LearjetMech

Well fellas, this is what the full scale forum is all about. This is my great uncle, George Miller Cannon. I have no idea how I aquired this stuff, other than my mother thought I would enjoy it someday. I think she knew I would be crazy about airplanes, and as you can see, mom knows best!!! Anyway, his life was short, too short! But in all actuality his life was far longer than most combat pilots in WWII. He flew over 70 missions (I count 74 in his logbook), and was flight leader of his group. Skimming through his logbook it seemed like he was advancing up the ranks rather quickly. Was that because he was a good pilot or because people were lost almost daily, I don't know. He was a member of the 9th Airforce, 367th FG, 394th FS. He flew most of his combat time in P-38 J's and L's. Some of these pictures might not turn out, but I think they will be able to show some of the history. These are the people who fought for what we are today! I wished I could of thanked him personally! I keep in touch with some of his group and squadron members, but they are passing like mad! One day they will all be gone. They have reunions every year, and each year less and less people show. Enjoy, and if you have any questions feel free to ask!

LearjetMech

4 more!

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

That is some neat stuff!

LearjetMech

Last 4! This squadron switched to P-47's shortly after his death. There is a book written about them called "The Dynamite Gang" and he is in it! I get chills everytime I look at this stuff! I have a P47 gold 60 that I am going to paint in his Fighter Group colors and dedicate to him. I have some research to do yet, maybe someone here has that info. Aviation is a small world ya know! I'll keep you posted once the build starts. Here is the damnest thing too! His last name was Cannon. He was straffing a marshalling yard and the locomotive he was nailing blew up and took him out basically. He crashed near Ludwigshaven, Germany. Well my last name is Ludwig, and that name wasn't even in the picture when he was alive. To pass on the tradition my brother's middle name is George, and my son's middle name is Miller. Weird!!!!

One other tidbit. If any of you are familiar with Iron River, Michigan or the mining industry, the Cannon mine was named after his father. Just found that out from my mom.

JohnVH

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That is cool, Id be proud.

Baitshack

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

Bruno Stachel

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Thanks for sharing that LearjetMech. Looking at his photograph, your great uncle appears to have been a fine young man.

Volture

My Feedback: (1)

LearjetMech: Thanks for sharing this. My dad (James W. Logan) also flew P-38's. He was in the 367FG of the 392 wing. They were known as the "Dynamite Gang". He has some interesting stories. One of the most interesting is the one and only time he used the water/alchohol injection so he could run the boost up to pull away from a German on his tail. One engine quit, and things got exciting fast. He still has a piece of shrapnel that they removed from the turbo of one of the 1710's.

Here's a link to the 367th: http://www.dynamitegang.com/367thHome

Dad also flew jugs and P-39's. He was a sophomore in college when he was flying the lightning. Said it was really a hoot up to the time they started getting shot at.

When I was about 10 years old I had the great pleasure of riding in a P-38 at one of dad's fighter squadron reunions. The radio console behind the pilot had been removed and a very small jumpseat was installed. What a rare treat.

Here's a picture of dad in White Lightning:

LearjetMech

Ask him if he knows Gene DeFrance and what happened to him! Also see if he knew or recognizes George.

BDeFrance

Hello,
My Great Uncle Gene DeFrance was mentioned in this post. Gene was a P38 pilot in the 367th. I would like to find more information about this fighter group and anyone who knew my Great Uncle Gene whopassedin 2008:
http://helenair.com/news/local/obitu...3df641515.html

Ican be reached at:
[email protected]

Blake DeFrance

cannonball200

My Feedback: (36)

Learjetmech,

I found this on internet. My name is Cannon so it got my interest.

Thanks,

Eddie of OKC, OK


Lockheed P-38 Lightning
"Just Lazy"
P-38J-25-LO Lightning
s/n 44-23657
394th FS, 367th FG, 9th AF
Assigned to Capt. Ross P. Lezie
Taken on October 14,1944 at Clastres,France (A-71).

The aircraft was lost on an armed recon. mission in the area of Bad-Kreuznach,Germany on February 19,1945. It was shot down by flak, killing the pilot, 1st Lt. George M. Cannon. Last reported position was 12 miles S.W. of Darnstadt,Germany.
MACR 12292