Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:55 | As soon as he saw his first aircraft as a child, Bill Halfhill wanted to fly. Though his best friend was killed in a training accident, he went on to pilot B-24 bombers out of England and flew twice the required missions.
Keywords : Bill Halfhill Army Air Corps B-24 Pilot Europe
While flying training missions out of New Orleans, Army Air Corps pilot Bill Halfhill aborted a flight and reported mechanical problems with his plane. The same plane was then assigned to a fellow pilot with tragic results.
Returning home from a bombing run over Germany, Bill Halfhill saw the pilot of the plane next to him in formation ejected in mid air when his plane was hit by enemy fire. That memory, and other striking memories from his many bombing runs, are recalled.
B-24 pilot Bill Halfhill says his most memorable mission was the one when he was shot down. He and his crew had to convince the British troops who found them that they were friendlies.
