Questions for an American WWII Dive Bomber?

MapleSugar

MapleSugar

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Last year my Mom was visiting her cousin down in the States. Over dinner, she found out that her cousin’s husband had been a dive bomber during World War 2. She mentioned that I was a bit of a history buff and would he like to talk to me about his experiences? He agreed, and gave her his number to pass on to me. Unfortunately, I forgot all about it until I was talking to my Mom last night and mentioned investigating her uncles that were part of the C.E.F. in World War One.

I have met the gentleman before and found him rather personable, but I want to be sure I ask intelligent questions that don’t dredge up any unpleasant memories for him. The questions I have thought to ask him so far are:

Where and when were you born and where did you grow up?

How big was your family?

What was your last grade of school finished before the war and what year was it?

What occupation were you in before the war?

What got you interested in flying?

When and where did you enlist and how old were you?

Where did you do your training?

Do you remember the type of aircraft you were trained on?

What squadron were you assigned to after graduation?

Where were you stationed?

(I don’t really want to ask him if he saw combat out of fear it might upset him, but I’d really like to hear about if he feels like talking about it.)

What type of dive bomber(s) did you fly?

What did you think of them?

What type of payload and armament did they carry?

What was your highest rank attained?

When were you released from service?

What did you do after the war?

Did you still fly in civilian life?

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You and all those who served have made every freedom that most of us take for granted possible.


Am I missing anything? If anyone has any other questions to ask that are appropriate, I will gladly include them with my list.
 
He drive 'em or was he a gunner? What ship(s) did he serve on? When? That'll tell you if he saw combat.
I've yet to meet any real combat vet who will talk about it. Even late at night after several drinks. However, if he starts talking about it, stifle yourself and listen.
 
Ask him about the funny things that happened usually relieves some pressure. My uncle was in artillery and went into Holland, I mentioned it him about being there but never found out much about it. Out of respect I never pressured him. He did say he would never allow mutton to be served in his house after his long stay in England. He did say he won lots of beer with a Ross rifle in training. He and another guy failed their course in artillery school, they weren't allowed off base until they passed the second time. I never met a more patient man in my life.
If he wants to talk about his experiences you will get around to it in time.
 
Questions

Tell him WHY you are interested, and of your Mother's interest. Tell him that you are a history buff, and such things, especially family history, is being lost and forgotten every day. Also, that this is for a private reason, not a public one.

Combat is a very personal and terrifying experience. When it is over, and you have survived, it has it's remorse. You have seen friends that you have made never return, or worse still, return in a scarred and disabled way. It is very personal, and something you do not share with everyone. Those who have not experienced it can not really and fully understand.

Most actual combat veterans will not readily divulge their experiences to just anyone who asks. However, some small references or experiences do surface, as incidents or happenings to other people and places are recalled. You may get a general story, but when it comes to specifics regarding the Veteran himself, the story turns vague and non-specific. The man has fought for his country, and if he has been in combat, he probably has taken lives by dropping high explosive bombs on targets. We have in our society, the inherent value of life, and to take one, even though we are at war, and it is the enemy, still is something that is not taken lightly. When everything is over, there is still a bit of guilt present, and it stays with you for the rest of your life. It is not something you share lightly with everyone, especially someone who has not "seen the Elephant", and may not understand.
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I've talked to lots of vets that talk about their experiences. Some are shy at first but once they get going and realise your "sincere interest", they will and do talk.

We need them to talk as much as they can. One old timer, claimed he felt people thought he was bragging, so didn't say much. It was impressed upon their psyches that the strong silent types, get more respect. Now they realise, they just don't get noticed.

Be polite, listen, don't make stupid comments, like "did you blow up a tank, with only your bayonet?" or, other things on that line. Don't turn it into an interview.

I you want more information, leave him with a good impression. Contact him again, with friendly messages. Show respect. You will be in for a wealth of experiences, good and bad.
 
For starters, don't ask these first four.
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Where and when were you born and where did you grow up?

How big was your family?

What was your last grade of school finished before the war and what year was it?

What occupation were you in before the war?
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What does it matter where he was born or how large was the family?
To be a pilot in WW2 they pretty well had to have high school.
The last one, "What occupation did you have before the war?" if not insulting, it at least shows you know nothing of conditions prior to WW2. Those enlisting in WW2, did not previously have an "occupation." Most didn't have a job of any sort and that was one of the reasons so many joined up.
 
H4831 said:
For starters, don't ask these first four.
--------------------
Where and when were you born and where did you grow up?

How big was your family?

What was your last grade of school finished before the war and what year was it?

