In Memoriam

In memoriam, Norm Appold, who passed away March 17, 2004.

From Larry Daugherty:

I believe Norm had quite a reputation as an aeronautical engineer after the war, but I am not personally familiar with that aspect of his career. I do recall that the 1962 edition of the Duggan and Stewart book "Ploesti" says something about his being "one of the foremost jet propulsion engineers in the country today".

Norm's connection to the Lady Be Good:

1. TEST FLEW, RETURNED TO SERVICE. In Dennis MacLendon's book on the Lady Be Good (written in 1962, updated some years later with documentation about Jim Walker's tests on the #2 engine and finding German bullets in the rocker covers), it states that Norm test-flew the Lady after maintenance (which had prevented the Samuel Rose crew from taking her on a mission) and signed her off, whereupon Hatton and his crew got her when Rose and his crew had to land at another base in the war-weary bomber they were given for one day.

Of course, Hatton and his crew were never heard from again and their fate unknown until the Lady was discovered by British Petroleum engineers in the Sahara in late 1958.

2. NORM ON 1960 NETWORK TV SHOW. I have a videotape copy of the 1960 Armstrong Circle Theater "live" presentation and dramatization (actor George Segal has a role in it, before he was famous), concluding with newsman Douglas Edwards conducting a panel interview with several 376th veterans, including Col. Norman C. Appold.

BARNES, WILLIAM

William Vance (Bill) Barnes, 80, longtime resident of Waco, died Tuesday, August 24, 2004 of metastatic cancer at St. Catherine's Center, Providence Healthcare Network, under the care of Providence Hospice. A memorial service will take place at 1pm Saturday, September 4 at First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Austin Ave. The Rev. Dr. Jimmie Johnson will officiate following private burial at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family at the church following the service.

Mr. Barnes and his identical twin brother were born on March 25, 1924 in Rockwall, Texas to Hal Barnett Barnes and Frances Nash Barnes, members of two pioneer north Texas families. Bill graduated from Rockwall High School in 1941 and attended North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington where he was a member of ROTC. He volunteered as an aviation cadet in early 1943, and, after training, served as a B-24 bomber pilot in the 376th Heavy Bomber Group, 15th Air Force, in Italy. After World War II, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a salesman for Burroughs Adding Machine Company in San Antonio and Fort Worth. Bill moved to Waco in 1965, and, as a salesman for Hart Graphics (formerly The Steck Company), called on banks and courthouses throughout Central Texas until his retirement in 1989.

Bill and Barbara Topp of Greenwood, Mississippi, the mother of his two children, Rex and Rebecca, were married in 1945. He later married Colleen Higgins Mayo of Waco in 1976.
An active volunteer with Waco Habitat for Humanity, Bill has spent his Tuesdays and Thursdays since 1990 building cabinets for Habitat homes. First ordained to service at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth in the early 1950s, Bill had served the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) as a deacon, an elder, a Sunday school teacher, and a commissioner to Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Sun, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. He and Colleen have been members of the First Presbyterian Church of Waco for well over fifty years.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and one brother. Survivors include his wife, Colleen, daughter, Rebecca Rambeau and husband, Paul of Phoenix; son, Rex Bames and wife, Amy Jo of Waco; stepdaughter, Patrice Mayo Hunter and husband, Jim of Temple; stepson, Steve Mayo of Austin; grandchildren, Paul Colin and Marc Rambeau of Phoenix and Dr. Jennifer Barnes Davis and husband, Taylor Davis of Colorado Springs; step-grandchildren, Dawson Jay Belobrajdic and wife, Lindsay of Temple and Matthew Hayden Belobrajdic and wife, Katherine of Euless; and step-great-grandson, Jackson Belobrajdic, son of Dawson and Lindsay. He is also survived by his twin brother, Robert Nash Barnes and wife, Frances of Irving and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Honorary pallbearers are Brian Aynesworth, Carey DuPuy, Carr DePuy, Alex Eichenberg, Edgar Jablonowski, Frank Kudlaty, Pat Pattillo, Ray Perry, Dr. Charles Stern, and Joe Sudderth, all of First Presbyterian Church. Honorary pallbearers from Colleen's Material Girls sewing bee (part of Homespun Quilters' Guild of Waco) are Darlene Christopherson, Patty Field, Bettye Lewis, Jackie Lott, Anita Selters, Susie Tatum, Connie Watkins, Inga Lill Westblom and Retha Tiner.

Links on the site about Lt. Gen. Compton:

The Serafin Crew

Fred Aspesi's Scrapbook

The Liberandos 200th Mission

Commanders of the 376th Bomb Group Founding Units

Lt. Gen. Keith Karl Compton, USAF (Ret), age 88, who was the Air Force Strategic Air Command's vice chief of staff at Offutt AFB when he retired from military service in 1969, and who lead the famed bomber attack on the German oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania, during World War II, died June 15, 2004, in San Antonio, Texas.

Among his many aviation feats, Gen. Compton won the famed Bendix Trophy in 1951, setting a new transcontinental speed record \ by averaging 553.761 miles per hour in a Sabre Jet, flying from Muroe Air Force Base in California, to Detroit, Michigan in three hours, 27 minutes. He won his Army Air Corps wings in 1939, and in 1943, as one of the youngest colonels in the Army Air Corps, took command of the 376th Heavy Bomb Group in Africa, later leading 117 B-24 bombers on the daring "Tidal Wave" attack on the German refineries. His military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force and the Army Commendation medals.

