From the Usual USAF Source...
The last active B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe performs a fly-over above the former Knettishall Airfield, England, July 14, 2012. The fly-over was part of the 388th Bombardment Group memorial re-dedication at Coney Weston, England. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Megan P. Lyon) Eternally Grateful: A B-17 trailing smoke overflew US airmen in World War II flight uniforms at the former Knettishall Airfield in Coney Weston, England—home of the Army Air Forces' 388th Bombardment Group (Heavy) during the war—to salute the group's members killed in raids over Europe. More than 200 guests attended the July 14 rededication of the monument to the group's war dead. That date was the 70th anniversary of the first 8th Air Forces crews arriving in eastern England, according to a July 23 Air Force release. "It's an incredibly moving experience to see the incredibly warm relationship that still exists between the local British people and the Americans," said Olivia Leydenfrost, daughter of a former 388th BG bombardier. First erected in the 1980s, the monument recently saw the addition of two stones listing the names of the airmen lost in the war. During its time at Knettishall, the 388th BG operated B-17s. (Coney Weston report by SSgt. Megan P. Lyon)
The Ol' Man was part of the Mighty Eighth during The Big One and flew his 20-something missions in B-17s over Der Vaterland. It's good to see him and his comrades-in-arms remembered and memorialized.
Your lucky, Buck. Not many survived a full tour. I have a fraternity brother in Orlando whose Father was KIA as a Sq CO (MAJ) in B-17s. (The same guy, "Lanny" who accompanied me on the Mexican "jaunt." fyi, as a result he missed Vietnam by dint of being a "sole surviving son" He joined the Marines, but they "found out" and kicked him out, lol)) I ran across an AAF combat OPREP record of his squadron's activities, mentioning him by name back in 2008 but foolishly didn't bookmark it, and now can't locate it, so can't forward it to L.C for his keeping...a maj. mistake.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm lucky. The 8th AF casualty rate was horrendous; not many did "the whole tour." My biggest mistake was not recording the Ol' Man's war stories. He never talked about the war until he was literally on his death bed. I've mentioned it here before, but a couple o' weeks before he died he and I sat in his garage drinkin' and smokin' while he told story after story, all night long. That was a missed opportunity of the highest order.
DeleteMany don't realize what happens when you fly your 25 missions and get to go home. "Home" means sans-combat not main street. I read a funny story where a Sgt volunteered for a second tour of combat. Asked if he was crazy, he said no, that it was actually more dangerous flying with training crews in the states! He'd rather take his chances with the Germans.
ReplyDeleteThe sergeant was prolly more correct than we'll ever know.
DeleteYou're right about that, Buck. Just think, plt tng in fighters was basically ground school, a few hours in trainers NOT of the same type because they simply didn't make two-seat versions of fighters in those days, and then you'd climb in the cockpit w. the IP crouching on the wing beside the cockpit talking you thru a couple of high-speed taxi runs, and then you're on your own.. With Bombers were talking probably only 20-30 hrs before one soloed w. full crew in a very hard to control ac demanding huge physical effort to dial in the control inputs and if you ever got behind the ac, well, good luck...NOT.AT.ALL ANYTHING like today's year-long primary &advanced plus sever months of further upgrade tng in the operational ac one is assigned to..
DeleteAll too true, Virgil.
DeleteBuck, I might not be talking for all Brits, but the Yankees are still remembered with gratitude even though we might say you left it a bit late as usual! (We love to grumble but don't really mean it.)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brian. I've prolly mentioned this before, but I had the opportunity to participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies while in the UK and was always, repeat: ALWAYS, thanked profusely for "being there," especially by the older folks who remembered WWII. There were a lot of 'em still around 30 years ago.
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