Charles Upham | Timeline

Charles Hazlitt Upham, VC & Bar (21 September 1908 – 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during the Second World War - for gallantry in Crete in May 1941, and in Egypt, in July 1942. He was the most recent of three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. (Intro from Wikipedia)

September 21, 1908 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Hazlitt Upham is born

January(?) 1(?), 1917 - Near Winchester, South Canterbury, New Zealand - Elementary school at Waihi School, near Winchester, South Canterbury

January(?) 1(?), 1923 - Christchurch - Enrolls at Christ's College, Christchurch

January(?) 1(?), 1927 - Canterbury, New Zealand - Attends Canterbury Agricultural College

January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Canterbury - Earns his diploma in Agriculture. During the next years he works on Canterbury sheep stations for the next six years

March 1(?), 1937 - Timaru, New Zealand - Joins the Valuation Department as assistant district valuer in Timaru

February 1(?), 1939 - Canterbury - Returns to Canterbury Agricultural College to complete a diploma in valuation and farm management

September 18, 1939 - Burnham Camp, S. of Christchurch - Enlists in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) at the age of 30, and is posted to the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion, part of the New Zealand 2nd Division =(START)

December 25, 1939 - Christchurch - Christmas at home

December 28, 1939 - Burnham Camp - Returns to Burnham

December 30, 1939 - Burnham Camp - The Battalion is inspected by Major-General B.C. Freyberg

January 3, 1940 - Christchurch - The battalion marches through Christchurch for an official farewell

January 5, 1940 - Burnham Camp | Lyttelton - The Battalion marches to Burnham station and goes by train to Lyttelton. Upham embarks on the "Sobieski" as a Sergeant

January 18, 1940 - Freemantle, Western Australia - The "Sobieski" reaches Freemantle, escorted by HMS Ramillies

January 30, 1940 - Colombo, Ceylon - The convoy reaches Colombo

February 5, 1940 - Gulf of Aden - HMS Ramillies leaves the NZ convoy in the Gulf of Aden

February 8, 1940 - Aden - Stop at Aden to refuel

February 12, 1940 - Port Tewfik | Maadi, Egypt - The 20th Battalion reaches Egypt. Later it travels by train to Maadi Camp, via Zagazig, Benha and Cairo

April 8, 1940 - South of Helwan - The Battalion marches 21,5 miles during an exercise

April 22, 1940 - El Saff ridge - The troops leave for the El Saff area and take defensive positions on El Saff ridge

April 26, 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - Back to Camp Maadi

July 1(?), 1940 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - The battalion leaves Maadi for the Western Desert, Mersa Matruh area. Upham is persuaded to join an Officer Cadet Training Unit

July 20, 1940 - Garawla - A new camp is built at Garawla

August 1(?), 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - The battalion returns to Maadi

September 1, 1940 - Amiriya, Western Desert - The Battalion moves to Amiriya, Western Desert

September 27, 1940 - Baggush - The battalion moves to Baggush

January 13, 1941 - Helwan - The Battalion moves to Helwan

March 13, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion departs for Greece on board the "City of Norwich"

March 15, 1941 - Piraeus, Greece - The convoy arrives at Piraeus. Upham rejoins the battalion after passing through OCTU (as a Second-Lieutenant)

March 16, 1941 - Athens - Leave in Athens

March 17, 1941 - Larisa, Greece - The battalion moves north to take defensive position in the Aliakmon Line. Reaches Larisa

March 18, 1941 - Katerini, Greece - The Battalion arrives at Katerini. The New Zealand Division was to take up a defensive position from the sea to Ryakia

March 19, 1941 - Ryakia - Upham's company takes position at Ryakia

April 10, 1941 - Lava, W-SW of Katerini - Due to the rapid advance of the germans, the battalion moves to Lava

April 15, 1941 - Lava | Servia, Greece - The war reaches 20th battalion when german artillery and dive-bombers appear

April 18, 1941 -  Larisa - New Zealand forces begin withrawing as the allied lines face the danger of german encirclement

April 19, 1941 - Molos, near Lamia, Greece - The battalion reaches Molos

April 20, 1941 - Stilis, 10 miles E of Lamia - Upham's company leaves for Stilis, to prevent an enemy advance from the East

April 21, 1941 - Stilis - Due to the capitulation of the greeks, all British forces were to withraw from Greece

April 27, 1941 - Porto Rafti, E of Athens - 20 Battalion reaches the embarkation point at Porto Rafti. They are attacked by german stukas as german motorized units enter Athens. The Battalion embarks in tank landing craft and is taken out to the cruiser "Ajax" and the destroyer "Kingston"

April 28, 1941 - Souda Bay, Crete - HMS Ajax arrives at Souda Bay, Crete

April 30, 1941 - SE of Galatas - 20 Battalion moves to positions SE of Galatas

May 3, 1941 - SE of Galatas - Officers and NCOs are addressed by General Freyberg

May 13, 1941 - Maleme, W of Galatas - The battalion moves to the west of Galatas

May 19, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay

May 20, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay. Junkers transport airplanes disgorge hundreds of parachutes over Maleme airfield

May 22, 1941 - Platanias, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "He commanded a forward platoon in the attack on Maleme on 22nd May and fought his way forward for over 3,000 yards unsupported by any other arms and against a defence strongly organised in depth. During this operation his platoon destroyed numerous enemy posts but on three occasions sections were temporarily held up.

In the first case, under a heavy fire from a machine gun nest he advanced to close quarters with pistol and grenades, so demoralizing the occupants that his section was able to "mop up" with ease.

Another of his sections was then held up by two machine guns in a house. He went in and placed a grenade through a window, destroying the crew of one machine gun and several others, the other machine gun being silenced by the fire of his sections.

In the third case he crawled to within 15 yards of an M.G. post and killed the gunners with a grenade.

When his Company withdrew from Maleme he helped to carry a wounded man out under fire, and together with another officer rallied more men together to carry other wounded men out.

He was then sent to bring in a company which had become isolated. With a Corporal he went through enemy territory over 600 yards, killing two Germans on the way, found the company, and brought it back to the Battalion's new position. But for this action it would have been completely cut off.

During the following two days his platoon occupied an exposed position on forward slopes and was continuously under fire. Second Lieutenant Upham was blown over by one mortar shell, and painfully wounded by a piece of shrapnel behind the left shoulder, by another. He disregarded this wound and remained on duty. He also received a bullet in the foot which he later removed in Egypt."

