Flew 25 missions from 27 Sept. 1943 to 25 Feb. 1944. served as both Waist Gunner and Ball Turret Gunner. Former Canadian Army Ordnance worker, Royal Canadian Air Force Tail gunner and American Military Police Company. Sergeant. Long began his unusual odyssey June 19, 1940, when he enlisted in the Essex Scottish Regiment of the Canadian army. He served with the regiment four months before he transferred to the First Division Canadian ordnance to become a welder. He was transferred to the RCAF in England and spent one and a half years on active combat duty as a Stirling bomber tail gunner. During his service with the RCAF he flew 34 daylight and night missions. Honorably discharged from the RCAF in September, 1942, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in London for nine months as a Military Police Company guarding Eisenhower's tunnel during the London Blitz. But nine months on the ground was enough for Sergeant. Long. In May 1943, he again applied for transfer and went through a USAAF aerial gunner training school in England. He joined the 381st BG, 353th BS, in August 1943, and was assigned to a Fortress crew as a ball turret gunner. He flew most of his 25 missions in the Fortress 'Chug-a-lug'. Prior to 'Chug-a-lug' he flew on the bomber 'Tinker Toy'.



DFC, AM w/ 3Oak Leaf Cluster, EAME w/1 Bronze Star