FRE 4935

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Major Williston P. Bunting, flight surgeon of the 385th Bomb Group talks to Staff Sergeant William N. Sweeney and Staff Sergeant Charles H. Hill after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lady Ann". Passed for publication 28 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-202. Major Williston P. Bunting, of Kansas City, Mo., who is only 28, but is Flight Surgeon of this "young" Fortress group commanded by Lt. Col. E. Vandevanter. He is here seen talking with a couple of gunners just in from a mission: (left to right) S/Sgt. William N. Sweeney, of Syracuse, N.Y., tail-gunner; and S/Sgt. Charles H. Hill, of Camden, N.J., waist-gunner - both of the Fortress "Lady Ann".' Censor no: 285771. On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Press caption for image series: YOUTH OF THE FLYING FORTRESSES. Little Americas are springing up all over Britain, each notable for the eager enthusiasm of young men typifying the youth of America imbued with the spirit to bomb and fight the Germans until the Nazi Menace is overcome and peace once again restored. Here in these ‘Little Americas’ a great bomber force has been built up and the enemy has felt the weight of this great air might in the daring daylight raids which are carried out almost daily. Rarely a day goes by without a might armada of Flying Fortresses streaming out with a great roar from their bases in Britain to wreck the enemy’s war machine. It is the youth of America that is so capably commanding these formidable new weapons of aerial warfare. Most of the crews were mere schoolboys at the outbreak of war. The spirit of these lads is refreshing- it is one of courage and determination to win out whatever the odds. Our cameraman- American War Correspondent, Samuel Goldstein, paid a visit to the Flying Fortress “Kindergarten” station, which is a complete unit of youth. The principal flying officers of the station are two “old men” of 39- the oldest members. While the “baby”-already a captain is 20. The commanding officer, Col Vandevanter, who has flown Fortresses through the battles over the Philippines, Java and Australia and has led his unit on numerous missions over Germany and occupied Europe, is just 26. His deputy Major Preston Piper of Santa Anna, Calif is 27. Major Piper led this group in the highly successful raid over Regensburg, Germany and heroically rescued most of his crew in the Fortress “Lulu Belle” when he was forced to ditch in the Atlantic, after being damaged over Bordeaux on a return mission from Africa. USP/2241 Keystone Press Agency. 25 Sep 1943.’

Connections

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Units

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection