I thought it might be useful, from time to time, to catch everyone up with what is happening with The Bomber Boys "family." By the word family, I mean the men I have written about in The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen, the author, readers and various friends (old and new). For lack of a better title, we will just call it a "newsletter," for now.

    My plan is to provide a new newsletter here at thebomberboys.com , near the start of the year and perhaps another during the summer months.....although we will try to update it more often as circumstances and events demand. I urge everyone who visits the website to feel free and encouraged to send your comments, questions and opinions. Be aware, of course, you may see your words here in the newsletter or on other pages of thebomberboys.com (unless you request in your e-mail that we not use it on the website).

    Remember you can always reach me at: Dixietales@aol.com. Just click on one of my e-mail buttons. You will usually hear back from me within a week.

    Okay, let's look back at the events of the past few months. After four years of research and writing The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen was released. Finally, it is a real book! There were times when it seemed that might not ever happen.

    During the time that I was working on the book, my wife, youngest daughter and I picked up and moved from Connecticut to northwest Arkansas...she started a new job and so did I .....we sold one house and built a new one. So there were some personal distractions but they were all for the better.

    Our publisher, Author House was going through some growing pains when the final draft of my book arrived there last fall. We had hoped for a February or March (05) release date but hit numerous delays in production. Enter, Brad Tirey (AH Sales Rep) and Dave McCauley (AH Vice President) and with their help the long running production problems were resolved in a matter of days. The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen hit the book market in June of 2005.

    At the time of the book's release, our website (thebomberboys.com) had been up and running since April, giving everyone who visited a preview of the real "bomber boys" and their stories. I use the word our when referring to the website because it is a team project. An important member of that team is Cody Woods who handles all things technical about the website. The veteran airmen who appear in the pages of our book are also important members of our website team and their feedback has been very important. While I am writing this newsletter thebomberboys.com has just passed the 4500 unique visitors mark...in a period of seven months. Thanks for visiting!

    With the release of the book, I began a series of talks and book signing events. Thus far we have had the opportunity to meet readers at Hastings Books in Springdale, The Retired Miltary Officers Association of Bella Vista, Barnes & Noble in Rogers, The Bella Visa Library, "That Bookstore in Blytheville," The Arkansas Air Musem in Fayetteville, Fayetteville Lions Club, Bentonville Lions Club and various other groups (all in Arkansas). Both myself and the book have been received warmly at all of these events.

    The book signing events not only offer an opportunity to spread the word about the new book but also a chance to meet and talk with World War Two veterans. It seems we alway have at least a couple of WW2 vets at these events.

    At our recent talk at the Bella Vista Library, there were two B-17 air veterans in the audience. James Chambers served as a Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on a B-17 with the 384 Bomb Group. Milt Fronsoe served as a Flying Fortress Pilot with the 385th Bomb Group. Strangely enough, there are stories in the book concerning both of these bomb groups, although neither of these two air veterans knew that at the time. It was wonderful to have Mr. Chambers and Mr. Fronsoe participate in the Q and A session that day.

    Also in September of 2005, I took a drive through the beautiful Ozark county of northern Arkansas...all the way east to Blytheville, on the Mississippi River. It was an honor to have Mr. Charles "Buddy" Armstrong join me for the book signing at That Bookstore In Blytheville. Buddy served with George Ahern (see Story # 4 ... The Belly Gunner and Big Ben) on board the B-17 Torchy Tess and his picture appears on pages 210 and 211 of The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen . More than twenty Blytheville readers got their copies of the book signed by a "real live Bomber Boy." I had a chance to dine with Mr. Armstong the prior evening and have never met a more gracious and likable gentleman. It was also nice to meet Willie Mc Daniel (B-17 airmen who served with the 15th Air Force out Italy) at the Blytheville book signing.

