I learned new information about my family this trip. We had dinner with my cousin, the smart one that works for a “think tank.”
I asked where his dad was during the war. He said he flew 25 sorties over Germany. I was in shock. My chubby Uncle from Long Island?
I asked for more details. The first thing he said was that statistically no one should have survived 25 sorties. Then he related how when he found this information out he asked his dad how it was to shoot for the first time at on coming planes. His dad said that he froze until the guy on the other side of the plane snacked him and said shoot the f_____. I paraphrase. We talked about the training mu Uncle had gone through and the airfield he worked out of in Britain. My cousin also related his story of visiting that same British airfield in the 90’s and the impact it had on his family.
My funny story is that my dad fought in the Korean War, except he was stationed in Austria the whole time. It’s not so funny anymore, I am just glad my dad was safe.
The WW2 memorial:
I know the feeling of wishing you had asked when they were alive. WWII is one of my favorite wars (odd to say favorite I know) I only found out about a year ago that my Grandpa was one of the men who drove the small boats from the war ships carrying many soldiers onto the beaches to fight. He would do this many times bringing loads of soldiers and dodging being shot at. Oh how I wish I could have heard him recount that story for me. He died when I was a dumb no cares in the world teenager. Its truly amazing what our families went through at that time.