Snapshots of history
Jones' aerial photos of Hiroshima, Nagasaki wind up in Smithsonian
By Kelley Sheiss
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
In the case of local resident Bill Jones’ photos, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. realized the historical value of his photography work captured during World War II.
Columbia City WWII aerial photographer and curator of the Hoosier Air Museum, Bill Jones now has his Hiroshima and Nagasaki low altitude photos in the Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum Archives.
Jones was in Washington D.C. in mid-August and met with the Smithsonian’s acquisition archivist and chief photo archivist.
After evaluating his photographs, a request was made to borrow and scan the negatives which Jones had with him.
This is quite an honor for the 80-year-old WWII veteran, who kept the photos under wraps for 40 years.
Jones never showed the pictures to anyone, as they were never declassified. However, after a chance correspondence with the pilot of the legendary Enola Gay, Jones was given permission to release the photos, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the event.
At the time of the photo release, he was able to meet with the mission’s pilot, bombardier and navigator, all of whom signed one of the photos.
Talking with Bill Jones is like taking a wonderfully interesting history class.
A native of Starke County, Ind., Jones settled in Columbia City with his family when he was in the second grade. He attended the McClellan School.
He always had a passion for airplanes, driving his decision to join the Civil Air Patrol in 1943 and take pilot training at Baer Field in 1944.
Several bouts with rheumatic fever as a youth kept his weight below the requirement to become a pilot in the Air Force. However, in 1944 Jones was drafted and entered the Army Air Corps. His desire to fly never faltered.
He spent six months in photography school in Colorado and then specialized in aerial photography with B-17 aircraft.
During the occupation of Japan, Jones was afforded the opportunity to capture the atomic bomb damage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Upon arriving in Hiroshima, he noticed there was no crater left from the bomb, however almost everything was gone. Everything, that is, except for a railroad engine, cab first, in the ground. Jones explained that the bomb exploded at 1,800 feet and the pressure from the bomb would cause a two-mile path of destruction.
Heat at 5,400 degrees in an instant virtually vaporized everything.
Jones highlights the bomb’s hypocenter on the picture, which is the point under which a nuclear blast occurs.
After the Air Force, Jones served a four-year General Electric machinist-toolmaker apprenticeship and took college classes in the evening.
He owned and operated his studio, Jones Photo, in Columbia City for 43 years. His ingenuity served him well in the photography business, as Jones’ developed some of his own equipment, building an electronic flash at a time when no one else had it.
Jones is also active in the Air Force Association, Hoosier Warbirds, United States Air Force Auxiliary and Drug Free Indiana. Though retired, Jones has not slowed down through the years. He enjoys the opportunity to keep busy and share his love of planes and photography with others.
In addition to the Smithsonian, Jones’ photos are in most of the atomic museums and many of the major air museums throughout the country.
The closest location where the photos and other atomic bomb related materials can be seen is at the Hoosier Air Museum located on the south side of the DeKalb County Airport.
Jones can also add “actor” to his list of credentials. His photography and piloting expertise have landed him roles in several Windsong Pictures films, the most recent to be released in the spring of 2007.
Jones enjoys sharing his experiences and is available to speak to a wide variety of groups. He has a PowerPoint program which he has presented more than 245 times to schools, service clubs, aviation groups and churches in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. There is no charge for the program.
On Nov. 8, Jones is scheduled to present at the Senior Citizens Center in Columbia City at 11 a.m.
In all of his life experiences, Bill Jones notes that he was proud to be able to preserve for posterity the number one news event in the 20th Century.
Currently residing in Columbia City, Jones is planning to relocate to Huntington in November.
He has many good friends in the area and plans to stay in touch with the local community.
To contact Jones for a program or more information on the Hoosier Air Museum, write to: Bill Jones, 1570 North Lafontaine, Huntington, IN 46750-1308 or call (260) 414-5648.
The Post & Mail September 19, 2006:
By Jennifer Zartman Romano, Community Editor
Serving breakfast, from left, were Anna Waldeck, Beth McCoy, Loren Decker, Kala Wiegman and Cody Lamle.
A benefit breakfast for the Columbia City High School FFA Chapter hosted by the CCHS FFA Alumni Association Saturday morning went well...in fact, very, very well.
Over 250 people attended the breakfast, many of whom were still enjoying the all-you-could-eat meal long after the event's 10:30 a.m. end time.
