He was my history teacher during middle school. Used to stay after class and chat with him about his experiences. Cool guy. One of a kind in a generation full of one of a kind.
I believe Wilbur was also featured on the History Channel program "Modern Marvels" which did an episode on the Ball Turrent position about 20 yrs back. Good to see he lived a long life!
Trucks are lorries. Not lollies... :-) The film he refers to, advising of different behaviour in England, would probably be the Burgess Meredith film, which includes a lovely old lady meeting 2 American soldiers and inviting them both home for tea and cake. The American soldiers are white and African American. "Of course," advises the voice, "This would never happen at home..." It still makes you pause in shock. The film can be found on RUclips, now.
Sorry to hear your uncle didn't make it. Over 50% of the Lancaster's that were built during the war were shot down. The losses must have been terrifying. Such brave men.
It was more complicated than that. His brother was a pilot in the RAF flying Catalinas out of Bermuda. It was a little remembered operation seeking u-boats which were trying to sink US shipping , from eastern ports , which formed the famous trans-Atlantic relief convoys. His plane crashed into the sea off Bermuda and my uncle , who had been a PE instructor before the war , managed to get out and while swimming from the plane suffered a traumatic amputation of his right arm at the shoulder . He had come into contact with a still revolving propeller. My father , their brother , was also in the RAF. His Coastal Command unit was responsible for finding and destroying U-Boats in the north Atlantic He served as a ground crew electrician and although badly burned on a hand and arm he survived the war. He never spoke much about the war except to say how lucky he was as he was the only brother to come home in one piece. I have a photo of the three brothers in uniform, taken by their mother in her garden , when they were all home on leave. It is a treasured possession. Sorry to go on a little but recording the testimony of these brave men is so important and it immediately brought AG Sergeant George McGavin to mind even though I only know him from that old photo, thanks.
5'11" is quite tall for a ball turret gunner - I guess it helped he was so thin. I would think a 6'2" gunner would have a truly miserable time. Especially if more heavily built. This chap must know - but from what most men say, the ball turret is not for tall men.
As much as I feel the questions of "Which kind of kid were you in school?" or "Which guy on the spectrum of guys on the train were you?" were intended to incite a bit more conversation or enhance the persons story, it seems more and more to serve as a derailment of the conversations. Like kind of steers them down a dead end instead of spark the person to embark on another fascinating part of their story. Just mentioning it because it seems to be used in every interview and it seems to end the same way in every interview. Sorta lands with a thud.
I don't agree at all. It is a clever question because it let's a person identify themselves as THEY see themselves - which at times, is answered surprisingly. I don't see the answers as duds, at all. Even if they don't answer the question, they often give away a lot about what they FEEL they were like, internally, in the later questions. Or they do deviate - but it always ends up opening up new memory leads. Whilst you may not appreciate the questions, many do - and realise that the question will open up memories that arise in later questions. It is very interesting that many do not see themselves as the more outgoing, more aggressive type. Many identify as quiet or just average, and then end up leading a crew as pilot - blossoming with the demands they lived with...
He was my history teacher during middle school. Used to stay after class and chat with him about his experiences. Cool guy. One of a kind in a generation full of one of a kind.
What an excellent privilege you enjoyed . . .
Thank You for your service sir
I believe Wilbur was also featured on the History Channel program "Modern Marvels" which did an episode on the Ball Turrent position about 20 yrs back. Good to see he lived a long life!
Amazing stories, thanks for doing this
You're welcome, thanks for watching.
Ole Wilbur looks as though he is ready to kick off another tour. ATTENTION .yes sir.
Trucks are lorries. Not lollies... :-)
The film he refers to, advising of different behaviour in England, would probably be the Burgess Meredith film, which includes a lovely old lady meeting 2 American soldiers and inviting them both home for tea and cake. The American soldiers are white and African American.
"Of course," advises the voice, "This would never happen at home..." It still makes you pause in shock.
The film can be found on RUclips, now.
Old timers from california are the best, RIP Gramps
Assuming 'blacktop' is bitumen, as opposed to concrete or board walk.
This chap reminds me of a senior American actor - but I don't recall his name.
Very very interesting , my uncle flew in Lancasters as tail gunner at the start of the war but didn’t make it home one night so I never met him.
Sorry to hear your uncle didn't make it. Over 50% of the Lancaster's that were built during the war were shot down. The losses must have been terrifying. Such brave men.
It was more complicated than that. His brother was a pilot in the RAF flying Catalinas out of Bermuda. It was a little remembered operation seeking u-boats which were trying to sink US shipping , from eastern ports , which formed the famous trans-Atlantic relief convoys. His plane crashed into the sea off Bermuda and my uncle , who had been a PE instructor before the war , managed to get out and while swimming from the plane suffered a traumatic amputation of his right arm at the shoulder . He had come into contact with a still revolving propeller.
My father , their brother , was also in the RAF. His Coastal Command unit was responsible for finding and destroying U-Boats in the north Atlantic
He served as a ground crew electrician and although badly burned on a hand and arm he survived the war. He never spoke much about the war except to say how lucky he was as he was the only brother to come home in one piece.
I have a photo of the three brothers in uniform, taken by their mother in her garden , when they were all home on leave. It is a treasured
possession.
Sorry to go on a little but recording the testimony of these brave men is so important and it immediately brought AG Sergeant George McGavin to mind even though I only know him from that old photo, thanks.
Thank you for sharing your family story. Very interesting.
5'11" is quite tall for a ball turret gunner - I guess it helped he was so thin. I would think a 6'2" gunner would have a truly miserable time. Especially if more heavily built.
This chap must know - but from what most men say, the ball turret is not for tall men.
Probably a guy not to mess with.
You didn't want to mess with him if you happened to be on the ground under one of his airplanes. He was a great interview.
As much as I feel the questions of "Which kind of kid were you in school?" or "Which guy on the spectrum of guys on the train were you?" were intended to incite a bit more conversation or enhance the persons story, it seems more and more to serve as a derailment of the conversations. Like kind of steers them down a dead end instead of spark the person to embark on another fascinating part of their story. Just mentioning it because it seems to be used in every interview and it seems to end the same way in every interview. Sorta lands with a thud.
I don't agree at all. It is a clever question because it let's a person identify themselves as THEY see themselves - which at times, is answered surprisingly.
I don't see the answers as duds, at all. Even if they don't answer the question, they often give away a lot about what they FEEL they were like, internally, in the later questions. Or they do deviate - but it always ends up opening up new memory leads. Whilst you may not appreciate the questions, many do - and realise that the question will open up memories that arise in later questions.
It is very interesting that many do not see themselves as the more outgoing, more aggressive type. Many identify as quiet or just average, and then end up leading a crew as pilot - blossoming with the demands they lived with...