shemya photos - page 1
If anyone knows who the photographer was for photos
1-1, 1-2 and/or 1-3, or can identify any of the folks in
those pictures, please email the info to me! Thanks.
1-1. The folks occupying
Shemya and Attu during
WWII blazed the trail for
the rest of us. Compared to
these guys, we had it
relatively easy! While they
lived in tents during their
first year of occupation, we
had warm concrete
buildings, bowling alleys,
theater, gymnasium, etc.
However, all these new
amenities didn't keep the
snow from blowing up our
pant legs, either. I believe
this photo to be taken
sometime during the
winter of 1943-1944. The
first GIs to occupy Shemya
lived in tents for the first
year. The second year they
lived in Quonset huts. This
photo, along with 1-2 and
1-3 were found by George
Smith in Shemya's Photo
Hobby Shop as glass slides,
reproduced, and posted
here along with a few
slides from Attu. [George L.
Smith]
1-2. This picture was
apparently taken from a
tent. The inscription
indicates this picture was
taken on Shemya, AK,
and more than likely
during the winter of
1943-1944. A guess is that
the above picture was
taken on Shemya as well.
Notice the similarity in
the landscape. This poor
guy had to freeze his
buns off just going to
chow! Notice the fine
Chinaware? [George L.
Smith]
1-3. This picture could
have been taken on
either Attu or Shemya. It
is, as the inscription
indicates, a P-38 buzzing
the area. [George L.
Smith]
1-4. This picture is of
Walter H. Knight, taken on
Shemya, Pacific side of
runway. 1943-1944.
1-5. Also of Walter H.
Knight, Shemya Island.
1943-1944.
1-6. One of Shemya's fine
chefs, Mr. Goldberg of New
York City. Shemya, 1943-
1944. (Walter H. Knight)
1-7. Bane Barrick, Shemya;
Chowtime! Glad to hear
another guy besides me
was in the 344th Fighter
Squadron.This must have
been early 1944. Notice, I
have shadows in my
picture. A rare day on
Shemya. My first stay on
Shemya was from June
1943 UNTIL June 1945. I
was on Shemya for 22
months straight the first
time!
1-8. Jeff Marksbury's
father flew this B-24D, SN
123973, attached to the
404th Bomb Squadron,
Shemya, Alaska. This
plane was transferred to
the 404th from Casper,
Wyoming where the crew
was formed. It flew 30
missions before it was
replaced by a B-24J. This B-
24D was then scrapped for
parts.
1-9. Dan Lange (standing)
in front of the 11th
Fighter Squadron
Headquarters. Dan
brought the dog, Red,
home with him on the
ship when he left Shemya.
The 11th was just north of
the big runway in about
the middle of the island.
Click HERE for more about
"Red."
1-10. Dan Lange, the Crew
Chief of Shemya's P-38
"Little Butch," tailnumber
121, sent this one in. This
photo was taken on
Shemya around 1945-1946.
1-11. Shemya P-38 #121
"Little Butch" submitted by
Dan Lange.
1-12. This P-38 was known
as "Little Butch," and was
submitted by Dan Lange.
1-13. The business end of
P-38 "Little Butch."
Submitted by Dan Lange.
1-14. George Villasenor,
enlisted at 16 years old,
was stationed on Attu at
the age of 17 (or 18) during
WWII as a Naval Aerial
Photographer. He was sent
to photograph a P-38 with
"Little Butch" painted on
it's nose (and 121 painted
on its fuselage) that had
skidded off the Attu
runway and ended up in a
ditch. Does it look familiar?
Go to Attu site, and see
"Little Butch" photos by
George Villasenor.