Widdison, Warren B-17 Ball Turret Gunner

[@wimsele]

He 'pimped' his turret so to speak ❤ Great interview! Thank you.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome and thanks for watching. Raymond

[@nickdebenedetto9904]

It seems like every interview you do sounds like the first time you are interviewing someone. Each question you ask is asked every time in every interview, but you have a way to make it sound like you just thought of it and asked for the first time. You make each guy feel special, and we all can see it. You can't learn that, it's born in you and you should try and teach that. Incredible, please keep it up. Thank you.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Yes, you're correct. I had the same basic questions in my head (I didn't use notes) that were the structure for the interview. Then, within that structure, you hope the veteran was going to offer some unique stories, which usually popped out at some point. When the veteran sat down in front of me, all I knew was their name and position on the aircraft. So I needed these basic questions to tease the information out of the veteran. Before the interview started, I always prepped the veteran with "this is not a speech or a presentation - it's just a conversation". Then I'd start with some easy questions (where are you from?) and then ease into the interview as they got more and more comfortable. You try and get them to be in the moment - just you and him - and they forget about the camera and the stories start to tumble out. We went to veteran reunions to tape these guys. It felt like a race against time to get their stories on tape before it was too late. I remember in 2005 in Washington DC, Sally and I taped 35 veterans in 4 days. We'd start at 8am and finish at 11:30pm. We just moved them through. The veteran would sit down and I'd start in with my questions and away we'd go. I loved everyone of them. Each veteran was so earnest and ultimately endearing. It was an honor, really, to have known them. Thanks for your kind comment. Raymond

[@1993sparkplug]

That's my Great Grandpa on my mother's side...he's still alive and living in the same city in Idaho!!

[@nakeysnakey6220]

Thats my great grandpa on my dad's side.

[@captainbinghamton1319]

What a hero, what a gentleman. Thanks to Raymond for another first hand view into history.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You're welcome and thanks for watching.

[@jonhaynes1577]

Can't thank you enough for your service and wonderful story.The greatest generation

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

Wow, nerves of steel. Thank you.

[@accousticdecay]

Amazing story, particularly the perspective at the end.

[@cabininthewoods7326]

A nice quiet spoken gentleman this man was.

[@dougtenney1029]

Such a thoughtful and honorable man.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Yes, you are absolutely correct. Warren was a wonderful guy. And, as far as I know, he is still alive. Thanks for watching.

[@jessedurrant5067]

​@@raymondmcfalone26Warren passed away peacefully surrounded by family this past Monday January 8th.

[@dougtenney1029]

I'm so sorry for your loss. @@jessedurrant5067

[@lancecowan8891]

My dad James P Cowan was a B 17 crewman 8 th Air Corp in England

[@davegeisler7802]

Another Hero from the Greatest Generation. 🇺🇸😢

[@hisstoryteller758]

My Dad was a WWII ball turret gunner. He was 5’8” tall. He was a terrified man.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

You might consider watching a video in my playlist "Bandit at Six O'Clock". It tells you everything you would ever want to know about being in the ball. Thanks for watching.

[@M-H433]

He just told you he was terrified man,why watch.

[@rayduke7433]

Excellent interview

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thanks for watching.

[@brandyf4088]

Another outstanding interview of yet one more amazing war hero! When he said those (fighter) pilots were women, I felt an enormous sense of pride as a woman. So much so that I sat up straight (from my slumped position), shoulders back. 👍

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Brandy - you might consider watching one of our videos about Betty Strohfus - WASP - very inspirational. Here is a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJWqkqqcg79pbcU

[@allenhigginbotham3740]

Great interview and Amazed that he brought up the story of Charlie Brown and the German pilot Hans Strickler (forgive my spelling) not sure if I spelled his name right, but it's an interesting story.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Warren was a great interview with wonderful stories. Thanks for watching.

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

I'm 5'7" and couldn't believe how cramped the ball turrets were. How many hours in that cramped space?

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Missions could go 8-10 hours although they were not in the ball for take off and landing. You might consider watching "Bandit at Six O'Clock". It's in my playlist. Ball turret gunner John Day crawled under a B-17, when he was 79, opened up the door to the ball turret and explained how it worked. You might also consider watching another video in my playlist (Pace, William) who was a 6 foot 1 inch ball turret gunner. It's quite exciting listening to him talk about trying to get out of the ball as the plane was going down. Thanks for watching.

[@chig9357]

cool dude!

[@nervousordo]

Excellent interview. I watch all of these at 1.5 speed.

[@raymondmcfalone26]

Thanks for watching. Interesting - speed viewing.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

With all due respect, the Germans weren't just like us.