Sgt Hiram Wolf RCAF

[Paul Squires]

Hi Temujin, and readers,

This is what I have come up with for the entry in They Shall Grow Not Old errata:

First a note in the entry for WOLF, HIRAM, to see GREENBERG, JULIUS V.

Then, with < > representing strike-outs:

GREENBERG, JULIUS V. (serving as WOLF, HIRAM) SGT(P) R77476. From <Peaks Island> Brookline, Massachusetts, USA [bac-lac.gc.ca]. Killed Jan. 1/42 age <21> 24 [CVWM]. #96 Squadron (Nocturni Obam Bulamus). Sgt 'Wolf' was killed when he flew his Defiant aircraft <#M3432> N3432 into a hillside in mist two miles north-east of the Appelthwaite Quarry, Windermere, England, on a delivery flight to #60 Operational Training Unit [R. Allenby]. Sergeant Pilot 'Wolf' is buried in the Rainsough Jewish Cemetery, Prestwick Prestwich, Lancashire, England. Husband of Dorothy Frances Wolf, née Clough, of Worcester, Massachusetts, later West Los Angeles, California, USA [CVWM; bac-lac.gc.ca]. According to R. Allenby (English Lake District project pages), Sgt Greenberg apparently adopted this identity of his cousin with the assistance of others, possibly (my speculation) when he applied to the USAAC, as all pilots were then officers at this time, and two years college was required for entrance as an officer, a restriction which prevented many otherwise qualified citizens from training as pilots until this was later changed. This is also speculation, but having had flight training using this name, Greenberg might have wanted recognition of this when he enlisted in the RCAF, and maintained the false identity, and further used it when he married in 1941. At the time of his loss he was referenced in news releases in the USA under the name of Greenberg, but this later changed, possibly to avoid complications in financial support to his wife (again, speculation). The real Hiram Wolf served in the US Army in Europe during the war, and was promoted to Captain, married in 1946 after demobilization, and made his home in Virginia where died in 2010 [wartimes.ca].


I hope this covers this matter as well as can be done without deeper reserach, but I am open to suggestions and changes if referenced.

All the Best,

Paul
Wetaskiwin

[georgetanksherman]

Greetings,

While researching Americans in the RCAF and RAF, I found this while researching on Hiram Wolf, just thought I would add a little bit to the topic. Hope everyone is doing okay !

https://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/ai ... n3432.html

All the best,
George

[Paul Squires]

Hi George,

Yes, part of Richard Allenby's excellent site of accidents and losses in Northern England. Many Thanks for the information, however. That is what kicked off this search years back. It came to a head again as I am back-checking and updating the entries in They Shall Grow Not Old, re-doing each page as I add a new entry. I'm glad that others are taking an interest.

I've sent the information to my contact at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, and they may take this further. My big question now is, who is Julius V. Greenberg, and why has this not been referenced in the Commonwealth War Graves Commision or other sites that discuss this airman.

Well, at least the TSGNO page will reflect what we know.

I always like to discover the details of these losses, to remind us these lost young people were real, not just names. I have just arrived at October 14, 1942, and the loss of the SS Caribou off Newfoundland.

One airman was on his honeymoon with his wife of 3 weeks, taking her to meet his parents in Newfoundland before going to Vulcan, Alberta. She survived, but he is missing.

Another airman had been given permission and leave to go home to Newfoundland and marry.

A third, from Saskatchewan, was returning from annual leave and his request to be stationed near his family in Saskatchewan had just been granted, and the orders arrived at Gander just after his loss. He was also a veteran of the battle of Vimy Ridge.

Another survived the sinking only to perish in the Knights of Columbus hostel fire in December.

One hundred and thirty seven crew and passengers missing or killed in this loss. All those lived lives.

Paul
Wetaskiwin

[georgetanksherman]

Paul,

Have to be honest, I am not impressed with the CWGC, I have written them a couple of times on wrong info given, and they did not seem to care that that they had wrong info on the Fallen Warriors so I quit writing them.

Just a thought, you think someone might have told Julius V. Greenberg that he needed to change his name, being a flight crew member, and there was a chance of being shot down over Germany ???

Just a thought, Hope things are going okay !

George

[Paul Squires]

Hi George,

I have found the CWGC site to be fairly accurate, especially on age and unit, given the size of it's database. But errors creep in everywhere, but remember the website is not their primary purpose. It's the care of the graves and memorials of the fallen. That's why this case is so notable. Everything indicates that Hiram Wolf is not the man who was killed.

Other sites are reliable, like Find A Grave, but all have errors or omissions. I have tried to keep mine as accurate as possible, checking facts and dates, but in this review of the They Shall Grow Not Old book, and using the Library and Archives Canada files, I am still finding errors in my work. That my work has been used (poorly in my opinion) for building other sites has led to some of what I was (am) trying to prevent, endless repetition of errors on the internet (and AI is just going to make it worse). And my suggestion to eliminate the need for the other user back check my updates for errors, to keep them to a minimum, was rejected, so it seems I have become part of the problem! Pity, as they have a better entry portal, and working together would be better for both.

Still, checking reduces most errors, and knowing some sites strengths helps keep it balanced. I'm sure you know this all from experience.

And Thanks for your postings and feedback, by the way. Always interesting.

All the Best,

Paul

[georgetanksherman]

Paul,

With the help of Temujin, had a fellow Texan P/O Kenneth Allan Norris, J/22872, killed in a flying Accident flying V. Wellington, W5647, 17 Sept 1943, aircraft flew into a hill Ballygally, County Antrim, Ireland. CWGC has him from Camp Howze, Texas, there was a Temporary Camp Howze, Dec 1941 to 1946, located just south of Gainesville, Texas, but through research, found and verified that he was born in Corpus Christie, Texas and raised in Folmsted, Texas.

Notified CWGC, the answer they gave me was because his mother had written him a letter from Camp Howze (She was a temp worker there) so they consider subject closed. I understand they have priorities, but you would think they would appreciate some corrections. Info on Camp Howze,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Howze,_Texas

It's an eye opener, I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, F-111's when I got interest in the Eagle Squadron, then thought what if there was other Americans who Volunteered, wow did my eyes get opened, not only RCAF and RAF, But also in the Commonwealth Armies and Navies. Had some Great Help along the way Which got into some good conversations !

Hope all is well and Best Wishes !

George

[CheeryObstacle]

What a cool mystery, I wonder how they managed to pull off the ruse in the first place?