Carolina History Project
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A couple of old World War II snapshot photos from Amarillo Field, Texas, November and December of 1942
World War II United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) shoulder patch.
Sometime around twenty years ago, at a local Charlotte antiques flea market, I came across these old black and white photographs from World War II...specifically from Amarillo Field, Texas. The year and time: late 1942. More specifically here: "A" Group of Barracks 1203 of the 600th Tech. School Squadron. These two by three inch snapshots contained group photos of these airmen of the United States Army Air Corp (USAAC)...and even better....all their names...and even better....where they came from! Well, this nice little time capsule here might be of a great help for any World War II vets out there trying to retrace their steps back to the past, or anybody doing World War II-era research. Maybe it would assist those of you who are doing a family geneaology. Unfortunately, I don't know a tremendous amount about this airfield, but I have no doubt that I'll hear from folks out in the world wide web who will be more than happy to inform me further. (I understand, however, that this air field came under the auspices of the U.S. 4th Airforce.) So, I welcome such information...and would love to publish it on this page. Now granted, this is not "Carolina history" as such as this website mostly discusses, but if I found the object on Carolina soil, then as far as I am concerned, the object has become a part of "Carolina history!" In fact, two of the fellows pictured on these photos are from North Carolina, specifically the towns of Wilson and Summerfield. This may explain how these photos traveled from Texas to North Carolina. Here is the first photo.
Here is what is handwritten on the back of this old photo as follows:
1203 Barracks Nov. 1942
Kneeling
John Brasko--Worchester, Massachusetts
Lester Brookway--Milo, Maine
Billy Brown--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
James Bunn (Bunny)--Wilson, North Carolina
Guy Brillian--Summerfield, North Carolina
Joseph Brophy--Worchester, Massachusetts
George Bosko--Ashly, Pennsylvania
Jimmy Brown--Pillsburgh, Kansas
Rear
Donald Barmor--Vermont
Ed Burns--Dennysville, Maine
Elmer (Tex)--Braziel Quana, Texas
Collin Campbell--Boston, Massachusetts
Dick Bower--Arlington, Massachusetts
Floyd (Tex) Bursch Field--Amarillo, Texas
Bill Brady--Livingston, New Jersey
Orvin Bonde--Portland, Oregon & North Dakota
Al Boyce--Pawtuckett, Rhode Island
Ed Boyhan--New Haven, Connecticut
Here is what is handwritten on the back of this old photo as follows:
1203 Barracks Nov. 1942
Kneeling
John Brasko--Worchester, Massachusetts
Lester Brookway--Milo, Maine
Billy Brown--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
James Bunn (Bunny)--Wilson, North Carolina
Guy Brillian--Summerfield, North Carolina
Joseph Brophy--Worchester, Massachusetts
George Bosko--Ashly, Pennsylvania
Jimmy Brown--Pillsburgh, Kansas
Rear
Donald Barmor--Vermont
Ed Burns--Dennysville, Maine
Elmer (Tex)--Braziel Quana, Texas
Collin Campbell--Boston, Massachusetts
Dick Bower--Arlington, Massachusetts
Floyd (Tex) Bursch Field--Amarillo, Texas
Bill Brady--Livingston, New Jersey
Orvin Bonde--Portland, Oregon & North Dakota
Al Boyce--Pawtuckett, Rhode Island
Ed Boyhan--New Haven, Connecticut
OK, here is rather rough-looking wintertime photo (for I hear that the winters in Texas can be rather rough) of most (but not all) of these same barracks-mates in December of 1942. (Apparently some new names came into the barracks about a month later.) Incidentally, that is the year that Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" came out. Seems appropriate for this picture. See the icicles hanging off of the facia boards. It's obvious that the snow flakes are blowing hard in the wind. And they are quite buttoned up with their heavy wool and/or gaberdine trench coats as well. Still, they posed for their picture. I guess by then they were probably used to the harsh Texas winter weather. (I wonder how cold the barracks were?)
Here is what is written on the back of this photo as follows:
A Group of Barracks 1203 Dec. 1942
600th Tech. School Sqdn, Amarillo Field, Texas
Front
Lester Brookway--Milos, Maine
Oliver Bloduc
Jimmy Brown--Pillsburgh, Kansas
George Bosko--Ashley, Pennsylvania
Middle Two
Jimmy Bunn (Bunny)--Wilson, North Carolina
Julian Briefweshler--Bronx, New York
Rear
Emerson (Buffalo) Burke--Tulsa, Oklahoma
Al Boyce, Pawtuckett, Rhode Island
John Braiko--Worchester, Massachusetts
Donald Burnov
Floyd (Tex) Burchfield, Amarillo, Texas
Ed (Slim) Burns--Dennysville, Maine
Charles Brantley--Lake City, Florida
Collin Campbell--Boston, Massachusetts
It of course would be interesting to know what happened to all of these "comarades in arms" during and after the war. I know no more about them than what I've shown here. This page will be left as a sort of signpost for anybody trying to find out any information as concerns Amarillo Field back during World War II. My email address is found below. Thank you....and as they used to say back then..."Keep 'em Flying!" And Remember that "V" is for Victory,"--as in the "unintended" Morse Code found in the beginning four notes of Beethoven's famous Fifth Symphony: "Dot-Dot-Dot-Da-a-sh!" (Three shorts and one long!)
Here is what is written on the back of this photo as follows:
A Group of Barracks 1203 Dec. 1942
600th Tech. School Sqdn, Amarillo Field, Texas
Front
Lester Brookway--Milos, Maine
Oliver Bloduc
Jimmy Brown--Pillsburgh, Kansas
George Bosko--Ashley, Pennsylvania
Middle Two
Jimmy Bunn (Bunny)--Wilson, North Carolina
Julian Briefweshler--Bronx, New York
Rear
Emerson (Buffalo) Burke--Tulsa, Oklahoma
Al Boyce, Pawtuckett, Rhode Island
John Braiko--Worchester, Massachusetts
Donald Burnov
Floyd (Tex) Burchfield, Amarillo, Texas
Ed (Slim) Burns--Dennysville, Maine
Charles Brantley--Lake City, Florida
Collin Campbell--Boston, Massachusetts
It of course would be interesting to know what happened to all of these "comarades in arms" during and after the war. I know no more about them than what I've shown here. This page will be left as a sort of signpost for anybody trying to find out any information as concerns Amarillo Field back during World War II. My email address is found below. Thank you....and as they used to say back then..."Keep 'em Flying!" And Remember that "V" is for Victory,"--as in the "unintended" Morse Code found in the beginning four notes of Beethoven's famous Fifth Symphony: "Dot-Dot-Dot-Da-a-sh!" (Three shorts and one long!)
Here's a "KEEP 'EM FLYING" and "V is for Victory" postcard depicting what appears to be T-6 Trainers flying in a "V" formation. The morse-code "three dots and a dash" for "Victory" is also depicted here. The card was postmarked from "Aiken, South Carolina, August 11, AM, 1943." It was addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Howard Price, 615 Davis Ave, Newton, North Carolina. The message is:
Box 757, Aug 11
Hello,
How are you all? We are happy and having a fine time.
Love,
Janice & C. P.
Just a small disclaimer here: Many of the ephemeral artifacts found on this website are now, due to age, in the public domain and are from my personal collection. Items and quotes of a more recent vintage, that are used here in part for newsworthy commentary and/or educational purposes, are covered by the Fair Use Act of The US Copyright Law.
