Gunner on a Flying Fortress

Everett Fitchlee survived 30 missions as a tail gunner and top turret gunner on a B17 during WWII. On his 4th mission he was seriously injured by flak. His description of exploding flak shells is harrowing - "If you don't know how to pray, you learn awfully fast".

[@briansmith3232]

Ray, I just wanted to say thanks for doing these. You have captured a piece of history that will never be repeated again, and I doubt that there will ever be another generation like them, truly the greatest generation!!!

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome and I agree with you regarding the greatest generation. By the way, I really miss Everett. He died in Sept 2021 at age 98....and he shot his last round of golf the month before he died. Thanks for watching.

[@briansmith3232]

Ray, is Herndon David still with us???

[@raymondmcfalone26]

No, he passed maybe 8-10 years ago.

[@georgielancaster1356]

@@raymondmcfalone26 Do you only upload these when the interviewees die? Are there any more chaps alive and healthy and sharp? Is there any chance you could ask any of them, even on the phone and record that, but ask them if there were any animal lovers amongst the guys they served with? Did any of them have smuggled dogs or something injured, they found? Any names of the animals remembered? Who were the boys who seemed to be really kindly in nature? Not just the ones who came through, but the ones lost, as well. Who were the boys who made people laugh, the boys who sang well, the boys who were gifted in some way, and made a difference? I am waiting to see when this interview took place. He looks about 60. Better skin than me! Great genes. His face looks kindly and gentle. Do you get any extra stories they won't let you record? This work is just a wonderful gift to future generations. Thank you

[@836dmar]

Ray, thank you for saving these videos and posting them 15+ years later. The younger generation needs to see this !

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You are welcome and thanks for watching.

[@pennylane9730]

They sure dont make em like that anymore. Respect ...I salute you ..R.I.P.

[@larryz24]

As a Vietnam vet, I have nothing but the utmost respect for these brave heroes. Rest in Peace Mr. Fitchlee, you have earned it sir.

[@howitzer8946]

Same here brother. Welcome home. I agree with you statement!

[@jeffreymcneal1507]

Courageous man to whom we owe a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid. The recounting of the crap shoot on the QE II on the return voyage is metaphorical for the risks these heroes undertook. With little in the way of protection, so much rode on the chance that you might catch flak here, or there, or a Nazi fighter might miss, or not. To climb back into that flying coffin after frozen ears and flak injury is nothing short of heroism. He speaks without self pity or regret, only concern for his buddies who caught a bad roll of the dice. Truly, the finest generation.

[@loveshisharley]

Thanks for another great interview. We can’t be grateful enough for those who fought for our country. Thanks to you we have a great insight as to what went on in the 390th. air war in ways I never could imagine.

[@Joelontugs]

Thank you for your service

[@georgielancaster1356]

I often think the only men who won the war, were the ones who lived happy, fulfilled lives and lived long lives. I often feel so sad, wondering how many men lost would have made it to 90, with long happy lives. I actually almost wept myself, when he said it was the last time he saw his crew. And when he finally heard only 3 parachutes left the plane. It was good news, but imagine wondering which of your friends lived! Tear out your heart. Recorded 2005 - so in his 80's - and looks in 60's - that's a good life.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Georgie - Everett passed at age 98. He was golfing right up until a few weeks before he passed. When he was in his 80's he would come up and give you a big hug - he was so strong he could have cracked a rib. He had a good family - good kids that cared about him. He had a good life. Everett would have appreciated your kind comment.

[@georgielancaster1356]

@@raymondmcfalone26 yt never told me you replied! Back by chance and listening again. I am glad he had such a good long life. Glad he had children who loved and valued him. He has a very sweet, gentle face. I didn't think of him being a big chap. I feel a little emotional now, that I know he was a big, affectionate hugger. Very different to my family experience. Did you meet his wife? I just feel immense sadness they have pretty well gone. I feel such regret that I didn't ask more - but then a lot of men wouldn't have told a teenage girl anything. Or even a young woman. Even middle aged women! I keep thinking of peopleI would have loved you to interview. Including one of the oldest WW1 men to live in Australia. My mother was a friend of his wife. He was the quietest, gentlest of men. Had the most beautiful English cottage garden. My life now is so full of memories and regrets that these men were not interviewed by dozens of people. I only found out 10 years after he died, that a chap in my street had escaped a POW camp!

