Windy Lou's Last Mission - WWII B17 Pilot 

The interviewer did an excellent job of helping this hero tell his story

Colonel Rowe passed away January 27, 2017 at his home in Ringold!! RIP in Peace Sir!!

My father, Phil Darr, was the original pilot of the Windy Lou. As the first pilot, he had the honor of naming the plane. The B-17 is named after my mother, Lucille. Dad met Mom in Chicago (the Windy City) and named the plane after her - the Windy Lou. Thank you for sharing this video with us. Dad rarely spoke of the war. He did share his flight log showing that he had completed all of his assigned missions. He also kept his flight jacket, pilot gloves and a piece of shrapnel that lodged into his pilot's seat just a few inches from his heart. Thank you!

These's men were truly the greatest generation. My Father in law was a part of the navy battles in the pacific, may he rest in peace. As a Vietnam combat veteran I give thanks for all they gave to this country.

What a story! You guys had GUTS! I've always admired the aviators in WWII. Rest in Peace brothers.

I laughed until I cried when he said the German guard was so elderly and weak he couldn’t carry the rifle so I carried it for him. This man is truly an awesome guy.

Guys like him made this country great!!

A true hero. I'm honored to have heard him tell his story.

I had the pleasure of taking this trip along with my Father, Uncle, and Ron, and it was and is one of the highlights of my life. I am eternally grateful for this timeless footage that will transcend generations. My grandfather, Coy Hurley Newport, tail gunner, didn't talk about the war much (naturally) and was lo and behold determined to NOT leave this earth the day this crew got shot down; he passed peacefully the day after, November 6th. This video allowed our family to connect with Bill Leith's son, his daughter, and his great-grands. To all veterans around the world, we salute you. I find it astonishing that out of War and destruction can come connection and healing.

What a wonderful true story, we owe a debt of great gratitude to these brave men!

RIP, Lt. Col. Raymond Oscar Rowe, Jr., 94, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2017

God bless this man and his amazing story.. had me crying, laughing and feeling what you could tell he seen with his eyes.. amazing.. should be a movie..

My grandfather proudly served with the Mighty 8th during WWII and beyond. He was a part of the ‘Red Ball Express’, the postwar occupation force, and the Berlin Airlift. He stayed on with the USAF, stationed all over Europe and retired in the 60’s. For viewers interested in the history of 8th AF, there is a museum in Pooler, GA, just outside of Savannah, GA. This video would make an excellent addition to their archive!!!

I'm so glad to find this, my Grandfather, William F. Stewart, was the Bombardier on this plane. It was always amazing to hear him tell the stories of what happened including the mission, the shoot-down and being captured and liberated. I even have a recorded interview that was done some time ago of his retelling of the events, I'll certainly need to upload it as well.

My grandfather’s brother was a gunner on a 17, he flew 85 missions, 3 in the waist and 82 in the tail, he lived till 2015

What a story! First time I heard about the Great Escape men being pampered, the cottages and the skating rink. This was left out of the history books for some reason ! RIP Ray and thank you.

What a brave man thank you for your service during such horrible times. You are an inspiration to us all.

What an amazing man so brave so patriotic so real God bless him mark cardiff

thats amazing. thanks for your service

Boo to anyone who gives this a thumbs down

My daddy was a bombardier/navigator on B-17s. He was shot down 3 different times. Thank you, sir, for sharing your story.

A joy to watch. Thank you.

Its so very sad that this wonderful generation are passing away and that soon we will come a point in time there will be none left just like ww1 Vets all gone. What a great bloke. A true Legend.

What decent brave human being. Thanks to him we didn't have to deal with learning German or japanese

God bless these & all the men who flew these missions, & you for sharing this video of their story.

Thank you, LTC Rowe, you did an OUTSTANDING JOB for this country. LTC Row sounds so much like my Uncle, George Calvin Capps, 8th AAC, His B17 was shot down over Nazi occupied country after a successful bombing on a ball bearing plant. His testimony sounded so much like this gentlemans, Calvin was interred at Stalag Luft 4. He survived the POW Death March. I loved honored and respected him until he left here bound for Heaven. Ill never forget him, or those like him and LTC Rowe. Many spoke like him, and still do when encountered. So many have gone on, some are thankfully left. When Im honored to meet them, I always honestly thank them---Im in awe of them. Yes, they all did their job, they excelled, many lost doing their best. HEROS all. None will say that, theyre way to humble. HEROS that live in hearts and minds of many of us. GOD BLESS EACH ONE

Moving. Thank you for putting that together.. and many more thanks to Lt. Colonel Rowe & crew.