May 25, 1941 - Galatas - Victoria Cross citation: "At Galatas on 25th May his platoon was heavily engaged and came under severe mortar and machine-gun fire. While his platoon stopped under cover of a ridge Second-Lieutenant Upham went forward, observed the enemy and brought the platoon forward when the Germans advanced. They killed over 40 with fire and grenades and forced the remainder to fall back.

When his platoon was ordered to retire he sent it back under the platoon Sergeant and he went back to warn other troops that they were being cut off. When he came out himself he was fired on by two Germans. He fell and shammed dead, then crawled into a position and having the use of only one arm rested his rifle in the fork of a tree and as the Germans came forward he killed them both. The second to fall actually hit the muzzle of the rifle as he fell."

May 30, 1941 - Sphakiá, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "On 30th May at Sphakia his platoon was ordered to deal with a party of the enemy which had advanced down a ravine to near Force Headquarters. Though in an exhausted condition he climbed the steep hill to the west of the ravine, placed his men in positions on the slope overlooking the ravine and himself went to the top with a Bren Gun and two riflemen. By clever tactics he induced the enemy party to expose itself and then at a range of 500 yards shot 22 and caused the remainder to disperse in panic.

During the whole of the operations he suffered from dysentery and was able to eat very little, in addition to being wounded and bruised. He showed superb coolness, great skill and dash and complete disregard of danger. His conduct and leadership inspired his whole platoon to fight magnificently throughout, and in fact was an inspiration to the Battalion."

June 1, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion moves to the beach and board HMS Phoebe and the destroyer "Jackal", reaching Alexandria on the same day

June 2, 1941 - Helwan - Upham rejoins his battalion at Helwan

June 6, 1941 - Helwan - Parade for an inspection by the Prime Minister of New Zealand

August 17, 1941 - Geneifa | Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - The battalion moves to the Suez Canal zone by train

August 25, 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - Assault landing exercises

September 12, 1941 - 30 miles E. of Mersa Matruh, western Desert - The battalion moves to the Western Desert

October 14, 1941 - Baggush - Divisional exercises. A divisional order-of-the-day notifies the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Upham

November 11, 1941 -  Baggush - The battalion moves west

November 19, 1941 - South of the Libyan Sheferzen | Trigh el Abd - The battalion reaches the South of the Libyan Sheferzen and close to the Trigh el Abd

November 21, 1941 - Moves north to cut the road between Bardia and Tobruk

November 24, 1941 - Gambut - 20 battalion links up with 4 brigade at Gambut

November 25, 1941 - Sidi Rezegh - Advance to Sidi Rezegh

November 26, 1941 - Belhamed - 20 Battalion receives anti-tank guns during the night

November 28, 1941 - Between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh - The Battalion attacks the germans between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh

December 1, 1941 - Belhamed - Orders to hold Belhamed. The Battalion is attacked and defeated by the german 15th Panzer Division. Between KIA, wounded and POWs, the battalion looses 548 men

December 5, 1941 - Baggush - The scattered elements of the Battalion move back to Baggush

December 15, 1941 - Baggush - Upham takes command of C company

January 25(?), 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - During the last week of January, 20 Battalion moved to Kabrit for training

February 23, 1942 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez(?) - The Battalion receives a warning of a possible german invasion in the Middle East, and prepares for a move to Syria

March 1, 1942 - Suez Canal - The Battalion begins moving to Syria, crossing the Suez Canal at midnight

March 2, 1942 - Haifa, Palestine - The Battalion reaches Haifa by train

March 3, 1942 - Damascus, Syria - Arrival in Damascus

March 4, 1942 - El Aine, 20 miles from Baalbek, Syria - The Battalion reaches its destination in Syria

May 21, 1942 - East of Homs - A week of maneuvers begin in the Forqloss area east of Homs

June 16, 1942 - Rayak - The New Zealand Division receives orders to move to the Western Desert with the utmost speed

June 19, 1942 - Ismailia - 20 Battalion reaches Ismailia by train

June 20, 1942 - Amiriya, Western Desert - 20 Battalion reaches the Western Desert, via Cairo

June 21, 1942 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - 20 Battalion proceeds to Mersa Matruh

June 25, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - Moves to Minqar Qaim

June 27, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - German forces attack the division's positions at Minqâr Qaim

June 29, 1942 - Deir el Munassib area - 20 Battalion moves 14 miles to the SE to the Deir el Munassib area

July 7, 1942 - Mungar Wahla, El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 20 Battalion digs in on high ground on the eastern end of Mungar Wahla

July 14, 1942 - El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 2nd Victoria Cross citation: "Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., was commanding a Company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during the operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th–15th July, 1942. In spite of being twice wounded, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding our mine-fields and again when he completely destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault.

During the opening stages of the attack on the ridge Captain Upham's Company formed part of the reserve battalion, but, when communications with the forward troops broke down and he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack, he went out himself armed with a Spandau gun and, after several sharp encounters with enemy machine gun posts, succeeded in bringing back the required information.

Just before dawn the reserve battalion was ordered forward, but, when it had almost reached its objective, very heavy fire was encountered from a strongly defended enemy locality, consisting of four machine gun posts and a number of tanks.

Captain Upham, without hesitation, at once led his Company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the sector. His voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering on his men and, in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and the heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured.

Captain Upham, during the engagement, himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with grenades and although he was shot through the elbow by a machine gun bullet and had his arm broken, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated. He continued to dominate the situation until his men had beaten off a violent enemy counter-attack and consolidated the vital position which they had won under his inspiring leadership.

Exhausted by pain from his wound and weak from loss of blood Captain Upham was then removed to the Regimental Aid Post but immediately his wound had been dressed he returned to his men, remaining with them all day long under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, until he was again severely wounded and being now unable to move fell into the hands of the enemy when, his gallant Company having been reduced to only six survivors, his position was finally overrun by superior enemy forces, in spite of the outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Captain Upham."

