Veteran WWII - Ball Turret Gunner - B-17

[eclipser2004]

Thank you Mr. Mills for your valiant efforts and your personal sacrifices. You are an inspiration to us all. Your brave fight was honourable and just, and we live as we do today because of millions of men and women like you. Thanks again. Greetings from Newfoundland, Canada

[Jess0062]

Earl is a wonderful man, I know him well. He has no real family of his own, but his late girlfriend's (of many years) family takes care of him now like he's one of their own family. They love him dearly and always make sure he has everything he needs and that he's never lonely. They're my mother's cousins. I see him about once a year when they bring him with them to our annual family reunion. He's so sweet and funny, and he always dresses so dapper and flirts with all the girls. lol.

[TheBeechingAxe]

At least they didn't have to wash him out with a hose -

[gman1225]

Who's the faggot that disliked this. Leave him in a room with a few family members of fallen soldiers.

[azthundercloud]

i recently went to an air museum and they were nice enough to open the side door of a B-17. those men had courage like no other to fly on those vehicles and the ball turret gunner had balls of steel to do their job.

[IslandThunder84]

I have a relative who served in Vietnam as a B52 bomber pilot. I wonder if he went through things like this man. God bless our Vets

[rickbar123]

A small guy with a huge set of you know whats

[tonyktx44]

Damn Heros Every one. God bless'em

[steveinnepa]

God Bless Mr. Mills !

[ImeldaDavies]

A ball turrets certainly not the kinda place you'd wanna shit your self. This is a great interview well done mate.

[buckrorie]

Thank you sir! 

[amdelux1]

@buckrorie I second that.

[hellhound9666]

1 japan disliked this video

[Master11782]

Why the fuck did one person dislike this video?!?!? This man is a hero.

[capelarry]

I salute you sir. I can't imagine the fear you must have felt in such attacks.

Thank you for serving our country

[openallnite1]

You are doing a great service to this country getting these guys on camera. I made a documentary featuring my uncle who was also a ball turret gunner, called True Gunner. It took me 4 years. I attached it as a response to your vid.

[openallnite1]

Check out my documentary about B-17 ball turret gunner, Pike Levine.

Search keyword: "Pike Levine"

[turbinetechca]

I wish someone could add subtitles to that vid. My hearing is so bad, I don't understand a single word of what he's saying. :(

[cobrachoppergirl]

Someone did an interview of my grandfather, a P-38, P-47, and P-48 fighter pilot out of New Guninea, who's still alive. I need to upload it sometime. Its amazing how plain talking and no-nonsense these guys are.

[cobrachoppergirl]

@cobrachoppergirl Correction, I meant P-49, the AIrcobra, not P-48. The P-38 was his favorite. Part of his interview is featured in a short movie, "Injury Slight, Please Advise", where he was wingman of his buddy who went down in the jungle and had to hike is way out. He had one P-38 engine shot out and dove to the deck; had another plane blow up on him in flames on the runway; bailed out of another and hit the silk, aka parachute.

[bearclawed85]

i have a great uncle who recently passed away who was a gunner on one of these.

[aqinthe]

Big respect to all these guys from WW 2!

[307OLDS]

I get teared up when I hear these boys speak.... These men are the reason why were aren't speaking Kraut or Jap!!!! Don't you ever forget it!!!

[partingbead]

Oh god. Ridin' the ball. I wish a thousand times I could have been there and manned the post of a ball turret gunner during the Regensburg and Frankfurt raids!!!!

[aqinthe]

@partingbead Really though? Tthinking about doing it would be fun but actually doing it would be very, very scary.

[me3tv]

Mr. Mills contacted me after a news article that I was doing veteran interviews. I can still remember his comment on the phone .. "You need to hurry and tape us now .. we are dying like flies out here!!" (in that gravely voice- a semi yell - demanding I interview more vets). So many video cameras out there and it bothers me that so few people will pick one up and interview these folks.

[randyretherford]

@me3tv thank you sir for uploading this video. I always loved the b-17,and think we need to honor those brave men who flew in them. going against the odds to do a very dangerous job. thank you sir

[lewisguner1]

i think he is crying

[xxchinookxx]

All U.S. WWII airmen were my childhood heros during my youth during the 1960s. I became a CH-47 Flight Engineer in the 1980s but never will compare to these BRAVE airmen. I oftened wondered if I would of been one of them if I would of been born in the late 1920s...

[thejugglerrr]

I really wish i was in my prime like 19-20y/o during the early 1940's. Truly the age of heroes and honor. not self absorbed babies like our generation today.

[Deadfox7777]

my grandfather was one god i wish he was still alive...

[gardnersmoke]

Is that a 305th Bomb Group hat? Chelveston England, it's just an open field full of cows now. Brave man indeed.

[ToddRodd]

WAR SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JackJeckel81]

FULL RESPECT, FULL RESPECT!!

