My grandpa was a ball turret gunner in the 8th during WW2. They made it back across the channel with the no.2 engine ripped from its housing after flak damage. I really wish he was still around to show him these videos and get him talking about his experiences! Thanks for providing these accounts, it's truly a treasure having these available for all to hear. The greatest generation, indeed.
Ray, again I want to thank you for having done these interviews! Listening to these men, and women, in the twilight years of their lives recalling the events of a war some 60-65 years earlier is incredible!!
I have only just found your channel… and all I can think to say is Thank You. Thank you for sharing these videos of unsung heroes. I know a man who was a co-pilot of a B-17. He was in Italy and flew for the 15th AF with the 463rd BG 772nd BS. Thank you again for honoring these men and allowing them to tell their stories.
I have missed these interviews greatly. Was delighted to see this pop up in my notifications. Great stories all from a great generation of Americans. Thank you, Ray, for sharing their experiences.
Ray, you do a great job in getting their stories out of these guys. I have heard/seen many of them. I have also read Donald Miller’s book, Masters of the Air, which, with your interviews gives a great sense of what all went on. Thanks for doing a great job with this.😄
Thank you Bill, much appreciated. You're right, Miller's book is excellent because it puts the air war in perspective - you really get the big picture. And thanks for watching. Ray
I'm a veteran (USAF) who fought in Nam and many other smaller skirmishes. But I find it amazing how precise these vets are with their memories. I try, but for whatever reason, many of my memories are fuzzy. Maybe that's for the best.
to all who fought in ww2 thank you for your service!...my grandfather was a top turret gunner and flight engineer on a B-24 with the 464th BG 779th bs stationed out of italy during ww2...i always looked up to what he did
What a great interesting and informative Interview! Such a great attitude about Serving in WWII and beyond! Thirty years is a lifetime! Our Greatest Generation Heroes, God bless them all!❤🙏🇺🇸
A valuable piece of history. Conducted in a professional manner by NOT interrupting and allowing Mr. Lockhart the latitude to freely express his memories and experiences. Take a lesson those who would interview, and practice the wonderous art of silence.
My stepdad was a navigator on a B-17. He never talked about it much other than his plane caught fire and they had to bail out over France and he watched it crash into the side of a mountain.
HI Ray...not sure if you read these things, but just found your exceptional Channel. Hope you havent stopped making videos. Then again, I know NO UA-camr can go on Forever.
Yes, I read them. And thanks for the kind words. We taped the WWII veterans between 2002 - 2017. We usually taped the veterans at their reunions. But after 2017 most WWII veterans were either deceased or they were aging out, meaning they were approaching 100 years of age. It was really an honor to meet these veterans - both because of their wartime experience but also the wisdom they shared having lived such a long life. Thanks for watching, much appreciated. Raymond
Hi Ray, I've been watching a ton of your interviews, great content. I was wondering if I could use snippets of them in some videos I'm working on? (I'll credit you w/ links etc.). I've been trying to find your contact information online but have had no luck.
I’m a career army brat and my father was an artillery officer. He was drafted and assigned to be an anti aircraft crewman. His unit landed two weeks after D-day. He spoke sparingly of his experiences and those in Korea and Vietnam so I have to dig for my memories for information. He did mention that he was in Belgium when the Battle of the Bulge began. He told me that they were issued AP ammunition to prepare to defend from armor. He was discharged in 1946 returned home and completed his college degree. He had remained in the army reserve so in 1950 he was activated and sent to Korea after being sent through OCS an became a forward artillery observer. He almost never spoke of Korea although he was awarded the bronze star. He was a married man with two daughters when he came home. He was given orders to Colorado Springs to a mountain howitzer outfit that was the last mule pulled army outfit. From there he went to Fort Sill to train in guided missiles. I was born during this transition period. In 1959 he received orders to Germany to the 1st missile Battalion,39th field artillery unit. Our family was on a leave in Holland when the Berlin Wall was put up. The leave was cancelled and his unit was deployed. At the time he had a battery of the Corporal missiles and 280mm atomic cannon. I remember the nuclear drills that were carried out by the dependents on base. He received orders back to Fort Sill so we were back in 1964. By this time the family had grown to four girls and three boys with a fourth boy on the way. We were housed on base until he once again had orders to Korea so we had to move off base for his tour. This was 1967. My parents adopted my fifth sister during this time. He was home for less than a year before getting orders to Vietnam. He was there for about so months before being sent home for medical treatment for a bleeding ulcer. From there he became the assistant post housing officer and established the post exhibition unit of a six pounder Civil War cannon and a Gatling gun due to him having the only experience for the logistics and equipment for the unit. This was 1969. He retired in 1971 and moved us to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Passing away in 2011. His was an eclectic service. From mule powered artillery to guided missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Spanning four wars(the Cold War was not so cold as one may think). WW11, Korea, and Vietnam. I have to say that my mother deserves our thanks for the support she gave to her husband through out his service.
Thank you for preserving the history of these men and women for future generations. Another great video Ray
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching. Ray
My grandpa was a ball turret gunner in the 8th during WW2. They made it back across the channel with the no.2 engine ripped from its housing after flak damage. I really wish he was still around to show him these videos and get him talking about his experiences!
Thanks for providing these accounts, it's truly a treasure having these available for all to hear. The greatest generation, indeed.
