Flying Dog at Barksdale

In the 1940s, there was a newspaper called Barksdale's Bark, which provided Barksdale Field news. On Jan. 23, 1943, the article, "Flying Mascot Has Parachute in Case he has to Bail Out," announced, "Salvo, the only flying dog at Barksdale, has a parachute."

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-3285194/Chocks-away-chaps-s-parachuting-pooches-fond-tribute-dogs-Britain-went-war.html

Salvo was a 4-month-old fox terrier at the time of the article and already had 28 hours in the air. He holds the title of being the first dog in the world to make a solo parachute jump. His first jump was from 1500 feet in the air. He became the number one applicant for the "parapups" battalion at Andrews Field, England, where he was stationed.

According to the article, "Lt. Hugh Fletcher named the pup after its first plane ride. Pilot J.W. Wright had done a few maneuvers and was taxiing in when the crew noticed the little fox terrier was moving unsteadily toward the door. After the B-26 stopped, the billious [sic] pup scrambled out and heaved a mixture of chewing gum, waste paper and candy. It was then Lt. Fletcher decided he should be called 'Salvo.'" (The definition of salvo is a simultaneous discharge of artillery.)

Tech. Sgt. Glen Schultz designed Salvo's parachute out of spare materials. The parachute had a 50-inch canopy with a static line for positive opening if he should have to bail out. When Salvo was to jump, Lt. Fletcher fixed one end of the parachute cord to the plane, and when he jumps and begins to descend, his weight pulled the cord and opened the release mechanism.

Source: Imperial War Museum; Roger Freeman Collection Id: FRE 1184. http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/907.

Salvo went into action in the European theater when he was just one year old with the honorary rank of 2nd Lt. He was the seventh member of and the mascot for the bombardment crew that flew the B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Jezabelle." He proudly served alongside his owner, 2nd Lt. Hugh R. Fletcher, bombardier navigator; Sgt. A. J. Peloquin, tail gunner; Flight-officer T. E. Anton, co-pilot; and Lt. Joseph W. Wright, pilot; Pvt. H. E. Spencer, radio gunner; Staff Sgt. Jack H. Shock, engineer gunner.

Source: https://www.smithjournal.com.au/blogs/history/3699-britain-s-elite-wwii-dog-paratroopers

Salvo went on five missions and two battle operations over western Europe. By May 1944, he had logged more than 300 hours in the air and had been up as high as 18,000 feet. In addition to his custom-made parachute that snapped onto his harness, he also had a combination gas and oxygen mask that protected him during emergencies and supplied oxygen when flying at high altitudes.

If you are wondering if Salvo had his own "dog tags," the answer is yes. His official serial number was 000000.

In July of 1944, Lt. Fletcher was interviewed while in London, and during the interview, he told of Salvo's bravery and was sad to report that he was, at that time, "missing in action." Before going MIA, Salvo met Duchess, the mascot for another Air Corps crew, and fathered a litter of future heroes.

It appears that Salvo was perhaps reunited with his crew and continued to serve until the war ended. According to Nigel Cawthorne, author of Canine Commandoes, "By May 1945, Salvo had clocked up more than five hundred hours in the air..."

As you can imagine, being the first parachuting dog made Salvo famous around the world. His story, along with pictures of him parachuting, appeared in newspapers throughout the nation. In one Akron, OH newspaper, the article stated that "The fliers say Salvo is chockfull of the stuff that heroes are made of." And a citation that accompanied an award Salvo received asserts, "His sheer doggedness while under fire and his loyalty to Lt. Fletcher and the United States Air Force reflect great credit on himself."

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/Parachute-Animals-4.jpg

To learn more about the history of Barksdale Air Force Base, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City. Contact us by phone, 318-746-7717, or email, history-center@bossierlibrary.org.

By: Amy Robertson

"Hollywood Commandos" Film at Barksdale

During World War II, it was common for celebrities to make the ultimate sacrifice and join the United States military to support the war efforts, which brought Hollywood actors, writers, photographers, and models to Barksdale Field as soldiers during that time. Many of which worked for the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Forces.

