B-17 Pilot Admits to Secretly Changing His Bombing Run to Save His Crew | William Bonelli 

I think it is a disservice to the men of the greatest generation, who fought to protect America from fascism, to include chicken-hawk neocon fascists like Bush and Co. in the beginning of your video. Especially considering that many of the Bush/Cheney chickenhawks were draft dodgers, including Cheney himself.

I do not think I feel comfortable when the intro has GW Bush quote, the guy the invaded the wrong country, lied about WMDs, spent 1 Trillion, a war that killed 800K people. I am not going into what disaster Afghanistan was.

Who was the rookie. Boo

Mp3

What a powerful story of heroism on the part of your dad, thanks. I rehabbed a 93 y/o spry gentleman who told me he flew B-17s out of Italy. He got shot down twice. The second time he broke his leg and was captured. Spent the rest of the war in a Nazi POW camp. I asked him about his bombing runs. He sounded rather cynical about his missions. He said he never really knew where his bombs were landing. Sometimes they had to release early for different reasons. He did bomb the infamous Ploiesti Oil fields in Romania. Probably why he got shot down twice. The first time he was able to wrangle his crippled plane far enough to avoid capture.

Thank you for that account. G*d bless your father and all those he served with.

Your father flying those extra three missions which he didn't have to speaks volumes about what a loyal and selfless man he obviously was. You were so lucky to have had him in your life as well as the other men you said you knew in your town who had fought in that war. I heard another story recently about a man who stayed on after 25 missions and was shot down and didn't survive. I often think the same as you when you say he had more responsibility at 21 than you've had in 65 years and I think that's what made that generation so determined to come home and really do something with their lives because they had seen others who were no different than themselves who didn't survive. Andy Rooney, the guy from 60 minutes, was a war correspondent in WWII and this is an excerpt from an interview with him on the reality of men not coming back: "It was very tough for me. I would go out to these bases-and a B-17 crew was 10 men-and I would get to know these guys. I’d have dinner with them and we’d laugh and joke together. I got to know the guys. And it was always so sad. You know, the day after a raid you would come in one of the barracks and one of the beds was…everything was still there. The bed was made and the picture of the wife or children was on the little stand behind- but he was gone. And you knew instantly what had happened. You didn’t have to ask any questions. He had been killed on the raid. They were losing 4 or 5 percent of all the bombers they sent over Germany. Now, each airman had to do 25 missions before he got to go back to the United States. Well, if you’re losing 5 percent and have to do 25 missions, it didn’t take any mathematical genius to know what your chances were of getting through."

@@beadyeye2312 ...EVEN WHEN YOU ARE IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF- YOU ARE STILL "TAKING ORDERS"...FROM YOUR CUSTOMERS!!!!

Bless your father and I thank him for saving the world. Salute.

I would have felt privileged to have been in that situation. Those men are our nations dearest treasure.

My grandfather was a field surgeon in a US Army front-line field hospital during WWII. During the battle of the bulge they had stray bullets kill medical staff in the operating theater, including my grandfather having to ask for another nurse to replace the fellow who had just been assisting him in an amputation. As the former nurse's blood, brains, hair, etc were now covering my grandfather's face and glasses. If you suggested to my grandfather that he was a hero he would correct you by making it very clear that the nurse who died in front of my grandfather was the hero as well as the young man who on the operating table. This seems to common of the greatest generation, that they considered those who died or ended up with a livelong disability as the real heroes... For those who don't understand how much of a meat-grinder the war against Fascism was, consider how they sorted patients at a front-line field hospital. They had the patients they could and should save. Those who they might be able to save, if they are still alive after treating the first group. And then they had those who they couldn't and or shouldn't save who were kept comfortable with morphine and medical grade alcohol which was mostly administered by the non-medical enlisted men. Keep in mind that the US Army supplied enough medical grade alcohol to keep the entire field hospital drunk as it kept the suicides down...