[@georgielancaster1356]

@@raymondmcfalone26 As the interview was ending, as the familiar music started, I obediently began to weep emotional tears. I am Pavlovian in my reaction to that music. I have even begun to weep, hearing it detached from your interviews!

[@wesinman2312]

Thank you for sharing your story Mr. Fitchlee. And thank you and all your fellow airmen and their crews for their brave service. These are all incredible stories.

[@nmr6988]

These documentaries are national treasures.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you and thanks for watching.

[@st.charlesborromeo9793]

Love this guy……”See”

[@maitrehauchecorne846]

A lot of these Gunners may Well have been instructed in Aerial Gunnery by My Uncle Al ( Sonny) Nerviani. He was in His early twenties when the War started. All five Boys in the family hunted Deer Rabbits, Ducks, Pheasant, Quail, Robin’s , fished the creeks , bay and Ocean , dug clams and rock picked Abalone , none of them were real swimmers and the big lakes that now hold the water supply for Marin County Had not Yet Been Built or fully completed. They had chickens and could get a baby goat for Easter dinner but aside from occasional lamb and beef they dined on the abundant game. They prided themselves on how little ammunition was expended to do that because they were raised during the hard times of the Depression. Uncle Sonny was a crack shot and with a shotgun a expert who could do trick shots. They never owned a reloader or could afford the ammunition to practice like people do today. I don’t know how they did it because I love shooting especially old Military Rifles. Uncle Sonny went up with trainees in different Bombers flying out of different training bases. He did talk about the guys taking a half track to hunt for Mule Deer in Arizona. He mentioned the B-25 , B-26 ( very impressive speed) and the B-17. He mentioned being positioned with trainees mostly in the Top turret and waist guns. A lot of these Combat Veterans who were in the Army Air Corps have incredible Recollection and ability to be interviewed at their age. The one’s who mention the various stages and methods of training tell well what My Uncle Told Me. It is a credit to General Billy Mitchell that the future General’s of the WW2 Army Air Corps, many of whom He Trained were able to carry on in His absence after His Courts Martial and set up the training and administration of the Air Forces During World War 2. They took Men many very young and succeeded against overwhelming odds in achieving success and Victory against vaunted enemies who planned long and Hard.

[@carlomagini9587]

How old is Everett Fitchlee in this interview, it says Jan 16th, 2022, that would put him in his 90's ! If so he is remarkably good shape, he looks like he's in his 60's. I just love these interviews, they're all such great guys.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Everette was interviewed on Sept 22, 2005. I would see him periodically since the interview and he would come up and give you a hug. I was always amazed at how strong he was. He died in 2021 at age 98. Raymond

[@st.charlesborromeo9793]

“She was a little red-head, she was….”

[@georgielancaster1356]

That could have been my mother! ie. Little redhead... Haven't reached that part yet.

[@BH195829]

Fantastic… Great Detail! The GREATEST GENERATION! 👍🙏💕🌎😊

[@ronr6450]

Interesting how they all mention the ME262.

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

nice interview Ray. do you know where the B17s were manufactured?

[@djmech3871]

Seattle, Wa by Boeing, Long Beach, CA by Douglas and Burbank, CA by Vega.

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

Thank you for making these videos but I do have a request. I am deaf and need the captions. Thank you

[@jefffreestone8476]

My Dad was a B 17 waist gunner. He was shot down and wounded over Germany on his 17th mission. He spent the last 6 months as a POW. His camp was liberated by George C. Patton, who stood on the top of his tank and told them, "you will now be guarded by the US military". They watched the German flag come down and our flag go up. My Dad said there were no dry eyes. We are way to carless with our freedom today in July, 2023. This greatest generation gave us our freedom and now we have got to try to keep it!

[@rjhyden]

Wonderful !

[@rockape252]

Why isn't this taught in school ?

[@catinthehat906]

I think his memory must be slightly inaccurate at 31:19 because on the way to Britain from the US you would have gone to Greenland before Iceland, not the other way around.