First Motion Picture Unit insignia, public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Army bought the Hal Roach Studio in Culver City, Ca, where the unit was headquartered. The men nicknamed the headquarters "Fort Roach," and this unit of the Army was nicknamed "The Culver City Commandos," "Celluloid Commandos," and "Hollywood Commandos." Their motto was, "We kill 'em with fil'm." It was the first military unit made up entirely of professionals from the film industry. They were tasked with making propaganda and training films, some of which were nominated for and won Academy Awards.

In December of 1942, some of these Hollywood celebrities, now soldiers, came to Barksdale, where they combined their talents to entertain the locals and train the enlisted. The entertainment came in the form of a radio program on KWKH called "Bomber Squadron." "The first in a new series of dramatized programs to be written, portrayed and produced by soldiers at Barksdale Field," aired on Christmas Eve.

Sgt. Richard R. Raleigh wrote the program. Before the war, he worked as a John Power's model, stage actor, short story and radio writer. The program featured Cpl. Oliver Wendell Holmes, an actor whose career included radio, television, Broadway, and film work. He was known for his roles in Zorro (1957), The Twilight Zone (1959), and Leave It to Beaver (1957), to name a few. Holmes and other Barksdale personnel portrayed the American soldier of that time "through the medium of a soldier's letter to his wife."

Martin B-26 Marauder. US Air Force picture,
public domain., Wikimedia Commons

The training came in the medium of a film produced by the First Motion Picture Unit. The working title was "Flying Characteristics of the B-26," and it was the unit's third training film. The production crew shot all but one scene at Barksdale Field. The B-26 had difficult flying characteristics and other issues which lead to many accidents, earning it nicknames, such as "widow-maker," "Martin murderer," and "Flying Coffin." This training film provided training on how to handle these problematic flying characteristics to prevent unnecessary accidents and deaths.

Capt. Robert Carson wrote and directed the film under the guidance of Col. Millard Lewis, who was closely connected with the modification of the B-26. Carson was a film and television screenwriter, novelist, and short-story writer. He won an Oscar for best writing, original story, at the 1938 Academy Awards for his 1937 screenplay "A Star is Born." which was also nominated that year for best writing, screenplay. Capt. Charles H. Seawell was the assistant technical advisor, as well as, set coordinator and advisor.

Sgt. Don Porter played the role of Capt. Dick Blake, the B-26 flight instructor. In Hollywood, he was a film and television actor. One of the parts he is known for is that of Russell Lawrence, the widowed father of 15-year-old Frances "Gidget" Lawrence, played by Sally Field in the 1963 film "Gidget Goes to Rome" and the 1965 sitcom "Gidget." While in the military, he also served as a combat photographer during the war.

Pvt. Gail Shackles, whose screen name was Craig Stevens, played the role of co-pilot Lt. Jim Anthony. Shackles was a film and television actor, best known for his starring role as private detective Peter Gunn from 1958 –1961. Some sci-fi fans also know him for his leading role as Col. Joe Parkman in the cult-classic "The Deadly Mantis" (1957). He also appeared in other propaganda and training films while serving in the Army Air Corps.

Capt. Ullman J. Carruth of the 335th Bomb Group played a minor role in the film, and he served as the coordinator of supplies for the Motion Picture unit during the making of this film. Staff Sgt. Richard R. Raliegh mentioned earlier, also had a short role in the film. During his time in the military, he served in the Public Relations Department of the 335th Bomb Group and the 1143rd Engineering Combat Group.

First Motion Picture Unit credit screen c.1943

The training film was completed in about six weeks and is titled "How to Fly the B-26 Airplane." If you enjoy watching old movies or if you want to check out the one made at Barksdale, a quick search online will provide options for watching this and other films by the First Motion Picture Unit.

By: Amy Robertson