Research
It is not always simple
When researching for a long time, one encounters all kind of difficulties. On this page I show some of those difficult parts encountered. The search for the details, and how information provided can be incorrect. The cases here are on the historical part. There are more difficult parts. I might add such cases later.
CASE 1
​
When we talk about Troop Carrier formation (I am certain it is with researchers of other arms or units is the same), we always want to know which plane flew where in the formation, and who the crewmembers were at that given time. A step further is to know who the airborne passengers were, or the name of the glider pilot and airbornes towed. Well, all such details. The truth is, in most cases such information simply is lost. And it is with hard work and luck to find new information. Usually those are tid-bits.
In this case, we look at who was flying the number 2 position of the first 438th Troop Carrier Group serial to Normandy. And it turns out that two different men claim to have flown on that position.
Lt. Bill Beach told me, and claimed in a newspaper article, that he flew as 'number 2'.
Maj. Albert S. Hawell made a similar claim, as the newspaper article says 'he who piloted the second plane'.
​
And thus, with conflicting information from newspaper articles that were written decades after the mission to normandy, and with the lack of paperwork from the time itself that could provide more information, it remains uncertain as to who flew in the number 2 position.
It might be that boh flew on the wing of the serial leader, making one of them being chalk number 2, instead of number 2.
​
It is an example of information provided by veterans themselves a few decades after the war, that is incorrect. the difficulty is, one can not know such information is incorrect until other, similar information pops up that conflicts with earlier given information. But it is certain, with such example, that oral history might not always be correct.
CASE 2
​
This one was discovered recently (August 2025). A newspaper article about one of the glider pilot listed the missions he participated in. It says he participated in an airborne operation at Anzio.
Well, there has not been an airborne operation at Anzio.
The newspaper article is dated August 1945. And true, Lt. Feuer (glad to say I have been in touch with him), did fly a number of combat glider missions. Including on Operation Market Garden, to Holland. one that is not mentioned here. Neither is the Southern France mission listed.
​
We might conclude that such newspaper articles are not always as acurate as is wished for.
CASE 3
​
Although I had developed a little idea for this part of the website, another historian with a YouTube program came with a show that actually touches all the same aspects. I will include further cases when I come across such. But here is a link to Paul Woodage's talk about research, and what can be encountered.
​
​
​
​
https://www.youtube.com/live/zrGqHeLAbTs?si=VnFD1kShb3-10mQd
