Why? Because one of my late friends was a ball turret gunner on a B17 over Europe. He was one of few veterans of WWII I knew who talked freely about their experiences. His was an unusual story as you will see, told as briefly as possible:
Cyril was a British teenager. Both of his parents were killed in a Blitzkrieg bombing raid. He was adopted by a wealthy couple that, for their safety and his, moved to New York City.
At the age of 18, Cyril volunteered for the U.S. Army. During basic training he became friends with a soldier from my hometown. During their training, the hometown soldier volunteered to become a radio operator. Cyril followed. They were transferred into the Army Air Force, trained to be radio operators and assigned to different B17 air groups.
Cyril's commanding officer, noting Cyril's small physical frame, moved him from radio operator to ball turret gunner.
The last time Cyril saw his friend the hometown boy, he was made to promise if the hometown boy didn't make it through the war, Cyril would come to my hometown and look after the hometown boy's sweetheart.
The hometown boy lost his life in a bombing raid over Europe. Cyril survived his bombing missions. True to his word, he came to my hometown to look after the sweetheart of his late friend. They eventually married.
Cyril, my old friend, may you soar forever in the deep blue vault of the sky, never again with frozen feet and fingers, never again shaken by bursts of flak and frightening passes by German fighters. My hat is off to you and your kind this Memorial Day. Soar in peace.
Thanks for sharing your story withme. I hope others get to read it. This was a fun thread...My dad was in the 8th USAAF..He was on from 39-45...He flew the paratroops..dropped three sticks on D-Day..