In early 1945, because the USAAF didn’t need many more pilots, several instructors began Transition Training in four-engine planes. Dad (1st Lt. Warren Neal) had been an Advanced Instructor at Marfa AAF Base since earning his wings there two years earlier.
He was first ordered to Williams Field, AZ, in February, where he flew B-17 Fortresses while the AAF waited for enough B-29 Superforts to come off the production line. He flew the famous “Hell’s Angels” B-17 on April 7, 1945.
Dad sent a letter, dated April 8, 1945, to his sister, Nadine (Neal) Shepherd, whose husband was in the Coast Guard but she was in Iowa, expecting a baby during the summer. Toward the bottom of this section he wrote, “I flew ‘Hells Angels’ yesterday, still a pretty good airplane. In her first 8 missions over Germany, she had 26 different engines. Guess they burnt them up on some pretty fast trips back to England.”
On May 13th, 1942, the B-17F Hell’s Angels (#41-24577) became the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater. This Flying Fortress was assigned to the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group (H) and flew from RAF Molesworth. After completing her 25th mission, “Hell’s Angels” remained in theater until 1944 and flew a total of 48 mission without any crewman injured or being forced to turn back. “Hell’s Angels” returned to the United States in January 1944, covered with written inscriptions by men of the 303rd BG. The bomber was featured on a war bond tour, then was used to train pilots in flying multiple engines. It’s too bad that after the war, “Hell’s Angels” was sold for scrap in August 1945.
Dad eventually became the commander of a B-29. When the war ended, his crew had orders for Saipan that September. That fall, he had enough “points” to be discharged from the AAF.
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B-17 Fortress at War by Roger A. Freeman, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1977
I do like sharing a history of Williams AFB with Uncle Warren and 1 or 2 (?) Wilson Uncles. After joining the Marine Corps Reserve in 1963, I ended up there in 1967. July 1967 to July 1968, Class 69A, renamed 69-01. The first graduating class of 8 in fiscal year 1969. I was one of three Marines sent there. 69-01 also had 2 Norwegiian students. We were always referred to as the “5 foreign exchange students” !!
Foreign exchange students, huh! You’re right. Danny Wilson graduated from Williams in the Class of 44-C, before either of us was born!
Sold for scrap; a sad ending for an honorable workhorse.
Interesting story, Joy.
Thanks, GP. I was delighted to find a photo of the plane!
That was my thought, too, GP.
It’s a shame we don’t hold more store in the relics and events of our past.
I agree. Once they’re gone, those pieces of history are gone.
69-01 started with 83, all the others USAF, of course. Marines had lost so many aviators in Vietnam that the Navy couldn’t keep up, hence the “exchange”. 51 finished the “year of 53 weeks with silver wings”. In coming months I earned Naval Aviator wings after additional training. Carrier, ordinance. air combat maneuvering (dog fighting), etc. Made it home !!
I’m thankful you made it home!
I am away from home in Tallahassee, down to Melbourne Wednesday. I have all 3 “boys” class numbers written down at home. Do you know your Dad’s class # off hand ?
43-B Marfa, Texas. He got his wings there the same day Dale Wilson received his at Roswell, NM (also 43-B).
I salute him for his service
Thank you, Don. I wish I’d asked him questions about it when he was still alive. He’s been gone since 1980.
Oh my goodness…I’m stunned by the image of the plane! Wow! But sold for scrap. Sigh. A reminder of why photos matter. xo, Joy! 💕
I was so thankful to find the photo since Dad didn’t have one. But I’ve got the letter!
🥰🥰🥰
Loved this story. The photo with Hell’s Angles’ messages is wonderful, Thanks, Joy.
Thanks, John. I was so delighted to locate the photo of it!
I’ll bet an air museum would have love to take that plane!
You’re so right. It was sold for scrap after the war. What a shame.
Great historical post, Joy. I learned a lot, and decided that “Hell’s Angels” is an appropriate name for the bomber. It’s great that your dad flew it in training.
Thanks, Tim. Just think, the plane was scrapped after the war. Oh, if only it were in a museum today!
Yes, I certainly agree with you and GP.
How cool it is to know exactly what plane he flew and to have pictures. I can identify the plane that my grand-uncle was responsible for as flight engineer by number, but I have never found photos of just exactly those planes.
Do you know what type of bomber and where he served?
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