That's a bacon for you dear sir.
Thank you for your presence here and answering questions. It's greatly appreciated.
Hi All.....
- Thread starter billrunnels
- Start date
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Thank you for your presence here and answering questions. It's greatly appreciated.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
WOW, Hero x 2!
Tim Moore
Airman
Bill,
You were there at the end of the aerial bombing campaign. Were you ever using radar bombing techniques/H2X? If so, what was that like?
You were there at the end of the aerial bombing campaign. Were you ever using radar bombing techniques/H2X? If so, what was that like?
- Thread starter
- #44
I did not use radar bombing techniques. I was assigned lead bombardier status and flew two second deputy lead missions and one first deputy. Had the war continued my next mission would most likely have been in the squadron lead position. Only the lead aircraft had the radar crew and equipment. Sorry I can't answer your question. However, being there in the winter months, the cloud coverage necessitated radar drops on most missions. Sixty percent on target was considered a good radar drop.
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To Bill Runnells, it should be noted that the bacon icon (there's the two strips of bacon, the thumbs up and down, the check, the X, the smiley face, the green medal, the circle with an I in it, a heart, and several others on the lower right side of every post) is the highest ranking icon (Though I personally value the informative icon equally).
Seriously?
And thank you sir for being a part of our forum/family here, and sharing your stories.
I do have some questions of a more personal nature.
As a youngster of 42, it is hard for me to understand what it was like, being a young lad, flying to Nazi Germany in ww2.
Long hours of flying at great hight, at freezing temperatures of minus 40 and no real comfort, I imagine. How did you personally experience that? Did you get used to it? Did the excitement wear of after some time?
As a youngster of 42, it is hard for me to understand what it was like, being a young lad, flying to Nazi Germany in ww2.
Long hours of flying at great hight, at freezing temperatures of minus 40 and no real comfort, I imagine. How did you personally experience that? Did you get used to it? Did the excitement wear of after some time?
- Thread starter
- #50
It was anxiety that prevailed before and during the first mission to Dresden. That mission established a norm for those to follow so it became like going to work. We knew the evening before if we were scheduled to fly the next day so we had time to prepare. I listened to soft music and wrote V-mails to family and friends prior to falling asleep. Had no trouble sleeping. I think being young with no obligations back home made it easier to adjust etc.
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ARTESH
Chief Master Sergeant
I hope Iranian Veterans were much Lucky !!!
Yet, speaking of them and their deeds,
is somehow "Profane" ...
The Regime wants to delete them from History !!!
no signs / words in Public ...
only a few handsome ones ...
Ferdowsi said this, 1000 yrs ago !!!
Yet, speaking of them and their deeds,
is somehow "Profane" ...
The Regime wants to delete them from History !!!
no signs / words in Public ...
only a few handsome ones ...
Ferdowsi said this, 1000 yrs ago !!!
Was that October 1944, or February 1945?
Obviously my war experiences are much different than yours, nor am I trying to equate mine to yours. Iraq was nothing like the war you experienced in WW2.
Your experiences here however sort of remind me of mine. I remember the night before my first flight into the combat zone, when the commander came in and informed the crews who were flying, my heart kind of dropped. The anxiety and fear that I felt was like none I had ever felt before. I had trouble sleeping that night. After several combat flights however, I sort of became "immune" to it. It became a normal part of my life, and I no longer felt that anxiety and had no problem sleeping either anymore.
Thanks Chris and Bill for sharing your experience. 
But Bill, what was it like for you, the hours of flying from the UK to Germany? What did you do during those hours?
But Bill, what was it like for you, the hours of flying from the UK to Germany? What did you do during those hours?
Bill
I saw this today, an old mansion house used in WW2 as an R&R centre for US aircrew, not a bad gaff at all, the relevant text is below.
Coombe Park on the banks of the Thames for sale | Daily Mail Online
During the Second World War it was used as a rest and recuperation centre for the US Air Force under Charles' widow Lillian but the grand home was left in a poor state when they left and the main part of the house was demolished after the war because of the large capital cost of refurbishment.
US air crew were invited to the house, which changed its name to Pangbourne House, to rest during their 25-mission tour in Europe.
Officials changed the name of the house because there was a similarly-named rest home in Dorset.
The American Red Cross ran the operation which lasted until the end of the war.
I saw this today, an old mansion house used in WW2 as an R&R centre for US aircrew, not a bad gaff at all, the relevant text is below.
Coombe Park on the banks of the Thames for sale | Daily Mail Online
During the Second World War it was used as a rest and recuperation centre for the US Air Force under Charles' widow Lillian but the grand home was left in a poor state when they left and the main part of the house was demolished after the war because of the large capital cost of refurbishment.
US air crew were invited to the house, which changed its name to Pangbourne House, to rest during their 25-mission tour in Europe.
Officials changed the name of the house because there was a similarly-named rest home in Dorset.
The American Red Cross ran the operation which lasted until the end of the war.
Bill
Abject apologies for not welcoming you earlier and thank you for your Service.
I am very lucky to be able to work as aircrew ...amongst other things...on a number of airworthy Warbirds including the Fortress, Liberator, Mitchell and Mustang, and you have my most deepest respect for what you took part in and survived.
I have considerable first hand experience in all positions on these 'Girls over the past 5 years, but that's without being bounced around due to turbulence, flak, pilot induced escape maneuvers and with everyone outside trying to kill me for hours at a time, ignoring also the fact that I'm dried out and cold from being on Oxygen for most part of each Mission and partially deafened from all that's going on around.
I do raise a silent salute to all who went to work in these 'Planes each and every time I'm out on Tour !.
If there's anything of particular interest you would like photo's / videos of, please let me know and I will oblige. I'm back out on Tour during May on the West Coast so can get fresh stuff for you no problem.
Once again, thank you and welcome aboard Sir.
Abject apologies for not welcoming you earlier and thank you for your Service.
I am very lucky to be able to work as aircrew ...amongst other things...on a number of airworthy Warbirds including the Fortress, Liberator, Mitchell and Mustang, and you have my most deepest respect for what you took part in and survived.
I have considerable first hand experience in all positions on these 'Girls over the past 5 years, but that's without being bounced around due to turbulence, flak, pilot induced escape maneuvers and with everyone outside trying to kill me for hours at a time, ignoring also the fact that I'm dried out and cold from being on Oxygen for most part of each Mission and partially deafened from all that's going on around.
I do raise a silent salute to all who went to work in these 'Planes each and every time I'm out on Tour !.
If there's anything of particular interest you would like photo's / videos of, please let me know and I will oblige. I'm back out on Tour during May on the West Coast so can get fresh stuff for you no problem.
Once again, thank you and welcome aboard Sir.
- Thread starter
- #57
Gary
Thank you for the kind words of welcome.They are appreciated. I envy your crewing of some of the great
WWII aircraft, especially the B-17 I had the pleasure of doing that when Bob Pond had his museum at Flying Cloud Airport here in the Twin Cities. It was great fun responding to questions etc. The B-17 ( Miss Angela ) was airworthy so we did take it to an air show or two. Wish it were possible to be active again. Good luck on the upcoming tour season. A picture or two wold be great.
Bill
