Recorded memoir of John W. Stanford, part 1 of 2 (side A of cassette) (MC 371/882/46/1)
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Recorded memoir of John W. Stanford, part 1 of 2 (side A of cassette)

1


MC 371/882/46/1


1 audio cassette (side A)

nd [c 1985]


448th Bomb Group


John W. Stanford


The last 15 minutes 35 seconds of the original recording has been removed from this access copy for rights reasons.

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Description
[00:00-05:00] Introductory remarks on service in 713th Squadron and joining Army Air Force, May 1943, aged eighteen years. Describes his training, including aeroplanes flown: basic training; reassignment to college training detachment, Williamsport, Pennsylvania; classification as pilot, Nashville, Tennessee; cadet training, from November 1943, Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama, mentioning tests in altitude chamber and cadets drummed out of college for breaking code of honour; basic flight, Montgomery; advanced flight, Freeman Field, Indiana, graduating August 1944, and B-24 training, Fort Myers, Florida. Mentions assignment to Ed [Edward] Anderson's crew, Westover Field, Massachusetts. [5:00-10:00] Describes operational training, Savannah, Georgia and Havana, Cuba. Describes journey to Britain on ship, 'Aquitania,' arriving at Seething, Norfolk, 1 February 1944. Comments on Seething barracks and powdered food. Describes visits to London: Red Cross clubs, sightseeing and Blitz devastation. Remarks on character of the British people and local practice missions. [10:00-15:00] Practice missions continued. Describes memorable missions: first mission, oil refinery, Magdeburg, Germany, 3 March 1945; submarine pens, Kiel, Germany; Buchen, Germany, 25 March [1945] including fighter attack, damage to aeroplane and landing on the Continent. Describes non-combat missions, including test operations, supply missions and anecdote about low level flight with ground crew. Comments on return flight to US in B-24 aeroplane, 14 June 1945, and post-war employment with North West Orient Airlines as an aircraft dispatcher. [15:00-20:00] Mentions his marriage and family. [Plays recordings of music by Glenn Miller's band to the end of Side A]. For continuation recording, see MC 371/882/46/2. For tape insert, see MC 376/431/6.