William B Kennedy
Military"Flew my first mission in June, 1944 and my last in October, 1944"
Bill has written up memories of his time with the 100th Bomb Group for the Association's website. Read the full version here: https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=273
Here is an excerpt:
On seeing the sky full of bombers, he wrote:
"When the days were clear, it was surreal. Blue sky above and red rooftops dotting green ground below. There were eerie, hollow hums and whines on VHF. Contrails got to be a hazard, forcing succeeding groups higher. On Mes (Maximum Efforts) it was possible for the large number of planes to create so many contrails that it amounted to an artificial overcast."
"Try flying formation on instruments. The one at the controls fixed on the lead ship, the other pilot calling out attitude from the instrument panel to help overcome vertigo. For example: "...level, ...shallow turn left, ...climbing turn right." Formations flying in the soup didn't hold together very long."
"The most nerve-wracking part of the flight? All of it, especially the bomb run. The most boring part of the flight? None of it."
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Flew first mission |
Fallersleben, Wolfsburg, Germany | 20 June 1944 | To Fallersleben, Germany |
Other Flew last mission |
Cologne, Germany | 17 October 1944 | To Cologne, Germany |
Revisions
Changed 'Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters' to 'Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters (1 silver oak leaf cluster)' as per William B Kennedy's email to the museum.
Source is William B. Kennedy, Pilot, 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group (H).
I have corrected my rank to 1st Lieutenant.
Thanks,
William B. Kennedy
100th Bomb Group page on Bill Kennedy: https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&id=2760…