TilE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR (ADMIRAL NIMITZ MUSEUM)
Center for Pacific War Studies
Fredericksburg, Texas
An Interview with
Robert C. Stahl 2T Air Div rd93 B.G. 409hh1 17 Missions, 13-24 Lead Bombardier th,329 4 Missions December 2, 2004 My name is Richard Misenhimer and today is December 2, 2004. I am interviewing Mr.
Robert C. Stahl by telephone. His address is 10709 Greenville Road, Van Wert, Ohio
45891. Ills telephone number is 419-238-4281. This interview is in support of the
National Museum of Pacific War. Center for Pacific War Studies, for the preservation of historical information related to World War II.
Mr. Misenhimer
Bob, I want to thank you for taking time to do this interview today.
Agreement Read
Mr. Stahl
That’s okay with me, Richard.
Mr. Misenhimer
First off, what is your birth date?
Mr. Stahl
My birthday is May 21, 1925.
Mr. Misenhimer
Where were you born?
Mr. Stahl
Ohio City, Ohio.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did you have brothers and sisters?
Mr. Stahl
I had 3 brothers and 3 sisters.
Mr. Miscnhimcr Were ‘our other brothers also in World War 11or not’?
Mr. Stahl
Yes, I had one brother in the Navy in submarines, one brother in the Marines on the
Second Marine Division out in the Pacilc and he fought at Guadalcanal.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did both of them come home from the service’?
Mr. Stahl
They all came home, but unfortunately, my whole family has passed on and I’m the only one left.
Mr. Misenhimer
Unfortunate is right.
Mr. Stahl
My parents and everyone have all went up above I imagine.
Mr. Misenhimer
Where did you go to high school then?
Mr. Stahl
At Ohio City Liberty High School.
Mr. Misenhimer
What year did you finish there?
Mr. Stahl
1943.
Mr. Misenhimer Now on December 7, 1941, as you remember, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese.
Do you recall hearing about that and what your reaction was?
Mr. Stahl
Definitely. I heard it and I also, that was a very important day, and I had a paper route — believe it or not even though I was a sophomore in high school — I had a paper route and I had to deliver the papers right away when they were made. That was in the afternoon if I remember correctly when we heard it up here. It shocked everyone and most people couldn’t believe it at first, but then after they realized what was happening why everyone was pretty much, what should I say, 100% behind the war effort.
Mr. Misenhimer
How did you feel like that would affect you? Did you realize that would have to make you go into the service or what?
Mr. Stahl
7hh1 My one brother was already in, he was in before December — the one in the Marines. I tried, to be honest with you, to lie a little bit and get in at the age of 17, but my dad caught me and wouldn’t let me go. He made me wait until I was 18. My brother was in a flying squadron with one of the movie stars, Tyrone Power. FTcflew with Tyrone Power.
Mr. Misenhimer
This was the Second Marine division on CIuadalcanal’?
Mr. Stahl
Urn-hum.
Mr. Misenhimer
3
Mr.
Where
and
Mr.
wanted
everything
Baer
Mr. while.
Ok.
1943 Tell they
Mr.
When
Mr.
That was
Mr. him
Mr.
If
What
I
told remember
Stahl
Misenhimer
Misenhimer
Stahl
Stahl
Misenhimer
Stahl
me
they
an
About
were
Field was
and
was
they
did
That’s
to
SBD,
again
them
that’s
had
the
go
hemmed
you
his
in
there,
were
a
to
month
Fort SBD,
but
a
to
about
my
job
correctly
actually
seat
when
the
put
hemmed
my
I
there
recollection
Wayne,
wouldn’t
Air
the
in
with
mc or how
physical,
I
by
two
went
dive
Force,
go
do
on
he
a
you the
in,
Indiana in
you
crew
was
a
before
bomber.
in. say
Japanese
voluntary
at?
for
went
Air
my of
know’?
an
member,
for
I
one
Corps,
mental don’t
I
and aerial
into
graduated
sure
of
and
applied
induction
the
the
know gunner.
—
Army
— a
I that
service.
gunner
4
I
stories
guess
brought
in
how
for
they
Air
the
list
I
things
aviation
with
he
forget
long
Force
flew
latter
and
my
told
a
it
they
got
and
papers
the
machine
at
part
was,
me.
cadet
that
pretty
model
it
called
of
had
a
back
time. training
lot
May
gun
hectic
a
airplane
me
of
pilot
to
of
wet
out
I
the
my
passed
because
1943
there
and
the
weather
l7’ draft
—
back.
I
behind
1
for
think
of
went
board
I
June
a
and
little
to it
be what
were
some
to
and
weeks,
We
weeks
didn’t
swampy
coming
got
go
priority
That
By have
Mr. how
train
Mr.
I
left
me,
12
on
the
to
were
put
Misenhimer
Stahl
saluting
walking
was
and
been
officer
was
weeks,
Fort
through.
Keesler
even
I
early
they
time
them
went
in
freight
edge
kind
we
rough.
that
Campbell,
from
50
give
got
we
and
stopped
but
went
on,
meant
down
years
back
of
of
trip
Field
train
got
We
us
the
they
us
they Keesler
they
like
They
down
to
outfitted
toward
a
to
to
old
coal
eventually
at
and
would
us
change
Keesler
we
Kentucky
didn’t
got
were
this
Keesler
that
put
at
and
they
burning
there?
were
Field
us
the
warehouse
our
point,
us
too
come
with
know
chewed
through
of
weren’t
Field
time
on
contaminated
Field,
area
and
got
big
clothing; which
our engines.
troop
through
It
where
and
to
that’s
for
in
where
was
us
in
it
GI
Keesler
really
and
Biloxi,
is
me,
took
trains,
of
out
8
clothing.
kind
right
to
we
where
weeks
course
they
got
our
We
but
for
put
5
us
expecting
or
had
Mississippi
Field,
of
I
a
tents
across
were
not
typical,
three
put
think
quarantined.
us.
bag
we
of
humorous.
the
nothing
I
saluting
us
basic
were
were
So
kind
full
all
not
days
windows
the the
on
us
tent they
kind
having
of
training.
the
river
railroad
of
about
for
that
but
for
because
clothes
and
sack.
had
put
of
We
side
the
our
We our
early,
weren’t
from
filthy
a
we
a
a
a
first
spent,
half
basic
civilian and
finally,
bath
cars
bunch
humorous
I
every
and
didn’t
and
Cincinnati
we
two
looking
let
a
we
and
sealed
training.
got
mile
it
another
were
of
the
time
after
was
clothes
were
weeks.
even
the
some
tents
thing
freight
away
about
people.
very
a
supposed
smoke
about
on
know on
high
lijiow
up
fatigues
to
They
a
happen
must
and
well.
two
at
train
wear.
troop
two
one
We
we to Mr. Misenhimer
What did the basic training consist of?
Mr. Stahl
A lot of marching, military procedures and protocol, and how a soldier’s supposed to act and so forth. We had basic rifle training, mostly with carbine believe it or not. We didn’t have the Springfield, we had mostly carbines. The Air Force, for some reason, the choose carbine as a weapon for them and for enlisted men. A lot of classes and basic training on what your supposed to do in your military life, how you’re suppose to conduct yourself. Like I said, a lot of drill, we had a lot of drill everyday so everyone could march properly. We left there after about 8 weeks; it must have been about the first of
September 1think. From there we went to the University of Tennessee believe it or not because we were aviation cadets and they put us in college there in Knoxville.