May God bless those brave men who fought for the freedoms that we are so blessed to have.

Thank you sir,,an thxs for sharing your experience,,,gb

I love these guys. Real men.

@Ron Vigil - so someone is keeping vigil - ha! "no, we weren't proud - we had a job to do...". Thank you very much. You don't have to go all patriotic. Bullies are bullies. I salute you Lieutenant Colonel Raymond O. Rowe.

Very very good documentary enjoyed it and thank you very much for serving our country

Thank you We need to hear these men’s stories before we loose them all.

This was wonderful, thank you. rest in piece sir, our country is the greatest because of brave men like you .

Yes sir. Thank you.

God Bless you sir, thank you...

True hero's

I'm just speechless after hearing h is story incredible may their memo ry live on forever

This is an amazing patriot. The greatest generation for sure.

Thank you.

Brilliant ! ! ! ~ Arizona

Great stories... great man!

Dear God what a beautiful man!🇺🇸

Thank you Sir

Thank you!

Fantastic American Men and women. So wonderful so many were able to live a full Wonderful life, So tragic So many people Died all over the world.

Wow...just wow! What a man...what a story!

Thank you

God bless you guys for our freedoms, I just hope and pray that thier are enough of your children alive and have the courage to fight for the freedoms that you gave us. God bless you for what you did for us and I hope and pray we dont disappoint you. WE ARE YOU. SEMPA PHI.

What a great guy. Looks so youthful for his age as well!

That was emotional at the end it said the guy who was frozen never ended up jumping out. He went down with the plane. I wonder if his family ever received his remains.

I heard the same story about the old German guard escorting the prisoners after the end of the war from a friend I worked with years ago. He was also a B-17 crewman shot down and was a POW. He also mentioned carrying the old German guard's rifle for him. I wonder if he was in the same prison camp as Colonel Rowe?

What a wonderful man and HERO, this young " soy " generation will never produce a man like this.

I noticed that they seem to use the Memphis Belle documentary footage quite a bit for these type of videos

I am glad he mentioned the aircraft's condition. They gave him a aircraft that was worn out. I wonder if that was the standard practice of giving new crews the older birds. In this case it was the major factor that they could not return to there base.

AMEN Brother!!

RIP

... ten Great Americans ... Thank you.

Loved that comment,we were not proud,just doing a job,,

Wars - so many intense episodes - ironic that it brings-out the worst - and the best in human beings. Sad to hear of the three crew that died. Very surprised to hear that the pilot was killed by civilians on landing near Brussells....weird... I wonder why the ball-turret gunner didn't get out....

Hero's❤

Why can’t interviewers learn to be quiet when these old hero’s start talking. Let him talk and edit it later.

GOD BLESS

Smart father. Period.

Is there anybody around that flew in the Fancy Nancy?

really enjoy him it is great how He give the glory to God

My grandfather was the bombardier on the Windy Lou when it went down. If anyone has anymore info (i.e. family members) please get in contact with me. He's the "familiar man from Chattanooga", William Stewart.

my dad was with the 452nd bomber group, 729 bomb squadron at dephom green and passed away Jan 7th, 2017, 20 days later this man had passed away also. its sometimes a small world. may they rest easy.

Thank you Jesus

When I listen to all these stories I realize how soft and flaky we have become. These guys were so damn brave. Imagine sending a 20yo of the current generation out to war? They won't even make basic training because their feelings would get hurt.

My grandfather drove a G4M heavy bomber over Luson lsland South pacific on June 8 1942 and was killed in a US millitary P-38 fighter Medal of Merit Military Sword swords Remains from Japans Home Bureau are kept in a family treasure Gennomizbi Shogen who was from to Yasukuni Shrine in my grand father

So an inspiration. Today's generation never had it so good and yet they still moan and complain. Dreadful!

God had his 40.

to the interviewer, your lack of respect for this man's belief and his faith here is appalling and so disrespectful of him. you're not the person for the job. won't watch another of yours.

Bombing grandmas house

He sounds like a democrat . Not proud of serving our country thought of it as just a job ? Thank you sir for working for us .

Carrying the Nazi guards weapon for him because he was old and frail is helping the enemy which is treasonous .

These criminals dropped bombs on children.