Travis leaders visit, honor WWII vet

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Six officers from Travis Air Force Base, California, traveled to Walnut Creek March 7 to honor Retired Maj. John Thelen, 93, a World War II combat veteran and the last surviving member of the B-24 Liberator Bomber crew "Shoo Shoo Baby."

Thelen flew 50 combat missions during WWII and, thanks in part to his expertise, every member of his crew survived every mission they flew without injury, despite extreme weather, flak and heavy enemy fire.

Thelen earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and the Distinguished Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster for displaying remarkable bravery in battle.

Today, he looks up from his bed wearing a B-24 hat and smiles. His eyes seem to light up like stars in the sky at what he sees; six officers ranging in rank from captain to colonel stand near his bed inside the Manor House Care Facility, Thelen's home since December 2014 due to a period of declining health.

"Sir it's great to meet you," said Col. Mark MacDonald, 615th Contingency Operations Support Group commander, as he shakes Thelen's hand.

"I wanted to talk to you because a chief that I work with, his grandfather flew P-38 escort missions during the Battle of Ploesti, so I think he was up there with you when you were flying all your missions. It's an honor to meet you."

Ploesti was a vast complex of oil refinery facilities located nearly 30 miles North of Bucharest, Romania. It supplied a large amount of the refined oil needed to keep the German war machine running.

It was a strategic target whose destruction, allied planners hoped, would deliver a severe blow to Germany's ability to carry on the war. Several missions were planned to bomb the oil complex. Thelen and the men on "Shoo-Shoo Baby" participated in five of them.

MacDonald showed Thelen a book documenting those missions, even pointing out bombing assignments for the groups who took part in the battles.

Lt. Col. Thad Middelton, 9th Aerial Refueling Squadron commander, shared his appreciation for Thelen's bravery and leadership.

"I read a little bit about your missions and it's amazing what you accomplished with your crew and how you led them and kept them safe," Middleton said. "It was truly amazing and inspiring. Thank you for that leadership."

"We are honored to be here, to see you and thank you for the history that you made," Middleton added.

For the full article please visit: http://www.travis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123441798