Mauser Guns Collectors Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: jcorl on June 13, 2016, 06:12:30 PM
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There were only 4 people that got to set on a bench for this photo. My dad was the one on the right. All others had to stand or squat. It took many Army boys to make this one plane fly. Enjoy.
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What a great photo, Jim! You have a lot to be proud of. Your Dad was the meaning of the "Greatest Generation." Those guys that fought for and with the B-17 were the bravest of all.
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Thank you Alan, I appreciate those kind words. I wish that he was still around to hear them. The pilot and co-pilot were on his photo left side followed by the Master Sgt. His title that earned him a seat was Master Armor. In short, if the guns don't shoot, then the ship does not fly. He did armor work from 1941 thru 1945 and won five individual battle stars on his European Theater Service Medal. The ten man air crews would rotate out after so many missions. That number of missions changed during the war, but Tech. Sgt. Jim Corl Jr. stayed with the plane thru out the war with his team of Armor Specialist. He flew at altitude as he told me his leather, sheepskin lined flight wear was not warm enough. I presumed he took over for a gunner a few times, at least five evidently. The plane was always stationed at Epswitch, England. Epswitch was a dual controlled base with both US and UK landing strips. I have a few my photos that may be of interest to the group.
Jim III