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Herbert Zumhingst-Family
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Zumhingst, Herbert (The Whistler), Lt Col USAF(Ret).
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In December 1941, Herbert was one of the first members to join the Civil Air Patrol at Freeman Field AF Base and worked in the Supply Room on the Base after School in Seymour,Indiana At the of age 16. Upon graduation from High School he entered the United States Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program out of Mississippi State, graduating as a second lieutenant Class of 44I. He was later to fly B-25's, B-24's and B-29's in World War II. After World War II, In Oct 1946 Herbert was assigned to an Active Reserve Units 71ST TCS and the 72nd TCS At Stout Field, Indianapolis,Indiana Flying AT-6s and AT-11s & C-46s & C-47s; Until the 434th T.C.W. was organized in 1949 At Atterbury Air Force Base,Columbus,Indiana where he was one of the first ART and flew C-46s , C-47 & AT-6s for a very short period. Shortly after, The 434th received their C-46s which he flew as Pilot in Troop Carrier Operations For the next seven years, until the 434th T.C.W (M) was recalled to active duty in 1951 with the United States Air Force. He spent one year in the Far East Theater, participating in the Korean War flying C-46's, where he flew Air Evacuations of both wounded and deceased personnel , dropping 187th Airborne Regiment, supplies, couriers and conducting Treacherous island mail drops; and prisoners of war. Herbert was able to fly Margaret Bourke White, a Life Magazine correspondent, General Dwight D.Eisenhower's son, John, plus other VIPs. He also volunteered to fly with the Kyushu Gypsies Squadron out of K-16, Seoul,Korea Test hops,Courier Flights, and drop control Zone Officers He accumulated 600 combat hours in the Korean War. In 1953, upon receiving Honorable Separation from the service in Jan.1953 He was again assigned to the 434th T.C.W. Bakalar Air Force Base Columbus,Indiana his duties were to teach Transition,Instrument Flying,Troop Carrier Tactics in the C-46. From May 1954 to December 1956. He was a member of the 434th T.C.W. C-46 Standardization Board. And served as Acting Operations Officer for the 71st T.C.S from June 1955 to August 1955,and Assistant Operations Officer from December 1954 to November 1955. He was very active in participation with the 434th T.C.W. having earned 70 to 80 points between the year of 1953 and 1955. In 1956 he earned approximately 150 points, and 1957,164 points. He was assigned as Gen.John Bradshaw's Co-Pilot, October 1956, to fly in the first Air Force Troop Carrier Rodeo, there by,assisting in placing the 434th Troop Carrier wing, second in competition with thirteen Reserve Troop Carrier Wings. In january 1957, he was called to Active duty for two weeks of Transitioning in the 434th T.C.W newly acquired C-119s. this gave him the distinction of being the first reserve Pilot in our Wing to check out. March 1957, Herbert was recalled to active duty and spent six weeks at Pope Air Force Base South Carolina, receiving the Basic Course of the C-119 simulator. After completing the M.T.D. Course, May 30,1957 He was asked to stay on at Pope Air Force Base as Flight Instructor and performed Instructor duties in the C-119 Aircraft-consisting of teaching Instrument and Transition Flying until August 1957 with 3,313 hrs.as an Instructor .This gave him the opportunity to train future Instructor Pilots for the Air Reserve Flying Centers within the Tenth Air force also ,to instruct Reserve Pilots from various Reserve Wings who were station at Bakalar Air Force Base for their summer encampment. The sixteen months in which he has been instructing Instruments,Transition and Troop Carrier Tactics in the C-119 Aircraft At Bakalar, has give him the opportunity to ride with and known a number of pilots assigned to the 434th T.C.W. Lt Col. Zumhingst was an Element Leader in A-Flight of the 71st T.C.S late to become the 71st SOS. He was on orders as a C-119 Instrument and Transition Instructor and flight examiner and a member of the 930th TC GP. later to become 930th SOW with in the 434th T.C.W. (M) . He trained the 71st Special Operations Tactical Wing (Shadow) and the 72nd T.C.S. in C-119 Troop Carrier Operations and many other Units & SQs, as a flight examiner and instructor. He established the Instrument School for the 434th T.C.W.; he also was toassist in the reorganization of the base operation section of the Bakalar Air Force Base to the reserve operation. While in this capacity, Herbert was recalled to active duty for the Cuban crisis and Operation Swift lift. He served as a Major, flying C-119's. Upon his release from active duty,he became Chief of Flight Standardization Evaluation and Test Pilot for the 434th T.C.W. Lt. Colonel Zumhingst returned to Seymour in 1964 and developed Sherwood Terrace, a 180 lot subdivision, northwest of Seymour High School. He was also a partner in other Seymour businesses. While installing Lasher Drive,Herbert volunteered to fly missions into the Dominican Republic during that country's crisis and was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. In 1968, Lt. Colonel Zumhingst was recalled to active duty and spent 1968-1969 in the Republic of Vietnam. He was the first squadron to ferry their AC-119 gunship's from Ohio across the Pacific to Nha Trang, Vietnam. Upon his return to the United States, Lt.Col Zumhingst retired as Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Air Force. He served 40 years of reserve and active duty time, earning the following awards and decorations: Air Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War Two Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal (Army), Army of Occupation (Japan) and National Defense Service Medal (With Bronze Stars), United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal (with Three Battle Stars), Korean Presidential Unit Citation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hour Glass) Combat Readiness Medal and the Air Reserve Meritorious Service Ribbon.I'm Still in the works. More to add
Other Comments:
I have my new wings now.
