Posted by Billy NY on May 16, 2013 at 10:20:26 from (72.226.79.200):
In Reply to: USAAF Memorial posted by Phil Scarborough on May 16, 2013 at 09:04:04:
An in-law in the family whom I could call a grandfather I think, fathers wifes dad, (he remarried later) was a pilot who flew the B17, I believe the larger one, B29,(not sure of the correct nomenclature) as well as P51's. I did muster up enough courage to ask him one afternoon, out of respect and knowing the atrocity of war, and in the utmost respect, I considered before I asked about what he did during the war, the bad memories and feared bringing something up, he may not want to talk about, some of these guys just don't want speak of these times, for obvious reasons, some are fine with it, never knew for sure if it was inappropriate to ask. Knowing that, I've always been reserved as to inquiring much further. At least I know that much, and the intent was to learn of his experiences, honor his service, and be as respectful of his feelings and willingness to talk about it as possible, besides learning the history of his military service, places served, unit/group he served with etc. I used alert him as to when the B17 "Liberty Belle" was in the area, (he seemed interested,likes old cars and did visit the military airport nearby when airshows were going on) before it burned a few years ago. One afternoon it strafed the treetops and I stood right under it in its flight path, was pretty wild to hear that unique sound, the roar etc., was so common in his day and an extremely rare occurrence today. Your post about this influences me to ask him some more, but I'll have to ask one of his siblings first to see if this or is not a bad thing to bring up.
He spoke freely the last time about it, the man is a spry 90 something, who was still riding our T.B. stallion, well he's kinda special too, rare in that breed, incredible to see both of them, him riding etc.
I would really like to know some more, some details about his assignments and so on, have no idea what group he was with, but believe he was in the European theater, and wherever those P51's were early, I am not sure but was under the impression he did more with the bombers than fighters. Its incredible to stand along side a man who survived the ordeal of aviation during that war! Those B17's were sitting ducks, I had one do a banking a turn over the other place, (here at home) got a short video of it, the sound, its airspeed and just watching it, sitting ducks is all one can think of, they lost a lot of men and planes, the numbers on just those alone are staggering, and is the only way to provide some scale on the sacrifice and the hardship endured by so many to defeat the enemy on their own turf.
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