Bloggers Note for Pearl Harbor Day - Talking with Some WWII Veterans

On this day 67 years ago, Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, it was the event that caused the United States to enter WWII. So in reading the paper this morning I saw a small article about local events honoring WWII veterans today. One was that the Geriatric Pilots Association was going to display their WWII memorabilia at a local bagel/coffee shop from 10AM to 2PM. I figured I'd stop by and see what it was about. There were five or so gentlemen there with their stuff from WWII displayed on tables in front of them.

I spoke with a Navy guy who flew planes off an escort carrier in the Pacific. He proudly showed me himself in a yearbook-like publication titled "The Escort Carriers in Action". He explained this book was completely financed after the war by a fellow Navy officer named Richard Joshua Reynolds, Jr. (1906-1964), son of the founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. This of course is the maker of Poops’ favorites cigarettes – Camels. I then spoke briefly with a guy from the Marines who was also on a carrier in the Pacific. Talking to these guys made me appreciate just how many stories there are from WWII.

The person I talked to to have experiences the most similar to Poops' was a pilot who flew B-24s out of England. When I told him my father piloted B-17s he started joking about how all the B-17 pilots got all the publicity during the war. He emphasized this as he struggled with his memory “Oh who is that guy with the big ears in ‘Gone with the Wind’, anyway all he did was pose in front of a B-17 machine gun!”. He was talking about Clark Gable. He went on further saying that they called the B-17 the "Flying Fortress", but they called the B-24s the "Flying Coffin". From the conversation I had with him, I’m guessing this guy is quite the character. He showed his flight jacket with what he called his “rape whistle” attached. He explained that it was to be used if you bailed out of your plane in the ocean or allied territory, you’d blow it for help. He next pulled out of his flight jacket pocket some matches with the cover warnings GI’s about VD. He smiled and said, "Now this proves this is jacket is authentic!"

Lastly I spoke with a Paul Roxin who is a co-founder of the Geriatric Pilots Association. He was an instructor of pilots during the WWII and latter in life had written a book called “One Foot On The Ground” which are stories collected from pilots in the Rochester area. He was a sweet man and sharp as a tac at age 92.

I didn’t really get much out this visit that I can use for this blog, but this was an interesting experience. I also happened to be filmed on the local TV evening news talking to these guys as the ABC affiliate was also there interviewing them.