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LINEAGE CLARIFICATION
WRITTEN BY: 'STEW' HAMC Charleston U.S.A.
GRAPHICS: 'CRAIG' .HAMC
Wessex England
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The
myth and legends surrounding the military lineage of the
Hells Angels
Motorcycle Club has, for decades, been cited as being
from former members of the Hell's Angels Bomber
B-17 Group from World War II. This myth has been aided
by incorrect reporting by authors who deemed it
appropriate to align the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC)
with ex-service members returning from a war where
excitement and adventure had become their lifestyle.
Authors and newspaper correspondents, from a wide
assortment of daily, weekly and other periodicals
have made statements, not founded in fact. It has been
stated that
these
former servicemen were alleged to have been drunkards,
military misfits,
and
generally speaking substandard soldiers that would not
adjust to a return
to a
peacetime environment. If any person, regardless of
their association, considered the content of the
statements and inferences made, they would find these to
lack any rational thought or concern for truthful
reporting.
A
historical review of the exploits and accomplishments of
the implied Bomber Group, 303rd Bombardment Groups
(Heavy) (303rd) European Theater of Operations (ETO)
show's that this bomber unit did not tolerate
malcontents, drunken pilots or aircrews. Such
individuals, had they existed, would have seriously
hindered the effectiveness of combat operations and
would have been dealt with harshly and promptly.
Documented records of the 303rd can be found in "Might
in Flight", Daily Diary of the Eighth Air Force's Hell's
Angels, 303rd Bombardment Group (H), by Harry D.
Gobrecht, LtCol, USAF (Ret). One of the 303rd's most
famous B-17's serial number #41-24577, commanded by then
Captain Irl Baldwin, was named "Hell's Angels". This
aircraft was unnamed until it's fourth or fifth mission.
The crew decided to adopt the name "Hell's Angels" after
the 1927 "Hell's Angels" WWI fictional Fighter Squadron
movie by Howard Hughes. On 13 May 1943 the 303rd's B-17F
"Hell's Angels" became the first 8th Air Force B-17 to
complete 25 combat missions. This feat has wrongly been
credited to the"Memphis Belle" B-17 including the 1943
and 1990 "Memphis Belle" movies. The "Memphis Belle"
B-17 was the first to complete 25 missions and return to
the USA. "Hell's Angels" continued to fly combat
missions until 13 December 1943, when she completed 48
combat missions it was retired from combat. Shortly
thereafter she was flown to the USA, rejoined by members
of the Capt Baldwin crew, went on a morale boosting tour
of war production plants. "Hell's Angels" B-17F. serial
number #41-24577 was dismantled, for scrap, in 1947. On
7 January 1944, by a vote of group and squadron
commanders, "Hell's Angels" became the name of the 303rd
with "Might in Flight" being retained as the Group
motto.
Facts, which have been undeniably proven, show that the
303rd "Hell's Angels" B-17F was only flown by highly
dedicated, motivated and mission oriented airmen. They
were not malcontents and did not report for mission in a
drunken state. Crew pilot and commander, Capt Irl
Baldwin, completed a stellar military career, retired as
a LtCol, and was awarded numerous valorous and
meritorious citations.
Records show that the 303rd became one of the 8th Air
Forces best Bomb Groups. It operated from Station 107,
Molesworth, Huntingdonshire, England from 12 September
1942 until 11 June 1945. During this time the Group flew
an 8th Air Force record 364 combat missions, 10,721
sorties and dropped 26,346 tons of bombs on enemy
targets. The 303rd is credited with 664 enemy aircraft
destroyed, probably destroyed or damaged. They sustained
1,748 personnel casualties and lost 210 B-17's on combat
missions. The 303rd was the first 8th Air Force Bomb
Group to complete 25, 50, 75, 200 and 300 combat
missions. With this record doesn't it seem strange that
the post war media, more than likely influenced by a law
enforcement community biased against the HAMC. Only
overzealous sensationalistic reporters, would publish
unreliable and malicious comments about 303rd crewmen or
any other group, to include HAMC. These tainted reports
represent a disservice to journalists that are
professional in the execution of their craft. From
available historical information at HAMC Berdoo and
extensive research by the 303rd reveals that no lineage
exists between the HAMC and the 303rd other than both
organizations having the same name. HAMC has copyrighted
the name Hells Angels (in any form of spelling) in the
US and Internationally, along with all variations of the
"Deathshead" insignia of HAMC. These trademarks &
copyrights are aggressively protected by HAMC, Inc. The
name Hell's Angels was adopted by no less that twelve
B-17?s throughout WWII, from a assortment of
organizations, additionally it was adopted by a B-26
Medium Bomber squadron, a United States Marine Corps
fighter squadron and even on
a
P-38 Lightning fighter.
