Through These Eyes
A World War II Eighth Air Force Combat Diary
by
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There was a constant mental strain on aircrew members. We worried most of the night before a bombing raid, and "sweated out" every mission. There was always the reality of flak over the target and the threat of a fighter attack before or after the target. A direct hit by an 88mm anti-aircraft shell meant disaster. Severe flak damage that disabled a plane meant dropping out of the protection of the formation and becoming a prime target for lurking Luftwaffe fighters. Bombers of the 490th suffered many types of losses during practice and/or combat missions. Examples include crashes on takeoffs or landings, mid-air collisions in fog, forced landings, fires on hardstands, being rammed by enemy fighters, anti-aircraft or fighter attacks. Combat fatigue was not uncommon, as some of the guys "snapped" and had nervous breakdowns under the constant fear of death. The common term around the base was "flak happy", but we all sympathized and knew that it could happen to any of us. The Air Force had several R & R (rest and relaxation) centers for crewmen who needed time to get away from it all for a week or more. Combat crews also received frequent three-day passes to London or other recreational areas.
Every combat mission was a test of endurance and doing the best job possible at our positions. Each man depended on the ability of the rest of his plane's crew. There was no place for a crewmember who was not in good mental condition. We were keenly aware of planes and men lost from our group. Many of us had adopted the attitude expressed in a Bill Mauldin cartoon when Willie said to Joe, "I feel like a fugitive from the law of averages". The "Stars and Stripes" kept us informed of total losses on each raid.
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About the Book
This is the story of Eighth Air Force bombing missions leaving England to blast targets in Hitler's Third Reich in 1944–45. Each clear day, the skies filled with hundreds of B17 Flying Fortress bombers and their escorts crossing the English Channel toward enemy targets protected by anti-aircraft batteries and German fighters waiting to attack the heavy bombers. The skies over the target were filled with black flak appearing to be so thick you could walk on it! The exploding shells filled the space with flying chunks of iron as bombers started their bomb run on the target. We often could hear the flak pelting our plance like a "buckshot" on a tin roof. This flak would often strike a vital part of the plane or wound a member of the crew! Our waist gunner was wounded on our tenth mission!Some missions we could count hundreds of holes in our plane after we landed safely in England! Bombers receiving a direct hit were blown out of the sky and another ten man aircrew was lost. Planes severely damaged had to drop out of formation and face enemy fighters alone unless some of our P-51 or P-47 escort fighters protected them. Bombers disabled or on fire had no choice but to order the crews to bail out. Airmen who survived the parachute jump were captured and placed into German prisoner of war camps (POW). They were classified as "missing in action".
Forty-eight photos, some sixty years old are included in this 350 page book to illustrate the story of the author's childhood in the Great Depression through the great air war of World War II. A description of each mission from a sixty year old diary is included. I think you will enjoy the story of a teenage Radio-Gunner's experiences in the Mighty Eighth Air Force.About the Author
"Hutch" grew up in the hills of southern Indiana during the Great Depression. He was one of the sixteen million youngsters who served in the armed forces during World War II. The author served as a radio operator/gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the 490th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force. His story includes a copy of of his diary that describe his experiences during eighteen combat missions over Germany. Home from the war at age twenty, he attended Indiana University on the G.I. Bill. He earned a B.S. in Education in 1949 majoring in history and journalism, a Masters degree in education in 1952, and an Ed.S. in school administration in 1967. During his 37 years of experience in the public schools, he served as an elementary teacher, Principal, and Special Projects Assistant to the Superintendent of schools. Community activities include being an ordained elder in the Presbyterian church, president of the Rotary Club and Paul Harris award winner, member of the Masonic Lodge for 46 years, and president of various educational groups such as the Retired Teacher's Association. Hobbies include golf, horseback riding, traveling, and WWII history. Mr. Hutchinson and his wife, June, (also a retired teacher) recently celebrated their 58th anniversary. They reside on an eighty acre farm in southern Indiana and have two horses. Like the cowboy heroes of his youth, he can still ride off into the sunset.