My Uncle Bennett, aged 91 (Sept, 1923) passed away on Friday morning. He talks about his experiences as a Air Corps Tech Sgt (waist gunner B24) in WWII. He was shot down near Sefia, Bulgaria in 1944. Some details he told me not in the video: What happened was a prop oversped so they had to turn back. Prop overspeeding was a problem the big recip.s had (e.g. reciprocating piston engine with constant speed propeller). The navigator plotted a course that took them over Sefia, Bulgaria where another engine got taken out. At that point the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. He told me he hit his head on the camera hatch on his way out and the last thing he remembers is pulling the rip cord. His account in the video is a little different.
The little brother he talks about was my Father, Charles Ulrich Karoly, also a PE (1925 to 2007). Dad was California RCE10508 and Uncle Ben was RCE10580 so someone at the Board had a sense of humor.
Uncle Ben worked for most of his engineering career in the drinking water program at the California Department of Health Services.
Sorry to hear of his passing. There are fewer and fewer WWII vets every day. I enjoyed the video.
My dad just turned 90, and when we got together for a few days to celebrate his birthday, I realized for the first time that he's really getting old. He drove from Tuscon to the house we rented in San Diego, and then back to Tucson a week layer, but he emailed us kids to say that he won't be doing that kind of driving again -- he said that when he got home he felt like he'd been beaten up!
Thanks for sharing these great memories. I enjoyed the video interview.
Aloha, Sorry to hear your uncle's passing. Looks like he had a great life.
Eternal rest grant unto Bennett Traber Karoly, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
E