 1944
London, England
Phase: Combat
Four photos of London, England; see letter Nov. 14, 1944

Page 54
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March 29, 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
News photo of the last picture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Page 55
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August, 1945
Leaving England
Phase: Return home
Three photos from Southhamptom, room card for Queen Elizabeth, news article on arrival in New York City on August 31, 1945

Page 56
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August 31, 1945
Arrival home
Phase: Return home
4 photos of New York harbor, photo of Ralph L. Minker, Jr. with friends

Page 57
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Awarded February, 27, 1945
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Lucky Bastards Club certificate

Page 58
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November 20, 1945
Wilmington, Delaware
Phase: Civilian
Separation record detailing training and qualifications for flying 4-engine aircraft

Page 59
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June 3, 1944
Roswell, New Mexico
Phase: Transitional
Certificate for four engine pilot training

Page 60
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November, 1945
Wilmington, Delaware
Article on Ralph L. Minker, Jr. returning to college, photo of Dickinson campus. Handwritten comment on war from General Douglas MacArthur.

Page 61
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Handwritten prayers for peace

Page 62
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March 20, 1946
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Letter from Veterans Affairs notifying Minker of G.I. Bill allotment

Page 63
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Handwritten excerpts from Tennyson and Whitman as Minker seeks to adjust after the war.

Page 64
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August, 1945
Wilmington, Delaware
What Did We Fight For? One page commentary by Ralph L. Minker, Jr.. Quote from Walt Whitman, Pioneer, O Pioneer.

Page 65
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Newspaper article on study of fear experienced by pilots. Two other articles emphasizing the tragedy of war.

Page 66
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Woven patches for 8th Air force [bullion], Army Air Forces, and 447th bomb group

Page 67
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November, 1945
Phase: Postwar
Summary of flying time

Page 68
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October 10, 1944
Rattlesden Army Air Base, England
Phase: Combat
Photo of accident B-17 #719 before Ralph L. Minker, Jr. arrived at Rattlesden. Plane later named Blue Hen Chick by Ralph L. Minker, Jr.

Page 69
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October 10, 1944
Rattlesden AAB, England
Phase: Combat
Photo of accident B-17 #719 before Ralph L. Minker, Jr. arrived at Rattlesden. Plane later named Blue Hen Chick by Ralph L. Minker, Jr.

Page 70
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1985-2002
Phase: Postwar
Photos with crew members and their families

Page 71
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Various dates
Phase: Postwar
Two photos of planes

Page 72
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Phase: Postwar
Print of painting by Balla, with notes added by Ralph L. Minker, Jr.

Page 73
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Phase: Postwar
Celebrating dedication of WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.; photo of Ralph L. Minker, Jr.’s burial site at Arlington National Cemetery.

Page 74
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May, 1985
Phase: Postwar
Pictures from Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge, England

Page 75
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May, 1985
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England
Phase: Postwar
List of 202 airmen from 447 Bombing Group killed, buried in Europe

Page 76
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May, 1985
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, England
Phase: Postwar
List of 202 airmen from 447 Bombing Group killed, buried in Europe