Part I Part2 Part3
After Dad graduated from high school he got studio space at the Art Center. These studios were above the parking garage and were bitterly cold in winter. The old Art Center is long gone replaced with more appropriate modern facility. He continued pursuing his art and studying with several well known Indiana artists. Elmer Taflinger a member of the “Hoosier Group” was chief among nationally known local artists who were also teachers. A prolific muralist, much of Indianapolis public areas are adorned with his work. His classes were held at 158 E 14th St.
Taflinger also kept prodigious records and they are available to search. When I visit Indianapolis next summer I plan to search for my Dad’s records. Taflinger was an Impressionist but taught various styles including illustration for publication, set design etc. He also sponsored art shows and competitions for young local artists. During the years after high school my Dad won many awards locally for his work and was on the way to a real career. This clipping for summer classes was from 1938, he was still giving the summer classes in the summer of 1940. I wonder if he looked into the WPA artist program it would have seemed perfect for him and many got a leg up on their careers.
On News Years Eve 1939 my father married Clara Mae Herkless. They had been school mates his senior year and in Sketch Club together.
The house 1618 N Delaware Apt 2 no longer exists, it was in a neighborhood of old victorians converted into apartments and close to the Herron Art School. Clara wanted to go to art school but there is no evidence she made it. Her mother was a widow with another much younger child at home. Her parents had farmed but lost everything with the crash of ‘29. By 1930 they were living in town on Delaware and her father is listed as selling Real Estate. He was kicked in the stomach by a horse and died in the fall of 1934. I don’t know if she took classes at the Art Center but she remained active in the art scene in Indianapolis even after Dad passed away. She worked for the Indianapolis Dept. of Education for many years.
His life and circumstances changed but he was still listed as an artist in 1940 census and no college indicated. In 1942 they were living at 5759 Rosslyn Avenue, which no longer exists and Dad is listed as a machinist at Indianapolis Machine Works. It is the first time he wasn’t listed as an artist. I have thought, although I have no evidence, his family probably supported his career choice financially. My grandparents weren’t wealthy but the painting and decorating business was successful and they were comfortably middle class. Another possibility was the health of my grandfather was deteriorating. I know by 1942 when grandpa was required to register for the draft he was no longer working. I can’t imagine just starting out in your adult life and your father getting sick with the disease everyone feared, the one that could radically change your plans and destroy your dreams. There was no way before 1993 to know if you were a carrier or would get it at sometime in your life.
I wonder how forthright people were with each other in those days. Did Thyra know what might be waiting for her, that the first child would be the last child, the only child? Did they talk with my father about what the disease that might mean for him, what he could pass on to his children and grandchildren? Do you put your life on hold or does the information free you. I am sure he knew the truth, he married and had no children from that marriage. I don’t know if my mother knew, I rather believe she didn’t. I am sure, however he never meant for me to happen.
They were both disheartened by not being able to have children but it was worse for Clara, eventually she became an alcoholic. They had Siamese cats, no substitute for a child she dearly wanted. My Dad missed having a child too but seemed to find some of what he needed in his niece and nephews, Clara never did. I don’t know why they didn’t adopt. By the time my dad got back from WWII they were both hitting their 30s, may be they thought they were too old. We will never know the reason. It never occurred to me in searching that he might have other children, even before discovering the health history it was just not in my “dad view”. I will say Clara’s surviving family was shocked to find out I existed. I tracked down three who were on Facebook and friended them with the message I am your Uncle Arthur’s daughter. Experts recommend one sort of slips into the surprise rather than dropping it on the family, but they took it in stride after the initial shock of it. They were also sad because they thought my dad would have been over the moon if he had known. They were very fond of him.
My father was among those civilians who wouldn’t have been drafted with a high number. He could have avoided all service because as the only son/child of a father who was sick he could claim hardship. But the Army wanted him for a talent they believed he had. They were in a habit of drafting people out of civilian life with skills they needed.
He entered the US Army Air Force January 6, 1943, ten days before his 28th birthday. I have no idea at this point where he did basic training or when exactly he arrived at the Radio Technical School in Sioux Falls, SD. I know he was there between the end of November and first of December when I was conceived and left before the holidays to go home on leave ahead of his next assignment. The Radio School lasted 12 weeks. I would like to think my mother knew him longer than 3 months before she decided to get pregnant and run off and get married.
I found out today he was indeed Photo Recon and Mapping. He was with the 90th Bombardment group — the Jolly Rogers, they consisted of 4 squadrons with 25 aircraft or 100 planes. Between 1943 and 1945 they lost 80 aircraft and crews, 800 men, a staggering loss of life. The planes and men were replaced right along altho they were for a time losing them faster than they could replace them. That is how my Dad got assigned to the Jolly Rogers. Second only to the Flying Tigers as most decorated they are a legendary bomber group made up of legendary crews. He wasn’t in the 319th as we thought but instead was assigned to Headquarters and flew his missions with all four of the squadrons of the Jolly Rogers; the 319th "Asterperious", the 400th “Black Pirates”, the 320th "Moby Dick"and the 321st “Bombs Away”.
As an artist he would be able to identify shapes and work in three dimensions with relative ease. He may have tested before he was drafted, I don’t know what the process was during WWII. I have read that in England they liked artists for interpreters of photographs because they were so good at shape recognition and able to visualize in 3d.
Photo reconnaissance was pioneered by the British and by 1941 they had credible crews, usually flying Spitfires solo. The RAF was leader in Europe and the US sent observers in 1941 with the idea of creating their own Photo-recon wing. Spies in the Skies Tells the story of the creation of Photo Recon and Mapping.
I don’t know yet if he trained in England or state side. By the time he reached his final destination with the Jolly Rogers they were flying B24 Liberators for bombing and photo-recon. This is part of a larger piece from a book about the Jolly Rogers and while it mentions my Dad it also shows how very very dangerous it was. This event happened in 1945.
This is the listed crew for that day
COHEN, SAUL M. #2063568, 400th Sqdn, crew # 1, Murphy, John J. #T133801, (cp), Mahrt, John R. #2073168, (n), (kia), Gaydos, Joseph J. #787134, (b), Laughrun, Kenneth C, #34733598, (e), Gregory, Lester C. #38403592, (ro), Stilson, Robert F. #16118937, (ae), Sarno, Charles C. #32450671, (g), (kia), Searles, Frank A. #39215943, (g), Peters, Joseph B. #33843162, (g), Hoffman, Arthur D. #35579884, (photo). From my M A C R #14523, dated 5-27-1945, plane 44-40721, ditched 10 mi from Maguire on Indochina, recco, all listed as W I A & R T D.
I wonder if when they had to bail out if Dad grabbed any of the film magazines. While some were huge others would easily fit in a pocket. Here is a run down of the cameras. Be sure and read the sizes, the photos are deceiving.
It shouldn’t surprise you to know that not every plane was equipped to be used as a photo or mapping platform. The 400th, the Black Pirates came to the bomber group as a Photo Recon squadron so they probably had more planes set up for the task. But every squadron would have a plane that could also map and take photographs. The Photo Recon members would go out before in preparation for the bombing run, be on the bombers as they hit the target and go again to capture the damage. They were an essential part of the war effort.