The 489th Bombardment Squadron on Corsica Introduction
This site is established as a personal history and tribute to my father, Quentin
C. Kaiser, who served as a radio-gunner on B-25 Mitchell medium bombers in the 489th
Bombardment Squadron of the 340th Bombardment Group stationed at Alesani, Corsica in
1944-45. My father flew 65 combat missions from Alesan Air Field during his time on
Corsica from May 16, 1944 through March 11, 1945. This site is also meant to be a
tribute and memorial to all those who served and participated in the Mediterranean
Allied Tactical Air Force during World War II, especially those who sacrificed their
lives in doing so. The names and photos of some of the deceased and missing in action
from the 489th Bombardment Squadron can be seen here.
I have always been fascinated with my father's old
"WWII stuff" including his
uniform, A2 flight jacket, mess kit, dog tags, medals, decorations, piece of flak,
burst 50-caliber machine gun shells, mission log, squadron book and especially his
collection of photographs from Corsica. Now I have an opportunity to share his
interesting collection. Recently, my father and I along with my brother Richard,
decided to preserve, document and share his photographs and memories from Corsica
through the creation of this web site. My father chooses his favorite photographs
and writes down what he can remember about them, gives them to my brother to scan
and my brother emails them to me to post on this web site along with my father's
comments and recollections. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
The 489th Bomb Squadron Book published in 1947 by
staff and personnel of the 489th probably tells the squadron's story most completely and accurately.
Finally, I have obtained an enormous amount of information and assistance from
many people with an interest in the 489th Bombardment Squadron, the 340th
Bombardment Group, the 57th Bomb Wing, the 12th Air Force and WWII aviation history in
general. It has been a real pleasure to become acquainted with these people and to share
information centered around our mutual interests.
I am especially indebted to Dominique Taddei from Migliacciaru,
Corsica who has an amazing collection of photographs and information obtained from veterans
of the 57th Bomb Wing and from years of personal research.
Dominique has also helped to create a
memorial tablet (monument) to the men of the 57th
Bomb Wing on the air field at Ghisonaccia, Corsica. The link provides pictures and a
description of the monument and the 1997 ceremony of its unveiling.
The following people have contributed to this site:
Quentin C. Kaiser Richard C. Kaiser Dominique Taddei Alexandre Durastante
Guy Juliens Giuseppe Versolato Jean Michel Casanova Michel Martraix Steve Pace
Bob Perry Dana Craig Bob Silliman Mike Laney Bob Haney Family of Joe Moore
Herman Voss Michael Ramirez Tom Sullivan George Underwood Joe Koplitz
Erich Hetzel George W. Marsh Bill Devine George Carter Walker Harris
Peter Steehouwer George Jackson Bauer William K. Kaiser Christophe Couturier
Jeff Wolford Rick Wolford Harry George Hank Del Percio Keith Johnson
Ed Williams Dr. Gordon Ainsworth Leon Jansen Martin Biener Mary Ann Stacy
Sergio Costaglia Nick Webster Vinny White Hugh Dow Pamela Feltus Bob Meek
Victor Hancock Sherrie Eller Sherertz Paul Draper Ogden Babson Bob Lessard
Fred Krause Robert Curtis Brian Bagby Georges Kunzel Glenn Crisp Jarrett Crump
Jason Harper Joe Kline Joe Murray Zarm Keljik-Geisenhoff Keith Vizcarra
Peter Bezek Randy Kimberly Roger Juglair Ron Holman Ray Bowden Richard Krause
Russell Smith Steven Parris Tal Donaldson Tom Callahan Tracy Taylor Dwight Orman Dick Spingler
Alexandre Cadel Angelo Baroni Bill Bierds Bob Burger Charlene McGowan Charles Duke Charles Summers
Christian Gloor Denver Kissinger Daniele Cammilli Don Jackson
Don Phillips Ed Lueddeke Ernest Baldwin Franco Gobbato Francois Grinnaert
Lionel Giannini Gerald Rosenthal Harold Yocum John Spoonamore
Kirk Slemp Martin Barsass Monro MacCloskey Robert Spikes
Steve Hershberger Walter Cantrell Vicente Vazquez
Steve Wiginton Barbara Connolly Vicki Copeland Ralph Truly
Michael Hemp Glen Houpt Faye Anderson Coert Munk
Barbara Williams Cecile Burandt Charles Burandt Jr. Jacqueline Burandt
Lorraine McRae John Fitzgerald Jean O'Connell
Vince Mango Jeff Elliott Irving Schaffer Alden West
Terry Webb Joe Mitchell Bob Crouse Philip Weiner
Frank Dean Barbara Silliman Bob Zulauf Carl Lindberg, Jr.
Chris Gilbert Ernest Baldwin Patti Johnson Mary Jane Anderson
Richard Anderson Cherryl Crouch Janice Rosa
Diego Vezzoli Keith Kemp Terri Morris Charles E. Dills Doug Casper
Special Thanks to the staff of the 489th Bomb Squadron Book:
Jack A. Casper, Ver Keljik, Howard Taylor, Walter Greve, Jack G. Mair, William H. Robinson,
John H. Cameron, Bernett Kupferman, Oliver C. Burkholder, Frank C. Tenente, William M. Stehle
Robert F. McRae, William A. West, Howard J. Garry and Robert L. Gillies.
Many thanks to all who have contributed pictures and info.
Further acknowledgements appear elsewhere on these many websites. I apologize for any omissions