    That reminds me that at Barnes & Noble I met a World War Two veteran infantryman and author, Jessie M. Coker. Mr. Coker was a 2nd. Lieutenant with the 32nd "Red Arrow" Infantry Division and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He has written an exciting account of his platoon's actions in the Phillippine Islands. The book is: My Unforgetable Memories of World War II by Jesse M. Coker, Ed. D. I recommend it as a well written, first hand account. (see "Recommended Reading")

    Speaking of book signings...some "special thanks" are in order to: Randall Gregory of Barnes & Noble, Rogers, AR; Steve Gray of U.S. Rep. (AR) Boozman's office; and Diane Hine of the Bella Vista, AR Library. Each has given much encouragement and support to The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen and its author.

    Here is a new feature to look for in the coming weeks and months, here at thebomberboys.com . * The "Recommended Reading" page: Books that I believe are well worth your valuable time and hard-earned money. We'll show pictures of the covers whenever possible.

    There will be other new and entertaining features that we plan to introduce on thebomberboys.com during the coming months to make the website even more interactive to all former World War II airmen and their families.

    By the way, if you are a newspaper writer, editor, broadcast journalist, radio talk show host or otherwise a member of the working media...you can receive a FREE copy of The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen. Just click on the blue e-mail link on the "Home" page and send me an e-mail with you name, your company and your telephone number. I will then contact you and give you a telephone number to call to receive your FREE copy of: The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen.

    The tragedy resulting from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi and along other parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast is heartbreaking. I was born and grew up in Louisiana and lived in New Orleans for six years. As it is with most people who have ever lived there, it remains my favorite city.

    The larger Ayres family has two individual families who call the New Orleans metro home. My nephew and his new bride reside near the French Quarter and my niece and her husband and two children recently bought a new home in a New Orleans suburb.

    They are all safe and have resumed their jobs.

    Just a reminder that many others left homeless from the storm's damage do not have a job or a support system. Please remember to make any donation you can afford to The American Red Cross or the Salvation Army and designate it to the relief effort for Hurrican Katrina victims. We have placed a link to the American Red Cross on the "Home" page of thebomberboys.com, for your convenience.

    This segment is difficult for me to write because it deals with the loss of friends and loved ones. In my book I speak of the passing of "Bomber Boys" Art Frechette and John Cuffman. Art's war experiences are the main focus of the story, Without a Parachute and John's combat mission diary and my interviews with him were extremely important research sources in the writing of the story, The Lucky Bastards Club.

    In May 2005, I called Charles Lyon (Without a Parachute) to let him know that the book would be released soon. His wife Mary Jo informed me that Charlie had passed away on April 20th. Charlie's story of being "captured" by an Austrian family after he had parachuted into the Alps, and his reunion with this family 54 years later, is one of my favorite parts of the book.

    In the story The Belly Gunner and Big Ben , the reader will find not just a war story but also a love story. As an eighteen year old ball turret gunner, George Ahern became pen pals with an eighteen year old beauty named Marie Spilane. The feelings developed through their wartime letters led to a face to face meeting after the war...and then to marriage. George and Marie celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in October 2005. Marie passed away in November 2005. During my visits to the Ahern home Marie always made me feel welcome and one day she unintentionally became part of the interview. Her memories of young George, their letters and their romance were an important contribution to The Belly Gunner and Big Ben. As George will tell you... Marie was special.

    During the closing days of World War Two Bob Valliere was the young navigator of the B-17 The Stork Club, a Flying Fortress that holds a unique place in Eighth Air Force History. Through the efforts of the crew of The Stork Club and numerous other bomber crews from ten American Bomb Groups and many bomber crews from the British Royal Air Force, thousands of starving Dutch citizens were spared cruel deaths because of the "food drop" missions over Holland in 1945. Operation Chowhound (US) and Operation Manna (British) delivered more than 11,000 tons of food, while flying at an altitude of only 400 feet over Dutch territory still occupied by the German Army.

    Manna From Heaven is a wonderful and uplifting story. I am proud to have it as the final story of The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen. It is only because of Bob Valliere and a courageous former B-17 pilot, Michael Swana that I was able to write Manna From Heaven. Bob Valliere passed away on January 7 of 2006.

