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Mark,
I found a early gas trap stock in the Wisconsin Barnwood years ago, this stock went through rebuild and has the early (1942) large RA-P stamp before re-issued
The stock is carved G J NOVAK on one side and MARY ANN on the other side.
I would guess Europe and that G T Kovak to be US Army ? Mary Ann could be girlfriend or wife?
I know it is a very long shot, but can you help me. Thanks RobertAttachment 121310Attachment 121311Attachment 121312
I will give it a shotQuote:
Originally Posted by RCS
Robert
I found 34 name matches none with a spouse name of Mary Ann
Below are the ones with noted military service.
There were 14 Name matches to Mary Ann Novak - must have been a bad name as none noted husbands
The next steps would be to get a Newspaper archive account and look for an obituary.
George J Novak
BIRTH 1 May 1921
DEATH 4 Apr 1982 (aged 60)
BURIAL Calvary Cemetery, Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, US
Headstone
George J. Novak
CPL US Army
World War II
May 1 1921 - April 4 1982
Gerard J Novak
BIRTH 28 Feb 1926
DEATH 20 Jan 2002 (aged 75)
BURIAL
Calverton National Cemetery
Calverton, Suffolk County, New York, USA
PLOT SECTION 43 SITE 851
SGM US ARMY
S1 US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
George J Novak
BIRTH 1 Jan 1927
DEATH 23 Aug 2002 (aged 75)
BURIAL New Saint Aloysius CemeteryPottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...76802904-1.jpg
George J. Novak
BIRTH 6 Apr 1924
Czech Republic
DEATH 12 Mar 2016 (aged 91)
Shoreline, King County, Washington, USA
BURIAL
Washington Memorial Park
George was born April 6, 1924 in the Czech Republic. He died March 12, 2016 in Shoreline, WA.
He was retired from the United States Air Force after 24 years of service and also served in the United States Army for many years.
He was a beloved husband and father.
George J. Novak
BIRTH 24 Mar 1921
DEATH 4 Aug 1971 (aged 50)
BURIAL
Mountain View Cemetery
Des Arc, Iron County, Missouri, USA
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...39588596-1.jpg
Also found a WW2 Navy and Army Air Corps G. J. Novak
This old thread on M1 Garand Forum https://www.m1garandforum.com/forum/...k-s-rife-stock
has the closest name matches - do not think it is your man as Army air corps service
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02712125-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02712100-1.jpg
Note Wife's name is Anna not Mary Ann
Not a relative, but I can add a little more to this soldier's story. George J Novak was born on 22 May 1908 in Swoyerville, Luzcerne County, Pennsylvania, USA.
He served in the US Army from his enlistment at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland in 14 April 1944 until his discharge in 8 November 1945 at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, USA.
He resided with his wife Mary A. in West Pittston, Luzcerne County, Pennsylvania and died on 22 October 1991.
Mark, thank you for your help in checking the G J KOVAK stock carving. I would think this carving was done in a combat area
outside of the USA. Both the first and second on your posting look like they could be possible ?
The odds are very long when you consider the millions that serviced during WW2
Thanks again for your time and help, Robert
Glad to do the research. I had one picture of the day and a member said it was his father at west point. In another photo, the local hairdresser stated her father was a radio operator for some army unit 5307 - searching photos I found a photo of Merrill's Marauders radio operator that matched his physical appearance. So you never knowQuote:
Originally Posted by RCS
WW2 Casualties Database | WW2 Research
Not sure how extensive this list is but no G. Novak from the army appears as causality in ww2
Robert - more data additional names from ww2 enlistment data
Mark, thank you for your help in checking the G J KOVAK (looks like Novak to me) stock carving. I would think this carving was done in a combat area
outside of the USAicon. Both the first and second on your posting look like they could be possible ?