You will like Higher Call watch it on you tube basically the saving of a crippled B17 by a German Messerschmitt BF109 flown by Franz stiggler. As a thank you for saving his crew pilot Charlie Brown let Stiggler make most of the book on his version of events as as Charlie adding his version of events.

...THERE'S ONE THING I ENVY THOSE GUYS FOR: UNLIKE ME, THEY GOT TO LIVE OUT THEIR LIFETIME WITHOUT SEEING THIS COUNTRY THEY FOUGHT SO HARD TO DEFEND- GO DOWN THE TOILET- LIKE WE ARE SEEING...

@@daleburrell6273 Really? Being a history buff I was just reading about how 70,000 Natural born Japanese Americans were forced to spend 4 years in concentration camps losing homes and businesses. Our nation was divided back then too. Violating Jim Crow laws were punished with imprisonment or worst. There was an huge active American Neo Nazi movement up until Germany declared war on the US and thousands of Jews fleeing the Holocaust were rejected by the US government, mostly due to antisemitism in government. Most of them returning to countries occupied by Germany. The US economy was in the toilet for 10 years up until the start of WWII. Most of our safety nets grew out of the stark poverty many Americans lived through during the Depression. Its easy to sugar coat the past, but problems today arise from issues from the past and never quite resolved. I don’t know about you but I am very grateful for my life in America. Am happy to pay my fair share of taxes to keep it strong. God Bless it and you.

Agreed. His ability to recall fine details was impressive. And he has a knack for telling a good story in a very interesting way.

@@tspot816 He was one lucky MOFO to go from a SSGT mechanic to a Lieutenant pilot. Your chances of doing that in today's Air Force as a white male are slim. Your chances are slightly better if you are a woman or a minority. 🤠

Haha. We all don’t become automatically senile when we turn 80 90 or 100 😂. That was a good conversation. Today, I doubt if anyone can comprehend the magnitude of what he did as a young man. Yes history is very important and vital to hear and to know first hand so that we don’t repeat the horrors that happened during that hard time in history

@@seashells5181 He said he had 6 gunners that were "scared to death" on his B-17. At most he had 4-5 gunners. Sometimes the radio operator or bombardier or flight engineer would man the guns, but 6 gunners is his big Pilot's ego talking S---. 🤠

My thoughts exactly!👍

AMEN

Makes me so sad hearing this. These vets are just amazing human beings in my eyes. I hope he's up there with God.

He wont be flying till Jesus returns with his angels to take him on his greatest flight ever. Read the flight manual 1 Cor 15 : 51 to 58 Then 1 Thess 4:13 to 18. John 14 : 1 to 4. Finally John 11: 25 to 26. Jesus Ask a question DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? If so let him change you. You might want to study up on that for it could be your ticket to take that flight with him. For Every Eye will see it happen Rev 1 :7 and 8 I urge you to read and study for Time is short.

Since I was a very small child, I looked up to this generation. (I am 66 years old and never knew my biological father). As I read of the passing of my World War II veterans (and the doctors and nurses in the surgical tents close to the front lines), I weep for them and thank God for that generation. It make me sad that this generation are fewer in number ass they're very close to 100 years old, I know of no one that can fill their shoes. May God grant them eternal rest and peace.

This doesn’t make any sense

Basically hes saying if old mate had have died, he wouldn't be here, try reading it again.

I think you may find it was more like 6 inches (the general acknowledged average) is the real reason you are here. 😏

a couple of inches is the only reason any of us are here

@@josephking6515 I always read the comments as I'm watching the video. What a hoot 😅

There are so few left. It's embarrassing what has happened to our country after what They (and previous generations) sacrificed.

I get upset about this. What about those who fought in the conflict before WW2 started. It was called the European War. My dad was in the Battle of Maleme, in Crete, and was badly wounded in Cyrenaica. He lost his eye. He had his operation for his wounds on December 7, 1941, the day WW2 started.

