Description: Map of the Basse-Normandie region of northern France, where C. Walder Parke and his crew of the B-17 "Mission Mistress" had to make an emergency landing after being shot down by Germans. When the map is folded over, three red lines with labels drawn on the front and back of the map align to indicate where Parke landed, was processed for return to his base, and left France with his crew members to come back to England. "Mission Mistress" managed to land safely on a Canadian landing strip. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B03F06_002_01
Subjects: France--Normandy; Surprise (Military science); Fighter planes--Landing
Places: Calvados (France);
 

Description: National colors of the 136th Machine Gun Battalion, 37th Infantry Division. Rectangular flag measures 128 cm high by 160 cm wide. Two battle streamers attached to flag. Text on 1st battle streamer: Annes[?] Sector, St. Mihiel, France. October 7 - October 16, 1918. Meuse-Argonne Offense, France. September 26 - September 30, 1918. Baccarat Sector, France. August 4-September 16, 1918. Text on 2nd battle streamer: Ypres-Lys Offensive, Belgium. November 9-November 11, 1918. Ypres-Lys Offensive, Belgium. October 31-November 4, 1918. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02234
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; World War, 1914-1918
 

Description: Photograph of a partial lead plate discovered at the mouth of the Muskingum River near Marietta in Washington County, Ohio. The plates were buried by French explorer Joseph Pierre Celoron de Bienville and his scouting party in 1749. The plate's inscription is in French and claim King Louis XV of France the ruler of the Ohio Valley region. This plate was part of a group of plates placed near strategic tributaries of the Ohio River by Celoron and his party. The expedition and the ceremonies conducted when the plates were buried was intended as a show of force and an attempt to reclaim for France land on which British settlers were encroaching. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02716
Subjects: Washington County (Ohio); Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Louis XV, King of France, 1710-1774
Places: Washington County (Ohio)
 

Description: Visitor to the French Gratitude Train looking at a display case of traditional French dolls. On the wall are posters for the Alsace and Savoie regions of France from the French National Railroad Society. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_09
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This flag is textile(wool) with vertical blue (hoist side), white, and red stripes of equal width, halyard rope and frayed edges. Flags of this design have been used since the fall of Napoleon (the start of the Bourbon Restoration) in 1815. Blue and red are associated with France's capital city, Paris, and patron saint, the Virgin Mary. The colors are said to represent three main estates (the clergy: white, the nobility: red, and the bourgeoisie: blue). This flag is not cataloged in this collection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: H65456_001
Subjects: Ceremonial artifact; Communication artifact; National Flags --France; textile (wool);
Places: France
 

Description: Photograph of the exterior of the French Gratitude Train parked on an unknown set of railroad tracks in Ohio. On the exterior are crests from the different regions of France. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_12
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Pictures is a chow line at Camp Lucky Strike in France in 1945. Camp Lucky Strike was one of several transfer camps that were established by allied forces during WWII. Located northeast of Le Havre, France, the port served as a staging area for incoming troops preparing for combat in Europe. In order to keep the geographical locations of the camps secret, they were assigned names that gave no indication of their locations. All of the staging camps were named after American cigarette brands, such as Luck Strike and Philip Morris, as a security precaution. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05994
Subjects: Ohio History--Military Ohio; World War II; Camps
Places: France
 

Description: Photograph of 94th Bombardment Group with their families at a reunion dinner. This Group was a subdivision of the 4th Combat Wing of the famous Eighth Air Force, which conducted many of the missions over France and Germany during WWII. The two men in the center, from right to left, are pilot Ray Graves and navigator C. Walder Parke. Ray Graves was the pilot of the B-17 that was shot down over France with Parke on board. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F06_008
Subjects: 94th Bombardment Group; Veterans; Reunions; World War II; United States Air Force
 

Description: Photograph of C. Walder Parke and fellow crew members of the B-17 named "Mission Mistress" at a reunion for the 94th Bombardment Group. "Mission Mistress" was shot down over France, but successfully landed on a friendly Canadian air strip. The 94th was a subdivision of the 4th Combat Wing of the famous Eighth Air Force, which conducted many of the missions over France and Germany during WWII. From left to right are pilot Ray Graves, co-pilot Vern Kreger, bombardier Al Silva, and Parke. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F06_002
Subjects: 94th Bombardment Group; Veterans; Reunions
 

Description: Photograph of three crew members of "Mission Mistress" standing beside a B-17 Flying Fortress at the 94th Bombardment Group reunion. The 94th was a subdivision of the 4th Combat Wing of the famous Eighth Air Force, which conducted many of the missions over France and Germany during WWII. From left to right are pilot Ray Graves, tail gunner Manny Grant, and co-pilot Vern Kreger. "Mission Mistress" was a different B-17 which was shot down over France with C. Walder Parke on board. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F06_004
Subjects: 94th Bombardment Group; Veterans; Reunions; B-17 bomber
 

Description: Photograph of C. Walder Parke and fellow crew members of the B-17 named "Mission Mistress" at a reunion for the 94th Bombardment Group. "Mission Mistress" was shot down over France, but successfully landed on a friendly Canadian air strip. The 94th was a subdivision of the 4th Combat Wing of the famous Eighth Air Force, which conducted many of the missions over France and Germany during WWII. From left to right are co-pilot Vern Kreger, tail gunner Manny Grant, Parke, and bombardier Al Silva. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F06_003
Subjects: 94th Bombardment Group; Veterans; Reunions
 

Description: Photograph of C. Walder Parke and fellow crew members of the B-17 named "Mission Mistress" at a reunion for the 94th Bombardment Group. The 94th was a subdivision of the 4th Combat Wing of the famous Eighth Air Force, which conducted many of the missions over France and Germany during WWII. "Mission Mistress" was shot down over France, but successfully landed on a friendly Canadian air strip. From left to right are pilot Ray Graves, co-pilot Vern Kreger, bombardier Al Silva, and Parke. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F06_006
Subjects: 94th Bombardment Group; Veterans; Reunions