SHOCKING Stories from a WWII Fighter Pilot | #8

A profound interview with a WWII fighter pilot named Ed Cottrell.
Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell flew several dozen combat missions in WWII, piloting a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. He shares some incredible career stories in this interview we were grateful to conduct, such as fighting against the Luftwaffe, narrowly surviving several harrowing encounters, and providing close air support to the troops on the ground for key events such as the Battle of the Bulge. He flew 65 combat missions before the end of the war.
During WWII, Lt. Col. Cottrell flew with the 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force.
Recording Date: 13 January 2024
___________________________________
A huge thanks to Mike McCarthy for making this interview possible. He invites all to visit 'The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.' Please learn more about this museum here:
theveteransmus...
More 'Legends of Aviation' episodes here:
tinyurl.com/3z...
For more aviation content, follow us here:
Facebook: / flm.advertising
X (Twitter): / flightlinemedia
Instagram: / flightline_media
Credits-
Animated Visuals: ‪@TJ3‬
Footage: US Archives, ‪@AllVeteranGroup‬ (courtesy of Mike Elliott), DVIDS, Stephen Keeler
Photos: US Archives, Ed Cottrell's Personal Collection, Peter Randall, Ron Kaplan, Gerald Asher, Landon Wilkey (curator at Historic Wendover Airfield), The Rifle
Artwork: 'Waiting for Bullets' by Gareth Hector;
P-47 Outline by ®JohnMollison.com, used with permission.
Thumbnail: Ariel Horton
Director: Andrew Horton
Editor: Shawn Zhen
Videographer: Christopher W. Childers
Narrator: John-Michael Sedor
Soundtrack: Over Quadrille - Brightarm Orchestra
Special thanks to Susan Nation.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:09 - Becoming A Fighter Pilot
07:51 - Flying the P-47
10:12 - Deploying to Europe / Thunderbolt Comparison
13:35 - Low Level Combat
16:59 - Saved by the Luftwaffe
23:34 - Fallen Comrades
26:05 - Airfield Under Attack!
30:00 - Finishing the War Plus More Losses
32:45 - Final Mission
35:51 - Into the Reserves
37:33 - Ed Flies Again!
38:05 - Skydiving at 100 Years Old!
40:47 - Epilogue
___________________________________
•We want to hear from you! If you worked in the field of aviation, and are interested in a potential interview, or would like to nominate someone to be interviewed, send us an email (see below).
•If you are interested in sponsoring a future episode, please email us at info@flightlinemedia .co (not .com). Thanks!

[@flightlinemedia]

Ed told us he would love to hear from the viewers! If you would like to directly write Mr. Cottrell via email, his email is milcotgolfnc@gmail. com Fun facts too, that weren't mentioned in the video- •Cottrell told me his dog's name (at 11:45) was Touché. He said Touché's previous owner was killed in action, so he adopted the dog and kept him by his side until his deployment was up and he returned to the states. •Speaking of 42-25697, he said that wasn't his airplane assigned to him. 42-25697 is named 'Our Mary,' but it was the aircraft of George Pullis. Ed recalled Pullis wasn't thrilled when he brought it back all shot up on his famous Dec. 1944 mission.Cottrell was later assigned P-47D 42-48131 and named it 'Feet of Heaven.' His mother-in-law sent ink footprints on paper (like they used to do on birth certificates and they do for fingerprint identification now) of his daughter's feet. An artist painted shoes on the plane and the plane was named 'Feet Of Heaven.' •Ed's best personal sport was tennis, but his favorite sport to coach was basketball.

[@dennissmith8947]

@@flightlinemedia Thanks! Email sent.

[@CurtisWebb-en5kh]

Thank you so much.

[@JamesBaker-n5x]

What a great memory he has. 😊

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

That was an amazing video. I especially loved hearing about the R-2800 running in 10 cylinders.

[@flightlinemedia]

Thanks Greg, and thanks for sharing it with your audience. Very nice of you.

[@ericwobschall8410]

Note how he still gratefully remembers the people who did nice things for him. Teaching moment.

[@flightlinemedia]

That's so true. He is an awesome guy.

[@michaelmcneil4168]

@@flightlinemedia Muyo mucho macho|!|

[@RC-li1gb]

What an incredible and well told account. This is the kind of story that should be shown in classes at schools about what the term 'greatest generation' truly means.

[@RivetGardener]

This man is an All American Hero. Such an example to our younger people. More should know about him. Rock on Mr. Cottrell! Glad to learn that you jumped!

[@TJ3]

Thanks for sharing!! Great opportunity to hear his full story.

[@flightlinemedia]

Thanks for letting us use your animations! : )

[@arielhemingway8899]

This is such a treasure! Thanks Flight Line Media!

[@flightlinemedia]

Thank you for watching! : )

[@uralbob1]

Man, tears have flown from my eyes throughout this lovely, moving account of our war history.

[@johnbelus7828]

Glad i'm not the only one. Wow what an incredible man he is.

