Smith, Lloyd B-17 Togglier

After Smith joined the Army Air Corps, he was sent to armament school in Colorado. After armament school he was sent to Arizona for gunnery school. Thereafter Smith went to Louisiana to be assigned to crew #72, 570th squadron, 390th Bomb Group, as a waist gunner. He would eventually take over the duties of the bombardier/togglier on the plane. After completing their phase training, Smith and his crew were tasked with flying over to England to begin their tour at the airbase located at Framlingham. Smith flew 34 combat missions from 8/14/44 to 4/6/45. He also flew two Operation Chowhound missions, which were food drops to feed the starving Dutch people.

[@amyhaneycreel]

There should be 24K 👍 for this interview ❤ I could listen to Mr Lloyd Smith for hours!

[@joycecogdill9797]

What a great storyteller- and what a memory for the dates, names, places. Wonderful interview. Thank you.

[@darrengilbert7438]

He was very interesting. He sounds very country. I am too. Loved it.

[@pfossful]

“Raised on Country”

[@MrAeronca100]

Thanks for capturing so many memories of these great guys, I grew up with them surrounding me, scout Masters, Teachers, my Flight instructors, all the finest people I ever knew and miss them all so badly now

[@rorytennes8576]

Me too. Much thanks and appreciation for these men.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thanks for you comment and thanks for watching.

[@mockingbirdsofmagnumcircle4834]

This man reminds me of my dad. He was a B-17 engineer on the Don Schweger crew, 365th Squadron, 305th BG at Chelveston. He got to England by ship - USS Wakefield. Arrived at field 12-24-44. First mission on 2-13-45. Celebrated his 21st birthday over Germany. Last mission on 4-19-45: Two squadrons of B-17s from two BGs intersected over England. The co-pilot of "organized confusion" said they had to dive to avoid collision and were popping rivets until they pulled up under 100 feet. They climbed back to formation and went to bomb Germany.

[@jameswebb4593]

Without doubt the best interview , he paints a picture of what it was really like , not a Hollywood version.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're right, Lloyd was a great storyteller. Thanks for watching.

[@philprice6993]

I live a few miles from RAF Valley its on Anglesey North Wales. Amazing to hear from Airmen who landed here 20+years before i was even born. As has been already mentioned on here. Enjoyed hearing from Men who actually took part & not just Play acted as in some Hollywood epic. 💯% Respect deserved

[@markbattista6857]

Raymond , I'm so glad you have documented these very important story's , I can't stop watching them. By the way this fellow was sharp as a tac Thanks again , Mark Battista

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome and thanks for watching.

[@loveshisharley]

I am very thankful for this airman and his service to our country. These interviews are simply amazing. They aren’t war stories, but life stories. Thanks for sharing these wonder historical treasures.

[@barryrudge1576]

That particular raid on th ball bearing factory is notorious for the number of US aircraft that were lost. I believe it was around 60%. The survivors of that raid must have considered themselves to be extremely lucky. What this kids went through with most of them only teenagers was horrific. Again a wonderful story told by a very humble man.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thank you for your insightful comments and thanks for watching.

[@RG-od8ri]

Imagine how difficult it was tidying up after the raid. “Whoa whoa whoa!” Slips and falls.

[@thejackrabbithole-5311]

Amen!

[@thejackrabbithole-5311]

Thanks Mr. Lloyd for your service! Thanks Ray! God Bless America!

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome and thanks for watching.

[@marksheetz7488]

Mr. Sterrett,my hospital roommate who was The first Gold Cup Driver for Miss Budweiser had been a Bombardier on B-17s

[@altus65]

Great interview. Thank you Lloyd for your service and telling us your story. God bless.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Lloyd was a great interview - the best example of the Greatest Generation - salt of the earth. Glad you liked the video.

[@alanhayes5287]

My Father was a Co-Pilot with crew 63 570th squadron 390th

[@scottbrantley1087]

Thank you to all the young men that fought for this great country

[@secularbeast1751]

The ordeal(s) these brave men went through is simply incomprehensible. Mad respect for Lloyd and his peers.

[@edstyer2566]

Such brave men flying into eternity ! Bless them all !

[@rorytennes8576]

I grew up in Arlington Texas I still live here. 62 years. Pop now is 400,000+

[@johnjaco5544]

Thank you sir

[@oldfart3137]

The name of the little town he's trying to remember is Mingus, Texas. Still there today.

[@petroliatank]

Truly the greatest generation.

[@realwealthproperties5671]

It’s amazing to me that this many years later they can still remember the names of all of their crew members. He only missed one. But most of these guys remember them like they’re reading the names off a piece of paper. Crazy!

[@lunamae4718]

I love how he tells the egg story - very funny

[@jamesburns2232]

Can't imagine eating raw eggs from a chow hall. He made it sound like that was no big deal for the soldiers he was feeding those eggs to.

[@larryl212]

Just great!

[@jeremyperala839]

Interesting feller. "Tutored up a bit" LOL

[@LewdCustomer]

Seems like a genuine guy sticking with the facts or his journey. Woder if he's told the stories before. I'd forget half my stories on 1st take.

[@dennispfeifer7788]

From risking your life over enemy territory dropping 1,000 pound bombs and killing people to serving breakfast on KP Duty.... That must have been a real slap in the face.

[@MarkH10]

The mission target is facilities. Rarely do people get targeted. Manpower targeting is done very few thousand feet off the deck.

[@mockingbirdsofmagnumcircle4834]

His description of having to stay in the barracks alone was heart-rending.

[@highonimmi]

Talk about a lonesome heartbreak 💔

[@rhugh02]

These were real American men... Not sure what we have now? Semper Fi.

[@mizaru5413]

The coal town west of Ft Worth is probably Thurber.

[@matrox]

Bombadier to KP Duty. 😣😫😁

[@edstyer2566]

Put those eggs on target

[@matrox]

What happened to that fool playing with live explosives who was blowing people up?🤔😫🙄

[@prestonphelps1649]

exactly

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Jail.

[@HJBounell]

somehow "tutored up a bit" doesn't elicit an air of education! it's not an observation on the man, just a reflection on the Irony!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

The Germans weren't gonna shoot food drops. That's what they ate too.

[@jsfbr]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