# Unsung Eagles, the average guy flying in WWII

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsung-eagles-the-average-guy-flying-in-wwii/822709>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 9, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsung-eagles-the-average-guy-flying-in-wwii/822709 "2018-10-09T17:30:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsung-eagles-the-average-guy-flying-in-wwii/822709/1 "2018-10-09T17:30:48Z")

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The premise of the book is “the average guy” who flew in WWII telling his story.

At the battle of Leyte Gulf: “When he finished talking, the Skipper came to the back of the ready room and shook all of our hands. I didn’t like that part one bit.”

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsung-eagles-the-average-guy-flying-in-wwii/822709/2 "2018-10-09T18:48:23Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> The premise of the book is “the average guy” who flew in WWII telling his story.
> 
> At the battle of Leyte Gulf: “When he finished talking, the Skipper came to the back of the ready room and shook all of our hands. I didn’t like that part one bit.”

Is this the book you are talk about: [Unsung Eagles: True Stories of America’s Citizen Airmen in the Skies of World War II](Unsung Eagles: True Stories of America’s Citizen Airmen in the Skies of World War II) by Jay A. Stout?

My father and uncle served in the Army Air Force in WWII. Lots of tales from my bomber engineer uncle, including his nightmarish POW experience.

All the men of my family of age served. They are all gone now. ☹

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsung-eagles-the-average-guy-flying-in-wwii/822709/3 "2018-10-09T18:50:25Z")

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Yes.  
My Father was ground crew in the 5th USAAF.

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**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unsung-eagles-the-average-guy-flying-in-wwii/822709/4 "2018-10-09T19:06:09Z")

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Seems like a timely topic since the 75th anniversary of the [Second Schweinfurt raid](https://www.fairchild.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/762942/the-second-schweinfurt-missionbomber-commands-darkest-day/) is coming up on Sunday (10/14).

My grandfather was a flight engineer/gunner on a B-17 that went on that raid and made it back.