Mr. Misenhimer
Let me back up and ask a few questions about your basic training. Did you do anything in the way of flight training or anything like that at all?
Mr. Stahl
No, not in basic training. None at all.
Mr. Misenhimer
Was it basically like infantry training then?
Mr. Stahl
Yes.
Mr. Misenhimer
6
Mr.
So
Mr.
$50
Mr.
Do
breakfast.
Mr. we’d
It was
and
Mr.
The time
white
How
Mr.
scrub
like After
We
Mr.
was
when
you
Stahl
Misenhimer
a
Misenhimer
Stahl
have
were
Stahl
Misenhimer
to
KP
Stahl food
in
was
get
month.
you
floors
they
a
back
these
recall
little duty,
you
the
to
was
kind
the
left
were
be
and
so
next
left
other
bit
food
what
believe
not
the
of
there
they
see
nice
better
there
lucky.
day
too
tents
there’?
barracks.
your
were
it,
by
little
bad.
it
off.
you
food
they
what
or
5
pay
They
and
very
not,
buildings.
We
went
Of
had
really.
was
did
we’d
course
had
got
clean.
because
two to
you
when
to
at
the
work
In
story
live
eat
that
I
We
After
other
University
was
you
we’d
the
all
in
time,
had
wooden
never
first
7
our
then?
words,
day
good
get
to
I
first
went
to
scrub
up don’t
a
of
food
barracks
get
fussy
several
about
two
Tennessee
in?
the
until
know
that
weeks
eater,
3
floors
times
all and
or
about
what
4
the
but
we
did
they
o’clock
every
we
they’re
food 10
spent
one
you
had
were
o’clock
day;
thing
chefs
say’?
in
steak
the
like
all
the
we
rest
I
at
would
painted
now
did
morning
for
had
night
of
enjoy
Fd
to
our
eat. and
you
graduated
cage
swamp
shooting
coast was
While
gunnery
parted
bombardiers
nothing. to
and
about were
had a
got,
Always
approximately
spent
Yes,
lot
determine
were
some what
in
in
for
of
after
a
trying
three
3
we
company
one
a
few
and
regular
months
with
us
because
trap
Piper
supposed
I
they
to
were
Sergeant
we
had
group
to
they
miles
months
to
turrets,
and
whether
an
shoot
stand
left
called
make
Cub,
the
three
there
college
they
had
instructor,
at
we
navigators
that
called
Keesler
extreme
this
to
and
said.
there.
in
and
but
were
officers
clay
months.
sent
in
the
you
they
try
and
point
subjects
then
Panama
the
Apalachicola.
we
“Mister,
classification
to
pigeons
us
were
going
we
they
I
sent
never
dexterity
gun
hit
don’t
flew
went
down
we
as and
went
While
them.
had
us
far going
because
turrets
graduated
City
to
about
gentleman
soloed,they
you
to
from
have
down
to
as
be
to
about
Kendall
we
with
we
Nashville,
everyone
will
the
Then
to
part
center
didn’t
two
Down the
almost
were
to
we
be
had
University
a
my
be
to
of
exact
another
mile
a
hours
after
8
were
out
Field
some
the
a
bombardier,
where
a
made
have
there
hands
there
any
bomber
bombardier.”
of
Tennessee of
and
we dates
back
in
a
us
in
training
us.
direction
machine
small
week we
we
us
the
everyone
went
so
of
a
together.
Panama
of
have
half
here
Then
did
started
forth
group
Tennessee
aviation
pickup
field
during
through
a
get
course
for
there
in
navigator
an
guns
come
when
and
and So
City,
was
front
out
down
flight
about
instructor
After
trucks
cadet
that
at
thats
I
they
that’s
with
down
that
out wanted
at
psychoanalyzed
we
Kendall
Florida
of
training.
along
4-5
time
classification Knoxville
or
flying
had
left
me,
program
phase
and
where
shot
part
through
a
weeks.
with
there in
to
pilot
shot
the but
for
it
Field,
guns
of
Piper
at
we
be
had
we
us.
Everyone
Florida
aerial
you
guns
your
or
and
and
a
after
the
They
all
pilot
like
but
We
Cub.
all
to
and
they
we
job.
in
try
a
we
I had
the
what
base.
awakened
long
close
like upper
one had
tables giant
sit they was
had
where
Field
airplane
that
them.
but
Emerson
down
administration
was
Sperry
to
West
to
was
strictly
boulevard
treated
you
and
cafeteria
and
They
classmen,
and
say,
we
have
We
allowed
and
about
at
called
Nose
it
Point
they
got
had
we’d
were
“Sir,
had
the
had
was
white
classroom
us
we
in
our
room,
took
there.
6-7
same
from
Turret
a
they
two
drummed
all
so
this
aviation
practiced
still
Class
to
rear
building
gloves
cadet
weeks,
strict
stand
take
us
occasions
was
had
administration
time
shooting
we
turret
It
and
A
and
up
was
training
a
that
would
sabers
uniforms
cadet
strictly
behind
on
to
and
out,
slice
that
they
the
with it
and
and
Montgomery,
very,
on was
then
clay
Sperry
where
now
type
so-and-so,
off
took
on go
then
their two
our
and what’s
so
more
very
white
their
of in
you
pigeons
these
of
forth.
building
occasions
chairs
us
they
upper
cadets
and
barracks
Turret.
that
turret
or
out
sit strict
belts
it
gloves
poor
the
had
wishes
bread
called
less
Our
there
Alabama
and
classmen of
but
9
were
also.
to
and
meals
and
We
there
another
fellows
little
bag
while
meals
out
when
the
and
and
tray
our
when
the
caught
everything.
didn’t
After
on
main
of
training
West
would
all
if
at
pre-flight.
because
I
bit,
bread”
believe
they’d
their
a
turret
was
I
you
Maxwell
you
and
turret.
saw
we
use
gate
lying
they
Point
be
wanted
there
backs
we
were
got
from
that
the
two
and
shout
it
it
about
sitting
would
They
on
We
or
was
went
because
through
No
Sperry
Air
they went
at
of
in
and
Panama
exams
not,
the
the
practiced
midnight
them,
a
flying
coming
dress
watched
Force
on
out,
walk
haifa
they would
on
commands
they
butter
lower
the
that’s
at
and
they
top
uniform
they
City
there
around
Kendall
march
Base.
had
plates
mile
to
pass
with
we
or
over
they
of
ball
the
had
you.
started
at
a
bread
an
at
were
on
great,
clear
it. Kendall
There
just
we’d
way
at the
were
turret.
pretly
you
a
all,
Field,
the
big
The
No
you
at
it
to
all is the main gate while the drums are rolling and were all standing at attention on each side of that boulevard and those two poor individuals were sent to the infantry. That’s how strict it was and it was about the closest thing to West Point I would ever experience in my life.
Mr. Misenhimer
And how long was that’?
Mr. Stahl
That was I’d say 2 months because that would bring me up to about the first of May of
1944, pretty close to that period. Then from there I went to Carlsbad, New Mexico for bombardier training.
Mr. Misenhimer
Let me back up. When you were there in Alabama what rank did you have?
Mr. Stahl
I was an enlisted man, aviation cadet.
Mr. Misenhimer
What was your pay then do you recall?
Mr. Stahl
Still $50.
Mr. Misenhimer
So you had gotten no rank increase.
Mr. Stahl
No increase at all. Clear through until I got out of bombardier training, our salary was still $50. Nothing for flight pay or anything like that.
10
machine
little We
could training,
concentrated
up much
there
ATI
bomb
done
to
railroad
Mr. Mr.
for Much how Mr.
