y Lt. Johnson Parachutes To Safety After Flak Disables His Fortress First Lieutenant William A. Johnson, 22, of Trucksville, has piloted his B-17 Flying Fortress on more than 20 high altitude, heavy bombardment missions over Ger- many and Nazi-occupied Europe. His most exciting mission was his first, when he narrowly escaped coming down behind the German lines on a parachute jump from his crippled Fort. Lt. Johnson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Johnson, of 34 Carverton Road, Trucksville. A 1940 graduate of Kingston Township High School, Trucksville, he at- tended Bucknell University Junior College before being employed by the Glenn L. Martin Co. of Balti- more, as an aircraft inspector. He entered the AAF in October, 1942, and received the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Following is Lt. Johnson's own story of his experience: An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England,—By First Lt. William A. Johnson. On my first trip into Germany, on which I flew as co-pilot, we had no sooner drop- ped our bombs, on an airfield at Munster, than trouble started. A burst of flak started a fire in the left outboard engine, putting it out of commission. Two minutes later another direct hit knocked out the right outboard engine and started a fire in the right inboard engine. Far behind the other bombers, limp- ing along on one engine and losing altitude rapidly, we realized that we had no chance of reaching our base in England. We therefore headed for newly liberated Belgium, hoping against hope that our plane would hold together until we reach- ed the Allied lines. Our chances didn’t look too good, for literally hundreds of German anti-aircraft gunners fired at us during our painfully slow journey, filling the sky around us with flak. When it was apparent that our flak-ridden Fort had taken as much punishment as it could stand, the pilot and I looked at each other. No words were necessary, for each knew what the other was thinking; then the pilot gave the order to bail out and we all jumped. After I had pulled the rip-cord, and ‘seen’ that beautiful ’chute blossom out overhead, I considered my prospects below. My suspicion that I was still in Germany was strengthened when Nazi riflemen shot at me during my descent. I came down in an apple orchard, just missing a tree, some leaves of which clung to the parachute. The first person I saw, a little old man, spoke to me in a language I couldn’t understand, that I thought was German; however his manner was friendly, and I tried him in French. He switched to that lang- uage, telling me that the Germans had been driven to the other side of the River Maas, which was less than one-quarter of a mile away, and that just that morning—it was then about 1 P. M.—Canadian troops had advanced to the river. Then I realized that I was safe in liberated Belgium territory, and that the language in which the old man had first spoken was Flemish. Since I had come down on the edge of a town, a crowd of perhaps a thousand people soon gathered around me, mostly civilians; the crowd also included some Cana- dian soldiers, who took me to their headquarters. Two days later at the headquarters of the Ninth Air Force, I joined six other members of my crew, the closest of whom had landed two miles from me. The remaining two members of the crew came down on the German-held bank of the river, and have not been heard from since. From- Pillar To Post (Continued from Page One) adds just that certain touch that will make her ¢hild stand out from the howling mob, and cause the future photo-audience to draw an enraptured breath of approval. The photographer withdraws his objections. He stands from the camera, bulb in hand and goes into his act. - Look children, look. See the nice man roll the cigarette down his nose. Come on, kids, scintilate, can’t \ she gives tongue. Her mother wrings her hands in despair. The pHotographer trips over the electric cord with a smothered yelp. The line brightens perceptibly, and another picture is snapped. The five proofs are a record of calamity. The first proof registers a lac- erated ankle, the second a stubbed toe, the third represents the des- tiny which shapes our ends, the fourth and fifth, collisions of har- ried parents. ‘The parents, restored to nor- malcy, swoop upon their respective progeny and bear them off to lunch and map. The photographer limps out with his tripod under his arm forgetting you? E. H. drops to her hands and knees. ‘Look, Mary Eleanor, see Mamma be a big woof-woof.” | | | Mary Eleanor