B-24 H-20-FO, Serial Nr. 42-94989, Marking: IG-N, Nik-Name: Battlin Baby, 8t Air Force, 448th Bomb Group, 713rd Squadron, Mission: Saarbrücken (D), crashed Bätterkinden, Switzerland 13.7.1944
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Dale E. Grubb
Copilot: 2nd Lt. Edwin W. Carnahan
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Bernard Epstein
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Norman G. Marks
Nose Gunner: Sgt. Eusebio Rodrigues, Jr.
Engineer: S/Sgt. John E. Everett
Radio: S/Sgt. Frank S. Thomas
Ball Turret: Sgt. John R. Etherington
Right Waist: Sgt. John O. Barnes
Left Waist: Sgt. Clare W. Hubbard
Shane Ellis; In 2019, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life; to produce a documentary film about my grandfather's WWII experience, titled Battlin' Baby (the name of the last B-24 he flew on that had a name). At first my goal was simply to preserve the memory of these brave men and what they went through to win the war. But then it became clear that there was a great deal of interest in WWII history now that most of the veterans are gone, and major film studios and streaming services expressed an interest in the project. With an urgency to interview the witnesses to these events surrounding my grandfather, Frank S. Thomas, and a desire to produce something with the quality required by those studios, I took the first steps toward making it a reality. I assembled a crew of film and TV professionals, who are also friends and have a genuine interest in the subject matter, to make the journeys to England and Switzerland to capture these interviews and preserve their history. Filming began in Seething, England at the 448th BG air base where we interviewed Patricia Everson, a local resident who had close ties with those who served there and took it upon herself to make sure the history was documented and preserved. We discussed her experiences during the war, stories she remembered and loved to tell, and saw her incredible collection of photos and other items of great historical value. We took off and landed on the same runway that was used for the B-24's at Seething, and returned a few pieces of the plane to the control tower for public display. The next phase was in Batterkinden, Switzerland where we interviewed several men who were witnesses to the plane crash there, and with Rolf Zaugg at his museum where the propeller of my grandfather's plane, letters from crew members and other items from that time period are on display. Rolf has become a great personal friend as well as an ally in making this film a reality. Today I am working toward the next steps, which are to archive and document my grandfather's writings, recordings of his voice, and other items he kept from the war. This is the longest piece task because there is so much material to review. Already I have discovered in his writings descriptions of places and events, some that I had heard before and others that were new. When this task is finished, we will begin writing the script and incorporating the interviews into the story, then plan for any further scenes to be shot in the U.S.A. I am grateful for the interest and support of everyone connected to the story, B-24 and WWII enthusiasts, and those who wish to preseve the history of these veterans' bravery. My hope is that within a year we can get the film released, although COVID-19 has of course affected much of the way the world is working. I will continue to do my best to that end. Thanks to all for your support.
Shane Ellis
