I've been doing research on my dad's service with 8th Air Force with 52 missions in a B-17 and just recently spent 2 days at the 8th AF Museum in Pooler, Ga. This is a wonderful tribute you have put together. I will be directing my readers to this video as it is one that needs to be seen to begin an understanding of what our fathers and grandfathers did so that we have the freedoms that we do now. The score is awesome. Thanks so much,
Had an old friend of the family that passed away a few years back. Before his time came he told me of what he had done over the European skies of WWII. The missions and adventures he and his crew had on board their B-17. I never knew the man but after that day he had left an impact on me so great. His children and grandchildren didn't even know about about what he had done. This vid reminds me of him and his stories; it brings me to tears. "Gunner" Nash - Belly Gunner of his B-17.
Excellent video.thanks for posting it. The hardship & horror these brave young men faced on those missions. It's amazing that the B-17 took the pounding that it did and brought back many a relieved crew.
My dad SMS Donald S. Nichols was an aerial photographer with the 8th Air Force and served during WW II, retiring from military service in 1965. He loved his job and the lifelong friends he made....we have made a donation in his honor at the chapel honoring the Mighty 8th.
love seein all the original footage done by william wyler. most of those aerial shots were done up in the B-17F Memphis Belle with then Capt. Robert Morgan and his crew. great footage all around
think you're wrong, hotrod. much footage was by combat cameraman assigned to 8th air force; some being orig from hollywood production lots. they were instrumental in getting 12 o'clock high, the film, made btw.
I think out of all the brave men who fought and gave their lives during ww2,these bomber crews amaze me the most,what they went through to get the job done I cant even imagin,fighting on the ground is one thing but in the air like this.....I guess it would be the same for submarine crews
and all this about about a band of brothers...when this film came on my dads tv...my dad a WW2 veteran...asked me to leave his home...he had seen this personally...and mourned his lost friends...
I miss you Grandpa (Ed Supe').God bless your crew members who gave their lives on a bombing mission over Germany over 60 years ago.. It has been over 10 years now since you have past. I miss you so much. May you rest in peace. May god bless all those who served in the 8th Airforce and to all who sacrificed their lives, body and time for the United States of America. Your valor is not forgotten.
Was any of your family in the 8th Air Force? If anyone goes to England by ALL means visit Chelveston! The monument the people of the town built to the 305th BG is remarkable . I wish I could have spent more time there. My dad had 51 missions from Chelvestion. A beautiful place in our world.
most people don't realize these bombing missions WERE the allied war in europe for nearly 2 years. casualty rates rivaled -- and sometimes exceeded -- that of frontline troops.
Great Video Steve!....The pictures of Forts at altitude with contrails streaming back and the shots of forts under attack and spiraling down are otherworldly.....Love the shot of the big lantern jawed crewman at 8:04 who smiles at us across 65 years ....Wonder if the big lug made it??......One of the best videos on youtube.....Thanks...
Superb, thanks. These men and planes really made history. i recently saw a B-17 engine at the Musee des Arts & Metiers in Paris splendid piece of engineering.
ive been watermarking my videos for a year now due to a number of people downloading my vids without consent and reuploading them across the net taking credit for them
The plane shown at 7:51 is 'Old Bill', and flew with the 365 BS,305 BG. based at Chelveston, Northants. It was a B-17F tail number 42-29673. The incident in the video occured on 15 May 1943. The target was Heligoland. Only 2 of the 11 onboard { there was a photographer there} were uninjured and the navigator 2Lt Douglas Venable was mortally wounded.
Burtonwood is in Lancashire and was a Base Air Depot where most of the heavy repair work was done for the 8th.
What a video.The soundtrack is so moving I had tears in my eyes by the end. What would these men think if they came back now and saw the state of the world.God bless them all.
The most moving tribute i have ever seen, beautiful Steve. Would love to have it on dvd.
Mike
1001demu 3 months ago
Great video, great job.
too bad this country has sunk so low that it would not know it's history and need the likes of a loser like L. Lohann to get their attention...
Tubbytoobs 4 months ago
I've been doing research on my dad's service with 8th Air Force with 52 missions in a B-17 and just recently spent 2 days at the 8th AF Museum in Pooler, Ga. This is a wonderful tribute you have put together. I will be directing my readers to this video as it is one that needs to be seen to begin an understanding of what our fathers and grandfathers did so that we have the freedoms that we do now. The score is awesome. Thanks so much,
2050Diana 6 months ago
Had an old friend of the family that passed away a few years back. Before his time came he told me of what he had done over the European skies of WWII. The missions and adventures he and his crew had on board their B-17. I never knew the man but after that day he had left an impact on me so great. His children and grandchildren didn't even know about about what he had done. This vid reminds me of him and his stories; it brings me to tears. "Gunner" Nash - Belly Gunner of his B-17.
