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Let's never forget...

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Author	Topic: Let's never forget...
G-man Pilot	posted 05-20- 03:40 AM I had the opportunity today to go onboard a B17G and a B24H (the only B24 still flying) that annually come to the SF Bay Area as part of a nationwide tour. Although I absolutely love going inside the aircraft and trying to imagine what is must have been like to go to war in those cramped quarters, I got an even better treat today; I was able to eavesdrop on actual veterans sharing their wartime experiences. There were the gunners who hadn't heard the roar of those mighty radials for 50+ years and the pilots who flew those beautiful machines over such places as Dusseldorf and Iwo Jima. Most of all, I'll remember the B17 ball-turret gunner with the 381st BG, whose eyes were filled with past memories as he told tales of life in that lonely position. I was especially touched when someone much younger thanked him for sharing his stories and for his contribution to the war effort. His reply? A modest, "we were 18 and would have done anything" and "it's important that the history gets out". Just prior to saying that, he had noted that blood gets bright red at altitude due to the pure oxygen that is being breathed and that "it can be a bit frightening the first time you see it". Obviously, he was speaking from experience... Unfortunately, guys like this won't be around forever. Let's make a point to keep their sacrifices and achievements alive. G-man IP: Logged
darthbob Pilot	posted 05-20- 09:02 AM Amen IP: Logged
Psi Pilot	posted 05-20- 01:05 PM Ya your right G, I have talked to a ball turret gunner that did his 24 over Europe. Some of his stories were hair raising. He told me that when a 109 would come at his B-17 it looked like he had flash bulbs on the nose of his aircraft, this ofcourse was the 20mm firing. I spoke to a pilot that did his tour over in the Philippines in a B-24. He said that the flak was so thick at times it looked like you could walk accross it. So yes if you could put yourself in their place 55 years ago would (we) you have the balls. I suppost we would if we were up against the tyranny they were. By the way I was on that B-24 in Bremerton Wasington in 93 P IP: Logged

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