July 16(?), 1942 - Somewhere in Libya - Upham is taken by the germans as a prisoner of war

January(?) 1(?), 1943 - Campo PG47, near Modena, Italy - Prisoner of War at Campo PG 47, near Modena, Italy, reaching there via Bari (as most of the aussie and new zealander prisoners there)

September 1(?), 1943 - Weinsberg, Germany(?) - After a failed escape attempt while recuperating in an italian hospital, he is transfered to Germany

October 14, 1944 - Colditz, near Leipzig - Upham is recaptured after a failed escape attempt and is sent to Oflag IV-C (Colditz), a prisoner camp for habitual escapers

April 16, 1945 - Colditz - Colditz is liberated by the americans. Upham tries to rejoin the fight but he is sent to Britain instead

May 11, 1945 - Buckingham Palace, London - King George VI invests Upham with his first Victoria Cross

June 20, 1945 - New Milton, Hampshire - Upham marries Molly McTamney

September 1(?), 1945 - New Zealand - Returns to New Zealand in Early September

May 31, 1946 - London, England - In London for the Victory celebrations

June 12, 1946 - London - Attend a dinner for recipients of the Victoria Cross at the Dorchester Hotel in London

June 28, 1956 - London - In London to attend the VC Centenary celebrations

July 14, 1968 - London - Arrives in London

July 18, 1968 - London - Meeting of the VC and GC Association at Chelsea Barracks in London

November 22, 1994 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Upham dies, aged 86 =(END)

Hans-Ulrich Rudel | Timeline

Hans-Ulrich Rudel (2 July 1916 – 18 December 1982) was a German ground-attack pilot during World War II and a post-war neo-Nazi activist. The most decorated German pilot of the war and the only recipient of the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, Rudel was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, one battleship, one cruiser, 70 landing craft and 150 artillery emplacements. He claimed nine aerial victories and the destruction of more than 800 vehicles. He flew 2,530 ground-attack missions exclusively on the Eastern Front, usually flying the Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bomber. (Intro from Wikipedia)

July 2, 1916 - Konradswaldau (Today Grzędy, SW Poland) - Hans-Ulrich Rudel is born
January(?) 1(?), 1922 - Lauban (Luban, SW corner of Poland) - Attends Elementary School (and later High School) in Lauban
January(?) 1(?), 1933 - Lauban(?) - Joins the Hitler Youth
August 1(?), 1936 - ? - Applies for an officer's career in the Luftwaffe after successfully passing the acceptance test
December 4, 1936 - Wildpark-Werder, near Berlin - Joins the Luftwaffe as a flag Cadet, completing his basic training at Air Warfare School 3
June 1(?), 1937 - Wildpark-Werder(?) - Rudel begins training to become an aircraft pilot
June 1, 1938 - Thalerhof, outside Graz, Austria - Rudel is promoted to Senior Ensign and transfered to I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 168 for dive bomber training =(START)
December 25, 1938 - Thalerhof - Receives his commission as Stuka pilot, and is chosen to attend Recon School
January 1, 1939 - Hildesheim (SE Hanover) - Begins training as an observer at the Hildesheim Reconnaissance School. Promoted to Lieutenant
June 1, 1939 - Prenzlau (SW Stettin) - Transfered to Fernauklärungsgruppe 121 (Long-distance reconnaissance squadron) as an observer
September 1, 1939 - Schneidemühl area (Piła, Poland) - Long-range reconnaisance missions
September 7, 1939 - Breslau (Wrocław, Poland) - Long-range reconnaisance missions
October 15, 1939 - Fritzlar (SW Kassel in Hesse) - Winter at Fritzlar. Missions to the west and northwest
November 10, 1939 - Fritzlar - Rudel receives the Iron Cross 2nd Class
September 15, 1940 - Crailsheim (SW Nuremberg) - Reassigned to dive bombing
October 1, 1940 - Caen, Normandy - Assigned to I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 (StG-3) during the end of the Battle of Britain
November 2, 1940 - Graz, Austria - Sent to Reserve Flight at Graz while his squadron is sent to the Balkans. Distinguishes himself in formation flying, bombing and gunnery
February 10, 1941 - Otopeni, N. Bucharest - The Squadron moves out
March 6, 1941 - Kraynice (Kraynitski, Bulgaria) - The Squadron moves out
March 27, 1941 - Belica-Nord, Bulgaria - The Squadron moves out
April 6, 1941 - Almyros | Megara, Greece - The Squadron moves out
April 21, 1941 - Larissa, Greece - The Squadron moves out
May 1, 1941 - Molaoi, Greece - The Squadron moves out in preparaton for the invasion of Crete
May 22, 1941 - Cottbus, Eastern Germany - Rudel flies a damaged Stuka from Argos (GRE) to Cottbus for repair, via Sofia and Belgrade, while his squadron Moves out
June 16, 1941 - Intersburg (E. Königsberg) - The Squadron moves out to East Prussia in preparation for Operation Barbarossa
June 22, 1941 - Raczki (NE corner of Poland) - Flies to Raczki to find his squadron
June 23, 1941 - Raczki - 1st combat missions (I./StG 2) over Grodno / Volkovysk (West Belarus)
July 15, 1941 - Lepiel (150km NE Minsk) - The Squadron moves out. Rudel is awarded the Iron Cross 1st class
July 28, 1941 - Janavičy, E-NE Vitebsk - Receives the iron Cross 1st class and the Front flight clasp for battle pilots
August 29, 1941 - Tyrkowo, S Luga (Turovo, E. Luga, Russia) - Orders to move to Tyrkowo, South of Luga, north sector of the Front. (Rudel identifies the location as "Tyrkowo," south of Luga; however, the only town with a name resembling Tyrkowo is Turovo, just east of Luga).
September 16, 1941 - Tyrkowo - Mission to Kronstadt harbor, an island in the Gulf of Finland where the russian fleet was based. Rudel attacks the Soviet battleship "Marat" for the first time
September 21, 1941 - Tyrkowo - New 2,000-pound bombs arrive at Turovo

Marat blows up
(artist unknown)

