| Foreword The inspiration for the
preparation and publication of this memoir was born in 1988 when,under strong persuasion
from an old friend who was also an 8th Air Force veteran of World War II, I joined the
8th's Historical Association. Subsequently, I also joined the 305th Bomb Group Memorial
Association, the group I had served with in England and flown 35 missions as a B-17 heavy
bomber pilot with them. After attending a couple of reunions and renewing friendships, the
memories of those times crowded in on me, leading to a revival of interest in the box of
old correspondence between my wife and myself covering our experiences during that
period.We met shortly before I was called for Air Corps flight training. We corresponded
afterward, married and traveled together, when possible, during flight training and
preparation for a combat assignment overseas.
As is to be expected, the correspondence was particularly heavy during the overseas
preparation period. After reviewing these letters, it became obvious that they were a
source of strength for both of us during the pressures of those days. While we were both
affected, I was particularly humbled by the recall of the missions, the fears, the
discomforts , the pain and the youthfulness of those who flew them. In addition, my wife's
courage and dedication to my family made it possible for me to get through my missions
with greater peace of mind.
It seemed a shame to let the letters gather dust, so I embarked on this storytelling
odyssey to tell how it was for two youngsters enmeshed in the uncertainty of living
through a bloody, life-consuming war. Our story is undoubtedly a redundant one, only
varying in detail from many others, yet unique because of the uniqueness of us all. It is
sad that the emotional content of the story had to be wrung from the hearts and minds of
the people concerned by the stress and havoc of war. For us, the bond formed during those
trying days has remained steadfast for over 55 years. |