[grunt182820]

all i can type is RESPECT

[RamirezGates]

Courage isn't fearlessness. Courage is doing what you have to do when you are very afraid. Great interview.

[Hamilton940]

The perfect American Hero. A regular guy, put into an exceptional situation beyond human imagination, and survives to tell about it. Courageous out of necessity and gets the job done.

Makes me proud to be an American. Great video.

[me3tv]

The full video with Mr. Mills he talks of his eventual return to the USA and years of psycho therapy. He began eating his nails. Then the skin off the back of his hands and then his arms. He remains to this day 100 pct. neurologically disabled. His full interview was very colorful and he was quite interesting to interview. me3tv.

[MuGeNTOM]

What a brave soul. I would be scared Sh!tless if I were in the belly bubble hearing flak popping everywhere.

[Budma30k]

The toughest ride in the Air Corp,is the ball gunner ,What a Man.

[angmhalp]

God Bless this man and all those who served, God Bless America, Happy 4th of July.

[82abnoff]

I have my Wings and was an Infrantry Officer with the 101st in Vietnam. My dead friend got the CMH on Iwo. But,,

I do not have the courage.

[ardmorefarms]

this gentleman is a true hero

[PukkPukk]

This guys got some great stories to tell. Lots of good swears too. Thanks for posting this

[tomaslenton]

What a Hero, I could NOT have done that job, not ball turret, na ah. Hero

[jum1801]

And on your death, with all your acid hate, you don't fear facing God?

[scythelord]

You have serious mental illness TOPACE352. Must be a sad existence filled with blind, baseless hatred.

[swikil]

Did I hear the Ball turret at 7:30? buuurrrrpppppphhh

hahaha

[BlakeC94]

omg. look a you guys! seriously, do you guys ever stop with these arguments? Its a fucking video on Youtube, god... Thats all i ever see in the comments... Arguments, arguments, and more arguments. What happend to respectful comments and such? Woow

[me3tv]

EKD?? You do NOT believe those Jewish (and others)dead bodies were real? I have talked many times with vets who were there on the ground - some who took photos and films themselves. I hold copies of films made by one vet who was there. That said, perhaps the Jews are among the most vocal about the history whereas we must be mindful that the human tragedy of the period affected a wide swath of peoples and cultures. Bless them all.

[pete2778]

My Grandfather, a veteren of the campaigns in North Africa and Italy, was one of the first Allied troops into the death camp at Belsen during the liberation of Europe (5th RTR 7thAD). There is no doubt that the Jews were being exterminated by the Nazis as were Russian POWs, homosexuals, gypsies, the mentally ill & political prisoners, some gassed, some hung, some shot, some starved, used some for medical experiments, the fact is that it DID happen. Thanks for posting this, fascinating account.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

BTW Nazis never said they must kill other races. They were just superior race.The ignorant world believed in the photos of jewish corpses that the north americans jews did killed. Oh... Please! find a woman or take a Viagra OK ?( and listen:Im not jew, zionist ,negro, communist, or russian).

[StiLLFLyStL]

I'm having a hard time understanding the part where you say "Jewish corpses that the north americans jews did killed." WHAT????

[EvilKorbinDallas]

Umm, that previous comment of mine, I dont recall saying that, and that isnt really the way id put that, and i do believe that Hitler tried 2 kill the jews, but i dont believe he tried 2 kill every race lol

[Hume77]

One of my uncles kept a diary throughout the war along with photographs he took. When he died we came into possession of these. He recorded in his diaries seeing thousands of bodies in railroad cars at Dachau and he left pictures he took as well. This was the most well documented event in history, French, German, Polish, American, and Soviet records attest to this. Tens of thousands of eye witnesses and 6 million people just disappeared? evil korbin has no morals or brains.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

I do believe that the Nazis tried to kill the jews.. but ive read alot of books saying that there werent gas chambers in Germany, and as you said "Pictures of bodies in railroad cars" in the books it just said they were shot :S

[EvilKorbinDallas]

but in the books they have photos of the jews with bullet holes, :S but in others there werent

[crazychasinator]

tried to kill? they killed MILLIONS!

[scythelord]

Yes... You read one book and it says opposite to all the other recorded evidence and you choose to believe that over accepted fact? You fail at history.

[keymankeys1960]

Dad was a B-24 ball turret gunner.I agree they are all heroes.

[tjm52071]

Thank you for posting this. I have so much respect for WW Vets. It's great to hear the stories. Also, i disagree that Kamakazee were brave. They were forced to fly a plane with only enough fuel to complete that crazed mission. Foolish honor is the only credit they deserve in my opinon.

[Alphawolfgang]

and people whine about modern war... war is always hell, but modern war is nothing compared to WW2, WW1, vietnam and such.

[imarytr]

God bless Alan Cramer. Thank you sir.

[me3tv]

If you only knew. I taped about an hour of his story. He is still a mental case but functional. 100 pct disability for nervous condition. in the months after his service in the air he gnawed all the hair off his arms and hands -- after he ate his fingernailes to pulps.

[dm5401]

How very sad their wasn't the help for him that their is today. This is one of the reaons I am adamant about increasing the mental health services available for those who are and have been in the service.

[jimschutz]

I would like to add, I think of these guys when I think I'm having a bad day at work, and that normally corrects my attitude. My dad was a gunner on B-29 so that might give me more appreciation than others watching this. I make it a point to go to an airshow every year (EAA in Wisconsin) to remember what these people gave to our country (USA). EAA in 2006 had a big bomber reunion with 17's, 24's and a Lancaster. The propwash blew away most of my tears from my face.

[dm5401]

My Uncle, Conrad May flew more more missions as a ball turret gunner than anyone else in WWII. He was never the same after he came back.

[me3tv]

God Bless this man. I am glad you had a chance to know your uncle.

[dm5401]

having read your reply to imartr, I will say more. My Uncle came back and ended up being a total alcoholic. He managed to stay working though and helped to raise a family. He went to a psychiatrist who never even asked about what happened during the War. With proper help he might have been a happier man. His greatest happiness, apart from his family, was baseball. Without it, I don't know how far he would have sank. His name was Conrad May my uncle.

[Fergusius]

I salute that man and all the bomber crews of B-17Gs and B-24s. They were the bravest of all the airmen.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

Japanese were the bravest, Kamakaze? they were more braver sorry, but I respect all the people who fought in WW2 except teh Russians

[Fergusius]

Yes, you are right of course. Kamikaze were the brave, it took quite a lot of guts to willingly crash Your plane into Your target, but You gotta admit that the gunners in those bombers were also brave. Why don't You like the Russians? They were brave, and not to mention that their women pilots were excellent. My grandfather flew alongside Russians during the war.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

I like a the Russians that fought for Russian and not for the Soviet union (much like how I adore the Wehrmacht that didnt fight for Nazism at all) I just really hate Nazis, and the Soviet union. But dont forget the Nazis werent all as bad because Nazi Germany were the first countrys to stop Animal cruelty and 2 stop people from smoking tobacco (they were the first people to find out it was bad) and with the Soviet Union, I hate Stalin more then anyone

[EvilKorbinDallas]

Caus Unlike Hitler, Stalin didnt care much for his men, he basically killed them himself, also everyone thinks the Holocaust was bad? well after the war look what the Russians did in Berlin? they raped German Wemon and children. then they put that wall up to divide Berlin and if u wer caught escaping u was shot 2 death. So dont forget that the Soviet union did much more bad stuff then the Nazis

[EvilKorbinDallas]

And the funny thing about Nazism, people think Nazis hate black people and Jewish people and Muslims, WRONG in India ther wer divisons of black indians with the Swastika bands around ther arms, they claimed to be fighting for Germany, also ive seen pictures of Muslims with the Swastika band on ther arms whilsts praying to Allaha. and the Black Africans in Africa helped out with Erwin Rommel, the Nazis were just against Jewish people, not every other culture.

[krazykalash]

No,it's proven that they were racist. Besides the swastika has alot of other meanings.ever tought those photo's were before or after the WWII? You gotta get me those documents that say that couloured people helped the nazis. Maybe some of hitler's men didn't follow the cause (racism and stuff), but that's one thing, hitler not being racist is another. Maybe those that helped the germans were actually under an Ostruppen regime aka either do this or die THE REST IS IN RESPONSE

[EvilKorbinDallas]

It wasnt before or after, it was in ww2, and who has proven that they were racist? Jews? of course the jews would say that are racist, jewish people tend... to lie

[krazykalash]

The SA's hunted for etnic polish dudes and other races (especially black) "skin head style" all the time.

[krazykalash]

My hatred goes to hitler not to stalin. And what's that talk about hitler supporting his men? he left that task to his merciless generals that would sometimes shoot strays too(just as bad as the russians). I respect the nazi forces but not their beliefs.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

Stalin killed 72 million, hitler killed 12 million, hmmm i hate stalin a tinsy bit more then hitler but still they both dick heads

[krazykalash]

AGREED!

[krazykalash]

It's not about the holocaust, the SS did horrible things to villages they passed by, rapings and stuff, not only against the jews there was a case in Italy (1944 i think) in wich they killed like 1490 people. No jews no nothing... just a village in the middle of nowhere... PS: This is not an excuse for the soviets, stalin and some of his men were completely blodthirsty and insane.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

True lol atleast ur not an ignorant lil 10 year old who makes up stuff

[gmacorvick]

Even though i'm from Malaysia. i appreciate what these veteran did for peace and freedom for the future generation. God bless them.

[HATBOYGOOD]

interesting..

[cyrix01]

Great interview. Those bomber crews were brave! The Sperry ball turret was one of the neatest inventions of WWII. Both the B17 and B24 were equipped with them.