September 23, 1941 - Tyrkowo - Rudel flies over Kronstadt harbor and attacks the Soviet Battleship "Marat" with another Stuka. Rudel hits the battleship and sinks it
October 1, 1941 - Kuleshovka, N. of Vyazma - The Squadron moves out - operations in the direction of Ostaschkov (NW of Rzhev and Tver)
October 20, 1941 - Staritza, between Rzhev and Tver(?) - Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe as Oberleutnant in a Sturzkampfgeschwader
November 14, 1941 - Gorstowo, Between Mozhaysk and Ruza - The Squadron moves out
December 8, 1941 - Gorstowo - Receives the German Cross in Gold
December 25, 1941 - Gorstowo - Christmas in Gorstowo
December 26, 1941 - Dugino, Between Rzhev and Vyazma - The Squadron moves out to the West because of soviet counterattacks
January 6, 1942 - Dugino - Receives the Knight's Cross as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
January(?) 20(?), 1942 - Riesengebirge Mountains (Germany, Poland, Czechia border) - Enjoying his leave skiing in the Riesengebirge (returns via Vitebsk, Minsk, Warsaw and Germany)
March 1(?), 1942 - Graz, Austria - Rudel returns to Graz as an instructor of a reserve flight, after getting married back in his home town
June 22, 1942 - Sarabus (Hvardiis'ke, N. of Simferopol, Crimea) - Returns to operations, close to Simferopol
July 20, 1942 - Cottbus, Eastern Germany - While the Squadron moves out to Tatsinskaya (N. of Rostov), Rudel flies a damaged stuka to Cottbus for repair
August 1, 1942 - Vyazma - The Squadron moves out
October 1, 1942 - Stalino (Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine) - The Squadron moves out to the Donbass
October 13, 1942 - Karpovka (Between Kalach and Stalingrad) - Appointed commander of 1./StG 2 - supporting the 6th Armee
November 15, 1942 - Rostov-on-Don, Russia - In Hospital. Treated for jaundice
November 21, 1942 - Karpovka - Returns to his squadron
December 22, 1942 - Morozovsk, NE of Shakhty and Rostov - Rudel's squadron moves to an airfield a little further to the West
December 25, 1942 - Morozovsk - Christmas at Morozovsk
January 1(?), 1943 - Tatsinskaya, NE of Shakhty | Voroshilovgrad (Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine) - Rudel's squadron at Tatsinskaya, before moving to Schachty (for sorties to the north, his squadron uses an airfield at Voroshilovgrad
February 10, 1943 - Tatsinkaya | Voroshilovgrad - 1st pilot in history to fly 1000 sorties, near izjum (Roven'ky - Horlivka)
February(?) 15(?), 1943 - Berlin - On leave
February(?) 16(?), 1943 - Rechlin, N. of Berlin - Instructed to proceed to Rechlin, where experiments with anti-tank weapons were being carried
February(?) 25(?), 1943 - St Anton am Arlberg, W. Austria - Skiing at St.Anton

Anti-tank Stuka

March 15, 1943 - Poltava, Ukraine - Returns to the front. Rudel switches to an anti-tank JU-
87G-2 Kanonenvogel, armed with two 37mm cannons
March 16, 1943 - over Belgorod region - 1st tank destroyed with 37mm rounds
April 1, 1943 - Kertsch, Eastern Crimea - The Squadron moves out
May 1, 1943 - Kharkov, Ukraine - The Squadron moves out
May 11, 1943 - Berlin - Flies to Berlin in a Messerchmitt Me109. Receives from Hitler the Oakleaves for his Knight's Cross as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann.
May 13, 1943 - Kertsch, Eastern Crimea - Back with his Wing at Kertsch
June 30(?), 1943 - Kuban Bridgehead - In the spring of 1943, Rudel sinks 70 Soviet landing craft with the Ju 87 G during the fighting for the Kuban bridgehead
July 4, 1943 - Melitopol, Southern Ukraine - Urgent orders to move out of Melitopol
July 5, 1943 - Kharkov - Rudel reaches Kharkov
July 6, 1943 - Belgorod - Moves out to Belgorod, to support the "Totenkopf" division during the Battle of Kursk
July 12, 1943 - Belgorod - Rudel claims 12 soviet tanks in one day
July 15(?), 1943 - Orel - Rudel's squadron moves to the other side of the bulge
July 18, 1943 - Orel - Given command of the III./St.G.2 "Immelmann" after Hauptmann Walter Krauß is killed
July 31, 1943 - Karachev, Between Bryansk and Orel - The Squadron moves out to Karachev
September 1, 1943 - Pervomais'k, S. of Kharkov - The Squadron moves out
October 1, 1943 - Novokrasne, W. of Kirovograd (Kropyvnytskyi) - The Squadron moves out
October 30, 1943 - Kostromka, NW of Kherson - 100th tank kill
November 25, 1943 - Wolfschanze, Rastenburg - Receives from Hitler the Swords for his Knight's Cross with Oakleaves as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", at the same time that fighter ace Dietrich Hrabak is also decorated
December 24, 1943 - Kirovograd (Kropyvnytskyi), Ukraine - Returns to his wing, via Vienna, Kraków, Lemberg, Vinnitsa
January 5, 1944 - Kirovograd - Distinguishes himself again during the Battle of Kirovograd (January 5th - 16th)