"We completely sold out of 132 pounds of sausage and ran out of pancakes entirely at one point," said FFA Alumni Association steering committee member Annette Lamle. The alumni had to quickly purchase another 30 pounds of sausage and more pancake mix to keep up with the demand.
Several members of the CCHS FFA Chapter arrived early and volunteered to help at the event, serving meals, assisting with the silent auction, serving coffee and juice and a variety of other tasks alongside the FFA alumni members.
Greg Rupert, coach of the FFA's livestock judging team, was pleased with the event. A portion of the funds raised at the event will be donated to the CCHS FFA to assist Rupert's team with travel and other expenses related to attending the national livestock judging competition later this year. Other funds will be designated to help other activities of the CCHS FFA. Rupert spent much of the morning wiping down tables and helping with the event.
"I think the breakfast was so well attended and it was a lot of fun too," said CCHS FFA Alumni steering committee secretary Karen Stump.
"We were very fortunate to have so many people come out to help us support our local FFA chapter," Lamle added.
The CCHS FFA Alumni Assocation is scheduled to present a check to the chapter later this week.
The event was made possible with donations from Krider Meat Processing, 3-D Stock Farms, Creighton Bros. Farms, Whitley County 4-H, Crossroads Inn, Richards Restaurant, STAR Financial Bank, Hardee's Restaurant, Whitley County Pioneer Seed - Jason Holzinger and Wally Trabert Jr., Ag Plus, Carolyn Shaffer, Ryan Shearer and CCHS FFA Chapter members.
The Post & Mail September 5, 2006:
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CCHS Alumni Association receives historic memorabilia |
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The Columbia City High School Alumni Association (CCHSAA) received its first gifts of donated historic memorabilia Friday afternoon - including a 1937 scrapbook and a 1954 senior blanket. Walter was given the scrapbook several years ago and was pleased it could become part of the permanent collection of items being collected by the CCHSAA.
In addition, Walter donated his 1937 band letter, a letter he earned after four years of playing trombone at Columbia City High School.
Egolf donated a 1954 senior blanket he earned for lettering in six sports during his high school career. He earned three letters in track and three letters in football.
These donated items will become part of a permanent collection of CCHS memorabilia and will eventually be on display. |
Photo in 1956 Columbian
Dr. Prichard's August 30, 2006 letter to the Editor of The Post & Mail:
Educator has fond memories of CCHS classes of ’56, ’57
Editor:
It is almost 50 years since I taught history and something that was supposed to resemble economics at Columbia City High School. I left that teaching position to do graduate work at Harvard University and earn a Ph.D.
I suppose I have taught thousands of students at major institutions of higher learning; and yet, it is the graduating classes of Columbia City High School of 1956 and 1957 that I best remember. I well know they are now senior citizens and only five or six years younger than myself, in my mind they are and will always be 16, 17 and 18 years of age. They have eternal youth.
While I have been a professor at Wake Forest University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Nebraska and have spent many pleasant years in front of innumerable classes, the happiest and most pleasant of them were spent at the old, somewhat dilapidated building that housed the Columbia City High School students the two years before the school moved to the newer building.
I have served under many educational administrators but none were more able or more considerate than Max Gandy, the principal of the high school.
I also well remember Marguritte Stultz who was very near retirement and often rode down to see her relatives in Indianapolis when on weekends I traveled to my parent’s home in central Indiana.
Bernie Adkins, the women’s athletic coach and typing teacher at the time will always be 21 years of age. She had the vitality and good humor that makes teaching an enjoyable occupation.
And then there was Ralph Johnson, the basketball coach, with whom I played poker on most Friday evenings, and their worst behavior would be considered of trifling importance today ... not worthy of attention.
I still remember where most of the students sat in the classrooms while I have completely forgotten most all of the college and university students I lectured to over the 36 years of my career. I actually cannot imagine Jo Ellen Adams, Myra Lorber, Rodger Bridge, Ronnie Yant, Joe Yoder, Vickie Leach and Larry Conrad being senior citizens and past 65 years of age.
I wish to thank the members of the classes of 1956 and 1957 on their 50th class reunion and the fine citizens of Columbia City for the two of the happiest years of my rather long teaching career.
I welcome correspondence from any who might wish to contact me.
