World War II: Air Force Stories

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Armistice Day (November 11th) was originally created to honor the veterans of World War I. But in 1954 its name was changed to Veterans Day and its purpose was extended to all veterans. Today's Veterans Day cyber tour looks at five World War II memoirs. The Internet has an extensive collection of personal war stories. Some are autobiographical, and others are retold by sons and daughters. Perhaps these sites will motivate you to collect and preserve your own family stories.

Dad's China-Burma-India Page

"This page is dedicated to my Dad, Charles E. Hacking, and all those who worked and fought in the forgotten campaign, the CBI Theater. Dad was in the 18th Air Service Squadron of the 18th Air Force. These were the guys who worked on the ground making sure that our fighters and bombers had a place to land, a place to get fuel and ammunition and food and lodging for the pilots." My favorite clicks are the photos, letters, and other souvenirs found under Scrap Book. .

Dad Rarey's Sketchbook Journals

"In 1942 my father, George Rarey, a young cartoonist and commercial artist, was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He flew a P-47 before he drove a car. During his service he kept a cartoon journal of the daily life of the fighter pilots. A few weeks after D-Day he was killed in combat over France. His journals are a part of his legacy to me -- one that I want to share with others through this Web page."

Dad's War

Subtitled "Finding and Telling Your Father's World War II Story," Wesley Johnston's useful instructions can be applied equally to learning about your grandparents' wartime stories or your parents' Vietnam experiences. The first step is to identify their unit as specifically as possible, and then search out the outfit's alumni association. The Internet makes much of this research considerably easier. Johnson's site also includes links to dozens of World War II stories told first hand, and by sons and daughters.

Fly Girls

"During WWII, more than a thousand women signed up to fly with the U.S. military. Wives, mothers, actresses and debutantes who joined the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS) test-piloted aircraft, ferried planes and logged 60 million miles in the air." This PBS site tells their story. Best clicks are found under Special Features and include video clips, a B-29 tour, and an amusing story of how Lieutenant Colonel Paul W. Tibbets got his male pilots to stop complaining about the new B-29 bomber.

The Tuskegee Airmen: A Tribute to My Father

"During World War II, black fighter pilots fought the Germans abroad and racism in the ranks. May we never forget ... and may future generations understand the way it was. My Father, Joseph P. Gomer, got his pilots license before his driver's license. ... In July 1942, at the age of 22, he enlisted in the Army." This fabulous tribute to Major Gomer and his fellow airmen, written by proud daughter Phyllis G. Douglass, is a must see. Be sure to include the Comments & Inspirational Stories page in your visit.

The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!

341st Bombardment Group

B-24 Liberator

Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force

Memoirs of Richard Morton Hess

Saga of Sunshine