I found an early gas trap stock in the Wisconsin Barnwood years ago, this stock went through rebuild and has the early (1942) large RA-P stamp before re-issued
So what we know so far is
1) Gas Trap
2) Overseas
3) Early 1942 Rebuild (Do we have a time frame)
4) G. J. Novak
5) Gas traps were in the Philippines
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...garand14-1.jpg
Questions
1) What other military deployments in WW2 would have Gas Traps that would have come in for rebuild in early 42
2) Can we safely say the stock was carved pre rebuild ? would a carved stock be rejected at rebuild
3) Has the butt been modified?
4) would a soldier enlisted in 1940 have had time to make it to the Philippians? See #1
name Birth Enlisted Enlisted location
1 George J. Novak 1921 8-Jul-1940 Alpena NY Binghampton New York
2 Geroge J, Novak Jr. 1921 11-Mar-1942 Alpena MD Baltimore Maryland
3 George J. Novak 1922 29-Apr-1943 Bastrop NJ Newark, New Jersey
4 George J. Novak 1932 25-May-1942 Bexar, New York Urbana, Illinois
5 George J. Novak 1920 11-Feb-1942 Borden PA New Cumberland PA
6 George J. Novak 1927 18-Nov-1945 Baylor, NJ Ft Dix NJ
7 George J. Novak 1919 27-Mar-1943 Bosque, Ohio Camp Perry Lacame Ohio
8 George J. Novak 1922 1-Jan-1943 Adams PA Pittsburgh PA
9 George J. Novak 1918 14-Apr-1944 Cochran Ft George G. Meade Maryland
10 George J. Novak 1927 30-Apr-1945 Comal Philadelphia, Pa
11 Glenn J. Novak 1921 15-Aug-1942 Gillespie, KS Pueblo Colorado
12 George J. Novak 1-May-21
13 Gerard J.Novak 28-Feb-26
14 George J. Novak 1-Jan-27
15 George J. Novak 6-Apr-24
16 George J. Novak 24-Mar-21
17 Gerald J. Novak 2-Apr-48
#12-17 are from the previously listed headstones
Iceland - July 1941, USMC occupies Iceland later to be turned over to the Army until 1945.
Panama - 1939-45. I believe there were Gas Trap rifles in use in Panama.
Alaska - Aleutian Islands, June 1942 thru August 1943. The Aleutian campaign may be a bit late for your stock. Gas Traps were in use there.
32nd Infantry Div, Red Arrow Division, was made up from units from Michigan and Wisconsin National Guard. They were mobilized in 1940 and deployed to Australia and then on to New Guinea in 1942. Gas Trap and Gas Port rifles were used in the New Guinea campaign. There were Gas Trap rifles issued to the 32nd prior to them shipping out to Australia.
Here is a better photo of the carving, I do not have a photo but Novak also carved (not deep) his name on the right side of the stock too.
Here is my opinion: This stock was on a gas trap rifle that was a direct conversion to gas port early in the war, possible around the 1942 time period. RA-P used the early large letters at the start but later reduced the size of the letters. When the rifle and stock were re-issued and sent overseas, the stock was carved by Novak. I really did not notice any other stocks that had evidence of being near a fire like Novak's stock - but anything could have taken place in a combat area. Novak would have had to been at least 18 years old by 1943 which would be a birth date of 1925, nothing later ? All guess work, but none of the Wisconsin Barn Wood stocks were cartouched beyond SA GAW (1944)Attachment 121387Attachment 121388
Could Marry Anne possibly be a daughter of his? Maybe one of those on the list has children of this name. I'm sure it was way more common to put a girlfriend or wife, but
some GI's already had young children at home before entering the war. Just a thought. Is the forend of the stock burnt as well? It almost looks like it was a fire poker at one time, used to move around things in a burning fire. Would make sense they would hold on to the smaller forend and poke with the large end. Was the butt plate on the stock when you found it in the barn wood? I'm asking cuz I'm wondering if it's burnt underneath the butt plate. Marry anne could have also been the name he gave to his rifle haha. I hope more can be found out concretely because this is extremely interesting
Could Marry Anne possibly be a daughter of his? - Good point - A friend's father named his half-track Piano Legs after his sister.