[@jsfbr]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@normancastor2564]

Give the man a glass of water

[@peterlyons8793]

My father, Thomas J. Lyons was a B-17G top turret gunner/engineer from August 1944 to when the bomber named "No Comment Needed" was shot down in early November 1945. He was held as a POW for six months in a German hospital on the Baltic coast till being liberated by Canadian infantry in May 1945. All ten crew members survived the war and were reunited in 1986. He was badly injured after parachuting, causing his back to fracture and also breaking an arm and leg. He suffered from this trauma throughout his life. He hated the Nazis, feared the cold and worried about starving. He graduated from the University of Detroit, worked as a civil engineer for the City of Buffalo and married Alice Craine. They raised twelve successful children including an adopted daughter in Boston, NY. My father died in 1993 at the age of 72. As a humble Irish, catholic and an American patriot.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you for sharing your family story.

[@peterlyons8793]

My father's brother, John "Jack" Lyons, 97 years old and living in Tonawanda, NY was an Army paratrooper in the Pacific during WW2. At one time in 1945 my grandmother didn't know whether both her sons were still alive. He would make a great interview. A very humble man. @@raymondmcfalone26

[@georgielancaster1356]

@@peterlyons8793 If you don't have anybody, please have a go, yourself! ASAP, just in case! Maybe start with the boys he remembers who went off to war, that he knew. Who was the animal/dog lover? Who was the one whomade people laugh? Did they come back? In his group, who was the animal/dog lover, the best singer, the joker, who loved reading? who was the very responsible one? the really clever one? Who of those made it back. How did his training go? His first plane jump? How I wish I could sit in on the talk!

[@peterlyons8793]

@@georgielancaster1356 I recently had lunch with John "Jack" Lyons and his wife Rita. He is still healthy and would be an interesting interviewee.

[@irish89055]

❤

[@kylebroflovsky6015]

It is compelling to listen to these mens' accounts of coming of age before the war and their wartime experiences. Then compare and contrast that to people of the same age and consider the silliness of what is considered today "important". We have reduced ourselves to making up problems.

[@karenparry6367]

I totally agree.

[@ronr6450]

A collection of these documentaries should be in the Library of Congress. Furthermore, selections should be shown in HS history classes whenever WWII is covered.

[@ronhaworth5471]

I'm so grateful for this series depicting Veterans interviews for posterity.From this Veteran I salute.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thanks for watching.

[@ronhaworth5471]

@@raymondmcfalone26 I watch most nights.Dont want to miss a single interview.They are the very fabric of America! Thank you for presenting the real testimony of various crew members which are part of the "we" team.I served USAF.My Grandfather WW1,Uncle WW2,both in Army.I have my Grandfather campaign ribbon.

[@rebeccabsomanybooks3558]

I cannot fathom the amount of courage it took to get back on the plane following being shot and then finding out his crew was shot down. A hero.

[@Legnerps]

Well you know what general savage told them. That' was the only way to do it. Was still immensely courageous of course.

[@realwealthproperties5671]

Love this one. Boy he was very fortunate. Must be a terrible feeling to know that his crew went down and he should’ve been on that plane if he had not been previously wounded. Must be so hard to lose your friends and your crew like that. I love hearing about what These guys did after the war. Settled down, got married, got a job and worked there for several decades before retiring. That seems to be a very common Theme among a lot of these returning veterans. Unfortunately it’s just not like that anymore.

[@burb122]

Your the man Ray. Love your series and the wonderful humans you have interviewed. Good on ya mate! From NZ

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thanks and thanks for watching.

[@garyluck8502]

It is great that these interviews have been done by these great people! Everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home from this war and the other ones by Vietnam vet of 1967.

[@andrewvare3173]

Damn.

[@bvierville1]

Thank you!

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome!

[@northwestprof60]

These kind of interviewees are tough ones, you have to illicit and tease out more information.

[@georgielancaster1356]

This chap is one of the most gifted. I gather he did a lot of interviews, as a lawyer, to get evidence. I so wish he could have done hundreds of English, Australians, Canadians and Kiwis, as well. Many people tried, but many end up with 10 minutes of a few sentences and lots of silences, but Raymond is really gifted.