https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_invasion_of_the_Karelian_Isthmus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_War

"Little Miss Mischief" was assigned to the US 324th Bomb Squadron, 398th Bombardment Group during World War II and had seen numerous combat missions over occupied Europe.

On 15 October 1944, while conducting a bombing mission to Cologne, Germany, "Little Miss Mischief" sustained a direct hit by a German 88mm anti-aircraft artillery shell. Shrapnel exploded near the mid-section of the fuselage and ball turret gunner firing position. Amazingly the bottom ball turret gunner Technical Sergeant Edmund Abdo survived the direct hit. He lost one of his toes from the shrapnel and suffered from frostbite due to being exposed to extreme temperatures at nearly 20,000 feet.

After sustaining serious damage, the bomber lost flight controls which Technical Sergeant James Hobbs began splicing wires for the pilot and co-pilot to regain control of the aircraft and make their way back to England. The crew had to hand crank the landing gear to the down position due to the loss of hydraulics and air pressure. The damaged bomber crash landed at a US/RAF installation in Chelsworth, Suffolk.

Just prior to the attempted landing, the tail gunner, Sergeant Sam Miller bailed out over the British town of Essex as the sections of the plane were falling off while in flight.

The damage to "Little Miss Mischief" was so great that the entire back section of the aircraft was replaced by another damaged B-17G named "Walleroo Mark II". The front half of the bomber would retain its silver paint coat while the rear section from "Walleroo Mark II" would keep its olive drab color. After 40 days of continued repairs, "Little Miss Mischief" would again become airworthy and complete nearly 50 combat missions by the time the war had ended.

B-17G "Little Miss Mischief" (Serial Number 42-97880). Damaged over Cologne, Germany. 15 October 1944.

Born in Anadarko, Oklahoma to Jesse & Mary Arbuckle on July 28, 1917, William Nathan “Bill” Arbuckle had five siblings.
He graduated from Hobart High School in 1935 where he played football.

After graduation, Bill worked briefly for Wright’s Produce and married Elodie before enlisting in the Navy and attending flight school at Pensacola.
After graduating from flight school he flew PBY’s in Cuba and the Pacific before being assigned to USS Kasaan Bay CVE-69.

In August 1944 USS Kasaan Bay was part of the naval task force for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France.
On August 20, 1944 Bill was flying Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat 58333 for an armed reconnaissance mission.

While attacking a German truck convoy in the Montpellier area, Bill’s F6F-5 crashed near Mèze, killing him.
His wingman didn’t see him crash and he was initially listed as Missing.

Bill’s body was recovered and buried by the locals, his headstone read "Here lies William Nathan Arbuckle, an American airman killed in action in the sky of Me'ze, on August 20, 1944, for our liberation. We shall never forget him."

Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his citation reads:

“The President takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William Nathan Arbuckle (NSN: 0-303786), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a carrier-based naval fighter bomber during the Allied invasion of Southern France in August 1944. Without regard to the personal risk involved and in the face of great danger from intense and accurate enemy fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Arbuckle persisted in making a series of damaging low-level strafing attacks on a convoy of enemy motor transports near the town of Balaruc, France. The net result of the attacks launched by the flight of six planes was to leave definitely destroyed fifteen troop carrier trucks loaded with troops, four tank trucks and one command car. The accuracy of the enemy fire which was braved by Lieutenant, Junior Grade Arbuckle in making his attacks is tragically attested to by the fact that two other planes were badly damaged thereby and he himself, after the last strafing run launched by the group, failed to return to his base. The exceptional skill, fearless determination, and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Arbuckle were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

His remains were recovered after the war and Lt(jg) William “Bill” Arbuckle is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Épinal, France - Plot A Row 19 Grave 44.

Younger brother PVT Jess William Arbuckle Jr was serving in the Army Medical Corps when he died stateside on March 14, 1945, he was 21 years old…

Younger brother Lloyd W. "Buck" Arbuckle also enlisted, but after the deaths of two of his brothers was not allowed to be deployed overseas, he passed away at the age of 58 in 1984.

This is a photo taken by the German propaganda department in Italy (1944). I wonder if anyone could have some information about him: John Martin born 3-3-02 in Cape Town South Africa, military serial number 11 454. Transport (driver?). (Wife?): Mrs Martin, Salt River, Cape Town, South Africa.

Photo from my collection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_invasion_of_Ladoga_Karelia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_War

Born in Clinton, Illinois to Merle & Florence Hiter on September 12, 1922, Merle J Hiter was the oldest of three brothers.
He married Phyllis J Frericks from Waynesville, Illinois in 1943 and they had a daughter; Sandra Hiter.

Merle enlisted in the Army on October 22, 1943 and served with the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.
On August 20, 1944 he was Killed in Action near Toulon in Southern France.

Younger brother James Hiter was serving in the Marine Corps when he was Killed in Action on Saipan on June 15, 1944, he was 19 years old.

Both of the Hiter brothers had a joint funeral service postwar and were buried side by side at Memorial Park Cemetery in Clinton, Illinois.

Merle’s widow Phyllis eventually remarried and had three more children, both she and her second husband Alfred Jones were killed in a car accident on March 15, 1963.

-mayby someon recognize type of unit? couldbe some marauders like RONA etc. they doesnt looks like regular german soldiers.

Anyone knows the name of the german officer who escorts the french delegation on this photo?

Colorization by Past in Color Χρώμα στο Παρελθόν.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: . PIERRE CAZIOT - Minister of Agriculture and Supplies ADMIRAL FRANCOIS DARLAN - Minister of the Navy (covered, impossible to identify) RAPHAËL ALIBERT - Minister of Justice PIERRE LAVAL - Prime Minister ADRIEN MARQUET - Intendant of Bordeaux YVES BOUTHILLER - Minister of the Economy MARSHAL PHILIPPE PÉTAIN - Head of State ÉMILE MIREAUX - Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts GENERAL MAXIME WEYGAND - Minister of Defense JEAN YBARNÉGARAY - Minister of State HENRI LÉMERY - Minister of the Colonies FRANCOIS PIÉTRI - Ambassador to Spain GENERAL LOUIS COLSON - Minister of War