About this website
The discovery in 2009 of my father's letters written home during WWII set me off on a "time traveling" journey to learn more about my father's involvement as an original "first pilot" in the 1st Air Commando Group's transport section.
The focus of this website will be on the C-47 transport pilots in this section, which included Jesse Hepler, who later met and married my father's oldest sister Vaso. Her daughters (my cousins Tina and Stefi) are the ones who found my father's WWII letters in Vaso's belongings after she died.
I am sharing 8 mm movies my father took in WWII, his letters written home, an interview with my uncle, photos and other memorabilia. I would love to include information and stories about any of the 1st Air Commandos or anyone who worked with them in China/Burma/India.
Mary Sanichas, Grass Valley CA
1st Air Commando photos
8mm film shot by my father John Sanichas
John Sanichas: original member of 1st Air Commando Group transport section, later assigned to 319th Troop Carrier Squadron, CBI.
Shows C-47 pilot and flight crew buddies horsing around and hanging out—Jacob Sartz, Jesse Hepler, Dick Cole, Buddy Lewis, John Lewis (“Jack” or "Magellan"), Ed Barham (“Snakebite” or "Snake"), Bill Cherry, Orlo Austin (“Red Austin”) and Neil Holm (“Nipper”).
Footage from the air and of a monastery does not appear to be Mt. Tali. Shot sometime after October 1944.
more 8mm film shot by my father John Sanichas
This footage appears to be late 1944(?) It shows Burmese people, Chindits, C-47 crew members including Buddy Lewis and Jesse Hepler. A light plane L5-Sentinel (with dog as copilot!). Flight crew swimming around a seaplane with pontoons (Catalina PBY OA-10?). Shot-up Japanese planes on the ground. Construction of Ledo Road in the mountains.
more 8mm film shot by my father John Sanichas
8 mm film in poor condition shot by my father Capt. John C. Sanichas, 1st Air Commando assigned to 319th Troop Carrier Squadron. Shows C-47s flying in formation, a group of Chindits and a group of American airmen and a bomber. Probably late 1944.
Jesse Hepler, Part 1 of interview
In this interview (early 1990s), my uncle Hep talks about the inception of the 1st Air Commando Group, how the glider snatch worked and about the light planes in the unit.
1st Air Commando Transport Pilots
My aunt Vaso with Jesse Hepler and Bill Cherry at a 1st Air Commandos reunion. Bill Cherry was the head of the 1st Air Commando transport section. He was also the pilot who successfully crash landed and survived for 3 weeks in a raft with Eddie Rickenbacker and others. Patt Meara said that after spending all that time in "the deep" Bill Cherry was the most "catastrophe-prepared" individual you hav
Jacob Sartz, second in command, shown here with Grace Kelly on the October 9, 1944 cover of Life
magazine.
----------------
from The San Diego Union, Sunday, February 27, 1994, by Hugh Crumpler
"Cherry’s second in command was Jacob B. Sartz, one of the storied transport pilots in the early days of China-India-Burma theater.
Sartz was a hero and an Air Corps legend from his work as a C-47 pilot in the
My father's letters, newspaper articles & other information
For more information…
Books
Back to Mandalay
Lowell Thomas, 1951
Any Place, Any Time, Any Where: The 1st Air Commandos in World War II
R.D. Van Wagner
also available as pdf
https://www.afsoc.af.mil/Portals/86/documents/history/AFD-051227-003.pdf
Project 9: The Birth of the Air Commandos in World War II
Dennis R. Okerstrom
Air Commandos Against Japan: Allied Special Operations in WWII Burma
William T. Y'Blood
Tale of a Tiger
Robert T. Smith
Along with dozens of photographs,Tale of a Tiger is the annotated diary of AVG Flying Tiger pilot Robert T. Smith. “R.T.,” as he was known, later headed the Bomber Section of the 1st Air Commando Group.
Online
A brief overview of the 1st Air Commandos
The Air Commando Tradition, James Warner Bellah
Historical analysis, John J. Torres
Historical interview: Phil Cochran
https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1527325/historical-interview-phil-cochran/
400-page transcript of interview with Phillip Cochran
Historical interview: Johnny Alison
https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1532519/historical-interview-johnny-alison/
Interview conducted by the Air Force Historical Research Center in 1978
Operation Thursday and the 1st Air Commando Group
Article in Defense Media Network written by Dwight Jon Zimmerman, first published in 2004
summarizing the story of 1st Air Commando Group
Incredible amount of CBI info. & links, in honor of Warren Weidenburner
"Air Invasion of Burma" by John T. Correll
https://www.ww2gp.org/Burma.php
This article describes the inception of Project 9 through Operation Thursday by the 1st Air Commando Group. It was first published by Air Force Magazine in 2009 and is reprinted on the website of the National World War Ii Glider Pilots Association.
A general background and history of the 1st Air Commando Group
Why head of 1st AC's C-47 section Bill Cherry was "catastrophe prepared"!
Bill Cherry miraculously crash landed in the Pacific and survived with other men in 3 rafts for 24 days. The famous passenger aboard his plane was Eddie Rickenbacker, a racecar driver and top World War I flying ace.
2008 article by Thomas Fleming https://www.americanheritage.com/lost-sea-24-days
Rivetting article by Billy A. Rhea https://www.historynet.com/eddie-rickenbacker-and-six-other-people-survive-a-b-17-crash-and-three-weeks-lost-in-the-pacific-ocean.htm
YouTubes
Dick Cole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnIQwt3W3i8
At 103, Dick Cole, the last living 1st Air Commando Group transport pilot, talks about his time with the 1st Air Commandos
Dennis Okerstrom with 3 veterans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3wSZGEuGB0
Dennis Okerstrom talks about his book “Project 9: Birth of the Air Commandos in World War II.” Three veterans, Bill Cartwright, Dick Cole, Patt Meara, answer questions from the audience.
Video by Brad Michaelson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSDX5_lj16I
“The 1st Air Commando Group, Project 9: ‘To Hell with the Paperwork’” by Brad Michaelson
Film by Robert T. Smith, 1943–44
Film taken by 1st Air Commander fighter/bomber pilot "Tadpole" Smith. He is seen in front of his airplane "Barbie" (back row, center) at :20 to :30. Mike Pitts, the son of Younger “Sonny” A. Pitts Jr., has identified his dad at 4:53 to 5:00. Sonny was in the Fighter Section.