Pilot 6 Loc: Eugene, OR

While participating in a thread discussing the problems associated with the weight of camera gear as we age, I learned of one of our UHHers who is actively photographing, playing golf, and within the last month, flew in a WWII iconic fighter plane; at age 94!
It would be wonderful to hear from any WWII vets. War experience and what they are doing now would certainly be of great interest to this forum, so many members of which have served in uniform.
Bob

jim quist Loc: Missouri

My Dad was a Seabee and he built landing strips for planes. He told me a story of a sniper that was behind a bush taking shots at them. They got on a huge bulldozer and drove toward him. He said they let him run away without shooting at him.
Dad now works for VOAC, a volunteer organization that teaches people in Russia and other places how to start up a coop. he travels pretty much around the world.

My Uncle was taking a smoke break leaning against a tree, with his rifle leaning against the tree. Three German soldiers walked up to him and surrendered. He also woke up and a German rat, those big ones, was sitting on his chest looking at his face. He said he slowly took out his side arm and shot it. He now works as a CPA for John Deere. He has a massive coin collection and a massive collection of vinyl records, 45's mostly.

Neither one of them talk much about the war.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Bob, a very interesting thread you've started. In our expression of appreciation of those who served in the armed forces, we so very often overlook those who've served, and died for, our country but were not members of the armed services. Though, in many cases, they were instrumental in the successes of our military, they are neither decorated or recognized. Their losses go unrecorded.
--Bob

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thank you for the topic, Bob. Though I joined the Navy in 1971, I was not from a military family.

One UHH user who has posted many moving and fascinating images from the 1940's is RichardQ.

His posting history is here:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-topic-list?usernum=42471

I will alert him to your topic!

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Hi, Bob. I served in Occupied Germany from 1945 to 1948 (three years total) in the Army Air Force (sergeant) and as a civilian with the Publications Branch of the Adjutant General's Office, so I was not involved in the combat part of WW II. Nobody ever shot at me, and I never shot at anybody. However, all of us, until October 1946, were technicallly still in active service because our Military Status was "AUS". That stood for Army of the United States, mandating service "for the duration of the war plus six months," In October 1946 all AUS GIs had to be discharged or reinlisted as RA (Regular Army) for a specific term of service. I enlisted in the Army Air Force Reserves at age 17 (when I was a Civil Air Patrol cadet and still in high school), but I was ordered to finish school and finally received my orders in June, 1945, while the Pacific War was still raging. The atomic bombs were dropped just as I finished basic training. I soon learned I was scheduled for military occupation in Germany, where I spent three years (two as a sergeant in the Troop Information and Education (TI&E) Section and one year as a civilin with the Publications Branch of the Adjutant Generals Office. I am now 90 years old, retired from AT&T Bell Telephone's Public Relations.

I want to remind folks that military victories are always followed by an equally long period of occupation. In the case of Germany, we still have U.S. forces there, 70-plus years after the Nazi surrender. I can testify about many of the details of those early occupation (1945-1948) years, with photos, if anybody's interested.

MG office in Berchtesgaden Bavaria - 1946


GI astride junked Nazi fighter in Bavaria - 1946


Forstenfeldbruck base newspaper, Jan,. 1946

Dave Chinn

Hi Richard !!! I have always loved your previous detailed stories and photos that support them. I would only hope you would consider to continue sharing your photos and stories. Thanks for sharing this one. Your second image is one I admire most in this set. Glad to see you here !!!
Dave

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Found it at last.I flew 31 misions as a Lancaster pilot and we shot down a Focke Wulfe 190.later I fought in the Suez campaign and then took part in the Berlin Airlift.as. Commercial pilot I flew more than 20 types and finished with 32,000 hours.glad tonanswercanyvquestion.ok Bob?

Pilot 6 Loc: Eugene, OR

Gerry-
Much more than OK! At 94 yrs. I'll bet you are the senior UHH. Can you tell us about your recent flight in the Spitfire?
Bob

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Sure.There are two organisations that have modified Spitfire to dual cockpits.Theyvare fierce rivals.one took me up and let me fly it.when the other heard about it they have promised Me anew longer flight on April 19th.I have a friend of similar age who flew DC3s in Burma dropping supplies to the Chindits . He is going up at the same time in another Spitfire and we hope to have a bit of a dog fight.i
in June I am flying a Piper on a two hour crisis country to meet up with other veterans.This is known ascOperation Propeller.
A few years ago I was awarded the Bomber Comand Medal and presented by the Prime Minister.

Pilot 6 Loc: Eugene, OR

My service was unexceptional, un-heroic and quite brief: I enlisted for flight training in the Army Air Corps at age 17 in 1944. Was allowed to finish high school and called up late that year. After basic training at Keesler Field in Biloxi, MI and given temporary MOS's of bandsman, and truck driver; spent most of '45 driving or playing gigs in service clubs, or parade marching. Status was as an OLT (on-line trainee) awaiting openings in flight school. Soon after the A-bombs were dropped, about 30.000 of us were honorably discharged at the convenience of the government. Went in as a private--- came out less than a year later--as a private. Will be 91 in June.
Can it be that there are only three of us remaining ---on this forum?
Bob Lagerquist, Pilot 6 (name of my first adjustable camera--unrelated to aviation)

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

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Not too mant 90 year olds carry a camera. Keep going Pilot