THE VETERAN AND HIS WAR
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Uploaded by rpcarr on Dec 30, 2007
351st Sqdn. Joined the 100th on 4/3/45 Excerpts from the WW2 diary of James A. Lantz, Pilot 100th Bomb Gp WWII: Monday Jan 26, 1945: Pulled into Liverpool harbor. As we went down between the line of buoys leading to the harbor two British destroyers kept their silent watch. A trawler crossed out path and even it was out fitted with an anti-aircraft gun on the bow. The faint outline of Liverpool gradually took it's shadowy form and as the gulls dived, zoomed and glided about our ship we came closer and closer to our destination. As we pulled up to the dock a British band broke into the "Star Spangled Banner." Here are my first impressions of England as I first saw it. The band played well, had good instruments and were neatly attired. The building in front of which they stood was charred and burned with all it's windows broken. There was a low overcast of clouds and away in the distant part of the city a lone steeple reached up into the sky. There was a canal flowing beside us and I could see an English Bobby down below us handling the crowd. He was exactly as I had pictured him with his long blue coat and queer hat. The whole city gave me a feeling of entering into the past and it left a pleasant taste in my mind. Here was a rich culture. Here the people knew the meaning of blood, sweat and tears. Here was a bulwark of Democracy. This was England. When I went back to my barracks I discovered that three of my roommates had been in the planes shot down that day. They had only four more missions to go to finish. Yes, Berlin was still a rough target. My fifth mission was Friday 23, March, 1945 and is very memorable to me as it was there I earned my Purple Heart, the one decoration I would have gladly done without. Tuesday may 8, 1945: Today was VE Day. Truman, Churchill and Stalin simultaneously announced the unconditional surrender of Germany. The surrender was signed early yesterday morning in a school house at Rheims, France by Gen. Walter B. Smith, Eisenhower's Chief of Staff, Russian General Ivan A. Suslapatov, and French General Francois Sevez. Today at 3:00 P.M. Churchill spoke and at 9:00 the King. Both thanked God for deliveance. On the post we had church services in front of the flag pole at 3.30 P.M. Last night there were flares of all color everywhere in the sky and British and American flags flying from every cottage. Churchill ended his speech with "God Bless you All" Picadilly Circus was wild with joy last night. Bells were ringing all over the country and in the hearts of everyone was a sincere thanksgiving. The bells as they rang seemed to say over and over again the silent pray of everyone, "Thank you God, Thank you God". Tonight also Gen Ike talked on the radio. I spent VE Day in the barracks. No one here got too excited because we knew that the war is not yet over for us, but I think everyone is deeply thankful in their hearts. You can read his whole diary on line
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Fantastic photos! You should be proud! My father served in the army WW1, brother and husband in the navy WW11 as well!
enjoythevoyage 3 months ago
- Outstanding video my friend !! - dave
david3legs 6 months ago
Only thru youTube would a person see the wonderful, personal snapshots taken so long ago by an anonymous pilot in a truly (I agree w/saintrambone) another world.
kolbpilot 1 year ago
Hi Maudie, I saw your note to the NewsJournal reporter who wrote about the B-17s. Great video you made here.
Bill
rainydog 2 years ago
Thanks, Maudie. I speak with humble pride about your dad and Uncles Bud and Jim...
BTWeaver
CB7376 2 years ago
Cool image of B29 on 2^51
Xenophoebus 3 years ago
Nice to see pictures from a personal point of view,thx
soapy41 3 years ago
You com from another era. Things seemed to make sense. Now nothing does. I do not think they ever did, except in a garden. Vets are now tortured and removed from jobs. I would rather be shot in the head dead for eternity than what I have endured. Now they are dragging in more for their experience, that war within these damned usa and world. Who won, not the humane leaders
saintrambone 4 years ago
HEY Maudie!! Good Morning!! Always loved this. Great tribute. :)
DennyGirl 4 years ago