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This is page three of a letter from Tony Mininni to Rose and Oscar Dobler, the parents of John Dobler, pilot of a B-24 from 828th Bombardment Squadron, 485th Bombardment Group of the 15th Air Force that had been forced to ditch near Vis island on the Croatian coast, while returning from a mission to bomb Linz, Austria on 20 January 1945. John hadn't survived the crash, but his parents struggled to accept this, and asked for more details from Tony, one of four survivors from the aircraft.
Privilege of flying with him. I
will not ever forget that John lost
his life in the attempt to brung us
all back to safe territory, and that
I owe the fact that I am at my home
base today to him alone. There
is a Catholic Chaplain on the base and
I am glad to tell you that a few days
before the accident John had been
to Confession and Communion.
Believe me Mrs Dobler when I say
John meant as much to me as
my own flesh and blood. He was
always king and good and so
very wise. He would solve the
most difficult situations with
an ease that was unbelievable
I had profited much by his
advice and guidance and I
only hope that I can become
the man that he was. He often
spoke to me of his home and
how much he wanted to see
Many thanks to Julie Harrison, John Dobler's niece, for sending us this letter.