And they were 18 to 25 year olds...many just 21 flying those planes. I know two local soldiers, 93 and 94 YO, one served in Pacific and one in Germany; the stories they can tell if they feel like talking about it. Jack was captured in New Guinea, escaped, then made 4 island landings, the last being Luzon where they fought their way down to Manila. He said when they needed fuel for their Zippos, they'd take a bayonet and punch a hole in 50 gal can of gas! Howard was in late winter war in Germany, got frost bite on toes which troubles him a lot these days. He likes to tell of being responsible, right after the war ended, for keeping the rec rooms (or whatever they were called) well stocked with booze. Said he'd check out a truck and drive over to Belgium where they had plenty of supplies. Both are getting frail but have remarkably good memory's. I see them frequently, being 83 myself, we do a lot of [censored]'ing. LOL