@SugarTomAppleRoger if I listed every war then I'd be here for a year. I have the upmost respect for any service man/woman 💯

@SugarTomAppleRoger ww2 didn't start in 1941.... both my grandads and my nan joined up in 1939!!!! 1 of my grandads was 15 and lied about his age. He wasn't demobbed until 1946. He was a sapper and my other grandad was in communications both on the front line. ❤️👏💪

@@peace-now WW2 started in Sept 1939..never heard it called the European War in Europe.

If I could live another life I would've loved to be an aircraft mechanic and I've always been curious about jet engines. I especially love how everything has to be clean as a whistle and every thing documented as you go along.

He was a lucky MOFO to go from Aircraft Mechanic to B-17 pilot. The chances today of doing that as a Caucasian are slim. Better only if you are a woman or a minority. Also, to be able to retire at age 39 as a Lt. Col. set him up financially for the rest of his life. 🤠

@@danielebrparish4271 Today aircraft mechanics are in my opinion, short changed in their career. I have several friends that have been in the trade for 30-40 years and are underpaid in their business (they are not alone). They have unbelievable liability and responsibility and get very little compensation for it. As a matter of fact, they struggle. The city that controls the hangers are miserable to work with. I have known them for a long time and in no way would want to do what they do for a living. It's really sad. They also have a knowledge base that will be missed when they retire (if they can).

@@dirtcurt1 I'm not surprised but people can't be happy unless they are doing something that they enjoy. My sister was a school teacher with a graduate degree and after 20 years of experience was being paid in the neighborhood of $25,000/year. I met a woman who's father refused to pay for her college if she chose to get a degree in education because he didn't want to pay for her to live in poverty all of her life. We live in a throwaway society now. Unless you can do it yourself most things are not worth repairing. People throw away lawn mowers and appliances because a new one is cheaper than than the repairs. I think one could do well in the U.S. military as an aircraft technician if one was so inclined but not as well as a plumber or electrician with their own business.

Agreed, and he sounded like he had a bit of a Southern accent. If so, all the more respect.

My greatgran dad did the same I think he was shot down over France or Poland and walked all the way back to a occupied country just cant remeber what country though my dads got his medals still

GREATEST GENERATION❗️ 🔥🔥

what a ''LEGEND''‼️®™️

My great uncle was a navigator and was killed over Germany in late '43 Not many people realize that more servicemen in the 8th Army Air Force lost their lives than did in the entire Marine Corps during WW2. Truly the greatest generation.

Not for nothing are they called "THE GREATEST GENERATION," and this wonderful man was an example. Their heroism will be remembered forever.

He speaks well. But you don't know a thing about WW2.

@@johnsmith1474 My father served as a corporal in the Army, 96th Division, in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. My maternal uncle served as chief mechanic in the Army Air Force working on P51 Mustangs in the battle of Iwo Jima. I have two suggestions for you, sir - a bit more humility ... and just try to keep up with the rest of us.

My great grandfather was also at Pearl Harbor and survived. He was a PBY mechanic. Crazy to think maybe they had a drink!

P I

My dad had been at Schofield but was shipped out a couple or three days before. Meanwhile Mom had no idea where he was, was "celebrating" her birthday sitting next to the radio listening to the news. It was quite a time!

Thank our Lord in Heaven for that brother

I lived on Schofield for 3 yrs in highschool!!!

I thought of the anniversary today as I looked at the date on my watch. I immediately thought of Cook Second Class Doris Miller and his heroic actions at 0755 that morning. Pulling himself from rubble to hop on .50cal that he had never been shown how to use until that very second and being credited for downing two Japanese planes. He then carried wounded sailors from the deck to safety saving a countless amounts of lives. Mr. Miller should have been awarded the Medal of Honor. He should still be posthumously. Incredible bravery. Most likely would have abandoned ship. God bless Mr. Miller. God bless the men and women who gave their all to ensure freedom at home.

@@pmccoy8924 The Navy is naming their next Gerald Ford class aircraft carrier after Doris Miller. Seaman Miller did receive the Navy Cross, one below the MOH. It could be said race was a factor. It was a different time. I believe the Navy is trying to rectify that now.

We owe it to them to be better Americans!

