If you could talk to a WWII Fighter Pilot

[Kermit de frog]

If you could talk to a WWII Fighter Pilot.  What would you talk about?

If you could ask him just 1 question, what would you ask?

[BlauK]

What do you mean..."if?"  --->met a few of these gents

I would talk about their experiences in combat situations, tactics, etc.
Many of them have flown several plane types and they often do not remember technical things or performance issues of the planes. Often us virtual guys are much more familiar with tech issues. It would be a treat to talk with some test pilot or mechanician some day

Choosing just one question would be hard... maybe just something in general to get them going... "Please tell me all abut it"

[Atoon]

I get to talk to one 2-3 times a month, He owns a local car lot in Sonoma California, and shops at my store regularly. I always thought of him as a grumpy old man (cause he pretty much is), but when I learned that he was a WWII pilot, I just had to take the opportunity to talk with him about it. When he realized I was genuinely interested in his stories, his face light up as he was talkin to me. Whenever he comes in I get him to talk about his experiences, I think he likes it as much as I do.

My first question was "What was your most memorable flight"  He said he was flying over Germany in a p38 (he named the city but I dont recall it right now) and took hits from flak. The Flak blasted his controls and his compass. He was trying to RTB and was actually gowing the wrong way. He said he could tell he was going the wrong way cause the flak was gettin heavier & heavier.  He managed to get turned around & limp his way home, said he had a heck of a time getting it landed.

Hes one of my favorite customers, still works every day & still driving. Next time I talk with him Ill take notes & share the details.

[mussie]

Once I would have asked him about his experiences... But now I would avoid the subject...

I once asked my wife's grandfather about his experiences in WWII and he had some amazing stories, but in my enthusiasm for the legends I bought back memories that saddened him greatly, I know this because I can still remember his words, words that he said without malice they were a simple statement of the truth

" You've made me remember things I would rather have forgotten"

Make no mistake, Keith is a great man, He is a true blue Australian and a master builder who joined the forces underage and saw things in the pacific that no 16 year old should...

But I digress:
 
So now I would ask our theoretical pilot how he feels about people like us, the Sim Junkies...  

How would an weary old pilot react to grown men (and women) pretending to be in WWII...

I remember being about 10 and seeing my first B-17 in a book, I always thought it was cool and once I found out how tough she was I fell in love with that plane and automatically I thought WWII was cool....  

Yet I like most of us (excluding those who have served) have absolutely no Fing idea what it is like to put yourself in harms way day after day to see friends torn apart by bullets and cannon fire....

I still love the B-17 and have a keen interest in WWII but I know that I am just another Sim Junkie who's virtual death means nothing and serves no purpose
 
Often I find myself asking how would they feel about us....

To ALL Vets....

P.S.
On a lighter note I would have to ask them what they think of the flight model and such.......
 
Later all, sorry if I put a downer on this thread...

[Obie303]

My uncle, now 89 years old, flew in the CBI (China, Burma, India) Theater. Suppling the flying tigers in (don't quote me on the year) 41'.  He flew a B-25 without any defensive guns.  He told me a story a little while back that when a Zero used to approach their plane, they used to stick broom sticks out the gun windows. (Just like some of the Doolittle Raiders did).  By the way, he made 74 trips over the "Hump".  He's still kickin and loves to talk about some of the stories when I see him.  

Obie

[Guppy35]

I've had a chance to talk to lots of vets over the years and collect their stories.  Probably the proudest moment I've ever had outside of my family is this picture taken at the first reunion of 41 Squadron at RAF Coltishall in 1986.  I'd researched the Spit XII for about 6 years to that point and tracked down all the pilots I could find, which lead to helping with the reunion and then getting to fly to England to take part.

I was the only non WW2 Spit pilot in the group photo that was taken in front of the B of B flight Spit II that was in 41 Squadron colors.  The pilots asked that I be included.  Talk about proud and humbled.  They also got me in the cockpit of that Spit which wasn't normally allowed.  Sadly many of these guys are now gone.

I'll never forget sitting with them in the Coltishall OC with a pint in my hand listening to them talk and how they seemed to step back in time as they told their stories.  Being allowed to see that was an incredible privilage.  Even more humbling was when they'd ask me if they had the story right.  I'd been living it daily through their letters and I was able to fill in the details they'd missed.

Again, outside of family this was probably the best thing I've ever experienced.  Getting allowed into that circle and being considered part of them, if even for a couple days was really something.  I still have my 41 Squadron tie, that only 41 Squadron members are allowed to have

[Stang]

Dan, what can I say... wow.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Stang
Dan, what can I say... wow.

And you wonder why I'm a closet Spit dweeb

Just some stuff about the guys that are in the photo.

Tom Slack-Shot down and walked back through Gibralter.  Went down in the Channel and rescued.  Went down a third time when his fuel tank wouldn't switch over and ended up a POW.

-Peter Graham.  Lost most of his hearing due to a flak hit right behind the cockpit.  Later shot down by flak and ended up a POW.