Rudel and Hentschel

January 11, 1944 - Kirovograd - 150th tank kill
March 1, 1944 - Pervomais'k, SE of Kirovograd (Kropyvnytskyi) - Rudel reaches the 1,800th mission - 202 tanks destroyed in total
March 13, 1944 - Pervomais'k - Evades aerial combat with soviet ace Lev Shestakov, who crashes
March 14, 1944 - Nikolayev (Mykolaiv, Ukraine) - The Squadron moves out
March 20, 1944 - Raukhivka, N. of Odessa - The Squadron moves out. During the mission targeting the Yampol Bridge, Rudel and his gunner Erwin Hentschel completed their 1,400th mission. Rudel skillfully landed their aircraft behind enemy lines to rescue downed comrades. Tragically, during an unsuccessful attempt to save a seventh comrade, Hentschel drowned in the icy waters of the Dniester River as they fled from pursuing Soviet soldiers.
March 25, 1944 - Iasi (Romania-Moldova border) - The Squadron moves out
March 27, 1944 - Iasi - Rudel destroys 17 tanks in a single day
March 29, 1944 - Iasi - Awarded the Diamonds for his Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"
April 2, 1944 - Berchstesgaden - Hitler's Eagle's Nest - Enjoys two days in the Berghof and receives the award from Hitler
April 5, 1944 - Götlitz (Germany-Poland border) - Returns to Görlitz, where the townspeople give a reception in his honor
April 10, 1944 - Husi (Romania-Moldova border) - Returns to the front (while Barkhorn's JG52 is at the same airfield)
May 31, 1944 - over Husi - Rudel is escorted on a mission by history's two greatest fighter aces, Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn. During the mission, Barkhorn is shot down and wounded.
June 3, 1944 - Husi - Rudel's 2000th mission. Awarded the Front flight clasp for battle pilots in gold with Diamonds and a pendant with the number 2000
June 6(?), 1944 - Near the Berghof - Receives the award from Göring. Short stay at Görlitz
July 13, 1944 - Zamosc, SE Poland - The Squadron receives orders to move to central sector
July 22, 1944 - Mielec, NW of Kraków - The Wing moves again as the soviets approach
July 28, 1944 - Insterburg (E Konigsberg) (today Chernyakhovsk) - Orders to move to East Prussia
August 1, 1944 - Wenden (Cēsis), NE of Riga, Latvia - The Squadron moves out to Wenden, Latvia
August 6, 1944 - Wenden - 11 Tanks destroyed in a day - 320 in total
August 19, 1944 - Ērgļi, Kurland (Latvia) - Shot down by flak but is able to make an emergency landing near the front German lines
August 30(?), 1944 - Buzau, near Ploiesti, Romania - The Squadron receives alarming reports that the soviets are driving into Romania and is transfered overnight to Buzau (from Latvia), via East Prussia, Kraków and Debrecen
September 1, 1944 - Buzau - Promoted to Oberstleutnant
September 12, 1944 - Tasnad, NW Romania - The Squadron moves out
September 16, 1944 - Zalau, NW Romania - The Squadron moves out
October 1, 1944 - Ferihery, SE Budapest - The Squadron moves out to Budapest. Rudel is appointed leader of SG 2
November 15, 1944 - Várpalota, W. of Székesfehérvár - The Squadron moves out
November 17, 1944 - Héviz, W. Lake Balaton, Hungary - Rudel is wounded in the thigh by ground fire and has to make an emergency landing at the fighter airfield in Budapest. He is taken by a Fieseler Storch to a sanatorium in Héviz, Lake Balaton, where two bullet wounds are treated. Rudel ignores the doctor's instructions and leaves the hospital without permission.
December 1, 1944 - Veces, Budapest - Rudel returns to his squadron a short time later with a plaster cast
December 22, 1944 - Várpalota, W. of Székesfehérvár - Back at Várpalota. Rudel completes his 2,400th combat mission. 463 tank kills
December 25, 1944 - Kemenesszentpéter, NW of Pápa, Hungary - Christmas at Kemenesszentpéter
December 30, 1944 - Kemenesszentpéter - Orders arrive to report to Reichmarshall Göring
December 31, 1944 - Vienna | Berlin - Visiting friends in Vienna on his way to Berlin
January 1, 1945 - Frankfurt - Reaches Frankfurt in the Reichmarshall's train. He is surprised to see many Me109 and Fw190s flying westward (Opeation Bodenplatte)
January 2, 1945 - Führer's HQ, Adlerhorst, Langenhain-Ziegenberg - Meets Hitler, Göring, Dönitz, Keitel and Jodl at the Führer's west HQ. Hitler Receives from Hitle the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with golden Oak leaves, Swords and Diamonds as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", in presence of Göring and Dönitz. Hitler orders him to stop flying, but Rudel convinces him to continue
January 4(?), 1945 - Görlitz | Budapest - Flies to Görlitz to see his family and continues to Budapest on the same day
January 14, 1945 - S. of Sopron, Hungary - Rudel is awarded the Gold Medal for Bravery (Highest hungarian bravery award) by State leader Ferenc Szálasi
January 15, 1945 - Udetfeld, N. of Katowice - Orders to move squadron to Upper Silesia
January 18, 1945 - Grottkau (Grodków, Poland) - Rudel reaches 481 tank kills
January 28, 1945 - Märkisch Friedland (Mirosławiec, E.of Stettin) | Ordensburg Krössinsee - Orders to move the Wing to Märkisch Friedland (other squadrons to Frankfurt). Meeting with Heinrich Himmler at the Ordensburg Krössinsee
February 9, 1945 - Fürstenwalde, E. of Berlin - Rudel and Gadermann are hit by a 40mm shell and crash over Frankfurt am der Oder. Rudel was badly wounded in the right foot, and landed inside German lines as his radio operator shouted flight instructions
February 10, 1945 - Berlin - Rudel is taken to the Zoo Flak Tower, where his leg is amputated below the knee. He begins his convalescence there, receiving visits from Goebbels and Otto Skorzeny, among others
March 25, 1945 - Grossenhain, N. of Dresden - Returns to operations - 493 tanks destroyed total
April(?) 1(?), 1945 - Kummer (Hradčany), SW of Liberec, Czechia - The Squadron moves to Kummer
April 19, 1945 - Berlin - Rudel meets with Hitler in the Führerbunker at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin
April 24, 1945 - Kummer (Hradčany) - Destroys his 26th tank since after returning to combat (519 tank kills in total)
April 27, 1945 - Rechlin, N. of Berlin - Due to the impossibility of landing in Berlin, Rudel lands at Rechlin at night in a He 111 bomber
May 1(?), 1945 - Hermannstädtel (Heřmanův Městec, CZE) - Flies to Air Command HQ
May 7, 1945 - Grossenhain, N. of Dresden - Last mission of the War
May 8, 1945 - Kitzingen, NW of Nuremberg - Surrenders to US forces after 2 hour flight westward (519 destroyed tanks in total)
June(?) 15(?), 1945 - RAF Tangmere - Two weeks at Tangmere answering questions, with Günther Rall
April 1(?), 1946 - Kitzingen - Released from captivity
May(?) 20(?), 1948 - Swiss Alps - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 1(?), 1948 - Rome - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 2(?), 1948 - Madrid - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 3(?), 1948 - Lisbon, Portugal - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 4(?), 1948 - Casablanca - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 5(?), 1948 - Cape Verde(?) - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 6(?), 1948 - Natal, Brazil - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June(?) 7(?), 1948 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Emigration route to Argentina without being detected by former allies
June 8, 1948 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Rudel arrives in Buenos Aires
November 1, 1949 - Buenos Aires - Publishes a war diary titled "Trotzdem"
December 30(?), 1951 - Llullaillaco Mountain, Andes, Argentina - Rudel climbs the Llullaillaco (6,739m)
February 27(?), 1953 - Llullaillaco Mountain - Rudel climbs the Llullaillaco again
August 28, 1953 - Bielefeld, Germany - Election campaign speech at a meeting of the Deutsche Reichspartei (DRP) in Bielefeld
August 30, 1953 - Lüneburg, Germany - Attends an election meeting of the Neo-Nazi SRP (Socialist Reich Party)
September 2, 1953 - Bayreuth - Rudel is a candidate in the elections for the Deutschen Reichspartei. Attends a meeting of the DRP in the Rotmain Hall, Bayreuth
June 1(?), 1954 - Buenos Aires, Argentina(?) - Rudel is denied a visa for Germany because he is Persona non Grata for Bonn
September 1(?), 1955 - Paraguay - After Juan Perón's fall, Rudel moves to Paraguay, where he acts as a foreign representative for several German companies.
January(?) 1(?), 1957 - Santiago, Chile - Rudel and Dr. Josef Mengele together travel to Chile to spend a week with Walter Rauff, the inventor of the mobile gas chamber
May 14, 1957 - Munich, Germany - Attends the Roehm Trial and cumpliments the defendants Josef "Sepp" Dietrich and Michael Lippert
June 8, 1958 - Malmö, Sweden - Visits the german football team in Sweden during the 1958 FIFA World Cup
January 1(?), 1960 - Saarbrücken, Germany - DRP (Deutsche Reichspartei) reunion
May 30, 1960 - Neunkirchen, Vienna - Meeting of comrades with Herbert Jaschke
September 1(?), 1968 - Munich - Meets Savitri Devi and Oswald Moskey in Munich
April 26, 1970 - Argentina(?) - Survives a stroke
March 1, 1973 - Madrid, Spain - Visit to Juan Perón
August(?) 1(?), 1973 - Colonia dignidad, 35 km east of Parral, Chile - Moves to Chile after the Pinochet Coup