looks solemnly out from the shade of the frilled pink his thousand watt flood-light. LEHMAN Merchant Seaman James Snyder, bonnet, black eyes fixed unwinking { from Bethlehem, spent Sunday with upon her incalculable parent. She has never seen her mother being a big woof-woof before, and she must consider the matter. she does with great concentration, crossing her eyes slightly to aid i Mr. and Mrs. | family. This| days with Mrs. Charles Snyder and Miss Mary Snyder spent a few Kenneth Rice, .of Orchard Farm, Dallas. Edgar Harrison, of the Naval Re- POST, | Sailor Girl Shows How NICKNAMED “INCHES” because she is the shortest in the crew of this woman-manned British Navy boat, this girl makes a big leap ashore to tie up as the boat comes alongside. For the past three years, “Wrens” (Women's Royal Naval Service) have manned duty boats up to 60 ft. long in British naval harbors. In all weathers they take mail and stores to warships and bring sailors to shore on leave. Mr. and Mrs. Arch Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Baird and chil- dren Sandra and Barry, Orange, and Miss Ruth Baird, Kingston, were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weeks of West Pittston. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Nolan of West Pittston visited the Ben Eaton family on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Horton Bell, dau- ghter Gladys, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Evans spent Sunday with Mrs. Bell's sister and brother-in- law, Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Love, Mehoopany. Pvt. Joseph M. Perry Jr. has returned to Fort Meade, Md., after spending the weekend with his aunt, Florence Ross. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Henshall of Scranton visited Mr. and Mrs. Har- old Brace Saturday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hine of West Pitt- ston were Sunday callers at the Brace home. John Scoble of Carverton was guest speaker at the Orange Meth- odist Church Sunday night. He spoke on the responsibilities of Christian laymen to the community. TRUCKSVILLE The many friends of “Ernie” Smith are wishing him a speedy re- covery. He is a patient at Mercy Hospital] where he is convalescing after a heart attack. Byron Ide spent the weekend with his parents on Church road. He had as his guest, Freddie Ness, of Philadelphia. Byron and Fred- die are training for the Maritime Service at Sheepshead Bay, Brook- lyn; N. Y. Pvt. Evan Evans is spending a about after a recent illness. Mrs. Elmer ‘Hoover, Mrs. Emory Hadsel, and Mrs. Frances Smith spent one day last week with Mrs. Daniel Brown. Centermoreland Mrs. Clifford Dickinson at home. is sick Mr. Herbert Brunges, who under- went an operation, has returned home. Marnie Gay has improved and was taken from the hospital to the home of her niece in East Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Roderick were dinner guests of the former’s broth- er, Stanley, and family, of Wilkes- Barre, on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Smail and Ida Schoonover visited friends at Johnston City on Sunday. Nora Dymond and son were Sun- day visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dickinson. Mildred Schoonover, who is working in New York State, visited her parents over the weekend. Mrs. Walter Lamoreaux, who un- derwent an operation at the Nes- bitt - Hospital, returned home on Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Paul LaBar and son called on Mr. and Mrs. Vic Keith- line on ‘Sunday. CARVERTON Girl Scout Committee Women held their monthly meeting at Mrs. Jack Dana’s. Plans were made for a St. Patrick’s Dance to be held tonight at the Mountain Grange Hall. Bill Thomas orchestra from| furlough with his parents, Mr. and Kunkle will furnish the music. Mrs. Evan Evans, of Carverton Present at the meeting were:| road. Pvt. Evans has been in Mrs. James Sands, Mrs. Richard Pyrnn, Mrs. Leon Minard, Mrs. Alaska for the past nine months. Mr. Fred Boote, Mr. and Mrs. J. Y, MARCH 16,1945 __ serve, Kingston, spent the weekend A nervous parent in the back-!with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Snyder ground stumbles over the business and family. end of a rocking chair, and the en. | Theodore Parks has returned tire line-up of sadistic infants from New Jersey, where he has breaks into a delighted chuckle. [been engaged in defense work for The photographer presses the! the past three months. bulb and shot one is in the bag. Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Hendricks He changes plate-holders, and had as Sunday guests, Mr. and Mrs. three mothers seize the opportunity | Bruce Squier, Miss Irene Squire, to rearrange their offspring nearer and Mrs. Theodore Kunkle, of to their Be desire. Springville. : The photographer struggles with| Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Ruggles, of tempation. There are three anxious Meeker, were callers at the house the thought processes. Dana Sickler, Mrs. LeRoy Ziegler, Mrs. Lewis Harris, Mrs. Harold Dix- on Jr., Mrs. George Kromelbein. Mr. and Mrs. Dana Sickler and family spent last Sunday with rel- atives at Fairmount Springs. ~ Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Newcomer of the Ira Frantz farm, Orange, ap- nounce the birth of a son, David Elwood, Saturday morning in Nes- bitt Memorial Hospital. Mr. New- comer is the Luzerne County milk tester. They also have a year and a half old daughter, Ann Marie. Miss Eleanor Earl, who is work- F. Houghwout and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Post attended the funeral of Mrs. Albert Boote at Corning, N.Y. Mrs. Boote was a sister-in-law of Mrs. Post and Mrs. Houghwout. Pvt. G. Wilbur Nichols, of Ft. Meade, Md., spent the weekend at his home on Mt. Greenwood road. Miss Julia Montanye, Mrs. Mabel Bachman and Miss Helen Montanye, of Wilkes-Barre, visited friends in Trucksville on Sunday. A beautiful basket of flowers, a loving tribute to the memory of Charles A. Reese, adorned the ~ rear elevations very much in the foreground. There plate in the camera. has only five flash bulbs on hand, and it is not reasonable to suppose that all five exposures will be good. There must be at least four proofs from which to choose. He sighs regretfully. The mothers withdraw, the four infants, newly arranged with their feet tucked under, look glumly at the camera. One small boy changes position suddenly. His feet shoot out into the foreground, looking large as life and twice as matural. If the picture is snapped, those feet will be the most prominent feature of the group. His mother makes a frantic dash to tuck them under. Now the undergarments of the next little boy in line have skidded, and there is a rim of white below the dark blue jersey. His mother in her turn makes a hasty dab at the offending garments. The little girl with the curl on top now claims the spotlight. She has been roused unceremoniously from her nap, and her plump arms crowded into a starched pink and white dimity affair with smocking around the middle where the waist ought to be but by reason of her ~ contours, isn’t. Curl-on-top is bored with the ‘whole affair, and she does not give a whoop who knows it. Her face crumples into a mask of woe and CAR { of Mrs. Ella Major on Sunday after- is the extra noon. But alas, he! IDETOWN Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ide an- nounce the birth of a son, Joseph Elliott, on Saturday, March 10th. Mrs. Ide is the former Rose Coulter. This is their third son. Lt. and Mrs. James Agnew, who were spending a 10-day leave at the Agnews’ home have returned to Trenton, N. Y. Those who spent Sunday with the Agnews were: Miss Jean Brown, of Wilkes-Barre, and Mr. and Mrs. William Trethe- way, of Lehman. Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Short- kroff and daughter, Sonya, of Phil- adelphia, are spending sometime with Mrs. Shortkroff’s parents, Mr. and Mrs, Ernest Fritz. Mrs. Elmer Hoover, Mrs. Frances Smith, Mrs. Roxie Hessler spent last Friday with their cousin, Mrs. Ida Thomas * in Luzerne. Mrs. Thomas just lost her sister, Mrs. Agnes Werthman. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Boice and Lily Jane spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Boice, of Sugar Hollow. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Hoover spent Sunday with relatives and friends in Endicott. = Ethel Culp, of Dallas, spent the weekend with Roxie Hoover. Mrs. Oscar Swan is able to be chancel of The White Church on the Hill on Sunday. They were presented by members of his fam- ily on the 20th anniversary of his death. Miss Marian Gregory and Miss Ruth Culp spent the weekend with Mrs. Anthony Maurs of Kingston. The following servicemen at- tended services at the Methodist Church on Sunday morning: G. Wilbur Nichols, Byron Ide, and Frederick Ness. Carl J. Dykman was graduated with a class of aviation cadets at Columbus Army Air Field and has been commissioned a second lieu- tenant in the Army Air Forces. ing in Newark, N. J., spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Earl of Mount Zion. Mr. and Mrs. ‘Alden Earl have moved into an apartment in the home of Mr. Earl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Earl, Mount Zion. Two pairs of bluebirds have been flying around the home of Rev. Charles H. Gilbert, Carverton. They made their first appearance in the back yard pear tree Sunday morn- ing, and have since been seen sev- eral times in the near-by orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Don Robinson, dau- ghter Peggy, Mrs. Blen Burgess and son Berle Burgess, all of Russell Hill, visited Rev. and Mrs. Charles H. Gilbert, Carverton, Tuesday eve- ning. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Bur- gess attended the tomato growers’ meeting at the Mountain Grange Hall. David Perry Jr. and Kermit Sick- ler, Carverton, left this week for military service. ORANGE Fuller Dymond has finished his boot training at Sampson, N. Y. and is spending a week with Mrs. Nelson Dymond. Miss Grace Evans, Dallas, spent Sunday with her mother, Mrs. Mabel Evans. Mrs. Nora Dymond and son Lee spent Sunday with the Tom Dickin- son family, Centermoreland. 2,000,000 STARVING More than two million civilians in Budapest are starving. "YELL i FIRST SY TO ET TO! IT’S E: & Henry M. Franke Buried Saturday Fornier Naval Inspector Retired Two Years Ago The, funeral of’ Henry M. Franke, retired“inspector of the United States Naval Ordnance Department in Washington, who died Wednes- day afternoon at his home in Hol- comb’s Grove following an illness since Thanksgiving Day, was held Saturday afternoon. Services at the home were in charge of Rev. Herbert E. Frank- fort of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Shavertown, with further services at Westmore Church of Christ, Kingston, in charge of Rev. George Massey, pastor, assisted by Rev. Felix Zaffiro of Shavertown Meth- odist Church. Mr. and Mrs. their home here ment from the Department in Franke had made since his retire- Navy Ordnance December 1943. Born in Reading, Mr. Franke as a young man took his training and learned his trade in the Navy Or- dnance Department in Washington, D. C. During World War I he was assigned to many different naval bases throughout the country as a Naval Inspector and at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Har- bor, he and Mrs. Franke had their trunks packed ready to leave for that Pacific base. Ill health, how- ever, prevented his departure, but he was asked to remain on duty in Washington. After a period of | intense work during which he was on duty seven days a week and without holidays of any kind, his health broke and he asked for a leave of absence after 32 years with the Department. Active in church work from his youth, Mr. Franke was an elder and deacon in the Ninth Street Christian. Church of Washington. Devoted to young people, he and Mrs. Franke were sponsors of the Junior Society for Better Citizen- ship- under the Federation of Churches in the Northeast section of Washington. He was also a member of Potomac Lodge F.&A.M. of Washington and the Junior Mechanics. Upon taking up his residence here he became a deacon and elder at Westmore Church of Christ where he also taught a Sunday School class. He enjoyed nothing more than association with young people and was deeply interested in their pro- blems; and those who advocated the establishment of a Teen-Age Center had no more ardent suppor- ters than he and his wife. A profusion of floral tributes at- tested to the esteem in which he was held both here and in Wash- ington. Besides his wife, the former Julia Kendig of Plymouth, he leaves a brother, George of Reading and two sisters: Malilda, Reading and Catherine, Forty Fort. Masonic services at the grave in Evergreen Cemetery, Shaver- town, were conducted by Kingston Lodge No. 395, F.&A.M. Pallbear- ers were Charles Hankey, Daniel Reese, John Pittman, Fred Mal- kemes, Allen Dungan and Osborne Morgan. Funeral arrangements were by Richard H. Disque whose former employer in Washington was a close personal friend of Mr. Franke’s. Re-Roof Now With us you do not have to pay for— @® Salesman Commissions @® High Rents ® Expensive Advertising Materials, labor and : insurance on any $90 average house FREE ESTIMATES ON— @® New Roofs @® Brick Siding @® All Roof Repairs @ Metal Roof Painting TIME PAYMENTS GET OUR PRICE LAST Phone Kingston 7-4631 277 Vaughn St, ACME Roofing Co. Luzerne, Pa. ig PAGE FIVE ed to her duties Ceasetown School. T/Sgt. Richard Swelgyn is now permanently stationed at Camp Gordon, Ga. after serving in the South Pacific for the past four years. Nurse Cadet Audrey Ashton has been assigned to a