Intermission Stories (24)

Charlie Meyer (left) and his brother Robert (right), both US airmen.

Charlie Meyer

Bombardier, US Army Air Corps

Charlie Meyer, of Hoboken, New Jersey, became a B-17 bombardier  for the 388th Bomber Group and made 34 mission flights over France and Germany in 1944 – this included D-Day.

The B-17 crew received strict orders before departing Knettishall, England, in the predawn darkness of that famous day: “No aborts on this mission.”  Bombardier Meyer’s target – the beaches of Normandy.  His timing?  Just before the Allied troops went ashore.

Perched on the nose cone of a B-17, Meyer typically enjoyed the best view the Flying Fortress had to offer.  “Beautiful. Up, down, sideways and all around,” he said in his interview with Staci Sturrock.  But as his plane crossed the English Channel early that morning, “you couldn’t see a damn thing because of the cloud coverage.”

Their second time out, the B-17s bombed farther inland.  “This time, the clouds had cleared, giving us a panoramic view of this awesome undertaking.  A bridge of ships across the Channel.”

Although he wasn’t able to clearly see the troops on the beaches of Normandy – “They were ants on the ground” – it wasn’t hard for Charlie to imagine what they endured.  “It must have been hell.  I wonder how those guys lived through D-Day.  I don’t know if I would have made it on the ground, truthfully.”

But World War II was a true team effort, unlike any military conflict since.  “Our war was a lot different because 100 % of the people were in it.  Everybody was involved.  Most of us who lived it all these years lived it quietly.  “I’m not a her.  Somebody said, ‘Do it,’ and we did it.”  Meyer ended up flying 34 missions.

Charlie Meyer is 95 years old now, resides in Greenacres, Florida and, as you can see – he can still fit in his uniform!

Click on images to enlarge.

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Personal note –

I would like to know your opinion of my inserting more humor into the posts to ease the constant tension of war (similar to what the soldiers themselves did at the time.)  Should it be a small joke, picture, postcard or cartoon per each post or a post by itself – say, after every 5 or 6 posts?  Should the humor be above or below the Farewell Salutes?  Will this be making the posts far too long and you’ll get bored from all the reading?  You do  have a say in how you read this site – so voice your opinion!!

Being as this post was about the Army Air Corps – one of these might have been used ___________

The new “Learn-as-you-Go” pilot training method.

We’ll be back into WWII after July 4th and if I don’t hear from you – – Well, do you REALLY want to leave me to my own resources? (Actually, I will be getting some assistance from Chris @ his site.)

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Farewell Salutes – 

Edward Adrian – Lake Stevens, WA; US Navy, WWII, USS Long Island

Michelle Bates – Royal Palm Beach, FL; US Air Force, 8 years

Thomas Bigley – Washington DC; US Navy, ViceAdmiral (Ret. 38 yrs.), submarine & surface vessels

Marvin Etter – Chambersburg, PA; USMC, WWII & Korea

James Honey – Arkansas; US Army, Korea

Robert Montgomery – Dargaville, NZ; Regimental # 625875, WWII

Frank Petrone – Stonington, RI; US Army, Korea, 2 Bronze Stars

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