Let me start by saying that I saw a tractor today on the way to The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.I wasn't going to take a trip,but to see 3 WW11 aircraft.Not only did I see the aircraft go through them with 5 of my grandsons,but we were able to meet some veterans that had time on that type of aircraft.It did me honor to meet them and shake hands.By the way some were and some still are FARMERS.They have tractors.
- Thread starter Dannie1
- Start date
James Howell
Well-known Member
Consider yourself and your grandsons very fortunate that you met with veteran"s that flew in those aircraft during WWII.
Our WWII veterans are getting few and far between and many of them are sometimes reluctant to talk about their experiences.
My dad was a bombardier on a B17 and my uncle was a pilot on several B17"s.
<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/?action=view¤t=Crew.jpg" target="_blank">
![Crew.jpg" width="600" height="500" border="0" alt="Photobucket](https://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Crew.jpg" width="600" height="500" border="0" alt="Photobucket)
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Nancy"s father was a P51 pilot.
My father owned a Farmall Super C and <a href="http://youtu.be/kdh0SyexDOg">Nancy has her dad"s JD 48A</a>.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Our WWII veterans are getting few and far between and many of them are sometimes reluctant to talk about their experiences.
My dad was a bombardier on a B17 and my uncle was a pilot on several B17"s.
<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/?action=view¤t=Crew.jpg" target="_blank">
Nancy"s father was a P51 pilot.
My father owned a Farmall Super C and <a href="http://youtu.be/kdh0SyexDOg">Nancy has her dad"s JD 48A</a>.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
James Babcock
Member
I saved up 300 bucks to ride in a B17 a few years back and now have a much greater appreciation for what those kids did back in the big war. Just imagine riding an aluminum tube with paper-thin skin (to save weight) and filling that tube with high octane aviation gasoline, oil, and high explosives. Then fly through tracers, bullets and flak to try to reach the target before the enemy gets a lucky hit on you. A lot of those heroes never got to see their 20th birthday.
James Howell
Well-known Member
In the photo above the young man kneeling on the far right in the T=shirt died in combat 1 month after his 19th birthday.
He joined the Army Air Corp at 17 after his brother was captured at Bataan by the Japanese.
He was mortally wounded by an ME109.
When the order was given to bail out, he replied <big>[b:654c4848f0]"I will stay with my guns."[/b:654c4848f0]</big>
Sgt William K. Guilfoil - tailgunner.
He joined the Army Air Corp at 17 after his brother was captured at Bataan by the Japanese.
He was mortally wounded by an ME109.
When the order was given to bail out, he replied <big>[b:654c4848f0]"I will stay with my guns."[/b:654c4848f0]</big>
Sgt William K. Guilfoil - tailgunner.
Good experience for them to have met those veterans, but a real learning experience if any shared details of what it was like to have the job or a pilot or crew member.
All I know is when that B17 flew over my house and over the barn in the photo below, does not look like a lot of fun if someone is shooting at you.
We have a family member, an in law who was a pilot, P51's and B17's, B24's, not sure how much time he spent in each, but he did tell me what he flew, its hard to ask these guys details sometimes, as you don't want to be disrespectful by having them relive things that were awful, but part of war. He's quite agile and still rides horses today.
Photo of him below:
He stopped by while I was finishing a water line repair in the barn, sunlight is blotting him out a bit.
All I know is when that B17 flew over my house and over the barn in the photo below, does not look like a lot of fun if someone is shooting at you.
We have a family member, an in law who was a pilot, P51's and B17's, B24's, not sure how much time he spent in each, but he did tell me what he flew, its hard to ask these guys details sometimes, as you don't want to be disrespectful by having them relive things that were awful, but part of war. He's quite agile and still rides horses today.
Photo of him below:
He stopped by while I was finishing a water line repair in the barn, sunlight is blotting him out a bit.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
What happened to those who bailed out.?
James Howell
Well-known Member
Seven were captured by the Germans and spent the remainder of the war in various prison camps.
Two evaded capture by living with an Italian family and hiding in a cave.
These two were "liberated" by the American army almost exactly one year after being shot down.
My father was not on the plane when it got shot down.
Two evaded capture by living with an Italian family and hiding in a cave.
These two were "liberated" by the American army almost exactly one year after being shot down.
My father was not on the plane when it got shot down.
NW Ohio Tim
Member
We had a pair of B17's fly over this summer, while we were working in the barnyard. I still can't believe the noise they made, we could hear them well before we could see them and long after they were out of sight. I can't imagine what a sky full of them would sound like when they were fully loaded on a mission.
I have the utmost respect for the guys who kept climbing into those planes, day after day knowing full well their chances of coming back alive weren't good.
God Bless 'Em......
I have the utmost respect for the guys who kept climbing into those planes, day after day knowing full well their chances of coming back alive weren't good.
God Bless 'Em......
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