Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Dequindre McGlaun

WWII | 333rd Bombardment Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force

B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun recalls several of his bombing missions over Northern Europe. There were other bombers that nearly hit his and there were people on the ground who wanted to kill him. He changed planes and crews when he was made lead bombardier and he describes the nose art on the new plane. (6:42)
The mission to Kiel was a fateful one for B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun. The group was disorganized because of a base reassignment and the men were awakened at 3 AM with no advance notice of a mission. After hitting the target, his squadron was swarmed by enemy fighters. Every 50 cal machine gun on the plane was firing as the bomber slipped lower and lower toward the water. (9:51)
B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun discusses the change of command in his squadron and how the new commander wanted to get out of headquarters and fly. The bombardier describes the anti-aircraft flashes on the ground as German gunners took aim. "You better get me quick because I am going to get you!" (3:44)
Returning from a mission, B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun saw 2 planes from his flight collide right in front of him. The tumbling planes just missed his own aircraft. On another mission, the squadron flew on to Algiers and slept under the wing of their plane, "Shackaroo," for a week in the desert, waiting to return. (7:15)
After a shuttle mission to North Africa, Dequindre McGlaun's B-17 squadron returned to it's base in England. Led by his plane, "Shackaroo," they hit a German submarine base on the way. Several highly successful missions followed, including a strike in the heart of Paris and one across the Baltic Sea that resulted in a classic photograph of the bomb run that wound up in museums. (6:12)
As his tour wound down, B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun was honored to have his commanding officers flying with him. At that point in the war, the German V-1 program was still secret but the Allied bombers were already hitting their bases. Time off in London was always welcome and he tells what he found there. (5:10)
It had been quite a tour and B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun returned to the States, got married and was assigned to teach new bombardiers in Texas. When VJ Day came, the town went nuts and, soon, he was out of the service and beginning a long and rewarding career as a teacher. (4:41)
B-17 bombardier Dequindre McGlaun was inspired by his leaders in the 94th bomb group, including Frederick Castle, who was awarded the Medal Of Honor posthumously for guiding his crashing bomber away from American troops at the Battle of the Bulge. Ira Eaker and Curtis LeMay also were important commanding officers in his career (4:06)
Dexter Briggs

WWII | Navy Armed Guard

After his Merchant Marine ship delivered a load of supplies to an Italian port, Dexter Briggs recalls a bombing attack which led a few soldiers to take cover in an unfortunate location. (1:19)
Dexter Briggs describes serving as a Navy Armed Guard gunner aboard the Merchant Marine ship Franklin P. Mall, and witnessing a German torpedo attack. (1:57)