I salute you current and former.
I want to point out my own missed opportunity..
I had a friend/customer who had flown Bostons in Pacific early in WW2..he and I discussed them at length. He told me they were soo fast on deck..they found at full gallop they'd open bomb bay doors, release bombs..and they would hover in the bomb bay. He mentioned this was not a good thing.. He said his group had guy that came up w/ a 'spoiler' at front of bomb bay that popped down when doors opened, disturbing the air flow allowing the bombs to escape the 'slip-stream..
I asked him about the ventral gun, he said sometimes they'd take it..sometimes not..was kinda 'how lucky you felt, that day..' kinda thing.
I wish I'd had have thought to get him on tape or video.. I'd name him but we've been outa touch long time...
He told me once he was past passing his physical for pilots license..but he had a few buddies, who'd take him up, let him have a turn at controls..at 80+ he still yearned to feel the controls, the plane moving at his direction.
Those who know these survivors, please get their words, thoughts down somehow..
Salute Ed...glad to say we were..and remain friends where ever you are.
JGroth