The former Squadron Leader of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron
"Hell's Angels" American Volunteer Group (AVG), Arvid
Olsen, was the only known person with specific military
lineage to an actual unit which bore the name Hell's
Angels that was affiliated with the foundation of the
HAMC, which occurred in Fontana, California in March
1948. Arvid Olsen was an associate of the founders of
the HAMC, he never attempted to or became a member of
HAMC.
The AVG, or more famously known "The Flying Tigers" (the
name is credited to a United Press correspondent named
McGrath for a article written on 26 December 1941) were
a secret United States military operational entity,
authorized and approved by then President Franklin D.
Roosewelt, on 23 December 1940, under conditions of a
SECRET Letter of Approval: refer to official file 150,
FDR Library, Memoranda 1941. The secret approval was
only recently declassified in December 1991, after 50
years, when the AVG was awarded the Presidential Unit
Citation. Additionally the pilots of the AVG were
awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses. Ground crew
personnel of the AVG were awarded Bronze Star Medals.
After all those years the AVG veterans, that were still
alive, received Veterans status from a grateful nation!
This acknowledgment seems more like an after thought to
an intentional oversight, on the part of the government.
As part of this covert operation, which had been
requested by Claire Lee Chennault ( a former USAAC pilot
instructor and veteran of the 94th "Hat in the Ring"
squadron during WWI) on behalf of Chaing Kai-Shek and
the Chinese government, who had been at war with the
Empire of Japan since 1937. The AVG were to be equipped,
organized and deployed, in China, against the Empire of
Japan. The AVG received 100 P-40 fighter aircraft. The
P-40's were diverted from a shipment to England. The
personnel were recruited from active branches of the War
Department: the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Pilots,
maintenance, communications, clerical and medical
personnel were secretly recruited from active duty
units. All documentation, equipment and personnel
transfers were processed through and by the Central
Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO), as approved by
the US Government. Nothing could then be traced to the
United States government, which was not yet in conflict
with the Empire of Japan. Chaing Kai-Shek appointed
Chennault Commander of the AVG
The AVG was divided into four elements: a headquarters
squadron and three (3) fighter squadrons. Each squadron
selected their respective name, which was the custom of
the time for military aviation units. The First Pursuit
Squadron (1PS) became the Adam & Eve's. The Second
Pursuit Squadron (2PS) became the Panda Bears. Chuck
Older, Ken Jernstedt, Tom Haywood and Ed Overend, all
former USMC pilots, selected the name "Hell's Angels"
for the Third Pursuit Squadron (3PS). Of note is that
Charles 'Chuck' Older, became a judge and presided over
the trial of Charles Manson. Ken Jernstedt became a US
Senator. After deactivation of the AVG Ed Overend
returned to the USMC where he commanded VMF-321, a US
Marine Corps fighter Squadron, which he named "Hell's
Angels" and adopted the "Lady" insignia of the 3PS AVG.
Squadron Leader Olsen was not involved in that name
selection, however he immediately agreed with the
recommendation. The Tiger Shark motif on the AVG P-40
aircraft was the idea of (3PS) Hell's Angels Flight
Leader Erik Shilling and (1PS) Adam & Eve Vice Squadron
Leader Charles Bond, when they found a British magazine
with photographs of an RAAF P-40 in desert camouflage.
When the two took the idea to Chennault he wanted the
entire Group to adopt the motif. Even today Shilling and
Bond claim first for idea and application of the Tiger
Shark paint job on the P-40's of the AVG. Erik Shilling
actually painted his P-40 first, as Bond had gone off
base to acquire the paint, whereas Shilling got paint on
the base from Chinese personnel that were painting the
Chinese Air Force insignia on the P-40's.