I hope more can be found out concretely because this is extremely interesting - if we all chip away at this we might get a little closer to the rifle history. Currently, we have 17 candidates if we can find an obituary for the 17 we may find Mary Ann.
I am not a member of news paper archive perhaps if someone does we can get further. I will check another source.
The stock is only burned on the outside, nothing burned under the butt plate. The stock has the large over small hole
butt still with the small bottom screw hole. there is no drawing number which means the stock was issued between
Jan through April/May 1940, this stock is still very solid. The trap is a square cut conversion for the trap door butt
plate and wonder if it was a field modification. I state this because I have found early stocks with very simple modi-
factions just to fit the new trap door butt plate with little concern for fit and internal wood removal. I am certain that
RA-P did the new buttplate as the stock has to be cut for the trap door butt plate, this is not a field mod
Better than umbrella stand legs I guess...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
I do have a membership to a newspaper archive website.
I searched for Mary Ann Novak and found no results with a relation to any G J Novak.
Maybe they didn't end up together.
how about G J Novak obit ?Quote:
Originally Posted by rcathey
I was able to find obituaries for G J Novak. A few even matching up to some you listed.
None that featured a "Mary" though.
Short List to check, some names will scrub off due to dates - this list should be definitive unless he is still alive
Date Range birth date for G. Novak 1905 - 1927
Date Range birth date for Maryann 1917 - 1934
36 Target Names G Novak in Social Security Death Index in the date Range
George, Glenn, Gerard, Gerald
6 Maryann Novak names in Social Security Death Index in the date range
Target names not found in Social Security Death Index in the date range
Gary Novak
Guy Novak
Grayson Novak
Giovanni Novak
Gavin Novak
Grant Novak
Gideon Novak
Grady Novak
Gage Novak
Gerardo Novak
Grey Novak
Gene Novak
Gabe Novak
Gordie Novak
Greg Novak
While searching the name I ran upon this old thread that you were asking information on this stock and someone replied with a match but I cannot seem to find that same match that he says he found. I took a screenshot of it. Did anything ever check out from that?
Yes, that is noted above (post 4) That George J. Novak 1908 to 1991 was US Army Air Corps - so I am thinking it unlikely he had an M1 in the field - Not sure I would expect a PFC on an airbase would be carving up his M1Quote:
Originally Posted by jond41403
I can see it as possible Mark. Endless hours of guard duty in a non combat zone (ie: bomber base in England) leaves a lot of time for such activities. However it strikes me as unusual that a man in his 30's would do something like that. But maybe a guy his age had more contempt for authority than a kid 15 years his junior would have you never know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
Here are some photos of Rick on his way back to Ohio after picking-up a load of Wisconsin Barnwood. Attachment 121441Attachment 121440Attachment 121439Attachment 121438
We did a GCA Journal story about a rifle brought back by a B-17 gunner that he recovered from his burning plane after the Japanese attack on the Philippines.. They carried it as a survival weapon in case of being shot down over enemy territory. Both sides of the stock had carved names... Maizie was a hooker in Australia :) Great story: "MAC MAC MAIZiE" Fall 2019 Journal.
We also did a story on Rick Borecky's finding the "barn," see Spring 2016 issue.
