My uncle Elvin was a tail gunner on 17s, he had terrible PTSD, load noises would set him off! He was friends with a crazy simpleton "snuffy" Smith, who won the Medal of Honor! When the whole base lined up to present his medal, Maynard Smith was peeling potatoes, on punishment detail! Crazy guy was always getting in trouble!
his first mission, on May 1, 1943, Staff Sergeant Smith, who was assigned to the ball gun turret, helped save the lives of six of his wounded comrades and put out a blazing fire after his aircraft was hit, and drove off wave after wave of German fighters.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comments. I think there is a RUclips video regarding "Snuffy Smith." I know it is out on the web somewhere. Apparently he was quite a guy.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comments. All my interviews have been sitting on a number of shelves in my video library for the past 10 to 19 years, waiting to see the light of day. I needed a the time to work on them as well as a venue. RUclips turned out to be a great venue! I hope you will check out my other videos on this channel.
Amazing! 45 years ago, I read in one of my grandma's Reader's Digest the story of a Lancaster tail gunner that jumped in the night because his plane was on fire and his chute was burning... He landed on the steep snowed mountain and became a legend amongst the Germans after they checked the wercage and corroborated his story. This is the first time I hear anyone else speak about it.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your encouraging feedback! I believe that the best history is that which comes straight from the mouths of those who lived it. I hope you will check out my other interviews on this Air Combat Journal channel.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment. Lonely and COLD! I hope you will check out my other videos on this channel. I hope you will check out my other interviews on this Air Combat Journal channel.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment. I believe that the best history is that which comes straight from the mouths of those who lived it. I hope you will check out my other videos on this channel. I hope you will check out my other interviews on this Air Combat Journal channel.
All of the camps were different in one way or another.The guards started getting more violent during the last months of the war because they all knew their lives were going to change very soon,and not for the better.My uncle was captured in normandy on the 7th of june,44 and taken to dresden.He was liberated by the ruskies.He lived a year after coming home and took his own life in dec 46.I think maybe because of the horrors pulling civilian dead out from the city and burying them.Thank you for thinking about these guys while you had the time.Now,most of them have gone on to be with our lord JESUS CHRIST.
My uncle Elvin was a tail gunner on 17s, he had terrible PTSD, load noises would set him off! He was friends with a crazy simpleton "snuffy" Smith, who won the Medal of Honor! When the whole base lined up to present his medal, Maynard Smith was peeling potatoes, on punishment detail! Crazy guy was always getting in trouble!
his first mission, on May 1, 1943, Staff Sergeant Smith, who was assigned to the ball gun turret, helped save the lives of six of his wounded comrades and put out a blazing fire after his aircraft was hit, and drove off wave after wave of German fighters.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comments. I think there is a RUclips video regarding "Snuffy Smith." I know it is out on the web somewhere. Apparently he was quite a guy.
Loved that video! Really made me sad to see he passed away so long ago. He seemed so strong. Thanks for sharing his story!
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comments. All my interviews have been sitting on a number of shelves in my video library for the past 10 to 19 years, waiting to see the light of day. I needed a the time to work on them as well as a venue. RUclips turned out to be a great venue! I hope you will check out my other videos on this channel.
Amazing! 45 years ago, I read in one of my grandma's Reader's Digest the story of a Lancaster tail gunner that jumped in the night because his plane was on fire and his chute was burning... He landed on the steep snowed mountain and became a legend amongst the Germans after they checked the wercage and corroborated his story. This is the first time I hear anyone else speak about it.
I have been waiting on you AIR COMBAT JOURNAL!The best WW2 videos are here.😊😊😊
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your encouraging feedback! I believe that the best history is that which comes straight from the mouths of those who lived it. I hope you will check out my other interviews on this Air Combat Journal channel.
Talk about being the most lonely guy in the crew…what a G!
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment. Lonely and COLD! I hope you will check out my other videos on this channel. I hope you will check out my other interviews on this Air Combat Journal channel.
What a Very interesting account, 👍
Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment. I believe that the best history is that which comes straight from the mouths of those who lived it. I hope you will check out my other videos on this channel. I hope you will check out my other interviews on this Air Combat Journal channel.
All of the camps were different in one way or another.The guards started getting more violent during the last months of the war because they all knew their lives were going to change very soon,and not for the better.My uncle was captured in normandy on the 7th of june,44 and taken to dresden.He was liberated by the ruskies.He lived a year after coming home and took his own life in dec 46.I think maybe because of the horrors pulling civilian dead out from the city and burying them.Thank you for thinking about these guys while you had the time.Now,most of them have gone on to be with our lord JESUS CHRIST.
I'm sorry to read about your uncle's death. I lot of these guys live with terrible memories. Amen to your comment regarding Jesus!
@AirCombatJournal You are welcome ACJ.
No political commercials.
I'm sorry, but I do not have any control over the commercials in the programs. WHo are the commercials endorsing?