Submitted by: Carla Haslam Herkner
This WWII Bomber with the Logan County, West Virginia nose art was one of my Dad’s, John Haslam, cherished pictures. I cannot say for sure who the pilot was. The only definite Navy pilot I know of is Dad’s good friend, Bill Denney. However, Bill was born and raised in South Charleston, WV and so his plane would have said “Kanawha County” on the side.
My Dad was in Navy flight school out of Morris Harvey College during WWII. One afternoon, he fractured his hand in a game of football. That injury kept him from continuing his pilot training and ultimately flying for the U.S. Navy. This is most likely the greatest disappointment of his entire life. However, he remained as a flight instructor for some time, before being reassigned and ultimately ending up in the Philippines with “Acorn 52”, a supply ship.
While flight training, he would fly over Logan County quite often and then on his return land his training plane with pontoons on the Kanawha River in Charleston. He loved to fly!
The is a picture of Bill Baldwin. His sister was Ruby Baldwin Lowe. Bill Baldwin was my Dad’s good friend. Bill and Dad grew up together in Logan and Monaville. I remember Dad said Bill was a navigator. The WWII Bomber pictured herein could have been Bill’s plane.
My dad, Edsel Varney, and Bill Abraham were good friends for years. I often wondered if they ever talked about their missions while in the military. I know dad always spoke highly of Bill Abraham.
I was born in Logan, WV. My dad worked for the Chesapeak-Ohior Railroad until they laid off many workers in the mid-fifties. He took his family toi Florida in 1957 where we me and my siblings grew up in Longwood. My ancestral family supported the Hatfield family during the famous Hatfield-McCoy fued. Logan was nearby.
It is so great to read stories about our Logan County servicemen and other folks from around our towns. I’m from Chapmanville and just now hearing about our heroes from the wars. I am so thankful for these gentlemen, both loving and deceased, who sacrificed their time, effort and lives to keep us free. Hail our heroes from all wars kk Merle Dingess
Bill Baldwin that is pictured left is my great uncle! I never had the pleasure of meeting him before he passed, but i hear stories about him all the time! Thank you for sharing this!
Good to see some WV history. My Grandmother, Constance McComas-Walker grew up in Logan County. Her brother in law, my Great Uncle Arnold Lee Walker (of Salt Rock, WV) was on a B-17 crew, he flew many missions over Germany. My other Grandmother’s first cousin, Lynn Midkiff (also of Salt Rock)also flew F4F Wildcats, and F4U Corsairs in the Pacific with the USMC. He was shot down over Okinawa, rescued and went on to fly helicopters in Korea & Viet Nam. He retired a LTC, never had a chance at Bird Colonel, because he said in Viet Nam, he worked for an Army Brig. General, who worked for a Marine Major General. Rest in peace West Virginia Veterans of our wars past, and God Bless the ones who currently serve our great nation.
MSgt(retired) Ben Walker, USAF
Great picture and story about great west virginians.My dad was in the flying tigers china,india,burma. He was buried this past saturday. R.I.P. All who served our great nation!!!!!
R.I.P to your father. The greatest generation is slowly slipping away from us. I pray their sacrifice will not be lost on future generations.
do you have my father, john heis, he was from morgantown, wv? he was in korea & WWII….what do you have on him?
My father, Edsel C. Varney was a Navy Aviator from Logan County. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Makin Island from 1944-1945 in the Pacific. He flew a F4F Wildcat Fighter in VC-91. He was a decorated Aviator with the DFC and Air Medal. He was also intrumental in the avaition business in Logan County from 1950 until his death in 1977. He was proud of Logan and especially his home town of Chapmanville. When one of my nephews made contact with a former wingman in Florida, my nephew introduced himself and asked if he knew Edsel Varney. The man replied, “Edsel Varney from Logan West Virginia!” Thought you would enjoy this story. Thanks!
Hello Scott;
I knew your father well. We are close in age. Edsel and I often talked about the various invasions in the south pacific islands. We are both CHS Grads. I told him it was always pleasing to look up, and see the “fly boys” above our ship at sea.
Thanks Carole! I never knew my great-grandparents, but my grandpa (Bill) and grandma (Niddie) were always great to us. Now that I have found this website, I will have to dig into my arsenal of Omar pictures, Army Air force pictures, and Logan coal mining photos and begin posting! One good one I know I have is a panoramic shot of Omar in the 30’s.
You GrandPa Bill, flew P-51’s..told me a story about coming back from a mission, looking for anything moving on the ground: spotted a German on a motorcycle, turned the wing over, headed down, had him in his sights, ready to use wing guns, guy looked back, and waved…Bill stated at last minute, he pulled up and let the German go….He always wondered whatever happened to that guy….
Would anyone have any pictures of the old Holden Copperas Grade School that use to be at #7/8 Holden Copperas 3rd Davis.
Thanks for posting this picture and information, I knew the Abrahams. They had a very loving family.
Carole, Galloway,Oh
That is such a cool photo! Thanks for sharing it. I never knew that we had a plane with our State name of it. Learn something everyday. Thanks again, Jeanette Sheppard
March 9, 2010
Houston, TX
Both Bill Abraham (the politician) and Bill Davies were pilots during WW II. BOTH from “Lower” Omar! Course, they’d have probably named a plane “Omar”–