COME ON BROTHER, I’M TAKING YOU HOME

Angel Flight

Angel Flights are the U.S. Air Force planes (C-130’s) used to fly home our Fallen Soldiers.  Angel Flight is also their call sign.  Angel Flights have top priority in the U.S. airspace – Towers will be heard to say, “Number One for landing/take off.”

The Air Force Angel Wing flare pattern is amazing to watch as the flares come out in the shape of an angel wing.  A fitting tribute to bring home our fallen with the respect they have earned.

Please watch and listen to Radney Foster sing the powerful message of “Angel Flight”

During January 2018, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), accounted for the following U.S. service members:

WWII

Willard H. Aldridge, Seaman 1st Class, USS Oklahoma

Warren H. Crim, Fireman 3rd Class, USS Oklahoma

Eugene P. Ford, 1st Lt., 765th Bombardment Squadron/461st Bombardment Group/15th Air Force

Leonard R. Geller, Fireman 1st Class, USS Oklahoma

Donald G. Keller, Seaman 1st Class, USS Oklahoma

Jack H. Krieger, Pfc, USS Oklahoma

Chester E. Seaton, Fireman 1st Class, USS Oklahoma

Lowell E. Valley, Fireman 2nd Class, USS Oklahoma

Korean War

William C. McDowell, Cpl., Co. D/1st Battalion/32nd Infantry Regiment/7th Infantry Div.

Lamar E. Newman, Pfc, Co. B/1st Battalion/9th Infantry Regiment/ 2nd Infantry Division

Pete W. Simon, Sgt. 1st Class, Co. G/8th Cavalry Regiment

And the search goes on…

A Navy diver guides a salvage basket during an underwater recovery operation searching for World War II remains off the coast of Koror, Palau, Jan. 30, 2018.
TYLER THOMPSON/U.S. NAVY PHOTO

Divers in Palau recover remains linked to missing WWII air crews!

A joint underwater recovery team of soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians recently completed an intense two-month excavation of sunken World War II airplanes in Palau, retrieving remains that could belong to long-lost American air crews, the Navy said.

Headed by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the team worked from aboard the USNS Salvor near Ngerekebesang Island, completing work on Feb. 25.

Above information from: “Stars and Stripes” magazine.

Angel Flight information from: 11th Airborne Division Assoc. newspaper, “The Voice of the Angels”

Identifying our missing information from: DPAA/ American Battle Monuments Commission; the DPAA identified 183 service members during the fiscal year of 2017.


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About GP

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty." GP is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

Posted on March 8, 2018, in Current News, Home Front, Korean War, WWII and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 188 Comments.

  1. I’m glad there is such a thing as “angel flight” to honor those who gave their all in the service of the military.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. The video was wonderful. I’ve known about the angel flights for some time, but only in the most general way. I didn’t know anything about the flare patterns, for example. The commitment of those working to return our service members home is remarkable, and entirely praiseworthy.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Wonderful, GP. Very moving. And very important.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. While reading this story and listening to the video I fell victim to the dreaded keyboard dust storm

    Liked by 3 people

  5. Thank you, GP. This is wonderful!

    Liked by 3 people

  6. What a beautiful and fitting tribute. I didn’t know about Angel’s flight. Thank you for this post that can’t help but touch one’s heart.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. What a beautiful thing! ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  8. Wat een prachtig lied dat me erg ontroerde en respect en een gepast eer betoon voor deze mannen die hun leven lieten voor onze vrijheid..

    Liked by 3 people

  9. What an awesome shot, GP. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Nothing to add to all of the comments. Wonderful post, pictures and song!

    Liked by 2 people

  11. WOW!!!!!!! Just beautiful — tears . . . Dawn

    Liked by 3 people

  12. I do hope that those poor men in Palau finally get the burial they deserve, At least somebody is still looking. As far as I know, they gave up over here years ago because of the expense of such searches.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Now with DNA, people can be certain of what is located. It has certainly increased to efforts here, plus they work with the Russian and Japanese recovery programs.