What occupation were you in before the war?
-----------------------

What does it matter where he was born or how large was the family?
To be a pilot in WW2 they pretty well had to have high school.
The last one, "What occupation did you have before the war?" if not insulting, it at least shows you know nothing of conditions prior to WW2. Those enlisting in WW2, did not previously have an "occupation." Most didn't have a job of any sort and that was one of the reasons so many joined up.
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Thanks for the tips guys.:)

The reason I plan on asking those questions, H4831, is because I want to be more than just an interview about war stories. I figure it is more insulting not to acknowledge the man's life before, or after the war. He has a history and had dreams that were in place long before hostilities broke out.

I already know he became an engineer after the war, so I know he had higher education at some point. I just wonder how much was done prior to his service.

As for his pre-war occupation, I am well aware of the conditions before the war, but not everybody was riding the rails looking for handouts. I am not judging the man, only hoping to literally hear his life story and how it influenced his time in service and life thereafter.
 
I see your point. However, I would work around the questions, like in a conversation, and you will learn more.
One great advantage of WW2 participants, both in the USA and in Canada, was the chance to take higher education after the war, at government expense. I know so many, doctors, lawyers, you name it, that took advantage of the situation and went through university. The government would even educate them up to the university level, if needed. I will give you a lot of odds that your friend became an engineer by this method.
Another thing about enlisting in the airforce. As I mentioned, grade 12, or equivalent, was pretty well needed for pilot training. However, a navigator required a lot higher knowledge of math, in particular, than did a pilot. Thus, the university types enlisting in air crew would almost surely become navigators. Therefore, your friend most likely had grade 12, but not university education when he enlisted.
Just another little point of interest. No one ever walked into an airforce recruiting station and said he wanted to be an air gunner! Those who flunked pilot training quickly became air gunners. And if they were short of air gunners, a greater percentage of young fellows failed pilot training!!
Again, I wouldn't ask him these questions directly, but would work around them, maybe suggest what I have stated here, and you will likely learn more.
 
H4831 said:
I see your point. However, I would work around the questions, like in a conversation, and you will learn more.
One great advantage of WW2 participants, both in the USA and in Canada, was the chance to take higher education after the war, at government expense. I know so many, doctors, lawyers, you name it, that took advantage of the situation and went through university. The government would even educate them up to the university level, if needed. I will give you a lot of odds that your friend became an engineer by this method.
Another thing about enlisting in the airforce. As I mentioned, grade 12, or equivalent, was pretty well needed for pilot training. However, a navigator required a lot higher knowledge of math, in particular, than did a pilot. Thus, the university types enlisting in air crew would almost surely become navigators. Therefore, your friend most likely had grade 12, but not university education when he enlisted.
Just another little point of interest. No one ever walked into an airforce recruiting station and said he wanted to be an air gunner! Those who flunked pilot training quickly became air gunners. And if they were short of air gunners, a greater percentage of young fellows failed pilot training!!
Again, I wouldn't ask him these questions directly, but would work around them, maybe suggest what I have stated here, and you will likely learn more.
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Thanks for the clarification.

I don't plan on grilling him for information or asking the questions as bluntly as I have written them. They would be too impersonal that way and possible quite chafing. They are more or less the framework I want to flesh out when I finally call him. I basically just want to use them as pointers and let him tell me what he feels like.

I do want to find a good free PC phone call recorder though and (with his permission) record our conversation, as I don’t trust my transcription skills. I would be the world’s worst stenographer.

Interestingly enough, an old family friend was a navigator on a Halifax bomber in WW2. He survived 40 missions, but walked with a limp for the rest of his life from flak damage and a motorcycle crash while he was stationed in England. Regrettably, he passed on long before I even knew of his service and had the chance to ask him about it.

Another gent that recently passed on a few years ago, washed out of pilot training during the war and ended up as an air gunner. After the war he acquired his pilot’s license, as well as becoming a Geologist and a Mine Engineer. He was quite a humble and unassuming man; I had no idea of his accomplishments until I read his obituary. He lived next door to my Mom and we would chat and swap rock samples while he whittled on homemade log furniture. The man who lived in that house two owners before him had been a ground pounder during the war. I never asked him much about his service, but one thing he told me is that they didn't often get hot meals at the front.........but they were damn glad to have them when they did.

I want to gather as much information on my Mothers cousin’s husband before it too late. I think all those fellows have an interesting story to tell.

Cheers!

BTW, I didn't know the Canadian government offered a G.I. Bill too after the war?
 