@@joshmontgomery4040 I agree, for them to done what they did then grow older to see what American society is today must be very painful.

@@tommychew6544 we owe them all more

same for me, I was born in 56. My dad was a US Marine and was captured on Corregidor at the beginning of the war. He was in the 4th Marine Regiment. He was already up in age by the time I talked to him about his war service. he was in China and was transferred with the regiment to the Philippines in the summer of 41. He was called to the order room and he was put on MacArthur's marine bodyguard on Corregidor. When MacArthur left, he was still on the island and was captured and spent the entire war as a POW in Japan. He was at Kawasaki camp 2B

@@patd4u2 I wish we would have been able to ask them questions we now know we would have asked if we had known them. I was a Marine from 85 to 89 and the Marine Corps has a serious respect for history. I would have loved to have gotten to hear your Dad's stories. They really were the greatest generation for what they did!

Good stuff!!

@@to8860 I learned to read medals while I was in the military, so I could read their service history based on their ribbons and medals.

He said he had 30 sorties. Then went on to say you could get one sortie flying two missions. So they way he said it sounds like he fly 60 missions.

Not necessarily. Could be for actions taken to save the aircraft and crew. To get an Air Medal, you had to be on an aircraft flying over enemy held territory in a combat zone. I have 4 air medals from RVN and I'm a grunt.

@@bradsanders407 I thought he corrected himself by saying he flew 40 missions because some sorties counted as 2 missions. One example is a crew flying a cargo mission to Poland from England. They didn't have enough of a range to make a round trip. They stayed in Russia overnight while their plane was refueled, repaired and loaded with bombs. They then bombed Hungary on the way to Foggia, Italy where they were usually given a weeks leave. Then sometimes they flew to England via Southern France where they may or may not be ordered to bomb something. I think some especially hazardous missions such as dam busting or attacking oil fields or other heavily defended targets were one sortie but they credited you with two missions. Some sorties were not counted as a mission if the bombs were not dropped in the area of the target. Usually this happened when the plane was too badly damaged to make it to the target area and the bombs were released to lighten the load.

Thank you for being a good father to the clueless generation. You almost cannot make them see history, yet is only one dead generation away. I fear for this nation that has buried and forgotten the History that those 100 year old vets have to tell. I have daughters 23 and 25, they did get to spend a little time with grandpa. He died when the 25 was about 8. They missed out on stories. but their grandpa was a WW2 gunner in a B17.

Yeh, I just love that it all came from that simple act of generosity, doing something nice for another paving the way.

It makes me wonder how much greater it would've been had the African-American been allowed to choose to become a pilot or officer. I often wonder if the war could've been shortened if we would've allowed the best and brightest to work their way to the top like he did. I'm glad those days are over.

My father was an airman in WW II Army Air Corps. He also said there we lots of dumb orders given by dummies that cost lots of lives. So he never talked much about his service other than that. Turns out he did not want his sons to suffer that experience and go to war. Whereas Col Benelli took it upon himself to do the smart tactic to save his crew’s lives and still carry out the mission.

My father was an airman in WW II Army Air Corps. He also said there we lots of dumb orders given by dummies that cost lots of lives. So he never talked much about his service other than that. Turns out he did not want his sons to suffer that experience and go to war. Whereas Col Benelli took it upon himself to do the smart tactic to save his crew’s lives and still carry out the mission.

It pays to be nice.

When I was in Afghanistan, the worst racist I ever worked with was a black corpsman. This guy tried to divide the unit due to his racial rants and had no problem playing the race card even against officers and NCOs. It came to a point, as commander I had him replaced (he was attached) just to preserve unit integrity/cohesion. I retired after 28 yrs(82-10) and still think about it. I visited West Point recently on a Purple Heart recipient tour and saw "attitude" with even the plebes(1st year cadets) of all races that was very disappointing. Things change I guess, but not always for the better... : (

@@jamesbecker3420 damn that disappoints

You are an insane person. You have to have the education of block of wood and the humanity of a rock to say that.

Thanks, see above!