Knight's Cross with Golden Oakleaves
Swords and Diamonds

January(?), 1(?), 1974 - São Paulo, Brazil - Living in São Paulo, Brazil, during 1974
October 1(?), 1976 - Bremgarten Air Base, SW Freiburg, Germany - Rudel Scandal - During a meeting of former members of the Luftwaffe's Squadron 2 "Immelmann", High-ranking Bundeswehr officers Walter Krupinski and Karl-Heinz Franke compared Rudel's nazi past with the KPD past of the Social Democrat Herbert Wehner
October 15, 1976 - Washington D.C., United States - Attends a two-day conference with various members of the US military and defense industry as part of the development of the A-10 Thunderbolt II
January(?) 1(?), 1977 - Germany - Becomes a spokeman for the Deutsche Volksunion (German People's Union), a nationalist political party
June(?) 1(?), 1978 - Ascochinga, Argentina - Rudel visits the German National Football team at the World Cup training camp in Argentina
January(?) 1(?), 1979 - Rosenheim, Bavaria(?) - Rudel returns to Germany

December 18, 1982 - Rosenheim, Bavaria - Hans-Ulrich Rudel dies following another stroke, aged 66 =(END)

Francis Gabreski | Timeline

Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski (born Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski; January 28, 1919 – January 31, 2002) was an American career pilot in the United States Air Force who retired as a colonel after 26 years of military service. He was the top American and United States Army Air Forces fighter ace over Europe during World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January 28, 1919 - Oil City, Pennsylvania - Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski is born

June(?) 1(?), 1938 - Oil City - Graduates from Oil City High School

July 1(?), 1940 - Maxwell AF Base, Montgomery, Alabama - Enters pilot training at Maxwell AF Base, Alabama

March 14, 1941 - Maxwell AF Base, Montgomery, Alabama - Earns his wings and his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Corps =(START)

April(?) 1(?), 1941 - Charleston, South Carolina - Assigned to the 45th Fighter Squadron of the 15th Fighter Group at Wheeler Field, Hawaii. Sails for Hawaii aboard the SS Washington

April(?) 5(?), 1941 - Panama Canal - SS Washington transits the Panama Canal

April(?) 10(?), 1941 - San Francisco - SS Washington stops for two days in San Francisco

April(?) 16(?), 1941 - Honolulu, Hawaii - After 4 days, SS Washington arrives in Honolulu

April(?) 18(?), 1941 - Wheeler Field, Hawaii - Arrives at Wheeler Field, Hawaii

March 1, 1942 - Wheeler Field, Hawaii - Promoted to First Lieutenant

September 15(?), 1942 - Honolulu | San Francisco - Reports to Honolulu and flies to San Francisco in a Martin Flying Boat

September 20(?), 1942 - Washington D.C. - Leaves San Francisco for Washington D.C.

September 25(?), 1942 - Lisbon, Portugal - Two days in Lisbon

October 1(?), 1942 - RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - Reports to the HQ of the 8th Air Force VIII Fighter Command in England

October 16, 1942 - RAF High Wycombe - Promoted to Captain

December 1(?), 1942 - RAF Norholt - Posted to No. 315 (Dęblin) Squadron at RAF Northolt, flying the Spitfire Mk.IX

February 3, 1943 - RAF Norholt - Mission to St.Omer. Finds opposition for the first time over the Channel - FW190s

February 27, 1943 - RAF Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire - Francis Gabreski reports for duty with the 56th Fighter Group at King's Cliffe

April 5, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith, near Norwich - The Fighter Group relocates to RAF Horsham St.Faith

May 15, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Gabreski damages an Fw190 on a rodeo mission to Zanvoort, Holland

May 17, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Leads the full squadron for the first time on a sweep to Morlaix, France

June 9, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Zemke makes Major Gabreski the new 61st Squadron Commander, due to his earlier combat experience with the RAF

June 13, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Gabreski leads a flight on the day of Robert S. Johnson's first confirmed kill

June 26, 1943 - RAF Manston - 48 P-47Cs left a forward operating base at RAF Manston late in the afternoon to provide escort for B-17 bombers returning from a mission against Villacoublay airfield in the Paris suburbs.

July 8, 1943 - Halesworth, N of Ipswich - The Fighter Group relocates to Halesworth, North of Ipswich.

July 19, 1943 - Halesworth - Gabreski is promoted to Major

August 24, 1943 - Halesworth - Mission over Dieppe - Gabreski shoots down 1 FW190 over Dreux (1 total)

September 3, 1943 - Halesworth - 1 FW190 shot down over St.Germain (2 total)

November 1(?), 1943 - Halesworth - The group commander of the 56th, Colonel Hubert Zemke, was replaced in command for two months by Colonel Robert Landry, a staff officer at VIII FC. Because of Landry's inexperience, combat missions of the 56th were alternately led by deputy commander Lieutenant Colonel David C. Schilling and Gabreski, who acted as deputy group operations officer

November 3, 1943 - Halesworth - Ramrod mission to Wilhelmshaven

November 11, 1943 - Halesworth - 1 FW190 shot down over Rheine (3 total)

November 26, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Bremen. 2 Me110 shot down over Oldenburg (5 total)

November 29, 1943 - Halesworth - 2 Bf 109 shot down over Bremen (7 total)

December 1, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Solingen. Gabreski returns to base after being badly shot up by an Me 110

December 11, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Emden. 1 Bf 110 shot down over Emden (8 total). He has a close brush with death when a 20 mm cannon shell lodged in his engine without exploding, destroying its turbocharger. Low on fuel and ammunition, Gabreski outmaneuvered a Bf 109 until it succeeded in placing a burst of fire into his P-47, disabling the engine. Gabreski stayed in the airplane, however, until it restarted at a lower altitude, where the turbocharger was not needed.

