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| James W. Taylor's WWII Experiences |
| Donor | Original Source | PIMA ID | Donor ID | Category |
| Richard P. Ellinger | James W. Taylor | NA | RPE-44018 | OCR-DA-P |
| We flew in B-17's. We had several types of training missions.We flew high altitude with oxygen masks---low level over the scorching Arizona desert strafing ground targets---air to air gunnery, shooting at a target that was probably being towed by a B-26---and what was called gun camera missions. In that case, an 8mm movie camera was mounted on a 50 caliber machine gun to record how well we would fare if we would have been shooting at a real fighter coming in to knock us out of the sky. The next morning we would be taken into the briefing room for a critique. We saw whether we were leading the attacking plane with the proper number of "rads", whether we would have knocked him out of the sky or he had done us in.
The gunnery students were of high spirits. They were happy with them selves. We sang going to and from class trying to out do any other squadron that we might meet. I had met a fellow at radio school by the name of Michael Maty. His home was Bridgeport, Conn. and we were together at Yuma. We were the very best of friends. He was sort of short, blond and real fun. We would go swimming each evening at the base pool, and go into Yuma where we saw the old cemetery--- sort of a "boot hill" thing. The town was not much of anything. The sidewalks were shaded by a porch. I thought the stores were dark and there was not much to buy. - |
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The graduation ceremony was in late August 1944. The best thing about it was -I received my sterling silver wings as a gunner, and promoted to the rank of Corporal. During one of the last days in class we were asked to respond to a survey that included a question as to what type of aircraft that I would like to be assigned to--- whether it be high altitude or low altitude. I requested low as I did not like to temperatures of the high altitude missions. In addition I would prefer to be without the nuisance of that oxygen mask. I checked "medium", but from past experience, I wondered should I have asked for high--- knowing how the army worked.
I was then granted a 10 day delay in route to return home before reporting to the base at Shreveport,Louisiana---Barksdale Field. It was then that I discovered that at last I had been given what I had requested. It was a good feeling. Now on my way home again ! WW-18-20 P.18 |
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