I have walked into heaven's gates
Oh yes, my old buddies are here . No tears just smiles and cheers.
See we are all new, now flying high with the best wings we have ever had.
So smile don't be sad we are with you .
We are all Gods Co-Pilots now. By: Diane Zumhingst-Scott
The Whistler
I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes ... I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. Opening to The Whistler
GO-B 'Little Lee' flown by Lt. Frank Kilcheski of the 328th BS, 93rd BG
"Hell's a Droppin II"
Unit: 328th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF, USAAF
Serial: B/N (41-23599 ?)
"Jerk's Natural"
Unit: 328th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF, USAAF
Serial: B (41-23711)
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII BC, 1 BW: 6 Sep 1942
VIII BC, 2 BW 6 Dec 1942
VIII BC, 2 BW, 201 PCBW 25 Mar 1943
VIII BC, 2 BW, 20 CBW 13 Sep 1943
2 BD, 20 CBW 8 Jan 1944
2 AD, 20 CBW 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
B-24D
B-24H
B-24J
B-24L
B-24M
Stations
ALCONBURY 6 Sep 1942 to 6 Dec 1942
HARDWICK 6 Dec 1942 to 12 Jun 1945
** OTHER TEMPORARY BASES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST **
Group COs
Col. Edward J. T imberl ake Jr. 26 Mar 1942 to 17 May 1943
Lt. Col Addison E. Baker 17 May 1943 to 1 Aug 1943 KIA
Col. Leland G. Fiegel 9 Aug 1943 to 27 Sep 1944
Lt. Col Harvey P. Barnard Jr. 27 Sep 1944 to 27 Nov 1944
Col. William R. Robertson Jr. 5 Dec 1944 to 6 Apr 1945
Lt. Col Therman D. Brown 6 Apr 1945 to Jun 1945
First Mission: 9 Oct 1942
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 396
Total Sorties: 8,169
Total Bomb Tonnage: 19,004 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 100
Enemy aircraft Claims: 40
Major Awards:
Two Distinguished Unit Citations: 17 Dec 1942 to 20 Feb 1943: Operations in North Africa and on 1 Aug 1943: Ploesti
Medal of Honor: Lt Col Addison E. Baker 1 Aug 1943
Major John L. Jerstad 1 Aug 1943
Claims to Fame
Oldest B-24 Group in 8th AF.
Flew more missions than any other 8AF bomb group
Most travelled group assigned to the 8 AF
Aircraft Bomerang was the first 8AF B-24 to fly 50 missions
Early History:
Activated1 March1942 at Barkesdale Field FL. Moved to Ft. Myers Fl., on 15 May 1942, and continued training while flying anti-sub patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. Claimed destruction of 3 U-Boats departed Ft. Myers on August 2 1942 to Ft. Dix NJ, and arrived on August 15. The ground echelon embarked on the Queen Elizabeth on the 31st Aug 1942, and the air echelon moved to Grenier Fd, NH and was refitted with B-24D.
Subsequent History:
Redeployed US on May of 1945. The first aircraft left England on 24 May 1945. The ground units sailed on the Queen Mary on 15 Jun 1945, and arrived in New York on the 20th of Jun. 1945. Personnel went to Camp Shanks on 20 Jun 1945 for 30 days Rest. Group re-established as a B-29 unit in July 1945. Converted to B-50s in 1949. Later B-47s and in 1955 with B-52s as the 93rd Bomb Wing. This unit is the only wartime organization in the USAF that has not been inactivated since original formation.