In February 1943 the Eighth Air Force sponsored a group of eight American civilian and military journalists and a number of British newsreel cameramen to undergo training to fly missions aboard bombers for promotional purposes. A week long training session took place at Bovingdon, where the journalists were taught to adjust to high altitude, identify enemy planes, and parachute. They were trained to shoot weapons, though were forbidden to do so whilst in combat. The group of American journalists named themselves The Writing 69th in reference to the Fighting 69th.



On 26 February 1943 the Writing 69th flew its first and last mission over Wilhelmshaven. Six of the eight journalists boarded B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses to bomb the submarine pens. The mission saw heavy losses for the participating groups, the aircraft of Andy Rooney of the Stars and Stripes was damaged by flak and Robert Post of the New York Times was killed in action when his B-24 exploded. Whilst the other aircraft returned safely, Post's death brought an end to the Writing 69th flying missions with the Eighth Air Force. The journalists disbanded but continued their work as war correspondents. Post's death highlighted to the public the dangers that the airmen of the Eighth Air Force faced during missions.



The eight American journalists were:

Paul Manning, CBS Radio

Robert Post, New York Times

Walter Cronkite, United Press

Andy Rooney, Stars and Stripes

James Denton Scott, Yank magazine

Homer Bigart, New York Herald Tribune

William Wade, International News Service

Gladwin Hill, Associated Press



The British cameramen were:

Ken Gordon, Pathe Gazette News

Jim Wright, British Paramount News

Jack Ramsden, British Movietone News

George Oswald, Universal

Harold Morley, Gaumont British News



Ronnie Noble of Universal and William Wyler also undertook training with the Writing 69th