Recorded memoir of Fred Jansen (MC 371/882/47)
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Recorded memoir of Fred Jansen

1


MC 371/882/47


1 audio cassette (Scotch C-60)

nd [1985]


467th Bomb Group


Fred Jansen

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Description
[00:00-05:00] Comments on volunteering for aviation cadet training, September 1943, Wisconsin. Describes training: Fort Sheridan, Chicago; screening flight training applications, University of Chicago; drill, Miami Beach, Florida; college training programme, Easton, Pennsylvania and pre-flight training, Montgomery, Alabama. Remarks on seeing B-24 aeroplane for first time. [05:00-10:00] Training continued: primary flight, Bennettsville, South Carolina; basic and advanced flight, Georgia, including his graduation and becoming an instructor; replacement crew formation and training, Springfield, Massachusetts. [10:00-15:00] Training continued. Describes flying the northern route [usually via Bangor, Maine; Gander, Newfoundland and Reykjavik, Iceland] early June 1944, arriving in Scotland. Comments on first combat mission to St Lo, France, when some of the American Air Force's bombs fell on their own troops, and problems encountered on other missions. Describes memorable mission during the Battle of the Bulge [16 December 1944-25 January 1945] and difficulties on other missions. Comments on flying fuel to France, for General Patton's troops, before returning to combat missions. [15:00-20:00] Anecdote about landing at an RAF base after a mission and assignment as Group Operations Officer and instructor following his thirty-fourth combat mission. Comments on his duties, including sent to London to record BBC propaganda broadcast to German Luftwaffe. Remarks on trips to London and Norwich. Mentions return to combat duties flying the B-24 aeroplane, 'Witchcraft.' [20:00-25:00] Comments on 'Witchcraft' and its combat record. Mentions flying trolley missions over Europe (to show ground crews the bomb damage) until June 1945 and flying 'Witchcraft' back to the United States. Comments on return visit to England with his wife, 1976. Recorded on side A only.