“Our Worst Mission” WW2 Bomber Gunner | Memoirs Of WWII #24

Summary

In this gripping episode of 'Memoirs of WWII,' Leon Waldman recounts his experiences as a bomber gunner during World War II. He talks about his choice to join the U.S. Army Air Forces, the rigorous training that followed, and the numerous missions he flew over Europe. Waldman vividly describes the massive losses faced by his squadron during a mission in Memingen, Germany, which he deemed the worst. He shares insights into the camaraderie among the crew and the life-and-death decisions they faced. Despite the harrowing experiences, Waldman reflects on his service with a sense of pride and remembrance for his fallen comrades.

Highlights

• Leon's initiation into the Army Air Forces was a whirlwind of new experiences, from buzzing off his hair to learning how to salute 🚀.
• Miami Beach was an unexpected training paradise, contrasting the tension of war preparations 🌴.
• First flights led to airsickness and humor as Leon adjusted to life in the sky 🤢.
• The reality of warfare hit hard after witnessing a devastating attack on a fellow bomber crew 💥.
• Despite originally receiving pristine aircraft, Leon's squad ended up with battle-worn planes, highlighting the unpredictability of service ✈️.
• A twist of fate grounded Leon on D-Day, altering his wartime trajectory but potentially saving his life 🙌.
• The Memingen mission was a testament to the chaos and danger of air raids, marking a day Leon would never forget 🎯.
• Training future gunners in Arizona marked the end of Leon's active service, setting the pace for his post-war life 🌵.

Key Takeaways

• Leon Waldman chose to join the U.S. Army Air Forces to have some control over his service role ✈️.
• His training journey took him from New Jersey to Miami Beach and then across various states for specialized training 🗺️.
• Waldman's squadron initially received brand-new B-17 planes, which were soon swapped for older, well-used ones 🚀.
• He narrowly escaped court-martial and missed flying on D-Day due to a disciplinary action 🎯.
• The mission to Memingen was catastrophic, losing 14 out of 26 planes in a mere 10 minutes 😱.
• Leon calls July 18th, during the Memingen mission, his second birthday due to a miraculous survival 🎂.
• Waldman's service concluded with training responsibilities in Arizona before the end of WWII 🌵.

Overview

Leon Waldman, an eager 18-year-old, shares his journey from civilian to WWII bomber gunner. With a keen interest in flying, he chose to join the U.S. Army Air Forces. His training led him to various locations, including Miami and Las Vegas, each offering distinct lessons that prepared him for the intense realities of war. Leon recounts his first airborne experience filled with excitement and the challenge of overcoming air sickness.

Memingen, Germany, witnessed the most harrowing mission of Leon's service. What was initially perceived as an easy 'milk run' quickly spiraled into chaos without fighter escort, as the group faced a deadly attack that claimed 14 of their planes. Leon's graphic retelling of narrowly escaping certain death underlines the perilous nature of aerial combat and the thin line between life and death during these operations.

