Docents Corner

Spring, 2003

I have been a docent for only a few months, but I have had a couple of very interesting happenings. One day I was near the front desk and a group of five people came in and headed directly toward the southwest corner and they all grouped around one crew picture. I casually strolled down to see what was going on and saw that they were pointing to and looking at the picture of Royal’s crew and his aircraft which was appropriately named “Royal Flush”. I asked if they knew Royal and one of the ladies said that he was her cousin. I said, jokingly, “Well, I guess that makes us kind of related. The crew that I trained with and went over with was shot down on their first mission and they were in that aircraft. I was in the hospital and did not go on that mission. Lucky Me!” Royal had just finished his 25th mission when we arrived and there was a big celebration at the club.

One other day, while I was on the floor, a man and daughter were standing in front of the B-17, just looking at it. I walked over and spoke to them and the man said, “I flew that airplane.” I asked if he had flown the B-17 airplanes during the war and he said, “No, I mean that I flew that airplane, I owned it.” He had owned that particular airplane and converted it to a fire bomber. He contracted with the forest service and flew it to drop fire retardant on forest fires. He said, “I just come here every year to look at my old airplane.” I introduced him to the other docents on duty. I was astounded to have the man come in who had actually owned the aircraft that we have on display.

Richard Bushong
Docent, 390th BG Pilot

Dear Louis,

Thank you very much for inviting me for a special tour with you at the 390th Memorial Museum. I had a wonderful time.

I especially enjoyed your firsthand experiences flying the B-17 and the many other airplanes you have flown. You bring the airplanes and their history to life.

Thank you, and your colleagues, for your kindness and for sharing your knowledge.

Sincerely,
Lee Unger

Letter received by Louis Hernandez, docent, 457th BG vet, from his son’s flight instructor.

While standing at our large mission map one day, I started talking to a tall man with an English accent, I asked if that’s where he was from. He answered “yes.” I then told him I was in England starting in April 1943.

He stated that he was only 9 years old at that time and later after college he joined the RAF and eventually took a job with Rolls Royce Jet Engine Division. He retired in States as he enjoyed living here.

I informed him that after completion of my missions I was assigned to teach gunnery up at the Wash near Snettisham. He answered that his dad was a doctor there all during the war. I said that I remembered that in December 1943 we had a Christmas party for 25 to 30 children from Snettisham. He said “I was one of them.”

Guy Tice, Docent 
95th BG Veteran

I have completed 156 tours at this Docent desk and am looking forward to August. My scheduled tours numbered 179 and 180 will have to be filled by someone else. I’ll be in Germany, reliving my experiences flying with the German Air Force. Actually, the occasion will be the 50th anniversary of an erstwhile Top Secret operation called “Hot Rock”. Truly. I was there. 1955 thru 1957.

During the post-war period, even while Germany was an occupied country, President Truman and others saw the growing need for Germany’s participation in defending against the Russian Bear. Staff was recruited from individuals whose presence in Germany would not be abrasive to others, and the workers, like me, were taken as volunteers from recent pilot training and instructor schools. We reported to Fuerstenfeldbruck and Landsberg Air Bases (runways now repaired) and began to rub shoulders with the recent antagonists of the Eighth Air Force; Me109, Fw-190 pilots etc. Many names are known to USAAF veterans of the great conflict over Europe. Names like Kammhuber, Busch, Cescotti, Krupinski, Limberg, Mengden, Morgenstern, Obleser, Pacholke, Panitzki, Proll, Pull, RaIl, Schluter, Schmitz, Trautloft, Steinhoff, Opel, Batz, Ederer, Seese, Von Friesen, Lucking, Jurgensmeir, Hartmann, Burschgens, Stodollick, Palme, Reuter, Helms, Hrabak. I forget many.

I didn’t know these older WWII guys then and as a brand new jet pilot of the United States Air Force, I could not have cared less. Some could fly, some could not, by my measure. Some were fresh cheeked “boys” and some were fire-scarred survivors. Some spoke excellent English, some could only growl “yes sir” in answer to any question. (Dangerous habit in aviation). Some were timid, easily overpowered in the cockpit (good) and some were very strong and able to hold the stick FULL back against all but the most strenuous effort (bad). Some became well known again as did Erich “Bubi” Hartmann (a one sortie student of mine) and some died in the traffic pattern as did Stodollick (straight in from the down wind leg), another student of mine. Some were so in tune with the machine that one demonstration produced an example superior to the demo. Palma was like that. Very irritating. Others (M. Fischer) drove me nuts trying to teach him cross wind correction enough to stay on the runway during landing. Very scary. Some loathed spins. (Helms, who screamed). Some were outstanding wing men. (Move out, Otto. Move OUT!) Others wore out the engines maintaining a wing position. They had many things in common, however. They hated P-51’s and B-17’s. Absolutely the best toughest job a young pilot could inherit. Beats getting shot at. And cockpits were apolitical although Flight Commanders had to remind them from time to time as to who had won the war. Motivations with the Germans at that time were diverse, I’m sure, but at our level, on the line, they loved the job and the challenge. We responded in kind.

We will meet again, those that survive and care and can... Both forces. Somebody take my tours, please.

Bob Ginn
Docent, 390th Missile Wing Vet.