Each of the squadrons, now with an approved name,
designed their respective squadron insignia. The Hell's
Angels decided on a red colored silhouette of a very
shapely female with halo and wings outlined in white.
This design originated with 3PS crew chief Stan Regis in
late November or December 1941. Each Hellīs Angels pilot
had his own "Lady" painted on his individual aircraft,
subsequently each "Lady" had her own personality. Yet
the colors of red on white was the standard for the
entire squadron. This same motif and insignia is used
today by active United States Army, Marine Corps and Air
Force squadrons, additionally a fighter squadron of the
Israeli Air Force. During the seven month combat
operations of the AVG this unit acquired a record of 297
Japanese aircraft destroyed, as confirmed by British and
Chinese Intelligence. Other sources have placed the
total Japanese aircraft destruction, caused by the AVG,
at well over 600 to 900, including aircraft destroyed on
the ground during strafing operations. AVG losses were 4
pilots killed in air combat, 7 killed by ground fire, 3
died as a result of Japanese bombing while they were on
the ground and 1 missing in action presumed dead. That
reflects an AVG to Japanese kill ratio of 50 to 1, a
record that has never been equaled. Chennault reviewed
official Japanese war records, after the war. The
Japanese reported the destruction of 544 AVG aircraft.
Of note was the fact that at no time did the AVG
possessed more than 100 aircraft in their unit. The AVG
was disbanded on 4 July 1942, at which time few accepted
returning into the US Army Air Force, most optioned to
return to the US where they returned to active service
or other war efforts. The reason many refused immediate
return to active service, in China, was the manner by
which Brigadier General Bissell, USAAF, presented the
option to them. Bissell had been a long time adversary
of Chennault and the Flying Tigers. Chennault, who had
accepted return to active military service, prior to the
deactivation of the AVG, at the rank of Brigadier
General continued to command the 14th Air Force in the
China Burma Theater (CBT). The 14th Air Force all
referred to themselves as "Flying Tigers", even though
the real "Flying Tigers" had been deactivated on 4 July
1942
General Chennault was forced into retirement immediately
prior to the Japanese surrender. At the official
surrender ceremony, aboard the USS Missouri, General of
the Army Douglas MacArthur asked, "Where's Chennault"?
As a final insult General Chennault, founder and
commander of the AVG, who had fought the Japanese Empire
since 1937 wasn't even permitted to be present at the
official end of hostilities, of which he had
participated in for 8 years, unlike the 4 years of
participation by other US officials at that ceremony.
To answer the question of lineage between HAMC and a
military organization is that Arvid Olsen, "Flying
Tigers" Hell's Angels squadron gave the idea of the name
to the actual founders of the Hells Angels Motorcycle
Club, in Fontana, California. The selection of our
colors, red on white, is a result of the association of
Olsen with the HAMC founders, like the insignia of the
3PS "Hell's Angels". The insignia of the HAMC, our
copyrighted Deathshead can also be traced to two variant
insignia designs, the 85th Fighter Squadron and the
552nd Medium Bomber Squadron. Frank Sadliek, past
president of the San Francisco Chapter, HAMC, designed
the official "Deathshead" insignia. Arvid Olsen died 16
May 1974 in Point Clear, Alabama.