      Like

  13. A great tribute to great men.

    Liked by 3 people

  14. How very moving. Thank you.

    “Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.”

    Liked by 3 people

    • Your comment is also very moving, thank you. Just as I usually include the obituaries of men from the rest of the Allies (when I can locate them), they all deserve to be thanked and remembered – it is only due to them that we have our freedoms everyday.

      Like

  15. Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
    This is a moving blogpost!

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Never knew they could do that! BTW do you have any further info on the jeeps and the bikes I posted this week?

    Liked by 3 people

    • I’ve been working on it, but also for others. Lady Lex was finally found, researching a father’s unit for some readers and trying to type faster with my 4-finger system, haha. I put the jeep post together as soon as I can – at least that one is not time sensitive. Is there something in particular you were looking for? I’d be happy to try and help.

      Like

  17. Starting the day with tears. What a wonderful tribute!

    Liked by 3 people

  18. Started the morning with a tear in the eye. A truly lovely tribute.

    Liked by 3 people

  19. Powerful post, GP. Thanks

    Liked by 3 people

  20. Reblogged this on Anna Cottage and commented:
    It’s so important that everyone should see this and remember we owe our Freedom to the Fallen Heroes. Wonderful blog.

    Liked by 3 people

  21. Gosh whatever words I say will not be enough for all those Brave Men who gave their lives and for those wonderful men who fly those Planes to bring the fallen home. I have never seen anything like the Angel Wings before, such a tribute to all those Fallen Heroes, I am still with tears after watching the film and that song and those words I shall long remember. I just wish that everyone out there showed the respect due to the Fallen and those Men and Women risking their lives every day, for us all.

    Thank you for your most moving site. Hope you keep well, take care.

    Liked by 3 people

  22. Absolutely love the Angel Flight video and track.
    The words and images are just so very powerful.
    x

    Liked by 3 people

  23. The flares are a beautiful tribute. Thanks for sharing this. Surprised to see such a bad month for the USS Oklahoma 😦

    Liked by 2 people

  24. Wow. What a moving and fitting tribute to those who gave their lives.

    Liked by 3 people

  25. Thanks for giving credit where credit is due. Great video.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Well that had me bawling 😢

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Very moving…It stirred emotions, wonderful post…

    Liked by 3 people

  28. Excellent post Sir, I am going to reblog this article for you.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. Another powerful post. RT.

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Great post! Something I wasn’t even aware of. Thanks for sharing GPCox. As always love reading your unique pieces and in this case the audio.

    Liked by 2 people

  31. It is amazing that the search for the missing continues. Sadly most of the loved ones of these missing WWII personnel have also passed without having closure. (Of course, it’s possible they are now reunited.) Thanks, GP.

    Liked by 2 people

  32. Very moving and emotional…shared on FB.

    Liked by 2 people

  33. A very touching video on the Angel Flight!

    Liked by 2 people

  34. I didn’t know about the angel flights, GP. That’s a touching tribute indeed.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 2 people

  35. Wow. As I grow older, things like that bring tears to my eyes. Very moving!

    Liked by 2 people

  36. I’ve never heard of this before. Very moving. And am I understanding correctly that there are still remains of soldiers from as far back as WWII being discovered and returned home?

    Liked by 3 people

  37. I got emotional hearing the song. Love the angel wing flare pattern. Very appropriate. May they rest in peace!

    Liked by 3 people

  38. I didn’t know about this, GP. It gave me goosebumps. Hugs.

    Liked by 2 people

  39. mixture of emotions as I listen and read

    Liked by 3 people

  40. That song is very emotional. Great post.

    Liked by 3 people

  41. Very nice.
    Slightly off topic, I was excited to see yesterday that they found the Lexington and await more photos and information.

    Liked by 3 people

  42. A fitting tribute indeed….chuq

    Liked by 4 people

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