My Dad is currently a board member of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association.
http://www.13thbombsquadron.orgOrganized as 13th Aero Squadron on 14 June 1917, the "Devil's own, Grim Reapers" are one of the oldest operational USAF squadrons, currently flying the B-2 after transitioning from the B-1.
Originally starting with SPAD 13's they eventually flew the A-20 from 1941 through 1945, the B-25 from 1942 through 1945 and the A-26/B-26 from 1945 through 1956
Dad is also taking me to their annual reunion in october this year in Virginia Beach...WOOOHOOO!!!...
If someone can come up with a list of questions I can ask him to pass them on to the association members I will also follow up on them at the reunion.
These guys, pilots, mechanics, gunners...you name it...they WANT to tell people their stories....but they are dying out quickly. Dad gets very depressed each year as the notices come back of members who won't be making it to the reunions any more. Now is our chance.
Something interesting from the website concerning gun turrets and gunners during Korea:
"Too many of the aircraft had only a top turret -- nice for warding off attacking aircraft, but that just wasn't done in Korea. Well, maybe it was done a few times.
Still, an upper turret could be used effectively when the plane was making evasive maneuvers departing from the attack. Able was the classic attack B-26 with both uppers and lowers. The gunner's job was to suppress anti-aircraft fire, usually after the attack had begun and the ground gunners learned the attack was in progress."
