Local TV personality Ernie Stadvec sat down with former B-17 gunner, John Collett. John, a top turret gunner in the famed "Flying Fortress" flew 35 missions over Germany during World War II.
After the war, John joined the Navy Reserves. He also worked as a depot manager and a volunteer with special needs children in Green schools. He currently resides with his wife at a local retirement community. The complete two part-interview may be accessed on www.erniestv.com under “B-17 Flight Engineer/Gunner.”
Question: What was your job during a mission?
Answer: I was the top turret gunner and flight engineer. I was responsible for helping to defend the plane and working with the engines. In addition I also had to kick out any bombs that got hung up in the bomb bay.
Question: What was it like on a mission?
Answer: They were long and sometimes, depending where you were on the mission, the German fighters would attack us. Then you were really kept busy.
Question: Were you afraid when the German fighters attacked?
Answer: Not really, you were too busy to be afraid with all you had to do. You really didn't have time to think about being afraid as you fired at the attacking fighters.
Question: What was the worst part of the mission?
Answer: The anti-aircraft fire or “flak.” When I first saw it looked really pretty. But when we fly through it was really scary since there was nothing you could do against it.
Question: Were you ever wounded?
Answer: No, but I was lucky. Once a piece of flak hit my turret ring. A few inches either way and it would have hit me. I still have a piece of flak with the number "13" on it as a souvenir.
Question: Did you do anything special before a mission?
Answer: Before each mission the entire crew got together and I read the 23 Psalm.
Question: Did you ever see a German jet fighter?
Answer: Yes, on my 34th mission to Berlin. I had to go into the bomb bay to kick loose a hung up bomb and saw an ME-262 fly right under us. It made at least four passes at us. I kept thinking that I was one mission from going home and I was to be shot down .
For Ernie's complete and extensive interview with John check out the Web site. Each segment is approximately 25 minutes in length.
