Arlon Nessa
Military"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.
Arlon was a crew chief and had three other mechanics assigned to him, responsible for maintenance of one B-17 bomber. While armorers, radio specialists and sheet metal workers performed specific functions on aircraft, Arlon and his crew were responsible for the mechanical operation of their aircraft. They changed engines, tires, and wings, installed fuel tanks and performed pre-flight checks before the aircraft took off for missions. Ground crews worked tirelessly, often through the night, to get their aircraft ready for missions. If and when their aircraft returned from a mission they began their maintenance routine all over again at the end of a long day to get it ready for the next day. Air crews on D-Day flew three missions in support of Allied ground forces. To ground crews it was also their “Longest Day”. Aircraft assigned to him until they were either lost in combat or salvaged, included “Queenie”, “Wee Willie” and “Ack Ack Annie”.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wee Willie
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Queenie
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ack-Ack Annie
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Hubbard, IA 50122, USA |
Revisions
Entry added with details from:
- "Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.