TheGuard001 1 year ago
Those men were truly the Greatest Generation
RayGettings 1 year ago
Excellent video.thanks for posting it. The hardship & horror these brave young men faced on those missions. It's amazing that the B-17 took the pounding that it did and brought back many a relieved crew.
onunez1 1 year ago
Very well done Steve, loved it
GeddyBre 1 year ago
WOW... incredible!
unconditionalbs 1 year ago
My dad SMS Donald S. Nichols was an aerial photographer with the 8th Air Force and served during WW II, retiring from military service in 1965. He loved his job and the lifelong friends he made....we have made a donation in his honor at the chapel honoring the Mighty 8th.
dgross1964 1 year ago
God bless the Mighty Eighth and all the rest.
stringalongmike1953 1 year ago
Landing on the Moon and beating the Nazis. Yep. That's what Americans can be proud of!
greenseaships 1 year ago
What is the music on this video?
gills8752 1 year ago
@gills8752 found it - its from we were soliders! Look around you!
gills8752 1 year ago
@gills8752 - Odd, I just looked at the CD for the original motion picture score and it says "Cavalry/No Man Behind"- Same song?
clonearmy77 5 months ago
I will forever remember the crews of the Eight Air Force, I have a great deal of admiration for all of them. Thanks for uploading this video!!
temphoyos 1 year ago 3
love seein all the original footage done by william wyler. most of those aerial shots were done up in the B-17F Memphis Belle with then Capt. Robert Morgan and his crew. great footage all around
hotrod347 1 year ago
think you're wrong, hotrod. much footage was by combat cameraman assigned to 8th air force; some being orig from hollywood production lots. they were instrumental in getting 12 o'clock high, the film, made btw.
tessler6868 1 year ago
The 8th Air Force 305th Bomb Group has a page on Facebook Check them out
monzavideo 2 years ago
Statistically the single most dangerous place for a Yank or Brit serviceman in WWII was in a bomber over Germany...
Workinbus 2 years ago
I think out of all the brave men who fought and gave their lives during ww2,these bomber crews amaze me the most,what they went through to get the job done I cant even imagin,fighting on the ground is one thing but in the air like this.....I guess it would be the same for submarine crews
MPT1983 2 years ago
and all this about about a band of brothers...when this film came on my dads tv...my dad a WW2 veteran...asked me to leave his home...he had seen this personally...and mourned his lost friends...
ffej980 2 years ago
Hello funtimesteve
would you mind telling me where you get the music? I would be after specific songs so if its ok with you could i pm you?
Yamaha950 2 years ago
Comment removed
clonearmy77 1 year ago
@Yamaha950 - I would also like to know the title of the score used as well. Thanks!
clonearmy77 1 year ago
I miss you Grandpa (Ed Supe').God bless your crew members who gave their lives on a bombing mission over Germany over 60 years ago.. It has been over 10 years now since you have past. I miss you so much. May you rest in peace. May god bless all those who served in the 8th Airforce and to all who sacrificed their lives, body and time for the United States of America. Your valor is not forgotten.
6tonsofsteel 2 years ago 8
Comment removed
6tonsofsteel 2 years ago
5*****
petrwarry 2 years ago
Was any of your family in the 8th Air Force? If anyone goes to England by ALL means visit Chelveston! The monument the people of the town built to the 305th BG is remarkable . I wish I could have spent more time there. My dad had 51 missions from Chelvestion. A beautiful place in our world.
monzavideo 2 years ago
most people don't realize these bombing missions WERE the allied war in europe for nearly 2 years. casualty rates rivaled -- and sometimes exceeded -- that of frontline troops.
tessler6868 2 years ago
Total respect for these men indeed......excellent video and music 5 stars
joedredd13215 2 years ago
Great Video Steve!....The pictures of Forts at altitude with contrails streaming back and the shots of forts under attack and spiraling down are otherworldly.....Love the shot of the big lantern jawed crewman at 8:04 who smiles at us across 65 years ....Wonder if the big lug made it??......One of the best videos on youtube.....Thanks...
Workinbus 2 years ago
Superb, thanks. These men and planes really made history. i recently saw a B-17 engine at the Musee des Arts & Metiers in Paris splendid piece of engineering.
Fridomfry 2 years ago
did you add the "funtimesteve" logo over entire vid recently?? why? :(
tessler6868 2 years ago
ive been watermarking my videos for a year now due to a number of people downloading my vids without consent and reuploading them across the net taking credit for them
funtimesteve3 2 years ago
huh. didn't notice it before. so it's been there last 6 months?? should i have specs changed, lol?
tessler6868 2 years ago
wonderful video mate, absolutely stunning
gregersgram 2 years ago
The plane shown at 7:51 is 'Old Bill', and flew with the 365 BS,305 BG. based at Chelveston, Northants. It was a B-17F tail number 42-29673. The incident in the video occured on 15 May 1943. The target was Heligoland. Only 2 of the 11 onboard { there was a photographer there} were uninjured and the navigator 2Lt Douglas Venable was mortally wounded.
Burtonwood is in Lancashire and was a Base Air Depot where most of the heavy repair work was done for the 8th.
070090 3 years ago
thanks, man
tessler6868 3 years ago
at 7:51, that plane's name is "seacup"
trainfreak247 3 years ago
wow, that 20mm really did the job for the nazis!
trainfreak247 3 years ago
somtimes guys, it's all in the music
trainfreak247 3 years ago
in which country was this usaf base.burtonwood uk?
archawker 3 years ago
idk, but i think it was just NW of the clifs of dover, but i'm not sure
trainfreak247 3 years ago
this video mad me cry man
militaryexcellence 3 years ago
what was superb....an excellent point of view ...(salut) to the 8th air force...
13squadron 3 years ago 4
What a video.The soundtrack is so moving I had tears in my eyes by the end. What would these men think if they came back now and saw the state of the world.God bless them all.
070090 3 years ago 2