Question for Mark in Rochester

[Mark in Rochester]

While searching the name I ran upon this old thread that you were asking for 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 M1

[oldfoneguy]

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 M1

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.

[RCS]

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

[Bob Seijas]

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

[jond41403]

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

[Bob Seijas]

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

[Mark in Rochester]

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



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

[jond41403]

Wow, you have excellent research abilities mark! Thank you for what you do!

[Mark in Rochester]

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


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






Fortunately for Private Whitney the got it correct eventually