U.S. Naval Hos- pital on Long Island. as teacher at SWEET VALLEY Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Holcomb, Clifford Hontz, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wallace visited Mr. and Mrs. David Culver of Carverton on Sunday afternoon. ’ Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Klinetob, Bess Klinetob, Mrs. Hattie Edwards, Roy and Sam Bronson attended services at Loyalville Church Sunday morn- ing. Joseph Dele-Kanic of Trucks- ville delivered a wonderful address on Alaska. Seaman 2/c Earl Kittle Jr., spent a fifteen day furlough with his par- ents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kittle Sr. of Mooretown. He returned to his base last Thursday. Thomas Jones is a patient in the General Hospital. Mrs. Eva Major spent Friday with her sister Miss Mae Smith of Ply- mouth. Mr. Grange Meeting Jackson Grange will hold a meet- ing in the Grance Hall Saturday evening at 8 o'clock. A St. Pat- rick’'s Day party including games and songs is being planned. Re- freshments will be served by the Wilkes-Barre group following ad- journment of the business meeting. and Mrs. Calvin Hosier of | Bs yi bought good chicks and they de- West Pittston and Mr. and Mrs. William Rennie and Walter Rennie serve good care so I disinfect my of Pittston attended services in Lreodss Inusaains Dr. Seksburrs the Christian Church. Mr. and #'s such a pleasant disinfectant no dip- py odors, no hea Mrs. Hosier sang a special number and called at the church pasonage after service. JACKSON Members of W.S.C.S. of Jackson Methodist Church will serve a ham and egg supper in the church hall in the evening of March 28th. \ Public is invited. STS Mr. and Mrs. Ivor Ashton en- MR-0-9 tertained their son-in-law and dau- ghter, Mr. and Mrs. George Low- erts. Mr. Lowerts was recently discharged from the Navy because of disability. He was formerly ser- ving in the South Pacific area. John Sholtis has returned to his job in a Baltimore shipyard. Corporal Norman Franklin, of Camp Swift, Texas, spent Sunday with his wife and little daughter. Mrs. Jennings Steele has return- d KEEP AT THAT SANITATION "CONSTANTLY STAPLETON'S Drug Store Next to the Luzerne Post Office THIRD — BIG HORSE SALE — THIRD MONDAY, MARCH (9, 1945 Two more car loads are coming. One from Ohio, one from North Dakota. Both cars are due to arrive here Friday of this week. They range in age from 4 to 8 years old. Weight from 1200 to 1800 Ibs. A lot of real mated pairs. I have never sold horses so good with prices so low as I am selling this spring.. Sale starting at 12 o'clock on shipped horses. 3 o'clock on 25 good second-hand horses. New team harness at private sale. All horses delivered free. Don’t forget the date of this big sale—Monday, March 19. Terms same as usual. Runyan, auctioneer. ELMER SHAFFER, BERWICK, PA. AUDITORS REPORT, 1944 COUNTY, LUZERNE; TOWNSHIP, KINGSTON From first Monday in January, 1944, to first Monday in January, 1945. : CASH BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF YEAR Cash in Bank, Securities and Reserves $ 6,520.44 Light Fund... 3. = Ciuc am oaign, 48.93 Sinking: und. nia Asp Sa 2,382.60 Tolals- ka 0 “ow DF if, Huai $ 8,951.97 RECEIPTS Taxes Collected in Cash during Year... $18,206.90 Taxes Collected on Old Duplicates during Year... 2,273.71 Amount Received from County on Unpaid Taxed or ldens Filed. | i i. ooo Senet 2,933.08 Amount Received from Other Sources (a) to GY Porm M30 oid a com ii oe 2,994.51 Total. 0 nis nda hile oe $26,408.20 EXPENDITURES General \Government, «+ oi. oy $ 1,789.15 Protection to Persons and Property... _.. 2,365.36 Highways Con i ea 14,742.09 Miscellaneous 1,436.49 Light Bund vu Soni olivia finns a 1,798.82 Sinking Fund. b sitn cRA 0 gs 1,983.97 otal suri & 0 cadedit vw Bie id sinirn wim Si $24,115.88 CASH BALANCE AT END OF YEAR... __ $11,244.29 RESOURCES Cash, - Securities and Reserves... ‘1... J 6,584.32 Sinkdng Pond. 3,271.01 Due from County on Taxes Returned and Leins Filled airy hot wl a 2 sh IE TE ii 14,824.47 Value of Township Machinery and Township Buildings rio vant Sued ve blaine 900.00 Light Fund, $1,516.98; Unpaid 1944 Taxes, S5.384.05 0 Csi a a 6,881.73 Motal oo aa le ds re $32,461.53 LIABILITIES Outstanding Township Bonds... La $ 9,000.00 Unpaid Bills and Payrolls, Luzerne County Gas... 1,165.45 Outstanding Vouchers. i 0... 128.02 Potalh on ri dil oa $10,293.47 Signed, HERMAN SANDS, ERNEST M. JOHNSON, DAVID SCHOOLEY, Auditors. Posted in Accordance With Act Approved May 21, 1943, P. L. 433.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers