Eugene enlisted into the Army Air Forces on October 17, 1942
at the age of 20. After basic training he began his training as a radio
operator/gunner on heavy bombers. Eugene says that he had some knowledge of Morse
code so this was a good fit for him.
Eventually Eugene was transferred overseas to England as
part of the 8th AAF. As a radio operator, Eugene was placed mid-ships on a B-17
Flying Fortress. He had an overhead window where his single 50 caliber machine
gun was located pointing up and slightly rearward.
Eugene was assigned to the 369th Bomb Squadron of
the 306th Bomb Group based at Thurleigh England. He flew many missions
over occupied Europe hoping to avoid German flak and fighters.
On one particular mission, Eugene remembers that the target
was Peenemunde, Germany. This was the Nazi’s super secret factory where V-1 and
V-2 missiles were tested and launched. Eugene states that even at 25,000 feet
in the air, he could see timbers and beams from the factory blast and it looked
like the flying debris would hit his bomber!
Eugene completed his assigned missions, which at different times
during the war were 25-35 before an aviator could rotate home. Once back in the
states, Eugene was an instructor in radio repair at the Army Air Force
Technical School in Madison, Wisconsin.
Eugene was awarded the Air Medal and also the Distinguished
Flying Cross and had the rank of Tech Sergeant.
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