Dr. Keith W. Prichard
3424 Woodspring Dr.
Lexington, KY 40515
From The Post & Mail July 7, 2006:
Herschell Leland King, 94
June 14, 1912 - July 2, 2006
Herschell Leland King of Hamilton, Mont., died July 2, 2006, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
Weighing 12 pounds and coming into this world on the kitchen table, he was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1912, a son of Raymond and Essie King in the small town of Frankton. Flag Day was a perfect birthday for Hersch as he was a patriot, very proud of his country. As an infant he escaped diphtheria which claimed the life of his 7-year-old brother.
His love of fishing was evident at an early age as he would walk the banks of Pipe Creek behind his house, fishing for small mouth bass. His parents, because of losing their oldest child and fearing for the safety of their young son, forbid him to go to the river by himself, but Hersch would not be deterred from his desire to catch the big one. Out of frustration and concern for his safety, his parents chained him to a tree in the yard. Hersch outfoxed them by bribing his younger sister Erma Lee with candy in exchange for a file with which he could free himself to go fishing at the river.
His father was a funeral director. He decided that this would not be his career when he assisted his father in retrieving a farmer's body after he had been gored by a bull. However, another bull played a part in his life when the bull charged him while he fished along Pipe Creek. He climbed a tree and for nearly two hours the bull snorted, butted, and pawed at the base of the tree. But rescue was at hand when a bulldog appeared, a dog known in the small community as being mean-spirited but for some reason had befriended Hersch. He called the bulldog which took on the bull biting its flanks. The wounded bull left in a trail of blood. The owner later sued Hersch's father but did not prevail.
Mr. King led a full, exciting, and fortunate life. He knew the word "timing" as well as anyone for as a teenager he was riding in a car with three friends who decided to go to a silent movie in Elwood. He asked them to stop at his house so that he could change his clothes. While waiting for him, the teenagers drove around the block where they were hit by a train, and all were killed.
He began his college days at Purdue University and then transferred to Ball State University where he received his degree in industrial arts. He later received his Masters Degree in guidance and counseling from Ball State. While an undergraduate, he earned two letters in baseball and three in basketball. He played under college basketball Hall of Fame coach Branch McCracken who later went on to win two national championships at Indiana University. He played against such players as Hall of Famers Ray Meyer, Moose Krause of Notre Dame and John Wooden of Purdue. But baseball was his love. Just hours before his cardiac arrest at the hospital, he told his granddaughter that he was so upset that the NBA selection show had pre-empted the baseball game on ESPN. After graduation at Ball State, he signed a contract with the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league baseball team.
One of his few misfortunes occurred the winter before he was to report to the team. In this winter of his first year of teaching industrial arts, as he was trying to save a student from an accident with a power saw, he cut off the first joint of his index and middle finger. This caused him to be unable to throw from his catcher's position, and ended his future with his beloved baseball. Even with this disappointment, perhaps his only regret in his 94 years is that his Chicago Cubs never won the World Series.
From age 22 to 25, he coached the Frankton basketball team to a 30-24 record, losing 15 games by a score of 4 points or less. He chose to resign as coach after that saying in later years that his team was full of talent, and the only reason for the close losses was the coach. However, years later he helped mold the lives of young men at the high school in Columbia City, coaching basketball, baseball, and golf.
Mr. King was a true educator, passionate about how curriculum should be designed to reach the varied abilities and interests of all students. His contributions were exemplary. As a guidance counselor in the high schools in Columbia City and Marion, he was instrumental in guiding and preparing students for entrance in the military academies, Ivy League schools, and other schools of higher learning. But true to his belief in challenging all students, he worked equally as hard to guide the non-college-bound students into training programs and vocational education. He also went to businesses and industries creating opportunities for non-graduate employees to receive their high school diploma.
However outstanding his accomplishments, this all paled in comparison to his life as a husband and father. The importance of family and family values was the very core of him - family was everything.
He married Elizabeth Hollis on Christmas Day, 1937, thus beginning their marriage - their love story. His devotion to his wife and hers to him is an inspiration to his family and those who knew him.
Survivors include his loving wife Elizabeth (Liz), of 68-years, who is strong knowing that his love, his strength of character and positive outlook will always be a part of her and all the family. He is also survived by a daughter Judy (Lee) Yockey; a son, Tom (Diane) King; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a niece.
At his request there will be no service. Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton, Mont.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in his name has been established at all of the branch offices of Farmers State Bank for Marcus Daly Hospital EMS/Ambulance.
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