January 6, 1944 - Halesworth - Air fight against an unidentified german ace over Koblenz, Germany

January 19, 1944 - Halesworth - Zemke resumes command and Gabreski relinquishes command of the 61th FS

January 20, 1944 - Halesworth - Major Gabreski becomes Deputy Flying Executive and Operations Officer

January 23, 1944 - Halesworth - Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

January 29, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 Bf 110 shot down over Emden (9 total)

January 30, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 Bf 109 and a Me 410 shot down over Lingen (11 total)

February 1(?), 1944 - Halesworth - Brings two polish pilots into the 56th Fighter Group, who had flown with him in 1943 while serving with the RAF, including Squadron Leader Boleslaw "Mike" Gladych

February 20, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Me 410 shot down over Koblenz (13 total)

February 22, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 Fw190 shot down over Paderborn (14 total)

March 2, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Frankfurt. On the return, Gabreski and Johnson strafe an airbase south of Aachen

March 16, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Fw190 shot down over Nancy (16 total)

March 27, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Bf 109 shot down over Nantes (18 total)

April 6, 1944 - Halesworth - Strafing mission east of Schleswig

April 13, 1944 - Boxted, Essex - The 56th FG moves to Boxted. Gabreski takes command of the 61st Fighter Squadron

May 8, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Bf 109 shot down over Celle (19 total)

May 16, 1944 - Boxted - The 56th Fighter Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance in combat. The First three P-47D with "Bubble" canopy arrive at Boxted. They are allocated to Zemke, Gabreski and Dade

May 22, 1944 - Boxted - Shoots down 3 Fw190s over Höperhöfen, northwest Germany (22 total)

June 7, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Bf 109 and 1 Fw190 shot down over Dreux (24 total)

June 12, 1944 - Boxted - 2 Bf 109 shot down over Évreux (26 total)

June 27, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Bf 109 shot down over Connantre (27 total)

July 5, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Me109 shot down over Évreux (28 total) - Gabreski becomes the top american scoring fighter pilot in the Europe Theatre of Operations

Gabreski's P-47, near Bassenheim

July 20, 1944 - Bassenheim, near Koblenz, Germany - Ramrod to Russelsheim. Gabreski decides to strafe Bassenheim airfield in his last mission. Streaking low across the airfield Gabreski gets just a little too low and hits the ground with his propeller which results in having to make a belly landing just outside the airfield perimeter

July 25, 1944 - near Bassenheim, Germany - After 5 days on the run Gabreski is captured. He is collected at the small jail by two Luftwaffe airmen

July 29, 1944 - Stalag Luft I, Barth, NE Germany - Gabreski is transfered to Stalag Luft I, a prisoner camp for allied airmen

April 30, 1945 - Stalag Luft I - The prisoners are ordered to evacuate Stalag Luft I in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer, Colonel Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Colonel) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the POWs behind

May 1, 1945 - Stalag Luft I - Soviet troops liberate Stalag Luft I

May 21, 1945 - New York City - Gabreski lands at LaGuardia Field in New York

June 11, 1945 - Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin - Gabreski marries Kay Cochran

November 1, 1945 - Wright Field, near Dayton, Ohio - Gabreski, Gentile and Godfrey check a captured german Me-262 jet fighter

April 1(?), 1946 - ? - Leaves the US Air Force

April 7, 1947 - Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina - Recalled to active duty to command the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina

September 1(?), 1947 - New York City - The Air Force sends him to Columbia University to complete his degree and study russian

June 1(?), 1949 - New York City - Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

March 11, 1950 - Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan - Promoted to Colonel

May 1(?), 1951 - Honolulu, Hawaii - On his route to Korea, Gabreski runs into John C.Meyer, who had commanded the 4th fighter group in Korea, and they have dinner together

May 15(?), 1951 - Johnson AF Base (Iruma Air Base), Sayama, Japan - Reports to the 4th Fighter Wing at Johnson Air Force Base, Japan

June 1(?), 1951 - Kimpo Air Base, South Korea - Gabreski and a group of selected pilots of the 56th FIW accompanied the delivery of F-86Es of the 62nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to South Korea aboard the escort carrier USS Cape Esperance. The planes and pilots joined the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group at K-14 (Kimpo) Air Base

June 17, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base, South Korea - First combat mission with the F-86A Sabre

July 8, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base - Mission covering F-80s attacking ground targets near Pyongyang, North Korea. 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (29 total)

September 2, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (30 total)

October 2, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (31 total)

November 8, 1951 - Suwon Air Base, South Korea - Transferred to the 51st Fighter Wing at K-13 (Suwon) Air Base

December 1, 1951 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 51st Fighter Wing First F-86 mission

January 11, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over Dandong, China (32 total)

February 20, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 shared over Yalu River, North Korea (32,5 total)

April 1, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (33,5 total)

April 12, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (34,5 total)

June 4, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - Receives orders sending him home

June 17, 1952 - San Francisco - Gabreski receives the key to the city from San Francisco Mayor Elmer E. Robinson and is given a ticker-tape parade up Market Street

June 24, 1952 - Washington D.C. - US President Harry S.Truman welcomes Francis Gabreski from Korea to the White House

July 1(?), 1952 - Norton Air Force Base, California - Chief of Combat Operations Section, Office of the Inspector General

July 12, 1952 - Burbank, California - Visit to the Lockheed factory in California

November 1(?), 1953 - Edwards Air Force Base, California - First flight in the new F-100 Super Sabre during a visit to North American Aviation

January(?) 1(?), 1954 - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama - Student at the Air War College

July 1(?), 1955 - Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina - Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Ninth Air Force 

September 10, 1956 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina - Commander, 342d Fighter-Day Wing — (September 10, 1956 – November 19, 1956) (inactivated before operational and succeeded by 354th TFW)

November 19, 1956 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base - Commander, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-100 Super Sabre) —  (November 19, 1956 – July 13, 1960)

January(?) 1(?), 1958 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base - Flies to Sola, Norway, in na F-100 using air-to-air refueling during Mobile Foxtrot deployment - Myrtle Beach - Bermuda - Azores - France - Sola. Same route back

August 8, 1960 - Kadena Air Base, Okinawa - Commander, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-100) — (August 8, 1960 – June 19, 1962)

July 1(?), 1962 - Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii - Director of the Secretariat, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces — (July 1962 – July 1963)

July 1(?), 1963 - Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii - Inspector General, Pacific Air Forces — (July 1963 – August 1964)

August 17, 1964 - Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York - Commander, 52d Fighter Wing (Air Defense) (McDonnell F-101 Voodoo) — (August 17, 1964 – October 31, 1967)

October 31, 1967 - Suffolk County Air Force Base - Retires from the US Air Force

July 1(?), 1978 - Dayton, Ohio - Inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame

February 26, 1981 - New York City - Resigns from the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

September 15, 1983 - Chicago - Gabreski and Hanns Scharff reenact an interrogation at a reunion of Stalag Luft III POWs

August 6, 1993 - Wisconsin - His wife dies as the result of an automobile accident as they both were returning from the Oshkosh Air Show

