This is a very interesting read.

[Burnsy]

Mods, I understand if you move this, I am just not sure where it should go. Freedom is not free.

http://www.historyplace.com/specials/personal/gunner-diary1.htm

 

[IUprof]

Wow! Pretty interesting. It's simply amazing what those guys went through. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Burnsy]

Wow! Pretty interesting. It's simply amazing what those guys went through. Thanks for sharing.

Brass ones they had. Not to mention the built quality of their gear, or luck. Those planes took a beating and got them home, sometimes .

 

[Burnsy]

I am going to think about this the next time I have a bad day at work or my power goes out or my car won't start. I am going to have a ****ty day tomorrow at work but I would feel a privileged, soft and coddled ***** after finishing reading that diary tonight to complain about it.

People like this guy and the soldiers he watched jump out of half a bomber at 20k feet in a death spiral that was on fire with no parachute had brass balls and we owe them a debt I can't begin to understand how to repay. You and I reap the benefits, they paid the price.

 

[Bigtanker]

Good read. I couldn't fathom doing that. They truly were the greatest generation.

 

[ModernGunner]

War is hell.

 

[rob63]

Thanks for that. I have long been a student of WWII history and particularly of the air war. There was a period during mid 1943, after the Germans had realized that the B-17 was most vulnerable to frontal attacks, that the average life expectancy of a bombardier was 2 weeks!

 

[jstory]

Great read...thank for posting.

 

[jzwhts]

Ya, I think I should not complain about my day. They paid it all!!

 

[edporch]

Speaking of the 8th Air Force, they have a great museum I had the privilege of going to back in 2006.
Home @ the Mighty Eighth