Returning to the U.S. after 50 daunting missions, Leon was assigned as an instructor in Arizona just as the war was winding down. Through training new gunners, he could pass on his hard-earned knowledge. Reflecting on those wartime years decades later, Leon's memories are vivid, filled with admiration for his crew members and a solemn respect for those who didn't make it back home.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Leon Waldman The chapter introduces Leon Waldman and begins by setting the scene during a mission where the speaker discovered the situation too late. The mission involved flying alone and being spotted by the Germans, leading to every plane in southwest Germany being alerted.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Joining the Army Air Forces During World War II, military service was almost inevitable for young American men, whether through the draft or by enlisting. Leon Waldman, a recent high school graduate, decided early on that he wanted to serve in the Army Air Forces. He thought it would be nice to fly, and considering the inevitability of service, he chose to join on his own terms, preferring the Air Force where he had more control over his role.
• 01:30 - 03:30: Training and Deployment The chapter titled 'Training and Deployment' describes the initial experience of military induction at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The narrator talks about the process of getting inducted, which includes getting a haircut, learning to salute, receiving a uniform, and boarding a troop train with no knowledge of the destination. Surprisingly, the destination turns out to be Miami Beach in the middle of November, highlighting the unexpectedness and perhaps the irony of being sent there for basic training. The narrator mentions undergoing six to eight weeks of basic training there.
• 03:30 - 05:30: First Missions and Realizations The chapter titled 'First Missions and Realizations' begins with a journey to Long Beach, California, where gunnery school is undertaken. This is followed by a stint in Salt Lake for small arms training, though the narrator expresses uncertainty about its necessity given the lack of usage of small arms in their experience. The narrative continues in Las Vegas, focusing on learning airplane recognition to avoid friendly fire incidents. The final segment mentions a move to another location for further training, indicating a progression of responsibilities and skills acquired throughout these formative experiences.
• 05:30 - 07:30: Conflicts and D-Day Impact The chapter titled 'Conflicts and D-Day Impact' recounts a personal experience of learning to fly in Indian Springs. The narrator describes their initial experience with flying, mentioning that it was their first time in an airplane and how they got air sick on the first day in a Texan Trainer. They humorously recall the mishap of leaning out to vomit while facing forward. The narrative highlights the inexperience and youthful age of 19 during these events. Later, in the last week, the trainees flew in B-17s, building on their initial flying experiences.
• 07:30 - 10:00: The Worst Mission: Memingen The chapter 'The Worst Mission: Memingen' discusses the narrator's training and deployment as a gunner. They were trained in various gun positions and eventually received their wings, forming crews for missions. The narrator was positioned as a waist gunner, the same position held by Clark Gable, which they seemed to appreciate. They were fortunate to be assigned 72 brand-new B-17G planes, equipped with a chin turret and with a silver finish, suggesting a sense of pride and readiness for the missions ahead.
• 10:00 - 11:30: Completing Quota and Returning Home The chapter titled 'Completing Quota and Returning Home' describes the journey of Leon and the 43rd bomb group as they are equipped with new B-17 Flying Fortresses, heading to Italy to join the 15th Air Force. Their mission is to combat the spread of German forces in Europe. However, upon arrival in Italy, they face unexpected challenges.
• 11:30 - 12:30: Reflections on War and Service The chapter reflects on the author's experience during wartime, focusing on being reassigned to work with a seasoned bomber group, the 99th. There is a sentiment of loss and frustration as the newer planes, perceived as theirs, are taken away by the 99th, and they are left with well-worn aircraft that have seen numerous missions.
• 12:30 - 13:00: Supporting Memoirs of WWII The chapter 'Supporting Memoirs of WWII' begins with a recollection of a World War II bombing mission on April 12th. The narrator describes the mission as a 'milk run,' meaning it was relatively easy and low-risk. They targeted a cement factory, which wasn't considered a major strategic target. The narrator reminisces about the day being beautiful and recalls watching a few puffs of smoke arise, noting that this particular mission seemed enjoyable. The narrative hints at upcoming events, mentioning 'the next mission' and an acquaintance involved, setting the stage for further stories or experiences shared in the memoir.