    I became friends with all of the original five Bomber Boys. Becoming friends with Bob was so easy because he was so easy going, funny and smart. He was a successful business man and a good family man...and a devoted husband (Nancy Valliere passed away in 2003). Bob was the "real deal."

    Bob's passing leaves a big hole for his family and friends. "Bomber Boys" Anthony Teta and George Ahern were extremely close friends with Bob Valliere as is indicated by their photo together in the book. Mike Swana is now the only surviving member of the crew of the B-17 The Stork Club.

    Thomas Ayres was my oldest brother and the most talented writer I have ever known. Tom was my sounding board and advisor while I was working on The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen. He was also my best friend. As a journalist, he had done it all: Newspaper Reporter (Dallas Times - Herald, Shreveport Times, Monroe Morning World), Television Investigative Reporter (WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX), Publisher/Editor (The Seagoville Star, Seagoville, TX), and Columnist (Jackson Independent, Jonesboro, LA). During his career he won more than twenty awards for excellence in journalism.

    In 2000 Thomas Ayres saw his first book published: That's Not In My American History Book was a instant hit with history readers who always want to know what really happened. That's Not In My American History Book (Taylor Trade Publications) has now been published in hardcover, softcover, trade, cassette and CD editions and remains very popular.

    He followed up the success of his first book with, Dark and Bloody Ground (Taylor Trade Publications - 2001) a non-fiction Civil War book that reads like a well crafted novel. Some very knowledgeable WBTS readers have expressed the view that Dark and Bloody Ground may be the best book ever written on the Civil War in Louisiana.

    But Tom could write more than history. He could make a reader smile or even laugh and proved it with his third book, Dammit Sam and Me (Shade Tree Books - 2002)...a collection of stories about his beloved northern Louisiana hill country and the people who live there.

    By 2003 Thomas Ayres was not only being recognized for his talent as an author, he was turning out a book every year. This was also the year he learned he had cancer. He fought the disease hard, undergoing exhausting medical treatments in Louisiana and Texas but still he continued his column at The Jackson Independent...winning the Louisiana Press Association's award for Best Column in a Weekly Newspaper. While he battled cancer he was also collecting material for another book...a book he would write during the last six months of his life.

    Thomas Ayres died on March 6th 2005 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was 68 years old. Like all the members of the Ayres family and his closest friends, I miss him everyday. This is the first time I have been able to write about him since his passing. On the very last page of The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen, the reader will find a photo of "Bomber Boys" Bob Valliere, Anthony Teta and George Ahern. In the photo, standing behind the former air vets, are myself and Thomas Ayres. His last book, Military Miscellanea, is scheduled to be released sometime in 2006.

    Just a few odds and ends before I wrap up this first newsletter: I am very pleased to announce that The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen is now available in the bookstore of The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia. I have also donated a copy of the book to the museum's library archives.

    I am also pleased the book is available on all major book websites, including Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Booksamillion.com and Wal-Mart.com. It's also available through all major bookstores...if you don't see it on their shelves, just ask for it...they can order quickly. In fact, if you have a bookstore in your town that says they can not get the book, just drop us a line at: Dixietales@aol.com and we'll get copies to them.

    Remember you can buy The Bomber Boys - True Stories of B-17 Airmen quick and easy (and at the publisher's discounted price) simply by clicking on the "Buy Now" button here at thebomberboys.com. I hope you enjoy the book.

    Not every World War Two veteran will have his story preserved in a book. If you have one of these vets in your family, urge them to write down their memories or better yet sit down with him/her with a recorder. You can contact the Library of Congress to see that these stories are not lost.

    Well, that's the first newsletter for thebomberboys.com . I'll be back with another update later this year. Have a wonderful year in 2006 and if you meet a vet or one of the brave men or women currently on active duty with the United States Military....be sure the tell them, "Thank you for your service!"

Warmest regards,

Travis L. Ayres