Major
Paul H. Greer
After arriving in England, the first
of Paul Greer's 35 combat missions took place on a freezing
cold New Year's Day, 1945, as co-pilot on B-17s. Flying out
of Thurleigh in Bedfordshire with the 368th Squadron, 306th
Bomb Group ('The Reich Wreckers'), the oldest operational
Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force, Paul flew a total of 31 missions
on Fortresses as co-pilot, and a further 4 as lead pilot.
Amongst other targets in Germany, he went on the big raids
to Dresden and Schweinfurt, and led led missions to Berlin,
on which he came under heavy attack from the Luftwaffe's fast
Me262 jet fighters.
 Lieutenant
Colonel William P. Kincheloe
Bill Kincheloe joined the service
in April 1942, training as a pilot. He was posted to England
to join the 327th Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group ('Fame's Favoured
Few'), based at Podington in Bedford, flying B-17s. His first
combat mission was on 18 December 1943, when the 92nd went
to Kiel, and in the following months other notable targets
included the heavily defended factories at Schweinfurt. Bill
flew a total of 28 raids to the Reich during his tour, all
on B-17s, and six of which he commanded. After World War II
Bill flew KC135s during the Vietnam War. He retired from the
service in 1972.
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First Lieutenant
Don Nielson
A pilot with the 457th Bomb Group,
Don Nielson had joined up in February 1943, originally training
for combat flying on B24 Liberators. In November 1944 he was
posted to England, joining the 751st Squadron, 457th Bomb
Group at Glatton flying B17 Fortresses - first as co-pilot
and then as First Pilot, undertaking the first combat mission
of his tour on 12 December 1944. On 3 February 1945 he took
part in the big raid on Berlin, which was the heaviest concentration
on the German capital so far in the war, encountering some
of the most intense and accurate flak ever experienced by
the Eighth. During his tour Don took part in a total of 34
raids, all on B17s.
Captain Robert
Paris
Joining up in June 1940, Bob Paris
qualified with dual rating as pilot and navigator, flying
a total of 52 combat missions on B17s. Posted first to the
8th Air Force in England, Bob flew with the 325th Squadron
of the 92nd Bomb Group, completing his first mission in October
1942. In November he was posted to join the 12th Air Force
in North Africa, again with B17s, joining the 342nd Squadron
of the 97th Bomb Group. Amongst others, he participated in
raids on the Italian Fleet in Trieste and Gorizia, the battle
of Kasserine Pass, at Palermo during the Invasion of Sicily,
as well as raids on the Italian mainland. Bob flew a total
of 52 combat missions on B17s, and was Lead Navigator of many
100-plane missions. |
