Graduate of USAAF-CTD-Iowa State flew 30 combat missions had many close calls: B-17 predawn mission take off, crashed into my barracks, I was in bed, suffered head injury. Another predawn mission B-17, tire blew during take off, crashed off runway, crew all OK, I ran thru windmilling prop. B-17-battle damage, 2 engines out, no hyraulics-emergency landing outside Brussels, Belgium- all crew OK. Slept in barn for 2 days and RAF Dakota picked us up and took us back to base. X-mas eve mission-one engine out-300ft altitude in snow/hail storm, almost zero visibility-as we crossed english channel 2nd engine failed. landed at some RAF base. RAF gave us Xmas dinner next day and a bunk!



AM 4Oak Leaf Cluster/ PUC/ Theaters of War Ribbons/oral history