If you care about WW2 veterans and their stories being preserved please consider donating at www.rememberww2.org/donate Everything is appreciated! Thank you and GOD BLESS THE WWII VETERANS!
If my father was alive, i would ask you to interview him. He did 13 months in combat in VP71, a Naval PBY Squadron. He didn't brag or talk too openly, but if sincerely asked, he would explain battles they were involved with. His memory was lazer-sharp regarding places and events. Thank you for these interviews.
My grandparents neighbour was a B-17 and B-29 pilot in the pacific, boy did he have some stories including being at Pearl harbour during the attack and flying pathfinder on the first B-29 raid over mainland Japan from China. They also got a air to air kill in their B-17 against a Japanese Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' flying boat
One B-29 veteran of the firebombings describes the smell. You could smell the burning flesh from the attitude of the bombers (they flew low) . He says they came across a gaint flaming X on the ground as the initial bomb runs were to mark the target. And he saw what looked like small lights jumping off bridges in groups, almost like tiny bugs(yes, those were humans) Lastly the backdraft from the fires violently flipped the B-29s upside-down. Absolutely crazy description of the firebomb runs.
When I was a young boy my father told me one of the tail gunners on the atomic bomb missions had to be institutionalized. He had the best and longest view of the bombing. Apparently it was more than he could bear. Don’t know if it is true or not. I was 8 to 10 years old when he told me that, I’m 76 now. It certainly stuck with me.
My grandfather was on a ship going to war with Japan when the atomic bombs fell. My grandfather had already served four years overseas fighting the Germans so he was full up with the entire enterprise. No tail gunner alive would ever have needed to buy a drink if anyone in my family met him in a bar.
@@sailingseahawk2012 When I was 17 (1964) I took a short trip by bus. I sat next to a man who told me he had recently been released from a mental health facility. He was there because of his experiences in WWll. My recollection was that he was a bombardier. That was a long time ago so I cannot swear to that. I was a bit uncomfortable during the trip but all went well. When he told me of his recent release I said “Well I’ll be damned,” which was something my father used to say. His response was “You don’t need to be.” His religious beliefs helped him to overcome his past. War does terrible and amazing things. A soldier I knew was 20-21 years old. His black hair was filled with streaks of gray and he stammered uncontrollably. He frequently lost his hair trigger temper and appeared to qualify as a madman. He had worked in small teams in enemy territory collecting information and attempting to locate enemy positions and activity. His team also conducted small unit ambushes and prisoner snatches. I was in the same occupation but fate had assigned me to a position in the U.S. There is more to tell but it is all the same. The results of war can be terrible to those that experience it. For many it is kill or be killed and they survive largely intact. Some fight to insure survival of the nation. For some the experience is more than they can bear.
Thank you for these interviews. And thank you all veterans for your services and sacrifices. I’m 70, not a veteran, and enjoy the history and these testimonies.
This was before the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. As bad as this was, their Emporer didn't surrender. They dropped one A bomb he STILL didn't surrender. Yet they worshipped the man.
This is categorically wrong. Not according to me, according to the state department declassified documents themselves. They knew Japan would surrender, but they used them anyway. Very, very unfortunate that some people simply do not care enough about human lives to do the research to prevent a future tragedy. Instead, they toot their horn and yell "USA USA".
@@TheLion377 The Allies were also concerned about the Soviets invading Japan, which they did. Once the Soviets invade territory they don't give it up. It took eastern Europe 50 years to get rid of the Russians. Japan to this day has issues with Russia not willing to give back territory. Before the actual surrender there were many speculations on what the Japanese would do, but these were speculations only, not fact.
@@TheLion377 They knew Japan would surrender, but not WHEN they would surrender. Waiting for them to surrender would have led to the same cost of lives. Not to mention the fact that despite two atomic bombs being dropped, there was infighting as to whether or not they should truly surrender, and it took Hirohito's intervention to accept the unconditional surrender
@@TheLion377 Maybe you should do some research and learn what the Japanese did to POWs and the Chinese. It was a big mistake for the USA to help rebuild Japan after the war.
And saved the lives of 1million+ men that would've died with an invasion of the home islands. The men, women and children would have been forced to fight anyway, like they did in Germany.
Part of the Logistics planning for the ground invasion of the Japanese homeland was to order Purple Heart medals for the number of expected US casualties. We still issue those medals from the stockpile ordered for that invasion that didn’t happen. The number of expected casualties was higher than the combined number of casualties we have experienced since then. If you are awarded a Purple Heart today then it was a Medal ordered and manufactured in 1945 for that invasion. My son has one.
My father was a medic stationed at McChord AAF he was going to be part of the invasion of mainland Japan, the Japanese armed forces did not abide by any warfare conventions and were brutal to anyone in their way combatant or not, he said they never expected to make it back alive if they were deployed
I was honored to be friends with Col. John Misterly 3 years ago. He was a navigator in a B29, "Here's Hoping". Fire bombing Japan cities. His plane was shot down, he barely survived. His story is documented in the Reagan Library. Flew cargo planes in the Berlin Air Lift. Fighter pilot in Korea and Viet-Nam. He wrote several books. He passed some time ago...I was honored to sit in his living room and listen to his history.
Thank you Rishi for what you do. If my dad was still alive I would definitely try to talk him into being interviewed by you. He didn't like talking about it except the funny moments or when they were in Hawaii
Dad was an 18-year-old B-29 navigator. The B-29 was rushed into service with a number of problems unaddressed. Engine fires and runaway props were two of the deadliest. The B-29 suffered more operational losses than those to combat. Dad said the airplane came much closer to killing him than the Japanese ever did.
I got to fly as the master gunner on yhe B-29 DOC last summer. There isnt a ton of room to get out to yhe tail gun position then get seated in the tail gunners seat. I couldnt imagine trying to do that with a flight jacket on, parachute and O2 mask.
If you care about WW2 veterans and their stories being preserved please consider donating at www.rememberww2.org/donate
Everything is appreciated!
Thank you and GOD BLESS THE WWII VETERANS!
If my father was alive, i would ask you to interview him. He did 13 months in combat in VP71, a Naval PBY Squadron. He didn't brag or talk too openly, but if sincerely asked, he would explain battles they were involved with. His memory was lazer-sharp regarding places and events. Thank you for these interviews.
I heard one vet say it’s not hard to remember…it’s just hard to explain it.
My grandparents neighbour was a B-17 and B-29 pilot in the pacific, boy did he have some stories including being at Pearl harbour during the attack and flying pathfinder on the first B-29 raid over mainland Japan from China. They also got a air to air kill in their B-17 against a Japanese Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' flying boat
The air to air kill is a famous story of a running duel between two behemoths.
@@Mrfrenchdeux yes his name was Col Ed Loberg. He did 90 B-17 & 40 B-29 combat missions during the war.
The Greatest Generation without a doubt
One B-29 veteran of the firebombings describes the smell. You could smell the burning flesh from the attitude of the bombers (they flew low) .
He says they came across a gaint flaming X on the ground as the initial bomb runs were to mark the target. And he saw what looked like small lights jumping off bridges in groups, almost like tiny bugs(yes, those were humans)
Lastly the backdraft from the fires violently flipped the B-29s upside-down. Absolutely crazy description of the firebomb runs.
Loved his story he shared, i hope he was able to live a good life after the war
🙏🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹🌹 here’s to 18 year ago men!
Absolutely humbling🌹
When I was a young boy my father told me one of the tail gunners on the atomic bomb missions had to be institutionalized. He had the best and longest view of the bombing. Apparently it was more than he could bear. Don’t know if it is true or not. I was 8 to 10 years old when he told me that, I’m 76 now. It certainly stuck with me.
I was told the same story by my grandmother I am 44.
Bob Caron was tail gunner on the Enola Gay. Albert Dehart was tail gunner on Bock Car. As far as I know they both lived normal lives into old age.
@@brosrcool Thank you.
My grandfather was on a ship going to war with Japan when the atomic bombs fell. My grandfather had already served four years overseas fighting the Germans so he was full up with the entire enterprise. No tail gunner alive would ever have needed to buy a drink if anyone in my family met him in a bar.
@@sailingseahawk2012 When I was 17 (1964) I took a short trip by bus. I sat next to a man who told me he had recently been released from a mental health facility. He was there because of his experiences in WWll. My recollection was that he was a bombardier. That was a long time ago so I cannot swear to that. I was a bit uncomfortable during the trip but all went well. When he told me of his recent release I said “Well I’ll be damned,” which was something my father used to say. His response was “You don’t need to be.” His religious beliefs helped him to overcome his past.
