Hello Tom DeMier

February has been an pretty exciting month. First I received the photo of the 'Jalopy' in flight with the 44th Bomb Group from Roger Fenton. (I'm still very happy about this!) Today I received a few a few comments and en email from Tom DeMier, of Joplin (where else?) regarding the flight from Altus to Joplin.

I also remember the Joplin Jalopy. I have a 35mm photo of the Joplin Jalopy. It was taken by my father, O.L. DeMier, along with its crew the day it arrived in Joplin. O.L. DeMier was a pilot and a colonel [in] the CAP (Civil Air Patrol). Jalopy was purchased by the War Dads organization using donations, most of which was collected from students taken up at local schools.

One of the crew on the flight to Joplin was my uncle, Orville Veirs, who regularly flew a "Super C-47" over the "Hump" in the Burma theatre of WW II. My uncle was from Miami Oklahoma. He went to help fly the plane back from Oklahoma because of his multi engine military pilot experience.

It is sad that the plane was gradually vandalized to the point it was scrapped.

Tom - this is very interesting. You may know already - I've sent you an email!

The e-mail I hadn't been expecting from Roger Fenton

This is just such a fantastic email I wanted to quote (almost) it was received.

Rob:

How are things going? Have kept up with your blog on the "Jalopy". I would bet a months pay that someone in Joplin MO. has parts to that ole beast. I thought you could use some good news I was doing some research and checking my photos (which I do need to catalog someday) and bingo I got her flying into combat. The letter on the tail is "O" so this was after 9 Oct 1944 as that is the date the letter was changed from C to O. I knew that pictures existed just have to find them all. I blew the photo up and the serial number on the inside of the tail reads 250535 which is her for sure. All those renditions of her flying into combat, now you have a real one for everyone to see. keep up the good work

Roger V/P Historian 44th BGVA

Son of a 44ther

Queen Creek Arizona

So here we have it. Joplin Jalopy in flight. I have to say this is a pretty exciting moment for me. I have never seen this picture before and I suspect that this is the first time it's been published on the Internet. I asked Roger a few days ago about the picture and if he had any more insights. What he said was he thought it was probably taken in friendly skies and may be returning to Shipdham. The top turret is apparently unmanned and it's facing directly backwards. The waist guns have been pulled in, and the rear turret is also facing directly backwards.

Thanks again, Roger!