US Army Air Forces

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Geary, Joseph Final Thoughts
Joseph Geary believes that history repeats itself and it is important for young people to understand what has happened...
Bergbower, Harold Final Thoughts
Harold Bergbower learned to appreciate life and Uncle Sam as a result of his experiences in World War 2. He has felt...
Klenoski, Richard Final Thoughts
Richard Klenoski served because he was drafted. He told them they were going to pay, and they still are. For the most...
Jostad, Glen Final Thoughts
Glen Jostad describes his terrible experience during eight days transit from one Stalag to another. The cramped boxcar...
Casey, Donald Final Thoughts
After being a prisoner of war in Germany, Donald E. Casey returned to the United States and suffered from post...
Gackenbach, Russell Final Training and Flying to Tinian
Russell Gackenbach was a member in one of the 15 crews officially assigned to the 509th, 393rd Bomb Squad [Annotator's...
Cristiano, Nick Fire Bombing Japan
Nick Cristiano says his crew were nice boys. He was anxious to go on his first mission [Annotator's Note: January 1945...
Kneflin, Charles Firebombing Tokyo
[Annotator's Note: Charles Kneflin was a tail gunner on a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber in the 53rd...
Woodall, Wendall Firebombing Tokyo and Late War Daylight Bombing
[Annotator's Note: Wendall Woodall served in the US Army Air Forces as a blister gunner on a Boeing B-29 Superfortress...
Bryan, Donald Firing in anger
When Donald Bryan was going to junior college the US was paying for pilot training [Annotator’s Note: the Civilian...
Willford, Sandford First Air Combat
After one mission, Sandford Robert Willford [Annotator's Note: a fighter pilot with the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th...
Asbury, Richard First Big Air Battle
[Annotator's Note: Richard Asbury went to England and was checked out in the North American P-51 Mustang fighter...
Goodwin, Hersey First Bombing Mission
Hersey Goodwin does not remember his first mission [Annotator's Note: with the 11th Bombardment Group, 7th Air Force]....
McLaurine, Luke First Bombing Mission
Luke Layton McLaurine, Jr. landed in Algiers [Annotator's Note: Algiers, Algeria] in North Africa and was billeted [...
Galbraith, Wendell First Bombing Mission
As a replacement aircrewman, Wendell Galbraith was received with open arms. One of the raids in August [Annotator's...
Harris, Robert First Combat Mission
Robert Harris flew his first combat mission over France on D-Day. [Annotator’s Note: D-Day was on 6 June 1944 when...
Richard, Martin First Combat Mission
Martin Richard's first mission was almost complete catastrophe. [Annotator's Note: He flew his firts mission on 6 June...
Losada, Vincent First Combat Mission and Leave to London
Vincent Losada first mission was on 3 January 1945 to Pfarghium [Annotator's Note: Pforzheim, Germany]. He thought it...
Goebel, Robert First Combat Missions
On Robert J. "Bob" Goebel's first mission [Annotator's Note: with the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 12th...
Fienup, Victor First Combat Missions
Victor Fienup does not remember his first mission [Annotator's Note: with the 351st Bombardment Squadron, 100th...
Easterling, Lewis "Tom" First Combat Missions
Lewis Thomas Easterling was initiated into his group [Annotator's Note: 365th Fighter Squadron, 358th Fighter Group,...
Roberts, George First Combat Missions
The worst part of the mission to Bremen for George Roberts was the fighters. Roberts operated his gun from the radio...
Rickel, Robert First Couple of Missions
Robert "Bob" Rickel wanted to fly with his friend, Tony [Annotator's Note: US Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant Anthony J...
Gross, Herbert First Day Behind Enemy Lines
At daylight, Herbert Gross was alone after bailing out of the B-24 [Annotator's Note: Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy...
Welch, Darrell First Kill in Iceland
Darrell Welch liked to say that he flew from England to North Africa and started a war. Rommel [Annotator's Note:...
Grabhorn, Edgar First Mission
Edgar A. Grabhorn was born in 1924 in Annapolis [Annotator's Note: Annapolis, Maryland]. The Depression [Annotator's...
Gust, Darrell First Mission
If the aviators saw a plane hit, they would count the parachutes that came out. According to Darrell D. Gust, if the...
McLaughlin, Sr., James First Mission
Their [Annotator's Note: the 92nd Bombardment Group] first mission was in September [Annotator's Note: September 1942]...
Kneflin, Charles First Mission from Guam
The first thing Charles Kneflin saw when he flew over Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Mariana Islands], were the biggest...
Bridger, Harley First Mission over Budapest and Mission Requirements
Harley Bridger and his crew lived in tents with six men each. They were fortunate with their engineer. Bridger felt the...
Van Huylenbrouck, Omer First Missions
Omer Van Huylenbrouck went on his first combat mission with a different crew. It was nothing exciting. [Annotator's...
Albright, William First Missions
The day before William Albright's second mission, two B-17s [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber...
Reese, Lloyd First Missions
Lloyd Reese was a bombardier on a B-24 for the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. He and...
Fili, William First Missions
The first couple of bombing missions William Fili was on were "milk runs" [Annotator's Note: slang term used by...
Castaing, Albert First Missions
[Annotator’s Note: Can hear paper ruffling, seats squeaking, and people in the background throughout this segment.] On...
O'Brien, Ryan First Missions
The night Ryan O'Brien landed at Spinazzola [Annotator's Note: Spinazzola Airfield, Italy], a movie star was having a...

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