“Our Worst Mission” WW2 Bomber Gunner | Memoirs Of WWII #24 Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 i found out way after the mission we're going up fat and happy by ourselves and then by that time the germans got us spotted so every plane in southwest germany got the word to get up there [Music]
• 00:30 - 01:00 at the height of the second world war military service was an almost certainty whether by draft or enlistment for any young american man recent high school graduate leon waldman had determined early on that if he was to serve it would be with the united states army air forces i don't know i thought it'd be nice to fly how does an 18 year old kid make decisions everybody's either drafted or joined so i figure i'll join and get what i want my house for the air force and i got
• 01:00 - 01:30 what i wanted shipped us to fort dix new jersey you got inducted so they cut your hair and teach you how to salute and give you a uniform and they put me on a troop train of course you don't know where you're going and where do i wind up in the middle of november miami beach how good with uncle sambita you're right had about i think six or eight weeks of basic training and then i was on the
• 01:30 - 02:00 train to uh long beach california and it was gunnery school so i finished that then they sent us up to to salt lake small arms training i don't know what we needed that for because i never used the small arms and then we went to las vegas and you had to learn the airplane recognition how to shoot the correct people down and not shoot our own people down which happened and then the last two weeks we went up to
• 02:00 - 02:30 indian springs and the first week we flew in 86 they called it the texan trainer but the first day was the first time i was ever in an airplane and the plane's bouncing and i got air sick so i stick my head out but i face forward and i throw up all of it that's how smarter we were 19 and then the last week we flew in b-17s and you'd fly in all the
• 02:30 - 03:00 various gun positions so you could be trained in all of them and then they they give you your wings and that's where they form the cruise and i got the waste gun clark gable was a right waist gunner too you know so it was good enough for me we lucked out they gave us 72 brand-new planes these were the b-17g there was first one ahead of chin turret and there was silver that was first
• 03:00 - 03:30 silver planes i think that went to italy oh and they said you better take good care of these planes they cost 250 000 and we said wow that much equipped with brand new b-17 flying fortresses leon and the 43rd bomb group were on their way to italy to join the rest of the 15th air force as they fought to stop the spread of german forces throughout europe but when the 43rd arrived they were met with a rude awakening
• 03:30 - 04:00 so they sent us up to double up with another bomb group that had been there a long time the 99th and those dirty guys took shiny bombers away we thought they were ours they took 72 new planes away from us and gave us this beat up old bad penny up there with 100 missions on it when we got a 100 missions
• 04:00 - 04:30 so flew down first mission april 12th but uh it was a like a milk run it was an easy mission we were just bombing a cement factory not a very important target and i think just a couple of puffs of smoke came up and i was looking out the window it was a beautiful day and i thought boy this is fun you know well the next mission the guy i knew
• 04:30 - 05:00 pretty well he was on another uh crew boom they hit him in the wing they hit him with the 88 in the wing which blows up the gas tanks and the plane just disintegrates nobody lives through through that so i thought boy that could get hurt on this job that's pretty pretty tough you know so then i flew a lot of missions after that
• 05:00 - 05:30 mostly we bombed aircraft factories on the torpino factory once in france marshalling yards i went to vienna two or three times they were making fighter planes we had to bomb those factories blue esteem because that's where the germans were getting most of their fuel uh munich was a very bad mission
• 05:30 - 06:00 flying at times more than three missions a week leon was well on his way to completing the required fifty but in a moment of frustration and flared tempers leon threatened a superior officer resulting in being grounded from one of the most significant missions in the war my co-pilot i didn't like the co-pilot i was stupid and i told him don't go
• 06:00 - 06:30 near the bombay on the next mission so he reported me and i guess it went up to the squadron commander so instead of court-martialing me he took me off that mission that was my punishment turned out to be june 2nd to june 11th nine days well what is june 2nd did june 11th tell you it was d-day
• 06:30 - 07:00 the allied invasion of the french coast was the first step in bringing the war to germany in an unprecedented way but for the largest seaborne invasion in history to be a success it would require a multitude of diversions to keep the german full strength from defending the coast the bombing missions of the 43rd would do just that they flew this mission to romania bombed it and then went on to russia and they sat down for a day or two then they flew another mission but that
• 07:00 - 07:30 took the pressure off the western front somewhat you see but that was my contribution to d-day but we didn't have newspapers or magazines or radios you know indeed they meant nothing to us oh yeah i heard about that they landed normally well good when do we go home the d-day invasion was a success and the tide began to turn in the allies favor
• 07:30 - 08:00 but the skies over europe were no less dangerous for the 15th air force we lost 79 planes in the time were over there most of the time the planes were shot down so everybody was lost except those that could jump out you know [Music] the worst mission was a place called memingen germany they thought it was a milk run you know
• 08:00 - 08:30 some airfield in germany what the hell is that all about i'm flying along and i don't know what's going on you know i thought we're with going up to a target with a bunch of other bombers the tuskegee airmen were supposed to fly escort on that mission i found out way after the mission we're going up fat and happy by ourselves two of the groups didn't like the weather over the adriatic and turned around and went home and two other groups went to an alternate target and the
• 08:30 - 09:00 fighters didn't go with us and then by that time the germans got us spotted hey a group of 26 dumb happy b-17s all by themselves so every plane in southwest germany got the word to get up there i look out there and i see wow a flock of birds coming closer and you can see their airplanes
• 09:00 - 09:30 the next thing i hear everybody's shooting and planes have gone down the first squadron of seven planes went down in about two or three minutes all of them and then they started on the other two they got 14 out of 26 of us so 14 planes went down with 143 guys we were fighting the western wolf the whole battle was about 10 minutes when we got over the target
• 09:30 - 10:00 we were able to bomb it successfully they say we destroyed a lot of planes on the ground [Music] but this was the worst mission for my bomb group and probably for most any bomb to lose it was basically 60 of the planes in a few minutes [Music] we got back and landed and i could see a 20 millimeter shell
• 10:00 - 10:30 lodged in the back of the wing and it was unexploded because if it exploded it would have blown up the tank near it and we would have all been dead that's why i called july 18th my second birthday was july 1844 that mission [Music] just a few weeks later leon would finally complete his quota having survived 50 bombing missions and german patrolled skies
• 10:30 - 11:00 he was being sent back to the united states when i got home got to new jersey just behind the statue of liberty and then they sent me to kingman arizona and they trained me to be an instructor so i was training gunners the minute the war ended in europe they knew they didn't need a lot of gunners in the pacific because the b-29s had just a couple gunners with a lot of remote guns you know
• 11:00 - 11:30 so they didn't need a lot of gunners and just like that leon's service in the war came to an end 75 years later leon's memories of the second world war are clear as ever the missions he flew and the crew he served with but the other guys never all disappeared
• 11:30 - 12:00 i'm supposed to the pilot the radio man until he died and waste gunner until he died and shorty when he died most of us were but we were 19 20 21 mostly that's who fought the war [Music]
• 12:00 - 12:30 hi everyone i'm josh from memoirs of world war ii and i just want to say thank you so much for watching this episode our goal is to capture as many world war ii veteran stories as we can from all over the world
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