Max was drafted into the Army and was inducted on August 5,
1943 at the age of 18. He scored high enough to be picked to attend Officers Candidate
School. He chose the Army Air Forces and trained in Gunnery School. He was soon
sent overseas to Italy.
At Grottaglie Italy, Max was assigned to the 449th
Bomb Group, 719th Bomb Squadron of the famous 15th AAF.
Max’s job on the heavy bomber, B-24 Liberator, was a top
turret gunner. The top turret gunner was also tasked with being the engineer,
keeping tabs on the bombers fuel and oil usage among many other tasks.
One particular memory was on a mission to Vienna, Austria on
Friday October 13, 1944. The target, as sometimes happened, was obliterated by smoke.
This was done by the German’s themselves many times to make it harder for the bombardiers
to see their targets. Other times, it was the smoke from the fires caused by bombs
dropped by earlier bombers. The bomber then diverted to the alternant target,
Linz Austria, where they dropped their ordinance.
After hitting the target, the bomber lost an engine on the
way back to their base. The bomber had to divert and was forced to land on an
island off the coast of Yugoslavia. The runway was much too short but the alternative
was to ditch in the ocean. While on the runway, yet another engine cut out on
the B-24 but the crew was safe.
Max received the Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster, European Theater
Operation with 7 battle stars. He was discharged on October 18, 1945 with the
rank of Staff Sergeant.
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