-Ross Harding.  Ended up an Air Vice Marshall.  "Recco Ross".  Shot down by friendly flak chasing a V-1.  

-Terry Spencer.  Shot down by flak in an XIV.  Escaped with another Spit pilot.  Stole a motorcycle and roded it to freedom over the Remagen bridge.  Went back to his squadron.  Shot down by flak again attacking shipping.  Shell hit between the radiators and blew the Spit apart. Terry was at 0 feet but going so fast he was able to pull his chute and fell into 6 feet of water.  In the Guiness book of World Records for lowest survived bail out.

-Joe Birbeck.  Lied about his age and was flying Spits at 16.  Shot down attacking sub pens in an XVI near the end of the war.  Still ticked off about it when I talked to him.

-Herb Wagner.  A Yank in the RAF.  Shot down by Flak near Guernsey just before D-Day.  got a real working over by the Gestapo.  Later went to POW camp and they thought he was a plant because of his American accent.  Ended up playing lots of Bridge with Peter Graham as his partner as they waited it out in Salag Luft I

-Stan May.  Shot down in the fall of 43 but evaded with the help of the French Underground.  He still wouldn't talk about it much in 86.

Peter Cowell.  Shot down a 262 in a Spit XIV.  One time in a Spit XII he was flying right on the water over the Channel and bounced off, shattering about 2 feet off each blade.  Somehow staggered back at full power and barely moving.

And it goes on and on, but those are just some of the guys in the photo with me.

[Obie303]

Dan, Those stories are amazing!  I collect WWII aviation art and enjoy reading the stories depicted by the artists.  You, by far, have me beat.  Your dedication to the amzing heritage these men have passed on to you must be a great honor.  Hope you plan on writing a book about their stories.

<>

Obie

[palef]

We were privileged and surprised to find that this chap: http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/aces/peart.htm was not only interested in AH, but he wanted to witness a squad night. Gulp.

He loved it. I managed to click on a Spit XIV instead of the IX we were supposed to take so he got to find out what perk magnet meant. Mind you, we all flew "clever" for a change and performed a successful mission with only one loss to flak - about right he reckoned.

He made some interesting comments about both the flight model of AH (Spits from the VII on needed full rudder at take off power) and what he perceived to be the advantages and disadvantages of the various Spitfire marks he flew. He rated the VIII, claimed that no XVI ever made as much power as a comparable IX, and the XIV was brutal.

Of course he would rate the VIII because he survived solo combat with 30 vulching Oscars.  


He didn't whine about the Oscar pilots vulching either.

[Schatzi]

My grandfather was Ju52 pilot. He told a few funny stories (of the day they had to bring a live cow to the front line) or how he sent his friend to the eye-check - hed never have been allowed to fly otherwise, he was blind as a duck .

He talked about Stalingrad once. He said he was one of the last pilots that flew out there. I was too young at the time to understand what was behind the story... later i never dared ask him about it.... hell is too nice a word for what happened there.

Out of his whole flight, he was the only one that survived the war. He died a few weeks back, after long years of sickness.

[jokeri]

I had chance to ask question from Gunther Rall in 20.5.2006 when he was visiting aviation museum in Vantaa Finland. It was really cool to hear him talking after I had read his book. I was amazed that he was still in that good shape and was able to give aswers  ~2 hours.
 
My question was what was the most feared enemy fighter he fought against. Due my bad spelling and large auditorium Mr.Rall heard/understand my question little different and answered what was the most feared airforce.

He answered RAF and reason was that their level in aircombat tactics was so good.

Here's photo from my archives of Mr.Rall

[1895]

You could only ask one question. What was it like, and I would direct that to any Spitfire Pilot (Grandfather was a spit pilot)

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I've gotten to know about a dozen P-38 pilots, and we've talked about everything from flying to fishing. We talked about friends and family, about traveling, about fun and heartbreak. Everything I had was lost a while back when computer problems struck. And some of those guys aren't around anymore.

[detch01]

Originally posted by Schatzi
My grandfather was Ju52 pilot. He told a few funny stories (of the day they had to bring a live cow to the front line) or how he sent his friend to the eye-check - hed never have been allowed to fly otherwise, he was blind as a duck .

He talked about Stalingrad once. He said he was one of the last pilots that flew out there. I was too young at the time to understand what was behind the story... later i never dared ask him about it.... hell is too nice a word for what happened there.

Out of his whole flight, he was the only one that survived the war. He died a few weeks back, after long years of sickness.

Schatzi, my sincerest condolences on your Grandfather's passing.

Re the question I would ask: I worked with a couple of WW2 vets for a couple of years (both ex-RAF). One was a navigator on Halifax bombers, the other was an "erk" on Spitfires (IX's, XIV's & XVI's) - both great guys.  And I grew up on RCAF fighter stations in the 60's and early 70's so I was around a fair number of vets. So, the question I'd ask is "I'm headed to the bar, can I get you another drink?" - there's no better conversation starter .



Cheers,
asw