Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 11:13 PM
From:  Gene M. Johns
To: Hugh R. Miller
Subject: Lt. Hugh R. Miller

The account of Hap's death was written up in the history of the 510th Fighter Squadron on the day that it occurred. I have the declassified history of the 510th and will mail you the history for the month of November 1944. I have a scanner but it isn't hooked up or I would e-mail it to you. There is another item you need; that is the write up about Hap in the JJJ (Jenkin's Jerry Junkers, the name we gave our squadron) book that was put together by members of the squadron, circa 1984.

From: Hugh R. Miller
To: Miller, Matt
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 2:27 PM
Subject: Fighter Pilot Stuff

Lieutenant Hugh R. Miller and I went through Air Corps Flying School together during World War 11. When we graduated we were assigned to the base where we had gone through advanced training; Foster Field, Victoria, Texas. We were barely acquainted when we were in flying school, but after graduation on 20 March 1943, as brand new second lieutenants, we moved from the cadet barracks to adjoining rooms in the Bachelor Officer Quarters at Foster Field. Commencing on that day we became close, constant companions and did not separate until Hugh was killed in action in November 1944.

By: M. Eugene Johns

When Hap Miller and I went through Air Corps flying school during WWII, the schools were very structured and very authoritarian. They probably still are. The wash out rate was very high (about fifty percent) but we cadets were so motivated that objecting to the discipline, and frankly the abuse, that we endured was never considered.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lynn Trank was drafted into the USAAF and assigned to the 510th Squadron of the 405th Fighter Group destined to become part of the rapidly expanding 9th Air Force and dubbed "Jenkins' Jerry Junkers" after its commanding officer.

The 510th FS took off at 1947 hrs from Christchurch and their mission was to bomb bridges near Cloyes, SW of Paris so the collision may have occurred in that area. Also I have assumed it was a '109 as this is what was reported by USAAF witnesses to the incident.

PROJECT CORONA HARVEST
DO NOT DESTROY
NO: 227268

PROJECT CORONA HARVEST
DO NOT DESTROY
NO: 226601

PROJECT CORONA HARVEST
DO NOT DESTROY
NO: 224179

History of the 510th TFS, 1 July 1965 - 30 September 1965
Following Document was Transcribed by Stephen Tanner from Microfilm.

I was pretty much involved with the 509th FIS, the 510th's sister squadron.  We had F-102's. I knew a lot of the guys in the 510th and they were a good outfit.  They did a hell of a job when VN got rolling.