When
Mr.
We
them
with
bombardier
had
went
Misenhimer
Stahl Stahl
Misenhimer
1,
thing.
was
my
it
steer
time
bay
better.
you
which
was
electric
a
as
at
if a
train
by
way
that
in
lot
the
cattle
we
went
to
these
Then
around
train.
it
and
go
is
of
For
train
trips.
time
hit
of
so
training.
cars
the
mathematics
to
anywhere
cars,
cars
scoring
we
we
the
we
some
Carlsbad
too.
trip’?
twin
125
about
We
had
got
target
could
around
but
reason
in
Up
engine
went
into
a
and
That
of
the
lot
10
because
use
it
to
how
course
over
everything.
flight
would
and
feet
of
shade
to
was
that
we
practice
airplane
physical Carlsbad
did
also
high,
this
had
the
point
training.
we
I’d
make
sometimes
you
hanger
we
summer
a
didn’t
had
we
bombs
with
little
it
travel
training,
We
had
and
marks
was
had
11
some
We
the
have
better
floor
had
a
there
to
and
pretty
a
in
to
lot
flew
on
glass that
bomb
drop
little
the
there?
a
much
and of
that
were railroad
the
lot
were
common,
summer.
practice.
mostly
nose
out
paper
try
site of
was
bulls
time
250
military
of.
to
worse
up
and
mighty
cars
bomb
eye
targets
daytime,
of
off.
Carlsbad,
on
They
We in
they
us
and
as
than
top
fact
training,
It
that
targets
warm
used
went
and
was
had
maybe
had
the
that
we
but
went
we
what
underneath
a
very
a
10
over
weather
always
we
electrically.
before
miniature
big
a
didn’t
foot
a
to
lot
had
little
they
it
hanger
Carlsbad
with
of
and
referred
I’d
a
out
have
call
better
class
few
our
we
our set
Mr.
Nope,
status
Mr.
Would
Mr.
I Mr.
the
Did
Mr.
figure
sharpest
name
middle
graduated
blue. probably
blue
navigation
supposed
navigation;
night
would
way
Misenhimer
Stahl
Misenhimer
Misenhimer
Stahl
some
bar,
your
was
missions
I
pay
because
the
of
graduated
say
it
turkey
it
everything
to
others
was
it
was
Stahl September
Second
salary
and
wasn’t
about
we
about
be
and
the
my
also.
so had
the
in
and
graduate
would
as
half
the
forth
like
same.
a
Lieutenant
grades
I
backup
some
gold
was
went
flight
in
We
2,
water
the
a
navigation
like
be
warrant
1944.
sure
had
bar,
We
navigation
and
overseas.
as
class
officer
for
up
or
that,
Second
some
graduated
down
it
get
everything
to
the
anything
I
Second was
graduated
officer
$245
but
a
and
navigator
with
higher
cross
at
a
Lieutenant
trips
celestial
blue
the
I
or
the
Lieutenants
never
that
up
like
country
something.
I
we
tail
pay?
did
as
bar
to
12
exception
on
the
that
had
was
a
$150
end
have
was
with
these
flight
then
Army
but
because
to
of
the
pretty
figured
a
a
and
take
I
the
is
month
bombers.
officer.
of
little
one
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Joe
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name,
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Colonel.
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of
States
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make
Nebraska’?
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years
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war.
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tell
bombs
Dayton,
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United
you
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of
retired.
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Ohio
Los
States.
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armed that
Angeles
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Liberty
else
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in
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career
name
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B.
when
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got hit.
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went
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Mr.
What
what
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Lincoln,
regular
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Mr.
December
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river
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did
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classified
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Kansas
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facilities?
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then?
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drafted.
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days.
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about
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us
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cars
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train,
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go
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New
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door
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time
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Jersey
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at
fast.
up
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Kansas
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train
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went
food
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port
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it. crew
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change
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time.
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wood
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of
England
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boarded
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was
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headed
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Mary
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direction
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it
Red
now.
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people
swimming
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we
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yawed
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had
inside
on
was
up
huge
rough
Cross
rough
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soldiers
that
overseas
England
a From
I’d
January
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the
reunion
it
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back
fast
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and
like
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women.
outside
weather
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there
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go
pools
enough
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to
we
outside.
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water
the
1,
right
well
big
go
there
ship
we
6
took
1945.
and
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overseas.
got
opposite
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of
in
see
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grey
swimming
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got
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that’s
January
us
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think
put
over
some
and
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it
it
They on
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had
all
sometime.
did
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to
doors
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of
painted
at
the
there
way.
over
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of
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a
good
Six
kind
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San
of
Long
and
was
had,
science.
room
did,
pools
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big
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in
500
them.
tip
of
about
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21
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radar
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the
soldiers
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day
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big
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Mary
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because
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did
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waves
ship
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year
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ship, people
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our
me
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country
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year
right,
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mahogany
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night
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Force
get
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way
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approximately
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took
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bomb
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museum
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plywood
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length
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mess
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to
in
missions
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Mr.
Did
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practice
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in
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It
tanks
the
if
base
the
in
much
they
On
to all
didn’t
December
up
went
Detroit, footing
to
down
and
The
going
political
Division
archives three
a
don’t’ Yeah.
On
Mr.
Mr. time.
Western
B-
England
for
the
all
flying
17
Stahl
Misenhimer
into
other
out
have
to
20,000
know
that.
They
and
at
long
they
controversy
be
to
was
Europe
full
of
all
7h1,
fort
and
to
fighter
know
one
a
Florida
raids.
Now
had
were
prior
if
flying
workers
all
production.
worry
when
went
I
India
was
told
B-24’s.
places
a
for
the
to
pretty
groups
like
6
fort
war
on
a
about
out
lane
you
December
in
and
sure,
liberator
B-24
for
Berlin,
submarine
the
we
or
was
in
faithful
the
countries
highway The
each
that
The
but
getting
a
Congress
Congress
bombed
and
liberator
declared
number
B-24
we
belonged
would
funny
was
8
the
7 1h,
hour from
had
a
patrol
each
like
was
built
other
but
plant
they
and
about
part
they
of
that
they
shift
I
that
the
that.
think
way
quite
bomber
to
and
and
were
it
was
built
of
was
meet
standpoint.
our
went
32
got
in
Willow
it
it
in
the
things
Then
three
before
that an
kind
pretty
was
going
because division.
all
and
you
groups,
into
Air
airplane
the
plant.
of
after
we divisions
Run
out
like
at
December
Force
much
to
full
a
publicity
weren’t the
Now
of
mixture
it
be
plant
December that,
there
You’d
The
production
was
because
that
same
built
had
with
the
in
but
minute
was
already
were
place.
supposed
a
like Europe.
7,
have
I
for
point
21
us
few,
they
think.
there
1941
already
at
7 th
our
one
twelve
Air
up
war to
They that
built. on
they
sold
that’s
Army
whether
was
there look
or
Division
Our
One
to
the
started
point
built
two
a
used
o’clock
were
be
a
when
1
lot
way
up
Second
was
and
Air
always
lot
on
maybe
in
all
of
the
them
is
on
gearing
had,
of
back?
they
a
Force.
strictly
they
was
them
the
high
war
Air I
It
Mr. And
Mr.
Mr.
the
Anything
Yeah,
where
Mr. thin
We
Mr.
Did
Mr. I yet.
Oh
Mr.