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END
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A
special thank to Stew, HA.MC. Charleston, USA. for the
great effort he showed in recovering Hells Angels
lineage clarification.The following listing is the
reference material with corresponding locations where it
can be acquired: Destiny: "A Flying Tiger's Rendezvous
With Fate", by: Erik Shilling copyright 1993-1997
Available thru: Erik Shilling 5641 Carol Ave. Alto Loma,
CA 91701 E-mail: erikavg@ix.netcom.com Comment: Actual
account of an AVG pilot who calls it like it was, is and
will be. A required item for the AVG or aviation
researcher.. Tale of a Tiger", by: R.T.Smith ISBN
0-9618012-0-4 Available thru: Brad Smith 1205 Francisco
Street Berkeley, CA 94702 E-mail: bsmith@dnai.com
Comment: Actual diary of "Hell's Angels" ace fighter
pilot who called it like he saw it "Flying Tiger to Air
Commando", by: Chuck Baisden ISBN 0-7643-06909-1
Available thru: US orders OCONUS orders Chuck Baisden
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 109 Wales Court 4880 Lower
Valley Road Savannah, GA 31410 Atglen, PA 19310 E-mail:
AVG VET@AOL.COM schiffer@aol.com www.schifferbooks.com
Comment: Excellent reference book that is great reading
for fun or research. Flying Tiger "A Crew Chief's
Story", by: Frank S. Losonsky ISBN 0-7643-0045-8
Available thru: Schiffer Publishers Ltd 4880 Lower
Valley Road Atglen, PA 19310 E-mail: schifferbk@aol.com
www.schifferbooks.com Comment: A wonderful view of the
AVG through the eyes of the guy that kept them flying.
"A Flying Tiger's Diary", by: Charles R. Bond Jr. &
Terry H. Anderson ISBN 0-89096-408-4 Available thru:
www.amazon.com Comment: General information, yet filled
with first hand knowledge of an AVG'r that became a
Major General in the USAF. Flying Tigers "Claire
Chennault and the American Volunteer Group", by: Daniel
Ford ISBN 1-56098-541-0 Available thru: www.amazon.com
Comment: General information acquired from others, yet
factual. "Pictorial History of the Flying Tigers", by:
Larry M. Pistole Available thru: www.amazon.com Comment:
A must for the AVG researcher and historians, great
photo's. "Leo the Tiger", by Leo Schramm copyright 1992
Available thru: Leo Schramm 900 Allen Street New
Cumberland, PA 17070 E-mail: Mike.Horoschal@worldnet.att.net
Comment: Top notch account by an AVG crew chief.
Extremely rare. "The Story of the Flying Tigers" Fei Hu
Films (Video)1998 Available thru: Fei Hu Films 2860 E.
Valley Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108 E-mail: subpix@sysci.org
Comment: Latest film on AVG which contains actual
statements, with footage of all the players in the AVG
saga, Roosevelt, Chennault, Chaing Kai-Shek, the AVG and
the people. "B-17 Nose Art Name Directory" by: Wallace
R. Foreman ISBN 1-883809-14-2 Available thru: Phalanx
Publishing An imprint of: Speciality Press Publishers
and Wholesales 11481 Kost Dam Road North Branch, MN
55056 Tel: (800) 895-4548 Comment: Excellent reference
and research data. "Might in Flight" Daily Diary of the
Eighth Air Forces "Hell's Angels" 303rd Bombardment
Group (H), by: Harry D. Gobrecht ISBN 0-9636155-1-3
Available thru: The 303rd Bomb Group Assoc. Inc. 505 via
Desco San Clemente, CA 92672 Comment: Historical record
of missions of 303rd Bomb Group (h) In Search of History
"Hells Angels" The History Channel Cat.No. AAE-42352
Available thru: New Video Group 126 Fifth Avenue New
York, NY 10001 Comment: Only known report, unbiased or
slanted, about the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. As
shown on the History Channel in the US./1999. The
following web sites will be of interest for those
interested enough to have read this far: HELLS ANGELS
MOTORCYCLE CLUB WORLD WEB SITE:
www.hellsangelsmcworld.com FLYING TIGERS ASSOCIATION WEB
SITE: www.flyingtigersavg.com/index.htm PLANES AND
PILOTS OF WORLD WAR TWO WEB SITE: http:/home.att.net/~C.C.Jordan
Special appreciation is extended to the following people
for their assistance. Additionally for permitting the
use of their referenced works, documentation,
publications and assistance: Chuck Baisden, Brad Smith,
Erik Schilling, Dick & Lydia Rossi, LTC (USAF Ret) Irl
E. Baldwin, The Flying Tigers Assoc., 303rd Bombardment
Group (H) Assoc. and ?Steve? HAMC Auckland, New Zealand
NOTICE: No extracts, reprints or web site linkage, in
any form are permitted, without the expressed permission
of the HAMC World Web Site Manager and the author. |