"...a G.I. Bill too...know he had higher education at some point..." Yep. W.W. II vets got all kinds of educational and financial benefits upon their return. Still do, Stateside. Apparently, not here though.
"...the funny things that happened..." That they'll readily talk about. The only story I recall hearing about my Da's time in W.W. II was about a goose his RCEME unit took prisoner with the idea of it being the guest of honour at Christmas dinner. Several months later, none of 'em could bring themselves to kill it.
"...We need them to talk as much as they can..." Absolutely. I've just never run into one who would talk about combat. Mind you, I'm not often where they are any more. Gotta a, "What do you know about flying?" from the old MD, who helped hatch me, one time, when I had some W.W. II aircraft magazine in his office. Forget what he flew in. Sunderlands, I think. The butcher dentist was a Catalina crewman. Don't think either drove.
Fortunately, a lot of 'em are writing books about their experiences. Seems to be mostly U.S. Air Force and Naval Air types. PBI, Naval and Armoured types, not so much. Very few Canadians.
 
here is what I would ask.

How did they navigate over water?

Would their ship turn on a homing beacon? (I doubt that.)

How steeply would they dive?

Always same angle?

How did they aim the bomb(s)?

How accuretly could they aim?

How did they aim at moving target?
 
I'd ask all kinds of technical questions like Ganderite mentions to keep it impersonal. If he opens up at all, I would ask something emotional:

If he was a front seater, ask him about the first time he pushed over and all he saw was red, then blue/brown. If he was a rear gunner ask him about the first time the guy in front of him pushed over, and all he saw was red, then blue.

and hope that he had a little to say about the experience. I read as much as I can about ww2 on aircraft, and how they were used, but there is little that describes what the wetware experienced.

If he opens up, just listen. The last WW2 vet that told me a little about his experience stopped himself about 10 min in. Almost cried. Then smiled and said "I had a good war". I can't even begin to imagine what he meant, but I will never forget it. After that, we spent about another hour talking about his kids.
 
You have to be careful how you proceed. They won't tell you stuff if you don't ask but if they obviously don't want to talk about it then don't press.

They need to feel safe discussing that stuff with you. They won't open up to someone who might be judgemental or who is looking for gory hero stories. It helps if you have served in the military, even if you never saw combat because all ex-soldiers understand the mindset.

A bunch of years ago I spent a couple of hours with a Vietnam vet and heard some amazing stories.
 
MapleSugar said, "I had no idea of his accomplishments until I read his obituary."

This is the most frustrating thing a person can imagine! I used to gather what information I could get on the old Yukon Telegraph Line, the single wire, with batteries and operators in cabins every 30 miles, that stretched from southern BC to the Yukon, in gold rush days of 1900 and beyond. Very little was ever written about this line and true information is hard to come by. Was good friends with a retired telephone operator, but never asked him anything about it. His obituary stated he had been an operator at a remote spot on the Yukon Telegraph Line, for several years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I've been a student of military history since public school- early 60's. Only after they passed away did I learn some interesting history about a couple veterans from our small town in Central Ontario
#1 An army veteran who I knew well ( but no details of his service) was an original member of 1st Special Service Force and although he didn't serve in Europe was on Kiska.

#2- RCAF veteran who I learned from his obituary was a fighter pilot who shot down the first Japanese Fire Balloon destroyed over Canada. He was a PO flying P40 Kittyhawks and the action occurred somewhere over the Frazer valley in 1944 ( if I remember the date correctly). Other than his immediate family most locals thought he had served as a rigger or fitter- ie mechanic!!

Pretty cool stuff- Obviously they never really talked about it much.
 
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sunray said:
"...a G.I. Bill too...know he had higher education at some point..." Yep. W.W. II vets got all kinds of educational and financial benefits upon their return. Still do, Stateside. Apparently, not here though.
"...the funny things that happened..." That they'll readily talk about. The only story I recall hearing about my Da's time in W.W. II was about a goose his RCEME unit took prisoner with the idea of it being the guest of honour at Christmas dinner. Several months later, none of 'em could bring themselves to kill it.
"...We need them to talk as much as they can..." Absolutely. I've just never run into one who would talk about combat. Mind you, I'm not often where they are any more. Gotta a, "What do you know about flying?" from the old MD, who helped hatch me, one time, when I had some W.W. II aircraft magazine in his office. Forget what he flew in. Sunderlands, I think. The butcher dentist was a Catalina crewman. Don't think either drove.
Fortunately, a lot of 'em are writing books about their experiences. Seems to be mostly U.S. Air Force and Naval Air types. PBI, Naval and Armoured types, not so much. Very few Canadians.
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That is one reason I would have liked to been able to join the U.S. military when I was younger. At least they can get a free college education once they get out. Plus, as long as they remain in the reserves, they can draw a pension too for their service after 20 years.

My step-brother in law's son wrote an essay on his grandpa (the Halifax navigator) when he was in high school. I hope he kept it as I would like to read it someday. I haven't talked to him in years though.
 
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