Mr.
thought
plant school
think
was
wing
yeah,
Stahl
Misenhimer
had
Stahl
Misenhimer
Stahl your
Misenhimer
aluminum
Stahl
Misenhimer
then
was
it
108
pieces
that
Roosevelt
one
did.
that
was
sometime
plane
Roosevelt
to
already
feet
and
control
mission
humorous
of
pretty
I
skin
suffer
mathematics,
shrapnel,
think.
was
built
later
on
small
the
had
that
quite
planning
the
after
even
weight.
them
in
we
what
in
outside.
the
a
relation,
because
had though
bit
and
preparing.
war
we
long
I
of
around,
understand
I
called
damage
they
always
we
before
I
is
became
that
weren’t
extended
in
flak,
thought
33
on
flak
it
right?
that
ever
penetrated.
your
a
supposed
holes;
history
the
the
happened.
that
missions?
B-24
wing
we
was
major,
to
had
The
had
or
kind
be
did
around
that’s
a
B-24
even
very
of
something
humorous
was
preparing
what
high
198
actually
flak
I
wing
taught
to
that
holes;
for
it.
loading,
just
war
that
in a
take
instance
a
was
someone
had
and them
many
several
1
Bordeaux,
Mr.
airplanes.
What’s Mr.
standing
Mr.
I
it.
loading. I
Mr.
real had
have
don’t
They
a
supplies
a
these
Stahl
Misenhimer
Stahl
Misenhirner
out.
one
hot
substance,
jelly
thousands
a
months
know
some
that
picture
tried
came on
temperature.
mission,
down
What
France
like
top
I
for
the
other
ever,
to
up
substance.
because
of
there.
here
them,
was
they
of
get
dimensions
with
right
one
I
Germans
things
they
was
darn
happening
of
were
after
of
We
the
Anyhow,
on
before
they
didn’t
in
near
those
that
the
idea
Someone
in
had
the
dark.
had were
either;
a
Atlantic
all
happened
I
lead
call
round
around
they’d
wings.
was
got
this
them
the
So
bottled
them
group
over
they
I
came
they
93ft1
is
cylinder
iust
put
bottled
12 Ocean
It
the
on
napalm
there,
had
had
bomb
planes, up
know
decided
and
a
up
34
forerunner
your
phosphorous
in
guns
with
a
coast
up
we
about
I
bunch
this
group
it
then.
forget
missions?
and
we
had
was
they
the boats
and
area,
4-5
got
just
to
of
of
but
idea
they
considered
would
how
they
foot
come bomb
ready
people
napalm.
and
fuse
left
they
they’d
could
many
supposedly,
long
they
them
try
in
in
on
a
said
on
them
town
at
around
something
to
mission
made
been
That
had
men
there the
we
night
be
that
right
left
ground
were
was
they
testing
a
out
to
one
I
that very
and
them
would
forget
try
close
the
of
have
else.
going
of
had
high
we
them.
paper,
in
to
first
the
there
front
how
to
bum starve
food
went
They
to
wing
it
for
of at
right?
Mr.
Mr.
They
Mr.
Mr.
They they
In today.
out
hold
out, went
forest would
call
bay
no
and
doors;
kind
down
Japan,
bombs
of
Stahl Misenhimer
Misenhimer
Stahl
doors
it closing
it
tried
this
of
burned
out.
used
and
there
was
Bordeaux
our
get
they
Which
had
jelly
uh-huh.
them
airplane
to
a
could
We
in
a
so
would
and
them. a
forest
lot
out
make
those
strong
practice
like
we
had
out
of
we
I be
Tokyo
used
can’t
incendiary
fire
substance
roll
an
they
sure Well
and
and
dropped
were
it
awful
on
would
resulted
up
they
a
I think
they
well.
were
there
think
lot
supposed
the
the
would
nice
of
if
were
in
B-24’s,
about of
eat
bombs
outside
was
SC)
the
that
them
from
these
the
through forest
about
not
bomb
supposed
freeze to
was
ready
name
in
it.
in
the
paper
of
hit
froze
Vietnam
fire;
Japan
every
the
Those
the
bay
bomb
that
and
to
of and
35
forerunner
containers
up
airplane,
in
leak
the
to
doors
town
flight
start
too.
sometimes
that
bombs
and
have
hay
town
and
all
leaking.
were
and
part
a
doors
you
over
been
other
couple
slide
worked
right
for
to
we
of
came
not
the
the
you
were
an
too
France
places.
up
didn’t
now,
So
of
open.
napalm electrical
place.
on
had
long
back
pretty
the
when
like
we
the
do
they
trouble
planes
because
Before
you
corrugated
We
exercised
too
good,
outside
bomb
some
had
connection
bad
got
bad
their
opening
we
they
a
of
as
it
flak
them
and
nice
ofajob.
would
them
we
got
our
bombs
barn
couldn’t
holes,
moisture
know
big
out
to,
where
bomb them
went
eat
I
and
We
it it
Mr.
and
main
started
sloping 4 the
an
Yeah, Mr.
Back Mr. and
engine.
Yes, Mr.
Mr. expect were.
Did
mobile
shrapnel...
Yes.
times
emergency
east
we
Misenhimer
Stahl we
Misenhimer
Stahl you
Misenhimer
we
gear
to
I
we
There
slowing
to
it.
would
hills as
made
guns
coast
your
The
lost
ever
our
made
and
wide
just
Our
an
mission
that
would
home
of
home
it
lose
we
field.
say
down.
as
back
engine.
it
England.
slightly
intelligence
they
landed
to
about
the an
base?
base
always
our
They
okay.
engine?
that
normal
could
We
home
In
95%
so
down
on
we
had
The
used
fact
if
be
and
move
people
lost
of
you runway
base.
3-4
someone
runways
in
one
on
them
found
two
Flardwich
got
emergency
around
of
time
tried
We
those
and we
we
off
out
were
there;
we
only
were
the
had
to
at
and
everything
36
once,
after
pinpoint
lost
each
runway
exceptionally
flak
had
fields’
we
some
over
two,
we
we
end
couldn’t
the
holes.
the
coming
found
were
them,
right
and
but
was
one
of
North
the
about
you If
time
alright
along
kind
very
out
but
wide,
you
runway
up
were
Sea
everything
where
the
3
when
of
well
had
the
times
and
I
pretty
worried
Germans
suppose
going
to
North
there
pinpoint
you
we
we
fly
we
close
took
had
in
were
didn’t
through
was
about
Sea
lost
maybe
the
had
to
where
right to
okay.
there
one
kind
grass
land
hardly
a
our
England
lot
flak
about
off
of
they
on
on
you
of or
they
towards
flare formation
pattern group you
with
different
form
take
North
white
silence
what
call
times
there
On
mission the
Mr. Any
the
only
want
like
had
Stahl
off
off
your
time
and
they
were
had when
stripes
Sea
and
and
Munich
Germany
and
bad
and
a
time.
the
colored
then
to
own
and
you
target
it’s
call
with
times
as
the
meet they
a
lead
weather,
the
over
the
own
certain
follow
they
ever
being
group
Our
Germans
their
raid
fuel.
ship.
did
flares
in
plane
up
airplanes
on
it
identifiable
always
came
people
1942
about
we
with
in
sounding
have
our
that
because
place
a
Not
It
to
would
forming
lot
were
was
mission.
knew
and
close
lead the
make
problems
4
too
of
used
doing
would
over
foot
an
right
down
bad
maybe
you
then
many
plane
equipment
airplane we
to
sure
formation
very
older
England
wide
the
running
weather
get
come
were
What
group
return
to
like
had
until
you
planning
pistols
1943
two
airplane
a
red
that
few
forming
up
that.
happened
trouble
knew
and
we
a they
back
out
and
and
especially
too
before
in
certain
would
to
hundred
had
not
the
of
The
were
long
three
white
knew
and
shoot
where
to
when
up
fuel?
collide
directions
I
our air
problems
in
time
go
our
got
of
because
pretty
hundred
we
stripes.
they
around
up
gallons
the
base
your
up
a
we
there
particular
period.
came,
from
were
with
early
first
would
were
efficient
and
group
to
they
that
England.
were
airplanes
when
You
the
one
getting
and
go,
then
part
then
there.
