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Rae,

Thank you, I didn't have that information before.

May you and yours have a very merry holiday season.  The snow here in Minnesota is white and deep for this time of year and the wind-chill has been hovering around 0 degrees F.

Dave Petrie

Hello,

I am looking for information of a Petrie family who had connections with the McVeigh family and Peebles. My father, Chester Petrie (born USA 1919) had a picture of "Cousin Hubert McVeigh, R.A.F." standing with a crew of a Hawker Henley target towing plane in WWII.

My gg grandfather, David Petrie (born 3 Sep 1804 Drumhendrie, Parish of Fettercairn, Kincardineshire & died 23 Jul 1877 Braefoot, Carnoustie, Barry, Angus) married Mary Steele "Peebles" [Peeblesshire?] 12 Jun 1830 St. Cyrus Parish, Kincardineshire.

They had a son, James Petrie (born 6 Nov 1841 County Forfar, St. Vigeans Parish "Peebles" [Peeblesshire?],  Arbroath)

Any connections or information would be much appreciated - thank you.

David Petrie
Arden Hills, Minnesota, USA

Thank you for the response.

Hubert was English, as was my grandfather, James Petrie (b. 1879 in Liverpool).  I know of no McVeigh cousins to the Petries. It would be nice to know the relationship but our father died several years ago and his first cousin in England doesn't remember. Please let me know if you can find anything more about Hubert and his family.”

The RAF Spitfire crew in the attached picture includes my father, Chester Petrie’s, "Cousin Hubert McVeigh R.A.F." Hubert is the shortest, right in front of the propeller blade, in the small picture and his is the larger individual portrait.

The following contains what information I have on my father's American Army Airforce unit's stations and assignments.

Stations:   Esler Field, La, 1 Sep 1941; Charleston, SC, Dec 1941; Esler Field, La, Jan-Aug 1942; Membury, England, Sep 1942; Middle Wallop, England, Dec 1943;

Some other 8th Air Force ‘clippings’ for 109th Observation Squadron - Minnesota Air National Guard: With war threatening in Europe and the Far East, the Minnesota National Guard was mobilized again in February 1941. The 109th Observation Squadron ended up in Europe where it initially flew Mark V "Spitfires" with the Royal Air Force and, later, reconnaissance missions with P-51 ‘Mustangs.’ The 109th Observation Group seemed to shift its base about England frequently. MONDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 1942: Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 2d Bombardment Wing at Old Catton; HQ 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 328th, 329th, 330th and 409th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Alconbury with B-24s (first mission is 9 Oct 42); HQ 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) at Thurleigh; 12th, 107th, 109th and 153d Observation Squadrons, 67th Observation Group, at Membury with no aircraft (first mission is in Aug, Dec 43 and Jan 44 respectively); and 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron, 3d Photographic Group, at Membury with B-17s (first mission is Nov 42). MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 1942: 8th Air Force: After the transfer of the combat unit to the Twelfth Air Force (see below), the combat units assigned to the Eighth are: HQ 3d Photographic Group and 5th, 12th, 13th and 14th Photographic Squadrons and 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron with F-4s, F-5s and B-17Fs; HQ 4th Fighter Group and 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons at Steeple Morden with Spitfire Vs; HQ 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 66th, 67th and 68th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Cheddington with B-24s; HQ 67th Observation Group and 12th, 107th, 109th and 153d Observation Squadrons at Membury with no aircraft; HQ 91st Bombardment Group and 322d, 323d, 324th and 401st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Kimbolton with B-17Fs; HQ 92d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 325th, 326th, 327th and 407th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Bovingdon with B-17Fs; HQ 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 328th, 329th, 330th and 409th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Alconbury with B-24Ds; HQ 303d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 358th, 359th, 360th and 427th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Molesworth with B-17Fs; HQ 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 364th, 365th, 366th and 422d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Grafton Underwood with B-17Fs; and HQ 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 367th, 368th, 369th and 423d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Thurleigh with B-17Fs. SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 1942: EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, Eighth Air Force): The 109th Observation Squadron, 67th Observation Group, moves from Membury to Atcham, England with A-20s (first mission is Dec 43). SATURDAY, 15 MAY 1943: The 109th Observation Squadron, 67th Observation Group, with Spitfire VB's, transfers from Atcham, England to Membury, England. 67th Reconnaissance Group Constituted as 67th Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941.

Hope this helps - thanks.

Dave Petrie

Have the following for Alexander Petrie:

Alexander Petrie b. 23 MAY 1883 Liverpool, Lancashire, England  m. __ __ 11 SEP 1915  d. 31 AUG 1945  [LDS Family History Search]  David Petrie in Arden Hills, Minnesota has a photo taken in Salford, England with the inscription on the back "A. Petrie February 13, 1904".  He appears to be in his 20's at the time. "Births Jun 1883: Petrie Alexander, District: Liverpool, Volume: 8b, Page 77"

Thanks,

Dave Petrie

Thank you  for the welcome and the rapid response. I was hoping to find descendants of the people listed in the census via this chat site. Any birth, marriage of death records that may help me track down the children and grandchildren of my grandfather James Petrie's (b. 6 Sep 1879  Liverpool) brothers and sisters would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

David Petrie
Arden Hills, Minnesota, USA