Attachment 121446
I'm sure it is a very long shot but where it is known gas traps were in the philippines, there was a yacht (which is what the article was calling it) named Mary Ann that was acquired by the Navy that was sunk in the Philippines early in the war. Probably is nothing, but I thought the coincidence was worth mentioning. There was also an airplane with the same name. Maybe Marry Anne was a thing, not a person or possibly even someone famous from that era
One of the very few original Gas Traps known back in the day was Burt K's 20343. He bought it from a vet who told him he was in the Philippines when the Japs attacked. His CO told him to take all the new Garand rifles into the jungle and bury them... he took 100, buried 99. GIs are born thieves :)
Thinking we can put this theory on the back burner for at least this Mary Ann B17
B-17 42-30001 / Mary Ann - Missing in Action Le Bourget 16/8/43 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron (Kimbolton)
This was not the Mary Ann in the movie that was B17 #38-584
38-584 B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
Delivered Salt Lake City 7-Sep-40; Lowry 24-Jul-43; to Class 26 Hobbs. NM as aircraft mechanics' trainer; Written off 17-Oct-43.
Crew: B-17 42-30001 / Mary Ann
Ray Bidwell, Flight engineer/top turret gunner KIA
John Cannell, Ball turret gunner KIA
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ks68JXTc-1.jpg
Tom Johnson Co-pilot: KIA
Jack Ryan, Navigator
Mario Delivered Re, Bombardier POW
Wayne Bader, Radio Operator POW
Vic Chesquier, Waist gunner POW
Pete Murray, Waist gunner POW
Elvin Cocherall,Tail gunner POW
Larry Prentiss POW
Crashed Plessis Chenet, near Corbeil, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 1297. MARY ANN.
There was also a location Named
The Mary Ann Site in Burtonwood Lancashire England
Mary Ann Site was occupied by 32 maintenance unit RAF between 1940 & 1942.
On the 11th of June 1942 the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) arrived on the site.
The 3 'C' type hangars were numbered AD4, AD5 & AD6 (AD meaning 'Aircraft Dock').
These hangars were manned by over 300 men in each hangar working day & night shifts 7 days a week.
Over 1,500 aircraft were modified, repaired and overhauled in each hangar each year in over 2 and a half years.
The personnel that worked in these hangars and workshops were very proud of their work.
Each hangar worked to produce more aircraft than its neighbor's hangar in a given time period.
Books, similar to college yearbooks were prepared by the personnel of some of the hangars and possibly 'all' of them.
On the 9th of June 1946, the USAAF returned control back to the RAF and number 276MU then occupied the site, its role being for long term aircraft storage, Inspection Repairs, and Modification of Aircraft issued to the RAF.
Also in 1946, the Ministry of Supply (MOS) took over control of the Mary Ann Site for covered storage.
In September 1948 the Americans were back, this time the United States Air Force (USAF).
The airfield was now being extensively used by Military Air Transport Services (MATS) as their UK base & for aircraft maintenance & servicing.
MaryAnn (Yacht)
Maryann was in service from 8 December 1941 until she was scuttled at Corregidor on 6 May 1942 to prevent her capture by the Japanese. She was, apparently, never formally commissioned as a United States Ship (U.S.S.) nor given an official designation but is shown in U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945 under "Converted Patrol Vessels" along with Fisheries II and another converted yacht, named Perry, without the U.S.S. designation nor a hull number.
If the Maryann was scuttled in 42 not sure the stock would have been available for the rebuild stamp
B24 Mary Ann
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ary20ann-1.jpg
Wow, you have excellent research abilities mark! Thank you for what you do!
Additional Information
Searching on ancestry.com (don't have memberships so I cant look deeper) there are 13 enlistments for George J. Novak and One enlistment for Glenn J. Novak
No Gerard of Gerald
So the list is getting smaller -
The American Battle Monuments Commission site lists No Novak with a G as the first name other that
George B. Novak
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...93716905-1.jpg
Service # 36719302
Unit 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
Rank Private U.S. Army
Entered Service From Illinois
Date of Death December 17 1944
Buried Plot L Row 16 Grave 85 Manila American Cemetery Manila American Cemetery McKinley Road, Fort Bonifacio 1634 Philippines
Now it is not impossible for them to screw up a headstone
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2leBt3nb-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...zLgtdim6-1.jpg
Fortunately for Private Whitney the got it correct eventually