The pilot who came home, Quentin Aanenson's experiences during WW2 article and video
A gripping story of Quentin Aanenson's experiences in WW2 as a pilot trained to fly the P-47, and the lethal Thunderbolt in operations over
Germany..
(For some reason I seem to be on a WW2 theme at the moment)
This is a great read on the link below.
During training at Harding Field in Baton Rouge five of Quentin Aanenson's comrades lost their lives in accidents. By the war's end, 90 of the 125 pilots in his unit, the 366th Fighter Group, would be dead.
The odds of survival against massed German antiaircraft fire were so long that pilots in Aanenson's unit were ordered to draw up their wills.
According to Army procedure, three other pilots were to witness each pilot's will. Within six months, the three who witnessed Aanenson's decree were dead. Two of the four pilots with whom he shared quarters also died.
The anguish grew so deep that Aanenson stopped befriending his fellow fliers, lest he face their deaths, too. Once, on a brief visit home to Luverne, Aanenson instructed his sister to prepare his parents for what seemed inevitable.
http://www.washingtonpost.c...
Video extract from the TV series
(This seems to be a much longer documentary with other accounts as well)
By netchicken:
posted on 23-9-2007
(For some reason I seem to be on a WW2 theme at the moment)
This is a great read on the link below.
... Quote:
During training at Harding Field in Baton Rouge five of Quentin Aanenson's comrades lost their lives in accidents. By the war's end, 90 of the 125 pilots in his unit, the 366th Fighter Group, would be dead.
The odds of survival against massed German antiaircraft fire were so long that pilots in Aanenson's unit were ordered to draw up their wills.
According to Army procedure, three other pilots were to witness each pilot's will. Within six months, the three who witnessed Aanenson's decree were dead. Two of the four pilots with whom he shared quarters also died.
The anguish grew so deep that Aanenson stopped befriending his fellow fliers, lest he face their deaths, too. Once, on a brief visit home to Luverne, Aanenson instructed his sister to prepare his parents for what seemed inevitable.
http://www.washingtonpost.c...
Video extract from the TV series
(This seems to be a much longer documentary with other accounts as well)