My Father Harold Gilbert attached to VMSB-244 Bombing Banshees, Radio-navigator/rear gunner.
I am trying to find out if he is due any medals.
Trying to locate his wingman, also best-man in his wedding. Only know him as "RED DOG". believe he lives in Georgia. He might know how to claim medals.
where do i start?
Dad is getting old, he is my best friend and i would like to make a special gift for him.
Think they were to have gotten some medals.
can anybody help me?

Hi,
I saw this posting while checking Iwo Jima info. If you don't have any of his papers, but know your father's service number, and dates of service, you can send a request to the National Records Center. www.archives.gov Click on the How to? / Where do I? box. The click on Veterans Records. If you already have any of your dad's discharge papers, look for the one thats called the Report of Separation. If you have that, it usually lists the campaigns / battles that he participated in. There's a company called Medals of America. www.usmedals.com. If they have that form, the can make up a nice framed display (for a fee, of course)I hope this got to you in time.
Dan

There's a book titled "SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2" by Barrett Tillman. It's part of the Osprey Combat Aircraft series of books. These books are used by aircraft model builders. It has photos, history and illustrations that you may be interested in.
Dan

My father too, was a reargunner. I too was looking for information about my father and over the years was lead to a Tom Brown who publishes a quarterly newsletter "Marine Bombers". It has been very helpful and beneficial to me, however I just wish I had gained all this information before my father passed away in 1995. I received this quarter's newsletter in the mail today and I am looking at a picture they published of the Flight Echelon, VMSB244 Gunners and your dad is in the picture with his name listed. If you will send your email address, I will be glad to send you a copy of this picture, if you have not already come in contact with the newsletter yourself. If you would like to start receiving the newsletter, you can contact Mr. Brown at 740-477-6937. Let me know if I can be of any help and feel free to contact me at 817 737-2124. Sincerely Ken Irving, son of SSGT Ray Irving (he went by the name "Scoop").