Downer

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billrunnels

billrunnels

Distinguished Member
B-17 Bombardier
8AF, 303bg, 360bs
1,124
1,368
Oct 13, 2017
Minnesota, USA
The active daily training schedule experienced in the Air Force made time move along at a rapid pace. However, there were exceptions, "Holiday Weekends". Activities took on a more relaxing pace which sounds great. The problem I had was with the leave policy. Those who lived within 500 miles of the base could go home over the weekend. My home was never within the policy limits. Therefore I was stuck on base with very little to do to pass the time. It was a downer.
 
billrunnels said:
The active daily training schedule experienced in the Air Force made time move along at a rapid pace. However, there were exceptions, "Holiday Weekends". Activities took on a more relaxing pace which sounds great. The problem I had was with the leave policy. Those who lived within 500 miles of the base could go home over the weekend. My home was never within the policy limits. Therefore I was stuck on base with very little to do to pass the time. It was a downer.
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Was there something that you enjoyed doing like playing board games or books Bill?
Happy Boxing Day!

Cheers
 
airminded88 said:
Was there something that you enjoyed doing like playing board games or books Bill?
Happy Boxing Day!

Cheers
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If the Base had a gym I usually ended up there. Enjoyed working out on the trampoline, basketball etc. Thanks for reminding me of Boxing Day. I really enjoyed sports. The last few weeks, prior to discharge, I gave up flying and became an Athletic Director at a former B-29 Base, Geneva, Nebraska. Had I stayed in the Air Force it would have been in this MOS.
 
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It reminds me of my days in Saudi Arabia, I normally worked 12 hrs per day 6 days per week and changed shifts every two weeks which was ideal because it actually meant only two days a month with nothing at all to do, those two days were very, very long. I had colleagues who worked five eight hour day shifts there, not only did they earn much less many also went completely gaga.

Up in Scotland I sometimes had to stay the weekend, the locals said there were lots of lovely scenery and beautiful beaches, well yes there are but I have a family I want to see and walking alone on a beach is worse than sitting in a bar watching football when you are alone.
 
billrunnels said:
Unfortunately no
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Look on the bright side Bill. I never met my father in law but he used to say he was like an albatross, he came home once a year to breed. My wife's two oldest brothers were born a year apart during the war. He was on submarines mainly in the North Sea and Mediterranean Sea (as far as he knew). Due to war time restrictions his wife didn't know where he was, he frequently only found out where he was when he arrived in port and his letters home could say little more than "I have been in a submarine".
 
pbehn said:
Look on the bright side Bill. I never met my father in law but he used to say he was like an albatross, he came home once a year to breed. My wife's two oldest brothers were born a year apart during the war. He was on submarines mainly in the North Sea and Mediterranean Sea (as far as he knew). Due to war time restrictions his wife didn't know where he was, he frequently only found out where he was when he arrived in port and his letters home could say little more than "I have been in a submarine".
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Security was essential and no mention of location was permitted. Mail was censored etc. Thanks for sharing the story.
 
airminded88 said:
Do you know if the station your bomber group occupied during the war is still standing Bill?
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The USAF had non flight activity at the base until 2015. I don't know if the RAF occupies it or if the land was sold.
 
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