War does terrible and amazing things. A soldier I knew was 20-21 years old. His black hair was filled with streaks of gray and he stammered uncontrollably. He frequently lost his hair trigger temper and appeared to qualify as a madman. He had worked in small teams in enemy territory collecting information and attempting to locate enemy positions and activity. His team also conducted small unit ambushes and prisoner snatches. I was in the same occupation but fate had assigned me to a position in the U.S.
There is more to tell but it is all the same. The results of war can be terrible to those that experience it. For many it is kill or be killed and they survive largely intact. Some fight to insure survival of the nation. For some the experience is more than they can bear.
Thank you for these interviews. And thank you all veterans for your services and sacrifices.
I’m 70, not a veteran, and enjoy the history and these testimonies.
This was before the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. As bad as this was, their Emporer didn't surrender. They dropped one A bomb he STILL didn't surrender. Yet they worshipped the man.
This is categorically wrong. Not according to me, according to the state department declassified documents themselves. They knew Japan would surrender, but they used them anyway. Very, very unfortunate that some people simply do not care enough about human lives to do the research to prevent a future tragedy. Instead, they toot their horn and yell "USA USA".
@@TheLion377 The Allies were also concerned about the Soviets invading Japan, which they did. Once the Soviets invade territory they don't give it up. It took eastern Europe 50 years to get rid of the Russians. Japan to this day has issues with Russia not willing to give back territory. Before the actual surrender there were many speculations on what the Japanese would do, but these were speculations only, not fact.
@@TheLion377 They knew Japan would surrender, but not WHEN they would surrender. Waiting for them to surrender would have led to the same cost of lives. Not to mention the fact that despite two atomic bombs being dropped, there was infighting as to whether or not they should truly surrender, and it took Hirohito's intervention to accept the unconditional surrender
@@TheLion377 Maybe you should do some research and learn what the Japanese did to POWs and the Chinese. It was a big mistake for the USA to help rebuild Japan after the war.
This is actually pretty sick since the US killed 100’s of thousands of women, kids, the old.
-I was in the Marines, 1983-87
And saved the lives of 1million+ men that would've died with an invasion of the home islands. The men, women and children would have been forced to fight anyway, like they did in Germany.
Part of the Logistics planning for the ground invasion of the Japanese homeland was to order Purple Heart medals for the number of expected US casualties. We still issue those medals from the stockpile ordered for that invasion that didn’t happen. The number of expected casualties was higher than the combined number of casualties we have experienced since then. If you are awarded a Purple Heart today then it was a Medal ordered and manufactured in 1945 for that invasion. My son has one.
Anyone with the " user-13749 " profile name are most likely Russian bots. 😂 🤡
My father was a medic stationed at McChord AAF he was going to be part of the invasion of mainland Japan, the Japanese armed forces did not abide by any warfare conventions and were brutal to anyone in their way combatant or not, he said they never expected to make it back alive if they were deployed
Boo Hoo. Welcome to war. You need a history lesson of what they did to POWs.
If I am correct I think actor Charles Bronson was a gunner on a B-29 and was wounded by gunfire from a Japanese interceptor.
I was honored to be friends with Col. John Misterly 3 years ago. He was a navigator in a B29, "Here's Hoping". Fire bombing Japan cities. His plane was shot down, he barely survived. His story is documented in the Reagan Library. Flew cargo planes in the Berlin Air Lift. Fighter pilot in Korea and Viet-Nam. He wrote several books.
He passed some time ago...I was honored to sit in his living room and listen to his history.
Thank you Rishi for what you do. If my dad was still alive I would definitely try to talk him into being interviewed by you. He didn't like talking about it except the funny moments or when they were in Hawaii
Dad was an 18-year-old B-29 navigator. The B-29 was rushed into service with a number of problems unaddressed. Engine fires and runaway props were two of the deadliest. The B-29 suffered more operational losses than those to combat. Dad said the airplane came much closer to killing him than the Japanese ever did.
Untold Truth.
Historians agree and engine fires were a real problem. Five years later we were in Korea and the Mig-15 ended the career of the B-29.
Thank you Sir
I got to fly as the master gunner on yhe B-29 DOC last summer. There isnt a ton of room to get out to yhe tail gun position then get seated in the tail gunners seat. I couldnt imagine trying to do that with a flight jacket on, parachute and O2 mask.