An accomplished golfer, as well, Gen. Compton won the U.S. Golf Association's Senior Amateur Championship in 1978 at Pine Tree Golf Course, Delray Beach, FL. He also was a member of the Society of Seniors, comprised of the best senior amateur golfers in the United States. In addition, he held Westminster College's (Fulton, MO.) Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.

He is survived by his son, Keith Karl Compton Jr., of Reston, VA; his three daughters, Tegwin Anne Smith of Alexandria, VA, Mary Margaret Mace of Glen Alien, VA, and Michele Marie Walker of Burnett, Texas; and eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 10:00 a.m., viewing will proceed the service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., on August 9, 2004, at 11:00 a.m.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.porterloring.com by selecting Visitation and Services. Select "Sign Guestbook" at the bottom of the individual Memorial. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary.

James Henry Hemperly, Sr., 84 of Duncannon and formerly of Middletown, died Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill.

He was born September 27, 1919 in Royalton, Pa, a son of the late Lester and Mary Ann (Ring) Hemperly.

He was retired from Tinker Air Force Base, Okalahoma. He was an AAF Veteran of World War II, having served with the 376th Liberandos. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 255, Duncannon and American Legion Post 177, Newport.

He is survived by a loving companion, Leona, the mother of his 4 daughters and 3 sons; Wendy Strohecker of Newport, Cindy Hockenberry of Duncannon, Jamey Deiter of Newport, James H. Hemperly, Jr. of Harrisburg, Michael Hemperly of Mechanicsburg, Tammy Seger of Millerstown and Timothy Hemperly of Newport; a sister Mary Gignac of New Kingston; 17 grandchildren and 20 greatgrandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, who also served in WWII, George Hemperly and Lester (Sparky) Hemperly and a sister Stella Fornwalt. Burial was held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetary, Annville.

Memorials may be made to the World War II Memorial Fund, American Battle Monuments Commission, ATTN: GR048, P.O. Box 96074, Washington, D.C. 20090-6074.

William J. "Bill" McCarty, age 80, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2004.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 23, at St. Catherine's of Sienna Catholic Church (105th & Grandview Rd.) burial in Mt Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at McGilley State Line Chapel.  Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m.  Family suggest memorial contributions to St. Catherine's of Sienna Catholic Church.    

Bill was born March 14, 1924, in Kansas City, MO and was a resident of Grand Court Retirement Apartments, where he was an avid bridge player.  He was a WWII Veteran who served in the Army Air Corps in Italy and North Africa.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Jane. He is survived by five children, Sue Froelich and spouse, Dan, Leawood, KS, Greg McCarty & spouse, Debbie, Leawood, KS, Elaine McNamara & spouse, Mike, Lee's Summit, MO, Cheryl Johnston and spouse, Chris, Burke, VA, and Tim McCarty & spouse, Ann, Suwanee, GA.  He leaves 13 grandchildren.  He is also survived by one sister, Colleen Schwartz, El Centro, CA.

In memory of John S. McConnon of the 513th Squadron, killed in action August 10th, 1944. Laid to rest with Military Honors, Friday, May 14th, 1999.

The Search for a Missing Brother...

Jack Onofrio was born May 11, 1925, in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Frank Onofrio and Eva Stone. As a very young child, he worked as a shoeshine boy, baker's helper, and filling station attendant. He attended Hillhouse High School, where he was a member of the swim team, and graduated in June 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in November 1942, and saw action in the European Theater as a machine gunner on B-24s, taking part in the Northern Appennines, Po Valley, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, receiving the Air Medal.

After a short period in civilian life, he re-enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving for twenty years as an air crew member in B-29s during the Korean War and as a special agent for the Office of Special Investigations for ten years. He completed his service as a Squadron First Sergeant and retired in 1965.

He then embarked on his next vocation as an American Kennel Club licensed all-breed professional dog handler. In 1968, he and his wife Dorothy co-founded Jack Onofrio Dog Shows, which grew from fourteen shows per year to its current status as the premier dog show organization in the nation. He was an avid bowler, enjoyed square dancing, was a music afficionado and played the organ, sang in the church choir, and was an enthusiastic leisure cruiser. In June 1985 Jack married his current wife Patricia Powers Onofrio, who worked with him as a dog show superintendent and also took more than one hundred cruises with him to the Carribean, Europe, and Alaska. Jack died August 31, 2004. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Onofrio and Eva Stone, brother Morris, sisters Beatrice and Marion Tommaselli, and grandson Christopher Onofrio. He is survived by his wife Pat Onofrio of Deltona, Florida, son Jack Onofrio (Sue) of Venice, Florida, daughter Lin Onofrio Brinkman (Bill) of Round Rock, Texas, grandsons Antony Onofrio, Andrew Brinkman (Dijana) and Robert Brinkman, niece Betty Glaser of Sherman Oaks, California, stepsons Mark Politowicz (Patty) of Cape Coral, Florida, and Michael Politowicz (Stacia) of Longwood, Florida, stepdaughter Julie Von Allmen (Bill) of Grant, Florida, great-grandsons Michael and Christopher Onofrio, great-granddaughter Lauren Nicole Onofrio, step-grandchildren Macrae and Ryan Politowicz, and by his first wife and friend Dorothy Onofrio Lippincott.

The family held a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital of Memphis.