Each
all
there
one
top
could
was
we
another.
fly
had probably
we
of
as
someone
meet
we
the
was
ready
around
would
the group
so far
they
to
I
might
in
got
would
hear
think
airplane
that
maintain
a
and
as
war
painted
back,
20
would
So
to
created
planning
had
us
meet
would
a have
you
get
perhaps
sometimes
mile
come.
head
each
certain
across
what
but
in
form
red
take and
radio
been
area
by
on
fire
that’s
We
the
and
we
the
a
up a
pretty
laborers
Mr.
Yes,
think
Were Mr.
was
I
Mr.
How
Mr. Yes,
Mr.
Mr.
When On
That
I’m
Mr.
Mr. way.
lot
had
of
that
Misenhimer
Stahl
Misenhimer
Stahl
at
sure
Misenhimer
Stahl
Misenhimer
Stahl
very
I
was
were
two,
there
the
friendly,
extra
did
you
the
on
Ploesti
a
people
just
friendly.
tail London
weekend
things
lot
were
were
our
time
too
of
end
but
air
raid,
in
a
friendly?
lessons
and
there?
long
lot
of
base
twice.
believe
England
The
or
a
the
I
of
lot
think
three
because
and
English
people
were
war
of
it
we
did
day them
use
or
and
learned
got
that
not
out
you
people
up
passes.
they
ran
to
we
trying
too
was
get
be
out
the
were
had
much
I
a
like
pretty
I
had
chance
of
hard
to
did
a
38
getting
the!
get
group
12
no
fuel.
sightseeing.
way.
good
hours
the
qualms
before
to
of
I
pretty
go
Yankees
think
friends
Irish
or
to
they
with
something
London
used
they
people
I
with
saw
got
dollar
whatsoever.
to
learned
2/3
around
them.
Yanks
at
that
bill.
like
all?
of
worked
the
the
that.
They
by
London,
They
way
lesson
that
were
as
back.
time.
were
civilian
but
the
hard
it I
the
and
January
them
end
Yes, About
Mr.
there,
Mr. nisson
Not
that
Mr.
Any Mr.
Yes,
Mr.
When Mr.
always
called
no
middle
problems
for
and
Stahl
Misenhimer
ran Stahl
in Misenhimer
Misenhimer
Stahl
they
of
we
spaced
the
like
you
the
huts
London.
everyone
them
thought
of
tin
out
had
were
93
Free
of
1945
were
a
over
were
of
so
Quonset
V-2’s
with
ever
the
bomb
fuel.
very
that
Irish
the
and
the
We
in
to
the
night
come
whatsoever,
London
and
go
Irish
right
top
much
I
about
group.
had
and
nickname
hut,
kind
to
and
buzz
and
close
were
one
they
the in
huh?
like
the
of
we
were
the
cement
We
bombs.
bomb
that
got
were
to
more
second
heard
a
but
for
middle
were
you?
Quonset
they
weaned
came
them
I
shelter.
not
blocks
thought
friendly
this
in
being
night
of
put
down
they
our
noise
of
them
on
on
in
39
I
We
today. bombed
barracks,
maybe
than
that
believe were
close
the
the
and
they
were
the
service
the
end
kind
they
to
They
the
had
by
first
it
English
in
our
or
and
was
Irish
of
the
our
said
a
huts
unless
had
couple
air
bomb
a
an
the
V-2’s?
pajamas
door
were
it
base,
oval
really.
actually
like
was
bomb
they
shelter.
of
in
cement
a
shaped
one
a
nights
one
little
and
had
buzz
The
alarm
they
of
end.
everything,
volunteered.
I
more
the
English,
blocks
building.
after
bomb
got
were
went
buzz
They
there
friendly.
we
huts,
coming
on
off
I
bombs
got
had
in
had
the
in I
I’ve
Mr.
over.
England.
These
headquarters Mr.
The
Mr.
Could
like
extraordinary: Yes,
Mr.
out
Did Mr. hear at
ran
dirt
most
hurry,
us
Misenhimer
because
into
Misenhimer
over
Stahl
we
seen town
Stahl
you
Misenhimer
that
I
they
of
air
did
you
hurry,
used
about us,
see
that
the
engine
bases
If of
said,
see
go
some
you
it’s
any
Hardwick
to
top,
was
get
map.
into
one.
3
it
were
have
Okay,
coming
ever
feet
was running
shows
in
it
in
of
the
was
It the
a
us
of
in
just
about
see
was
town
town
was
you
it
the
water.
bomb
in
about
down.”
on
a
was
local
London?
like
map
depression
6-8
called
about
got
of
that
shelter.”
just
5
Hardwick?
a
vaudeville
The
miles
initiated
of
feet
vaudeville
buzz
But
100
Norwich.
plain
it
old
below
you’d
we
apart,
bomb
people.
years
timers
It
underwear.
now.
got
was
people
be
40
the
thing.
it
don’t
around
initiated
We
was
surprised
like
just
Just
Our
ground
did
putting
very
worry.
you
stood
it
remember
Second
here
We
wasn’t
get
in
level
were
close
how
a
all
in
back
I
on
hurry
When
guess.
there.
Air
ran
anything
and
different
down
many
together
from
and
division:
out
on
we
that
it
laughed
in
that
air
and
was
now
ran
engine
a
acts
big
scattered
bases
storm
one.
they
about in
on
our
or
and
down
their
as
they
said,
stops
main
cellar
20
so
long
all
heads
there
miles.
forth,
built
“1-lurry,
look
over
as
with
you
and
off all Mr. Stahl
Some south of London too. Norwich was our closest town. Our Second Air division does have a big room in the library which we maintain and finance, we pay a director to take care of it, and the 211t1 Air group is kind of proud ofhat we’ve done over there and the people there we keep very close contact with. I have not been able to go back, but
John Lee had been over there twice, in fact he was just there a couple of months ago.
John took a job, he was with the )d93 bomb group, but he took ajob as a Vice President in 931 the Second Air division and he represents our bomb group in the Second Air division so that puts him on the board. He went over there for some arrangements on the library and while he was there he went down to I-Tardwickand our group has. the farmer that owns the farm there now, he kept one runway of all of them and a couple of buildings and the rest of them of course are gone. In one of the buildings he made a small museum down there where we had td93 bomb group paraphernalia and memorabilia there.
Mr. Misenhimer
Anything else you recall about you time flying over there and those missions?
Mr. Stahl
I had one mission where I had to go back into bomb bay, I had a bomb that is 100 pound bomb and the fuse is live that didn’t get out of the bomb bay and fell cross ways and I had to go back and kick it out before it went of1 but that’s the only incident of anything like that had happened. I was scared.
Mr. Misenhimer
1-Towdid it get armed? I understood there was a propeller on the front that had to turn so many times before it became armed.
41
It through.
Mr.
Mr.
was
So catwalk
catwalk went
didn’t
bottles middle
words
wire
from
Most
something
propeller The
Mr.