You are very welcome and thanks for your comment. Raymond
Ray, again I want to thank you for having done these interviews! Listening to these men, and women, in the twilight years of their lives recalling the events of a war some 60-65 years earlier is incredible!!
You're welcome Brian. Thanks for watching. Raymond
Wonderful interview. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! Raymond
Ray, was happy to see this interview. You do such a good job. Thanks for saving these memories for generations to come.
You're welcome and thanks for watching. Ray
I have only just found your channel… and all I can think to say is Thank You. Thank you for sharing these videos of unsung heroes.
I know a man who was a co-pilot of a B-17. He was in Italy and flew for the 15th AF with the 463rd BG 772nd BS.
Thank you again for honoring these men and allowing them to tell their stories.
I have missed these interviews greatly. Was delighted to see this pop up in my notifications. Great stories all from a great generation of Americans. Thank you, Ray, for sharing their experiences.
Glad you enjoyed it! Ray
Ray, you do a great job in getting their stories out of these guys. I have heard/seen many of them. I have also read Donald Miller’s book, Masters of the Air, which, with your interviews gives a great sense of what all went on. Thanks for doing a great job with this.😄
Thank you Bill, much appreciated. You're right, Miller's book is excellent because it puts the air war in perspective - you really get the big picture. And thanks for watching. Ray
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for your service
I'm a veteran (USAF) who fought in Nam and many other smaller skirmishes. But I find it amazing how precise these vets are with their memories. I try, but for whatever reason, many of my memories are fuzzy. Maybe that's for the best.
to all who fought in ww2 thank you for your service!...my grandfather was a top turret gunner and flight engineer on a B-24 with the 464th BG 779th bs stationed out of italy during ww2...i always looked up to what he did
What a great interesting and informative Interview! Such a great attitude about Serving in WWII and beyond! Thirty years is a lifetime! Our Greatest Generation Heroes, God bless them all!❤🙏🇺🇸
A valuable piece of history. Conducted in a professional manner by NOT interrupting and allowing Mr. Lockhart the latitude to freely express his memories and experiences. Take a lesson those who would interview, and practice the wonderous art of silence.
My stepdad was a navigator on a B-17. He never talked about it much other than his plane caught fire and they had to bail out over France and he watched it crash into the side of a mountain.
HI Ray...not sure if you read these things, but just found your exceptional Channel. Hope you havent stopped making videos. Then again, I know NO UA-camr can go on Forever.
Yes, I read them. And thanks for the kind words. We taped the WWII veterans between 2002 - 2017. We usually taped the veterans at their reunions. But after 2017 most WWII veterans were either deceased or they were aging out, meaning they were approaching 100 years of age. It was really an honor to meet these veterans - both because of their wartime experience but also the wisdom they shared having lived such a long life. Thanks for watching, much appreciated. Raymond
Roger that! Jus one more question...are you planning on making anymore?@@raymondmcfalone26
Hi Ray, I've been watching a ton of your interviews, great content. I was wondering if I could use snippets of them in some videos I'm working on? (I'll credit you w/ links etc.). I've been trying to find your contact information online but have had no luck.
You can reach me at rmcfalone2@yahoo.com
@@raymondmcfalone26Do you upload these anywhere else? I am leaving yt and I shall miss revisiting these.
What a life!
I’m a career army brat and my father was an artillery officer. He was drafted and assigned to be an anti aircraft crewman. His unit landed two weeks after D-day. He spoke sparingly of his experiences and those in Korea and Vietnam so I have to dig for my memories for information. He did mention that he was in Belgium when the Battle of the Bulge began. He told me that they were issued AP ammunition to prepare to defend from armor. He was discharged in 1946 returned home and completed his college degree. He had remained in the army reserve so in 1950 he was activated and sent to Korea after being sent through OCS an became a forward artillery observer. He almost never spoke of Korea although he was awarded the bronze star. He was a married man with two daughters when he came home. He was given orders to Colorado Springs to a mountain howitzer outfit that was the last mule pulled army outfit. From there he went to Fort Sill to train in guided missiles. I was born during this transition period. In 1959 he received orders to Germany to the 1st missile Battalion,39th field artillery unit. Our family was on a leave in Holland when the Berlin Wall was put up. The leave was cancelled and his unit was deployed. At the time he had a battery of the Corporal missiles and 280mm atomic cannon. I remember the nuclear drills that were carried out by the dependents on base. He received orders back to Fort Sill so we were back in 1964. By this time the family had grown to four girls and three boys with a fourth boy on the way. We were housed on base until he once again had orders to Korea so we had to move off base for his tour. This was 1967. My parents adopted my fifth sister during this time. He was home for less than a year before getting orders to Vietnam. He was there for about so months before being sent home for medical treatment for a bleeding ulcer. From there he became the assistant post housing officer and established the post exhibition unit of a six pounder Civil War cannon and a Gatling gun due to him having the only experience for the logistics and equipment for the unit. This was 1969. He retired in 1971 and moved us to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Passing away in 2011. His was an eclectic service. From mule powered artillery to guided missiles armed with nuclear warheads. Spanning four wars(the Cold War was not so cold as one may think). WW11, Korea, and Vietnam. I have to say that my mother deserves our thanks for the support she gave to her husband through out his service.
Thank you for sharing your father's amazing military experience. Raymond
Salute to you Colonel, from a former E4 bomb loader.