My father in law received the DFC as a B24 waist gunner. Only 20 yrs old. His fellow waist gunner ‘Joe’ said that he had what seemed to be a superhuman aim. ‘Pops’ never wanted to talk about the combat though. He had funnny stories to tell about life on the bases.
Joe told Pop’s kids after he passed that Pops once had to man the ball turret when the gunner went into shock. He and Pops pulled him out, and Pops squeezed into it. He was 6’3” and skinny, but Joe managed to get the door closed. War at 28,000 ft.
Hard to imagine.
My uncle was a B-17 waist gunner flying 35 combat missions out of Italy during WWII. During the cold war we were never stationed on the same base at the same time. We did meet by chance around the US, Europe and the far east. He didn’t tell me of his WWII experiences. I never asked. As I handled his affairs after he died I discovered a small notebook that listed those missions. I used that resulting in full details his life during those times. It does not glorify him. He and his fellow crew members did their jobs just like all the others. They finally worked themselves out of a job.
His burial included full military honors. The ceremony ended with a dramatic version of the Air Force Hymn. His story is now in Family History Library in Salt Lake City.