Yes,
Mr. Mr.
was
while
Stahl
Misenhimer
only
Stahl Misenhimer
Stahl
propeller’?
pulled
on
so
turning
of
spinning.
know
until
and
of
from
on
I the
the
that
about
on
had
the
like
the
finally
out
that
bomb
bombs
whether
them
and
bomb
the
to
bomb
B-24,
that,
8
and
propeller
go
bomb
inches
this
itself.
and
got
if
back,
was
it
bay
a
we
if
they
particular
fell
very
the
the
you
bay
laying
wide and
were
I
cross
thing
had
bomb
had
and
fine
out.
ever
the
in
spun
going
a
there
the
ways
thread.
kicked
bomb
outside
the
front
would
get
crew
in
middle
a
to
the
in
end
chance
so
I
out.
fall
not
We
just
the
edge
propeller chief,
many
fuse
out
42
go
and
bomb
had
mentioned
We
and
to
off,
walked
with
or
turns
you
what
see had
a
it
bay;
could
supposedly,
rear
didn’t
one
it
had
to
which
they
or
back
between
wear
what
fuse
of
spin
it
not,
go
open
call
those
was
with
our
happened
or
because
out.
It
arming
it
both,
the
was
on maybe
parachutes
our
liberators,
wouldn’t
The
each
catwalk
very
portable
the
of
wires
was
rest
100-200
the
side
had
windy
touch
of
the
the
because
wind
and
to
of
like
oxygen
them
arming
catwalk keep
the
the
turns
and
in
a
coming
small
other
all
we
them
the or Mr. Misenhimer
So that was arming the bomb then, right.
Mr. Stahl
We had a little trick that we kind of got in trouble with one time; we stole all the brooms we could find and cut the handles off the brooms, we didn’t want the brooms we just wanted the handles. We wired them on the front of the bomb so when it went down about 2-3 feet off the ground it would explode above the ground instead of going into the ground — on fragmentation bombs that would make more shrapnel go sideways, lateral, but after a couple of raids they caught us and they stopped that right away. The bosses didn’t like that. But outside of that I suppose I could go on and on.
Mr. Misenhimcr
That’s okay; go on, I’m interested.
Mr. Stahl
My position as bombardier, of course on a B-24 the bombardier because of the nose gear and tricycle landing gear, the bombardier or navigator or gunner were allowed to ride in the front on take off and landings and so my position on take off and landing was right, I always stood right square behind the pilot. The navigator usually stepped down beside the radio operator and the front gunner usually went clear to the back of the airplane and rode with the gunners back there. Then after we got in the air we’d go get in our regular positions, hut to get to the front end you actually go into the bomb bay and stoop down on the catwalk you stoop down and you go underneath the floor where the pilot arid radio operator are and you crawl underneath the floor along side the nose wheel to get up into the front of the airplane on the B-24. I’ve seen 2-3 of them flying around nowadays and I
43 go back and look at them and wonder, T-1owdid I ever do itT’ I don’t weigh too much more. I only weigh about 145 and I only weighed about 135 then I was smaller then, but I keep wondering how I did it. Then when the war was over about the latter part of May, I think it was about the 26111or something like that, we flew back to the States. We left
England and went up to Iceland and stopped at Goose Bay, Labrador and refueled there.
We got weathered in for a couple of days in Iceland because they had a snow and ice storm and it was a couple of days before we could leave there. It was really boring, there was nothing to do. Then we got to Goose Bay, Labrador and then we flew down to
Massachusetts and we gave up our airplane to ferry crews who flew it out to Arizona to the junk yard. I was given several days off, I think 15 days off, and I had to go back out to Kansas to B-29 training. I suppose to start preparing to go over as a replacement crew in Japan, but of course then the atomic bomb was set off in Nagasaki and so forth. Then in the latter part of September 1was put back on inactive reserve status.
Mr. Misenhimer
What was the highest rank you got to?
Mr. Stahl
Just Second Lieutenant, that’s all I ever was. I never got any higher than that. I think it’s because I went into inactive reserve. I signed up for 5 years and in 1952, I think Truman is the one who did that, he gave us a five year extension in the reserves and if I would have gone to active duty in the reserves I probably would have gotten higher rank, but I chose not to. I went to college instead and in 1952 1got called back to active duty in B
29’s again. Actually it was in 1948 Truman gave everyone of us on reserve status a five year extension on their reserve status whether they wanted it or not and mine was up in
44 1953, hut in 1952 1got recalled back. When 1953 camel was still only Second
Lieutenant because Ud only be in it for 7-8 months and I had a chance to get out so I got out, but I was still a Second Lieutenant. I was in Curtis LeMay’s Strategic Air
Command. One day you could be a Second Lieutenant and the next day if you did a good job you could be a Captain arid if you screwed up the next day you were back to
Second Lieutenant again. That’s the way Curtis LeMay and his Strategic Air Command operated, SAC, that’s the way they operated back in those days. After I got recalled and went to Waco, James Connolly, for a refresher and I went up to Lowery for a bombardier and gunnery refresher in B-29’s. In James Connolly at Waco we flew B-25’s, the old twin engines. The old World War II twin engine workhorse and then when I got finished at Lowery I went down to Randolph and I was put into a group down there and they were flying us in and out of there, trying to get us ready to ship over to Korea. Well, not Korea itself but I think one of those islands, Okinawa or one of those islands where they were flying out of at the time. But I had a chance to get out so I came home. Of course I came
home in the spring of 1953 and the Korean War was over with in July 1think or something like that so I didn’t miss much.
Mr. Misenhimer
Let me go back to when you were over there in England. On May 7th or there about of
1945 Germany surrendered, where were you when that happened?
Mr. Stahl
I was in the air. I was on a final mission. It’s kind of humorous. we were on a mission — actually we weren’t doing a whole lot — we had a bomb run and we dropped them and I think we dropped them where we weren’t supposed to because we knew the war was
45 about over with. We tried to deactivate an air base was all it was. We had very little flak on that mission and the Germans had pretty well given up. We were about halfway back to the English coast from the middle of Germany, when they heard it on the radio that the war was over. When we got back to base — our airplane was the last one in — and I stayed on that airplane, I stayed on the plane longer than anyone else and when I got off they said, You’re just trying to be the last one in the war.” I said, “Well, I’m the last one flying.”
Mr. Misenhimer
Did y’all have much of a celebration then?
Mr. Stahl
Yeah, we had a pretty good celebration. We had a few fireworks that night that they shot off. They had a lot of partying going on around the base too. Everyone was pretty well relieved it was over with.
Mr. Misenhimer
When you were flying how often did you fly? Every second day, third day or what’?
Mr. Stahl
On missions usually about every third or fourth day, but I would fly every day if I was not practicing bombing, which a lot of that went on because I had to keep proficient, I was might say I was interested enough in still wanting to be a pilot. So we had copilots that always wanted to be promoted up to first pilot so they would want to practice flying in the airplane, but they could never get anyone to fly copilot for them so yours truly I got into the position where if any of these copilots wanted a dummy to fly copilot with them I got selected so I got a couple of hundred hours flying a B-24 in a copilot position. It
46 wasn’t too much of aob because I didn’t have to actually land it or anything like that or take off, mostly you make sure the flaps and the gear and the full throttle and everything else is working properly.
Mr. Misenhimer
And someone taught you how to do that?
