“My next door neighbor did a full tour in B-17’s and then switched to fighters. He flew P-51’s and P-38’s. When he crashed his 5th plane, they awarded him an “Iron Cross”(made from foil gum wrappers) for being a German ace.”
I love that type of little story. They make the men and war more than dates and numbers to be learned/remembered.
So he kept his “Iron Cross” as a memento?
He didn’t keep it. He was on a B-17 mission when he saw his brother’s plane explode. That’s why he switched to fighters after his bomber tour was up. That and the threat of being moved to the Pacific theater.