"Flew my first mission in June, 1944 and my last in October, 1944"



Bill has written up memories of his time with the 100th Bomb Group for the Association's website. Read the full version here: https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=273



Here is an excerpt:

On seeing the sky full of bombers, he wrote:

"When the days were clear, it was surreal. Blue sky above and red rooftops dotting green ground below. There were eerie, hollow hums and whines on VHF. Contrails got to be a hazard, forcing succeeding groups higher. On Mes (Maximum Efforts) it was possible for the large number of planes to create so many contrails that it amounted to an artificial overcast."



"Try flying formation on instruments. The one at the controls fixed on the lead ship, the other pilot calling out attitude from the instrument panel to help overcome vertigo. For example: "...level, ...shallow turn left, ...climbing turn right." Formations flying in the soup didn't hold together very long."



"The most nerve-wracking part of the flight? All of it, especially the bomb run. The most boring part of the flight? None of it."