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Bomber takes WWII vet down memory lane

To whom it may concern;the B-17's took a beating in WW-2 due to the fact that their escort fighters could only go so far into german territory because of gasoline capacity.Then along about 1944 the P-51 mustang arrived on the scene.it could escort these bombers deep into enemy territoty because of 2 extra pylon fuel tanks.this was the turning point in the war and as the saying goes,"the rest is history"3 cheers for all our war veterans!!!!!

I worked as an air traffic controller in the Salt Lake ARTCC during the 70's and there was a large number of controllers (old timers) who had flown during WWII. Quite a number them had been shot down during the war and had been held as prisoners until the war was over. There were others who had made it through the war without getting shot down. All of these were great individuals and when the air traffic slowed down I loved to talk with them about their experiences. We all owe these guys a great deal of thanks for their sacrifices in saving and protecting our country. Some of them must have passed on by now (I moved to NH in 1977 and have lost contact with them) but to all I give thanks for having had such good men to have worked with.

PS to Fred Tew: I still have the Browning light 12 and it shoots as sweetly now as it did when it was brand new. Thanks.

Truly one of America's greatest generations.

I often tell my family the story but about ten years ago I got the itch and called the VA department in Utah and asked how many World War One veterans were alive in Utah. The number was 9.

I intended to get contact information and go meet one or two but just didn't get around to it. Less than a year later I dug out the VA number and gave them a call to get some addresses. Sadly, the last one had passed away just a couple weeks prior. That quick and they are all gone!

If we remember that WW1 and WW2 were seperated by just over 20 years, that means that in another 10 years we will be saying goodbye to the last World War Two veterans in Utah.

If a young Utah man was drafted right out of high school at age 17, rushed through boot camp and fought in Okinawa, the last campaign of WW2 he would now be right at 80 years old! That would be in theory the youngest WW2 veterans.

My we live the life that honors their sacrifices.