January 31, 2002 - Huntington, New York - Francis Gabreski dies of an heart attack, aged 83 =(END)

~Work in Progress~

Edgar Allan Poe | Timeline

Edgar Allan Poe (né Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. He was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January 19, 1809 - Boston, Massachusetts - Edgar Poe is born

December 8, 1811 - Richmond, Virginia - Elizabeth Arnold, Edgar Allan Poe's mother, dies of tuberculosis, aged 24. Her children are split up. Edgar is taken in by John and Frances Allen

January(?) 1(?), 1815 - Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland - Grammar School in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, birthplace of his adoptive father, John Allan

January(?) 1(?), 1816 - London, England - Rejoins the Allans in London. Enrolled at a boarding school in Chelsea

January(?) 1(?), 1820 - Richmond - Moves back to Richmond with the Allans

January(?) 1(?), 1824 - Richmond - Serves as the lieutenant of the Richmond youth honor guard as the city celebrated the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette

March 1(?), 1825 - Richmond - Allan's uncle and business benefactor William Galt dies, leaving Allan several acres of real estate

February 1(?), 1826 - Richmond - Registered at the University of Virginia to study ancient and modern languages. Secretly engaged to Sarah Emira Royster, his 15-year-old neighbor

March 1(?), 1827 - Richmond - Leaves the University of Virginia

April 1(?), 1827 - Boston, Massachusetts - Moves to Boston and begins working as a clerk for wholesale merchandise warehouse on the waterfront, then as an office clerk and reporter for the "Weekly Report" =(START)

May 27, 1827 - Boston - Enlists in the US Army as a private. Assigned to the 1st Regiment of Artillery at Boston Harbor's Fort Independence

July 1(?), 1827 - Boston - His first collection of poems "Tamerlane and other Poems" is published

November 8, 1827 - Charlston, South Carolina - Poe's regiment is posted to Fort Moultrie in Charlston, South Carolina

April 15, 1829 - Baltimore, Maryland - Discharged from the army. Moves to Baltimore to stay with his widowed aunt Maria Clemm, her daughter Virginia, his brother Henry and his invalid grandmother Elizabeth Cairnes Poe

August 1(?), 1829 - Baltimore - Meets his 7-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm

September 1(?), 1829 - Baltimore - Receives the first words of encouragement in a review of his poetry by influential critic John Neal

December(?) 1(?), 1829 - Baltimore - Publication of his second collection of poems "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems". He signs as "Edgar A. Poe"

July 1, 1830 - West Point, New York - Poe matriculates as a cadet in West Point

October 1(?), 1830 - New York City - Poe marries his second wife Louisa Patterson

February 8, 1831 - West Point - Poe is tried for gross neglect of duty and disobedience of orders for refusing to attend formations, classes, or church

February 15(?), 1831 - New York City - Poe leaves New York 

March 1(?), 1831 - Baltimore - Poe returns to his family in Baltimore

August 1, 1831 - Baltimore - His brother Henry dies, due to problems related with alcoholism

January(?) 1(?), 1833 - Baltimore - Joins the household of Virginia's mother, where his brother had lived (until he died on August 1, 1831)

October 1(?), 1833 - Baltimore - The "Baltimore Saturday Visiter" awards him a prize for his short story "MS. Found in a Bottle"

July 7, 1835 - Baltimore - Elizabeth Cairnes Poe dies, effectively ending the family's income and making their financial situation even more difficult

August 1(?), 1835 - Richmond, Virginia - Edgar Allan Poe moves to Richmond to become assistant editor at the "Southern Literary Messenger"

August 29, 1835 - Richmond - Letter to Maria Poe, pleading that she allow Virginia to make her own decision about marrying him

September 22, 1835 - Baltimore - Poe returns to Baltimore to file for a marriage license

May 16, 1836 - Richmond - 27-year-old Edgar Allan Poe marries his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm

May 20(?), 1836 - Petersburg, Virginia - Short Honeymoon

August 1(?), 1836 - Richmond - Publication of "The City of Sin" in Richmond's "Southern Literary Messenger"

January 1(?), 1837 - Richmond - Leaves the "Southern Literary Messenger"

July 1(?), 1838 - Richmond - Publication of "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket"

August(?) 1(?), 1839 - Philadelphia - Becomes assistant editor of "Burton's Gentleman's Magazine"

January(?) 1(?), 1840 - Philadelphia - Publication of "Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque"

June 1(?), 1840 - Philadelphia - Poe buys advertising space in the "Saturday Evening Post" for a prospectus announcing his intentions to start a journal called "The Stylus"

August(?) 1(?), 1840 - Philadelphia - Poe leaves "Burton's Gentleman's Magazine" and becomes writer and co-editor of the monthly "Graham's Mazagine"

February 1(?), 1842 - New York City - Poe gives a lecture in which he criticizes American poetry

April 1(?), 1844 - New York City - The Family moves to New York. Poe becomes editor of the "Broadway journal" (later its owner), after working briefly at the "Evening Mirror"

April 13, 1844 - New York City - Publication of "The Balloon-hoax" in the "Sun"

January 29, 1845 - New York City - The "New York Evening Post" publishes Poe's poem

"The Raven"

March 1(?), 1845 - New York City - Meets poet Frances Sargent Osgood

April 1(?), 1845 - New York City - Publication of "The City in the Sea" in the "American Review"

August 30, 1845 - New York City - Publication of "The City in the Sea" in the "Broadway journal"

January 1(?), 1846 - New York City - Visited by writer and poet Elizabeth Fries Ellet

May 1(?), 1846 - Fordham, Bronx, New York - "Broadway Journal" fails and Poe moves to cottage in Fordham, Bronx, New York

June 12, 1846 - Fordham - Letter to Virginia: "Keep up your heart in all hopelessness, and trust yet a little longer"

January 29, 1847 - Fordham - Letter to Marie Louise Shew: "My poor Virginia still lives, although failing fast and now suffering much pain."

Poe's cottage in Fordham

January 30, 1847 - Fordham - Virginia Clemm dies of Tuberculosis

February 2, 1847 - Fordham - Virginia Clemm Poe's funeral

July 1(?), 1848 - Fordham - Poe meets Sarah Elmira Royster again, a widow since 1844

May 1(?), 1849 - Fordham - Edgar Allan Poe writes "Annabel Lee", that would be published two days after his death

September 17, 1849 - Baltimore - Visits Baltimore to stay with Sarah Royster

October 3, 1849 - Baltimore - Edgar Allan Poe is found delirious on the streets of Baltimore. He is taken to the Washington Medical College

October 7, 1849 - Baltimore - Edgar Allan Poe dies at the Washington Medical College, aged 40 =(END)