Rhode Island memorializes beheaded WWII pilot, 69 years after death

Boston.com: Rhode Island memorialized a World War II pilot from Cranston on Friday, 69 years after his capture and execution by the Japanese. Lt. Robert Thorpe was declared missing in action 1944 when his P-47 was shot down over New Guinea. Years later, following war crimes trials in Japan, his family learned he’d been interrogated, tortured and then beheaded when [...]

He’s flown more planes than anyone else in history – and took 2,000 Nazis prisoner single-handed. And now, at 94, he’s telling his breathtaking story

Daily Mail reports: Eric Brown must rank as the most extraordinary airman alive. Indeed, open his memoirs at any page and you are left asking a single question: how on earth did this modest Scotsman live to tell the tale? But Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown RN is very much alive and in sparkling form as he pours me a glass [...]

Hero who makes Biggles look like a wimp: He’s flown more planes than anyone else in history – and took 2,000 Nazis prisoner single-handed. And now, at 94, he’s telling his breathtaking story

The Daily Mail reports: Eric Brown must rank as the most extraordinary airman alive. Indeed, open his memoirs at any page and you are left asking a single question: how on earth did this modest Scotsman live to tell the tale? But Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown RN is very much alive and in sparkling form as he pours me a [...]

Pilots Manual for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Urban Leonard ‘Ben’ Drew 1st Allied pilot to shoot down 2 German jets in combat dies

The LA Times reports: Urban Leonard “Ben” Drew, 89, who became the first Allied pilot to shoot down two German jets in combat during World War II, died April 3 at his home in Vista of complications from pneumonia, said his son, David Michael Drew. He accomplished the feat on a single mission over Germany in October 1944 while piloting a P-51 Mustang [...]

Australian P-40 WWII pilot remembered

naracoorteherald.com.au reports: THIS year will mark the 70th anniversary of the defence of Darwin against Japanese bombing raids during World War II. One of the Spitfire pilots was Malcolm Beaton, who was born and educated in Naracoorte. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on July 18, 1942. Malcolm was first posted to the Fourth Initial Training School at [...]

WWII veteran honored with special flight

Your News Network reports: A World War II veteran revisited his time in the service with the help of some living history specialists. The Commemorative Air Force, based in Midland, flew its unique, B-25 bomber from Georgetown to Temple. The bomber will fly and be on display for the annual Central Texas Airshow this weekend. Along for the ride was [...]

Yugoslavian freedom fighter recalls helping save American airmen during WWII

A Yugoslavian freedom fighter calls southwest Montana home. Anaconda resident Mladin “Babble” Babich has been living here since the post World War II era. But American airmen came into contact with him long before he set foot in the United States. Babich had been in the service for only a month back in 1944 when an American aircraft was shot [...]

Age shall not weary him – 91-year-old World War 2 pilot Les Hall will take to the skies to lead the Sunshine Coast Anzac Day fly-over.

abc.net.au reports: Age is simply a number for WW2 survivor Les Hall. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) in 1940 aged 20, which lead him to New Guinea where he repatriated the sick and wounded from the battle front, back to Australia. Les will fly the lead World War 2 biplane for the fly-over at several Anzac Day services [...]

World War II airman’s remains buried in Oregon, decades after his plane went missing

An Oregon airman killed in a World War II plane crash in the South Pacific was laid to rest in a ceremony attended by family Wednesday in Pendleton’s Olney Cemetery, almost 69 years after his death. Army Staff Sgt. Ray Eugene Thompson, who grew up in La Grande and Pendleton and lived briefly in Portland, died May 7, 1944, when [...]