Supply Officer for a B17 Flying Fortress
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Ken Rowland graduated from high school in 1938 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December of 1940, which was a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Rowland is able to articulate what the Air Corps was like before the war started. An example - they were so short of supplies, Rowland was issued a WWI uniform with leggings. After Pearl Harbor, Rowland volunteered to join the newly created 390th Bomb Group as a supply officer, which was based in Framlingham, England. He spent 2 ½ years in England and shares many stories about that time period: V1 and V2 rocket attacks; conditions on a WWII B17 airbase; days spent in wartime London; and coordination with his English counterparts. His description of returning home to his wife and 2 ½ year old son, whom he met for the first time upon his return, is heart warming. He is a modest, down to earth intelligent man who offers an interesting description of what it was like to be in the Air Corps before and after Pearl Harbor.
Great story. Not every hero was a pilot or ship captain. It took many people and many different skills to win that war
Good point . Supposedly it’s 8 support per one combat soldier.
Absolutely correct - every role was important. Even the noncombat jobs. Can’t win a war with out support!
Another great interview by a fellow with a lot to recount!
A different side of WW2. It's nice to know that at least a few got home with no major scars, mentally or physically.
Though it's too late now to do this, a series like this where citizens of London during WW2 were interviewed. They would have a lot of stories to tell. Thanks Ray.
We interviewed Gerry Green, a British teenager who survived the blitz: here is a link to the video: ua-cam.com/video/ugUHetsUsCY/v-deo.html
@@raymondmcfalone26 Ray, Thanks for your hard work. My name's Ray also.
His progression through the ranks and his service was amazing. Thanks for this great interview that covers another facet of the 390th.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow I loved this interview! It was so cool to hear from a different perspective of someone on the base. It was really interesting to hear about their duties and what they did during the war. They were every bit as important to the war effort as the Flyboys. Thank you again Raymond!
You are very welcome.
What an incredible contrast to the tales of the flight crew - a different war for some people (no less important, just different).
I know Suffolk quite well, it would have been interesting to hear about any interaction with civilians local to the airfield.
Thank you for your great interviews. Really appreciated.
Thanks for listening
Master Sargent in 18 months is also nuts. With no basic training. Good stuff
Don't fly without supply!!!
I love the music, Ray. It sets the mood so beautifully. It would be a different kind of interiew without it.
Thank you.
80 Thousand US Airmen were lost over Europe during World War III. Staggering losses. Two generations have passed that of whom few who've known sacrifice save for Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Is this the same man that was a news caster for a long time?
Another great interview. I never could quite understand if he was a Warrant Officer or Lieutenant?
Watch again starting a 36:00. He said he decided not to go to OCS because he was afraid if he washed out he would land in the infantry.
What is the music that plays at the beginning? Very sentimental and poignant. I would sure like to know what it is.
Here are the details on the music:
Tomorrow's Child by Spencer Brewer
Shenandoah by Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbe
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Its amazing no basic training. That's nuts
"Did you have things to do on the farm?" Incisive question...
Right? ! Brilliant question.
Wait what?? He didn’t do basic training…and went from buck private to Master Sergeant in 18 months?? Ummmm what????? There are a lot of crazy holes in his story but damn he backs it up though…
This happened during the Civil War as well as WW1. Depends a lot on your superiors, your personality but mostly on how important your job was. There were 1,000's of battlefield commissions that routinely took place.
Trichloroethylene...