Returning Veterans Honored... Bravery
and Comradery Rule the Skies
The Mighty Eighth U.S. Army Air Force took to the skies over
wartorn Europe for three more historical missions, to battle
the Luftwaffe and attack key U-Boat installations in May 1943.
The
missions for 2002 were against U-Boat Yards in Emden, Germany;
Lorient, France; and Flensburg, Germany. Next year's historical
missions will continue the anti U-Boat campaign. We are inching
ever closer to the Regensburg/Schweinfurt raids of August 1943,
which will involve new maps and shuttle missions to Russia.
As a new feature, returning veterans of the B-17 WBC
tournament were honored with service medals for five and ten
years of participation. Medals were provided by Assistant GM
Mike Lam for the fourth year in a row.
Assistant GM Keith Hunsinger missed his first B-17
tournament because of more pressing concerns at home with his
wife's health. However, Keith did manage to participate remotely,
and was with us in spirit, as we were with him and his wife.
Eleven-year veteran Paul Risner, who is Keith's normal playing
partner, filled in as an assistant, but spent more of his time
shooting down and bombing the enemy. Paul won the tournament,
and became the event's first three-time winner. The following
lists the top four finishers in 2002 who received WBC prizes,
followed by their score:
1 Paul Risner, 180
2 Judy Krauss, 164
3 Eric Stranger, 157
4 Ralph Gleaton, 150
Consolation prizes were awarded to Bruce Young (next to last
place, score 47, awarded a B-17 book) and Hunsinger (last, 10
points, B-17 video). And for the first time, a middle-of-the-pack
award was given to Alan Dickson (16th, score of 106, video).
Also, many medals were given out for mission performance,
as follows:
Medal of Honor: (2) Kris Weinschenker and Matt Spitznagel,
Mission 1.
Distinguished Flying Cross: (2) Kevin McCarthy, Mission 1;
Alan Dickson, Mission 3 (Landing with a -7 modifier).
Silver Star: (1) John Brasell, Mission 1.
Air Medal: (4) William Bunch, 94% bomb run, Mission 1; Joshua
Dunn, 93% bomb run, Mission 2; Mike Lam and Eric Stranger, top
gunner award, seven enemy aircraft kills, navigator and top turret,
respectively.
Bronze Star: (1) Kevin McCarthy, most evaders, five airmen
escaped becoming POWs, Mission 2.
Legion of Merit: (1) Joshua Dunn, 51% average bomb run accuracy.
Purple Heart: (8) Alan Dickson, Mission 1; Kevin Coombs and
Chris LeFevre, Mission 2; Mike Lam, Paul Weintraub, Joseph Burch,
Kevin McCarthy, and Mark Yoshikawa, Mission 3.
Prisoner Of War: (1) Kris Weinschenker, most POWs, 12 total.
Special honorary mention: My appreciation to Circus Maximus
GM John Jacoby who donated B-17 items he found at yard sales
over the past year. One book, The Lady, went to Paul Weintraub
for assistance in scorekeeping. One poster, of Howard Hughes'
seaplane the Spruce Goose, was awarded to Mark Yoshikawa for
having the most airmen rescued from swimming in the Atlantic
Ocean.
Overall, it was another great year. I thank everyone for their
participation - we had 14 rookies this year! Veterans from past
years are encouraged to return in 2003 (there are service medals
for five and ten year veterans). Also, we always welcome new
players, and this year was a banner year for new participants.
Please join in on the fun in 2003.
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