Use History to Fill In Your Ancestor's Story

In 2017 when this blog was brand new, I saw the power of historical context. I'd been thinking about my grandfather who died in 1986. I knew he was a prisoner of war in World War I. But the only detail I'd ever heard was that he had to eat rats to stay alive.

My aunt gave me a photo of my grandfather in an Italian Army uniform. So I started researching Italian World War I battles. I wrote about this in "POW: My Grandfather's World War I Experience". I assumed from what I read that the Germans captured him during the Battle of Caporetto. The Italian prisoners went to either Mauthausen in Austria, or Milovice in the Czech Republic.

In 2018 I went to the archives building in the city of Benevento to see his military record. His date of capture coincides with the Battle of Caporetto. They held him prisoner for one full year at Mauthausen. I wrote about his military record in "Taking a Do-It-Yourself Genealogy Vacation, Part 1".

Filling in My Uncle's Story

Online historical research helped me better understand my grandfather's experience. What other family mysteries can I explore by researching the history at the time?

With few facts to go on, historical research adds life to the relatives in your family tree.

My first thought was that same grandfather's son—my Uncle Johnny. Johnny was killed in action in July 1944. During a free access weekend on Fold3.com, I found the flight record detailing Johnny's death.

He was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Air Force. Johnny's flight record told me several details, including:

• The names of all 10 men on his airplane.
• Their intended bombing target in Germany.
• That they were part of the 15th Air Force, 463rd Bomb Group, 773rd Bomb Squadron.
• That they flew a B-17G bomber out of the Celone Airfield.
• Where the plane was last seen after artillery fire hit it.
• That there were no survivors.
• That no parachutes opened.
• That Johnny was the tail gunner.

A few years ago my mother gave me a letter Johnny wrote home in 1944. In the letter he talks about visiting the city of Foggia, Italy. I'm sure he knew some Italian because my grandfather never stopped speaking it.

Today I'm using Microsoft Copilot to learn some historical context. I like Copilot because it gives you a well-organized response with links to its sources. Copilot reminded me there was no United States Air Force in 1944, so Johnny was in the United States Army Air Force. Copilot went on to tell me:

• Johnny was most likely based in the Foggia Airfield Complex.
• The complex contained about 30 separate airfields spread across the region.
• This complex was home to heavy bomber groups flying B-17s and B-24s with the 15th Air Force.
• The service members likely lived in six-man tents with a dirt floor.
• The complex was also used for Allied armies and naval forces, making it a bustling command center.

Bing Maps has a historical marker for the Celone/San Nicola d'Arpi Airfield. It's in the middle of a farming community in northern Foggia. A link to Wikipedia shows me an overhead view of the airfield in 1945, the year after Johnny's plane crash. This image and more detailed maps are available on forgottenairfields.com. Wikipedia says the major tenant of the airfield was Johnny's Fifteenth Air Force, 463rd Bombardment Group, including his 773rd Bombardment Squadron.

This same field housed the famous "Swoose Group". Stationed there was the father of actress Swoosie Kurtz who flew the "Swoose Goose". I learned that from a Facebook group called "Kids of the 463rd Bomb Group".

Now let's look at Johnny's last letter home. He wrote it six days before he died. He tells his parents he became a staff sergeant and got a raise. He got an $18 increase in base pay, a $9 increase in flying pay, and an increase in overseas pay. In a P.S. he says he now has 7 missions.

The last paragraph of the letter is the only glimpse of his free time.

"My buddy and I visited Foggia the other day. We didn't do anything interesting. I stayed at the Red Cross hoping to see someone from the neighborhood, but no such luck. Love to all, Johnny"

Looking at the map, I can see that the Red Cross in Foggia is about 10 miles from the airfield. I can use Google Street View to "walk" the streets and see what Johnny might have seen. I would love to add Foggia as a stop on my next trip to Italy.

Digging Further into Historical Facts

By clicking Copilot's suggested follow-up questions, I found out:

• As tail gunner, Johnny was one of 4 gunners on the B-17G. They had a top-turret gunner, ball-turret gunner, waist gunner, and tail gunner.
• The rest of the crew included a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, and radio operator. The top-turret gunner doubled as the flight engineer. Johnny's flight report refers to RW and LW (presumably Right Wing and Left Wing), which may mean there were 5 gunners.
• As a Staff Sergeant, Johnny was a non-commissioned officer "bridging junior enlisted ranks and the commissioned officers above". Johnny drew a picture of his new insignia in his last letter to his parents. He must have been proud.
• His new position came with added responsibilities, which is why he mentions his pay raise.

What are some of the more interesting stories from your family tree that are lacking detail? Historical research can help you flesh out those stories and give your ancestors new life.