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Bill McCowen

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After his brief experience in World War II, Bill McCowen moved on to marriage and college. He had the flying bug, though, and was determined to be a pilot. Before long, he was back in the service and flying B-25's. (3:57)

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Korea got real exciting real quick. It was the practice for the commander to fly with new bomber crews on their first mission. Bill McCowen's B-29 crew almost didn't survive that first mission after the Instructor Pilot nearly killed them twice. The rest of the tour was a little less stressful. (9:16)

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Bill McCowen entered the jet age when he moved from the B-29 to the B-47, which he handled so well he became an instructor pilot for the aircraft. Shrugging off the trouble he caused when he let a 2nd Lieutenant fly in the front seat, he was among the first to regularly fly at high altitude, where he was startled by his first sight of a contrail. (4:21)

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Bill McCowen enjoyed flying the B-52 and it was a good thing because the Chrome Dome flights for SAC during the Cold War lasted 24 hrs. He describes the strategy for attacking Moscow, including the plan for surviving after the strike. He also circled Cuba during the Missile Crisis and his description of this lends some credence to the tales of the Bermuda Triangle. (7:09)

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Bill McCowen participated in his third war when SAC was levied for pilots to send to Vietnam, and that's not counting the Cold War. Going from mammoth B-52's to the C-123 assault transport, and from high altitude cruising to treetop level and dirt strips, was no problem for him. He loved flying and was ready for any mission. (4:03)

Bill McSwain

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He was destined for flight training, but Bill McSwain turned up with high blood pressure so he was put into the ground service of the Air Transport Command. Before he knew it, he was crossing the Pacific to India, where he repaired aircraft which were flying "over the Hump," supplying free Chinese forces. (This interview made possible with the support of ALBERT SMALL.) (5:19)

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Bill McSwain moved all around the China/Burma/India theater with his small ground crew unit, which serviced cargo planes flying "over the Hump." The air strips were built as close as the war allowed to the destinations in China. Supplies, ammunition and fuel were desperately needed to keep China in the fight. (This interview made possible with the support of ALBERT SMALL.) (5:51)

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Bill McSwain recalls the living conditions in South Asia, where he moved from one small air strip to another. In China, they were built by native laborers, who were desperate for food. He was fortunate to never be targeted by Japanese planes, or to have to face the Communist Chinese, who were on the move immediately following the Japanese surrender. (This interview made possible with the support of ALBERT SMALL.) (6:19)

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While in China, Bill McSwain saw some astounding things, including some unusual construction scaffolding and a greatly under-supplied Chinese troop formation. (This interview made possible with the support of ALBERT SMALL.) (2:50)

Bill Minnich

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It was good incentive to survive. Bill Minnich received his GED while in basic, and as soon as he returned from Korea, he could get the diploma. Right away it was tough as he faced challenges from monsoons to mortar fire. (6:05)