Mr. Stahl
Yeah. When the pilot calls for half flaps or twenty degrees of flaps why you know what to do. When he pushes the throttle forward then I take my hands right behind his and make sure he’s got them all full throttle forward especially on take off and when he says gear down I take and make sure I push the lever and I check and make sure all the indicator lights and green lights are on and the red lights are all on, indicating whether the gear is up or down all three of them the two main gears and the front wheel both. I had quite a bit of time flying as copilot and I enjoyed it. I didn’t hurt me a bit.
Mr. Misenhimer
But as far as the bombing missions, every second or third day then?
Mr. Stahl
Yes, about every third day. We used to get up about 4 o’clock in the morning and go to an early breakfast. They usually give us, the flying crews, when you’re flying you usually get real eggs. They shipped eggs over there in lard cans. They’d freeze them over here in the States and shipped them over there in big lard cans full and then they’d thaw them out arid you’d get fresh eggs. If you were on regular breakfast you’d get powdered eggs. We’d usually get in for briefing about 5:30 or 6 o’clock in the briefing
47 and before 7 oclock you were pretty well ready to take off. either 7 or not later than 8 you were ready to go. Sometimes maybe a little earlier, but that was the normal time.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did you get home with any souvenirs?
Mr. Stahl
No, not as far as anything German or nothing like that, nothing English. I did bring my helmet and my oxygen mask and my headset and stuff like that home with me. I did get those, but that’s all.
Mr. Misenhimer
What uniform did you wear over there?
Mr. Stahl
We wore, overseas in London, we wore the dress uniform which was the green blouse — of course before I came back I bought the Eisenhower blouse was fingertip length, I had it made over there — and the trousers we called pinks or you could wear the same color as your blouse the green either way. At base we wore strictly khakis or if it was too cool you wore regular OD uniforms.
Mr. Misenhimer
I understand at altitude its pretty cold up there in those planes, is that right?
Mr. Stahl
We had usually about 44-45 degrees.
Mr. Misenhimer
Below zero?
Mr. Stahl
48 Below zero.
Mr. Misenhimer how did you keep warm?
Mr. Stahl
You didn’t always keep warm. We had sheep skinned lined leather, with sheep skin inside. We had some electric underwear which very seldom worked. We had some gloves, electric heated gloves, but they very seldom worked and the same way with the boots. We usually tried to rely on just enough stuff to keep us warm without the electric stuff because it wasn’t working very well. Very few people had much success with that.
Mr. Misenhimer
On the waist gunners on a B-24 did they have enclosed or just wide open that they shot through?
Mr. Stahl
It was wide open, it was very cold. It was very easy to freeze your fingers and your face.
We usually cruised at right around 180 miles per hour, somewhere in that vicinity, and those two open windows on that plane a lot of wind comes in back there. John Lee about froze his face off several times. What they did usually to keep their face warm was they had the oxygen mask on and they usually put a scarf around and make sure your jacket wasn’t open and then they’d have the oxygen mask and they’d put goggles on, big plastic goggles on and that would protect a lot of wind off of your eyes and forehead and so forth. That was the best you could do aid of course the gloves were heavy, as heavy as you could get and just try to keep yourself from freezing.
Mr. Misenhimer
49 Towards the end of the war on the 17, they put some sort of Plexiglas on those windows.
Mr. Stahl
Yes, they did. I’ve seen those airplanes. We never had that in the B-24.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did you ever see any USO shows?
Mr. Stahl
We had one on the base and that was all.
Mr. Misenhimer
Anybody famous there?
Mr. Stahl
No, before I got there Glenn Miller had been there and Jimmy Stewart was a Major when he first came here in our group at one time before I was there, but I never saw him. No, it was pretty routine by the time we got over there.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did you have any experience with the Red Cross?
Mr. Stahl
We had Red Cross personnel on the base. They usually had a canteen truck and they’d go around the base and they’d always have hot coffee and doughnuts for you.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did they charge for those?
Mr. Stahl
50 Yes, yes they did. I always thought that was kind of funny because they charged for them but they’d go down to our mess hail and that’s where they got their supplies for nothing. I always thought that a little bit odd.
Mr. Misenhimer flow about the Salvation Army?
Mr. Stahl
That’s where I stayed in London. The Salvation Army had, I wouldn’t call it a hotel, more like a boarding house more or less in other words you had for $1 a night you had a bed, blanket, sheet and so forth, very clean, very nice. They were responsible for anything you wanted to leave there. They had a nice place, I’d never been where they have food or anything, but they had a place for us to stay. Instead of trying to stay in a hotel I stayed most of the time when I was in London at the Salvation Army.
Mr. Misenhimer
Sort of like a YMCA, huh?
Mr. Stahl
Yes, strictly for boys.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did you ever hear Axis Sally?
Mr. Stahl
Oh yeah! I heard her the second night I was in England. Believe it or not, she welcomed our entire crew by name. No one ever explained that to me yet how that happened, but they had pretty good intelligence is all you can say.
Mr. Misenhimer
51 Did you listen to her fairly often?
Mr. Stahl
Maybe once or twice a week.
Mr. Misenhimer
I-lowabout Armed Forces radio, did you ever hear that?
Mr. Stahl
Yes, that’s about all we got for radio, that’s about all we could get. Fact is a lot of times, our missions if we kind of had an easy time of it, by the time we’d get back to our base the radio operator had the Armed Forces radio tuned in and had it on our headsets.
Mr. Misenhimer
On April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt died, do you recall hearing about that?
Mr. Stahl
Urn-hum. I remember that, but it didn’t really change a whole lot for us over there.
Mr. Misenhimer
No real reaction to it then?
Mr. Stahl
No. it was just like it was another day as far as we all were concerned. I mean he died.
Mr. Misenhimer
What did you think of the commanding officers, the officers you had over you?
Mr. Stahl
I’d say they were all in all a pretty nice group. I got to keep my tongue in cheek on that because I don’t know who’s going to read this report because some of them are still living.
52 Mr. Misenhimer
Well, they may or may not. I’m not talking about your crew, I’m talking about the...
Mr. Stahl
Yeah. I know what youre talking about. We got one of them; hes still an officer in our rd93 bomb group association. His first name is Al, I can’t think of his last name right now. I thought he was just a pilot and I found out recently that he was a Major, he was 931 pretty well up the totem poil of the bomb group, I didn’t realize that until just recently. I remember seeing his name, but didnt give it a whole lot of thought. I wasn’t even 21 years old yet.
Mr. Misenhimer
What ribbons and medals did you get?
Mr. Stahl
1didn’t get too much. I got the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and I got the Orion
Land Central Europe Battle Campaign medal and the European African Middle Eastern
Service medal, and there is supposed to be another one but it isn’t on my discharge. supposed to be another one but I don’t have. You know something, I never got, to this day, I’ve never got the — what was that one we were supposed to get when we all discharged?
Mr. Misenhimer
The ruptured duck?
Mr. Stahl
Yeah. I never got one of those. I never did. Someone asked mc that down at the big convention we had down at Dayton, I said, Well. I never got one.” He said, “You
53 didn’t?” I said, “No.” Something that’s even funny, I had to go through 14 months of becoming an officer and a gentleman (that’s what they always said), but I did not qua1i1’
because I was an aviation cadet I did not qualify for the what was it, the American something medal.
Mr. Misenhimer
American Defense
Mr. Stahl
Right. I didn’t qualify for that because I was an aviation cadet. I wasn’t entitled to it.
That’s alright, I didn’t need it anyhow.
Mr. Misenhimer
When were you finally released from active duty?
Mr. Stahl
In 1953.
Mr. Misenhimer
I mean at the end of World War II?
