Sons of Pilot of B-17 “Thunderbird” Return to Father’s Base

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
ROYAL AIR FORCE MOLESWORTH, England --  As he paused before writing his name in the book that visitors sign at the 303rd Bomb Group Memorial, Gary Moncur was overcome with emotion.

He noted that many of the 303rd Bomb Group members who had signed the book during the June 3rd 2000 dedication have passed on during the last eight years.  As the historian and webmaster for the group Gary Moncur knew well these brave men who flew from here during World War Two. He had seen them all at 303rd Bomb Group reunions over the years.

On June 5th, Mr. Moncur, his brother Marlowe and their spouses visited for the first time the base from which his father, LT Vern Moncur, pilot of the famed B-17G Flying Fortress "Thunderbird' flew 29 combat missions between December, 1943 and April 1944. "Thunderbird" was shot up many times during raids over Nazi occupied Europe - and even had a wing replaced - but no crew members suffered as much as a scratch during that time. The plane is memorialized in a mural at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.  

The previous evening the Moncur family joined JAC Deputy Commander Navy Captain Harry J. Babin and noted local military artist Keith Hill for dinner at the Racehorse Pub which LT Moncur would have almost surely have visited during the war.

The group was escorted around the base by Navy Petty Officer Yvette J. Hester with the 303rd's UK Representative Mr. Robin Beeby pointing out the location of long gone WWII sites including "Thunderbird's" hardstand. Mr. Moncur then gave a talk on his role in preserving the legacy of the group. Marine Corps Col. Peter H. Devlin, JAC Commander presented Mr. Moncur with a JAC Commander's coin in appreciation for his presentation and all that Mr. Moncur does to keep the memory of the 303rd alive.