[@williamoneal2763]

This man speaks well with no trying to recall. Everything comes fast to him . Great to hear someone who speaks well. 😊 I speak well too and 86 years old but this man is older than me by a number of years. He sure has my respect.

[@1boortzfan]

Thank you for your service sir.

[@rickrivers2909]

Now that's a good life to live. One lucky man. I honor you Sir.

[@johnbelus7828]

Mr Cottrell. Thank you for your service to this country of ours. You are a true inspiration to every american. I can't tell you how moved i was to hear/watch your interview. ❤USA❤

[@StangLX351]

What a great story and so happy to have been able to hear it. Please keep these coming!

[@flightlinemedia]

Thank you for the kind remarks. We have recorded 30 more stories from aviation legends funny enough. The trick is editing them fast enough. We're about 60% through the story of a P-40 pilot. Hope to get that out in a month. : )

[@StangLX351]

@@flightlinemediawe just have so little precious time left with these heroes still with us. I appreciate what you do and love these!

[@arneldobumatay3702]

That pilot looks fantastic for his age and his mind has aged extremely well! His recall of events that happened is uncanny!

[@williamoneal2763]

Yes..he is one sharp guy.

[@undefined-z9i1k]

Wonderful!

[@flightlinemedia]

Glad you liked it!

[@WW2AviationGeek]

Amazing stories from an amazing man. Thank you for sharing!

[@markpaul-ym5wg]

Great video.

[@flightlinemedia]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bradcasini1127]

Thank you

[@WARRENFRANKS]

Remarkable. ❤

[@the_lost_navigator]

Respect, Sir.

[@davidshaw5118]

My jaw dropped when he mentioned Slippery Rock. Oh man! This guy has stories

[@davidrubaloff8652]

Incredible stories remarkable representative of the greatest generation.

[@christopherchilders1049]

Amazing how sharp he is for his age! He is one of the few who can say he made America better! It’s funny how this HERO looks like your average American!

[@robertzedeker3234]

God Bless you, you are a HERO.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

My Grade School TEACHER Mr Cavender, Caventer? Survived Bastonge, Purple hesrt, or heats? with other medals! Loved Guitare and Christian songs! I recall him telling me to my young face, while "I asked questions" about taking out a german tank wounded. I asked "Why?" he said "They are going to Kill" My Buddy's, I could not let that be. Why would he lie? I took it as "Gospel" TRUTH! STILL DO! now I have studied this history a bit more. RIP Greatest! RIP Miss You! Love You! Y'all, YA'LLwhere going to

[@dennissmith8947]

Great stories from an American hero. I wonder who the two 109 "escort" pilots were?

[@flightlinemedia]

I'd love to find out. Of interest though, not too long ago, Cottrell did meet up with a 109 pilot, in person. We're trying to interview him too, while we can.

[@michaelmcneil4168]

@@flightlinemedia kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYeXfGaIirGimK8

[@franksizzllemann5628]

It's WEDNESDAY August 28 - (two days after the clip was posted) - 40:32 *_Happy 102nd Birthday!_*

[@brianschumaker5912]

If i lived then and had a choice, i would have chosen to fly the P47. It's one of the toughest piston engine planes ever built.... offense and defense.

[@williamoneal2763]

Those P 47 were one tough plane...not great on looks, but a real work horse. They could take a unreal amount of punishment and still have a great chance of making it back to base. Yes the mustang was a race horse but the P 47 more than make for just being tough, bringing the guys back home. The guys at first did not like, but after flying 3 or 4 times simply fell in love with the P 47. Knowing what I know now...give me a P47 to fly. ❤

[@ronaldbrouhard1247]

What a cool story. Too many boys grow up to be wooses that have little of the manhood it took to do what his generation did.

[@Triple_J.1]

I think those exceptional circumstances created widespread opportunity for exceptional people to rise to the occasion. I meet people of this caliber from every generation. But it requires some sort of exceptional situation they can take advantage of. In the absence of these opportunities, it seems intelligent and driven people become a-holes or cynics.

[@rickarra1833]

So he's about 103?

[@flightlinemedia]

Yes. I told him that at 110, he should consider another jump. His daughter told me not to tell him or he actually might haha.

[@dm55]

OMG SHOCKING

[@dennismason3740]

"Rare interview"...until it hits YT. Then it's not rare anymore.

[@flightlinemedia]

That's what you got out of our interview? 😂

[@Triple_J.1]

🤷‍♂️ It is rare, because around 100,000 other US airmen never told their story on camera. Nor lived long enough to tell anyone anything...

[@dennismason3740]

@@flightlinemedia - nope, from the thumbnail. Thank you for your service.

[@dennismason3740]

@@Triple_J.1 - yes, that's not what I was saying, I was referring to click-baity terminology. Yes, many did not speak up, including my dad, bombardier on B-29, 1944-45. WWII survivors who tell their story on camera would obviously qualify as "rare". Once something is on the net it is no longer rare, such as a specific interview. Now it is public. Survivors who can express themselves publicly are rare. My dad left when I was two (1955). His drinking career started in 1945.