Mr. Stahl
September 26, 1945.
Mr. Misenhimer
When you were training on the B-29, did you actually fly in the B-29?
Mr. Stahl
Yes. as a bombardier.
Mr. Misenhimer
54 What did you think of that plane’?
Mr. Stahl
Much better that the R-24, ii was bigger. I liked the B-29, it was a pressurized cabin we didn’t have to wear oxygen masks — we had oxygen masks in case pressure went down or anything like that but the front compartment and the back compartment were all pressurized. They had the tunnel up above the bomb bay that you go back and forth, you had an old scooter you’d lay on and pull yourself about 40 feet from one end of the bomb bay to the other it was a long double bomb bay on those. To get from the front of the airplane to the rear you’d have to go through that tunnel. We had, because it was pressurized and it was heated, it was more comfortable to fly in we even had a small toilet we could use and we even had like a warming oven — we could eat frozen meals, we could have food on the thing. We had some practice missions that we flew on and we’d take off from Randolph and we may have a bombing run over Miami, Florida — I remember we had one down around one of those air bases there Homestead I believe it was, and we had a practice bombing mission then from there we turned and headed north and east a little bit and we went clear up to northern Maine and then we turned around and went clear out to the state of Washington. We had a double crew on — two sets of pilots — then we headed back from Washington, Seattle we headed back towards
Randolph. It was a very long mission and I never dreamed an airplane would fly that long, but we did.
Mr. Misenhimer
Without refueling, huh?
Mr. Stahl
55 Yeah. We had about twelve hours or something like that. We were pretty well down to empty on the fuel.
Mr. Misenhimer
They would fly maybe even as long as 18 hour missions over in Japan.
Mr. Stahl
That’s what I heard. Some of the missions over in Japan were long.
Mr. Misenhimer
Some of them, not all of them. When you were practice bombing on the B-29, did you leave it pressurized or did you depressurize it’?
Mr. Stahl
Here in the States we still pressurized it. Because I was never over in Korea or anything like that I don’t know how they practiced over there whether they depressurized or not. I have a hunch they might.
Mr. Misenhimer
Under actual combat conditions, yes, they depressurized before they got into the enemy...
Mr. Stahl
That’s the way we practiced, but we never actually went into it. I don’t know, maybe the fellows I was flying with didn’t want to, they’d say “Okay, we’re going to call depressurized now” but they never did. We put oxygen masks on and so forth to go through the routine but we never actually depressurized the plane at all. I’m assuming that’s what they were getting us ready for, if we would’ve gone to Korea and that area we would’ve definitely had to depressurize on actual bombing runs.
56 Mr. Misenhimer
When Japan surrendered. August 14, 1945, did y’all have any celebration then?
Mr. Stahl
I was still in, I was in Kansas and I stayed sober. We had a big party on the base in the
Officer’s Club and I had a few drinks, but I was pretty sensible about it. The first thing the next morning they just stopped all training right then and there, that was it. It didn’t take long, in September they let me out. I didn’t do anything for the next three or four weeks, just twiddled my thumbs more or less than anything. What they were doing was making up their mind as to how many of us they were going to let go.
Mr. Misenhimer
When you got home did you have any trouble adjusting to civilian life?
Mr. Stahl
No, I went to school and went to work.
Mr. Misenhimer
Did you use your GI Bill?
Mr. Stahl
Yes, I got ajob with Electric Utility, the Ohio power company which is the sister company to the Indiana Michigan power company and now it’s called American Electric
Power they are all under one big name now, I worked for them for I8 years. During that
18 years I spent 13 years going to night school. I finally got a Masters degree in education and then I taught school for 25 years.
Mr. Misenhimer
57 What did you teach?
Mr. Stahl
Math and history.
Mr. Misenhimer
In high school or what?
Mr. Stahl
I started out in junior high, the only jobs available, and then I went into high school.
When I finished teaching I was in a vocational school teaching electricity and electronics because of my electric utility experience. Then I had a heart attack and bypass surgery in
1983 and I haven’t worked since. (Pause in tape, new story started) This man is named
Ben Kuroki, he’s a Japanese American, after December 7, 1941 Ben and his brother enlisted. They lived out in Kansas and his dad was a farmer. 1-usdad was born in Japan, but Ben was born here in the United States. I-Icand his brother enlisted. They both wanted to be in the Army Air Force. Ben stayed in and when the 93 formed up at
Shreveport, Barksdalc, in 1942, spring of 1942 that’s when the 93 bomb group formed up, he stayed in. The group got sent over to Fort Meyers, Florida I can’t think of the name of the base, its Madill and he wanted to go along. A bunch of opinionated, discriminatory Sergeants said “No way, no Japanese is going with us.” They didn’t like him. So he was not issued shipping orders. Some Lieutenant talked the big boss into getting him shipped and they had him shipped over to Fort Meyers, well he continued on there. They got their shipping orders to go to England and when they got their shipping orders to go to England his orders were still not printed for him to go along because he was Japanese. They took off without him and they got up to Massachusetts somewhere
58 and someone went to Ted Timberlake. this Colonel, and told him the story. They said,
Fle’s a good man.” His job was at this time he was like a mechanic or an armorer, he repaired guns. So Timberlake says, “Get him up here.” He went overseas with him. The first year or so over there all he did was repair guns. Then this fellow starts flying missions and they were short. Some of the fellows got wounded or killed. Then he got a chance to fly. lie flew 35 missions over there and became a Tech Sergeant over in
England. Because he went on the Ploesti Oil Raids and all that he flew in three theatres of war over in Europe. He came back to the United States, I had missed him because I hadn’t gone over yet, and he came back in the early part of 1944. His folks were already in that prison camp up in Wyoming or wherever it was, and the Army sent him up there to try to get those fellows to enlist and all that. He wanted to fly and he finally got assigned to a B-29 group. To make a long story short, he trained to fly and go over and drop bombs on Japan. They got ready to ship out and they dropped him off the orders, they wouldn’t let him go because he was a Japanese. Finally, believe it or not, they had the Secretary of State Simpson was his name, and also George Marshall they got them involved and they put him back on the crew and he flew — I don’t know how many missions — over Japan. I-Icwas a gunner and he flew on those missions and he got credit for another theatre of war and he’s the only person we know that actually flew in four different theatres of war. I think I’ve got an extra copy of a book we made up of him.
Mr. Misenhimer
When y’all were taking off, how many planes would take off at a time?
Mr. Stahl
About 60-90 seconds behind one another.
59
the
clouds,
your
take...
another
were
run
color-
they
taxing.
had
were
start
someone
time.
Yeah.
Mr. In One
Mr.
Mr.
So
Mr.
roughly
guy
you
into
to
Stahl
Misenhimer
Stahl Misenhimer
were
gear your
runway
supposed
ready
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All
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up,
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were
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supposed
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start
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the
start
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had
foot
Mr.
runway
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broke
Mr. Did
you
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or
planes
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up.
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mechanical
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it
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Misenhimer
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lights,
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usually
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planes air
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tip
light
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division,
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speed
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take
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piece
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airplane
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get
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hit
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push
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at
right
ground,
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to
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about
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was
least
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the his
—
and
the
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kind
we
lined
to
3
time
right
side
I 18
October
Alice,
Transcribed
Glynda jobs.
(Footnote) No,
Mr. Anything
Mr.
Right, Mr.
The Mr.
tremendous plane
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same
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Texas
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miles
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and
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found
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else?
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the
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mission
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mechanics.
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worried
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361-664-4071
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Alice,
Richard Oral
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fast
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