Replies to WWII Questions
Philip J. Bernheim (philb18@IX.NETCOM.COM)
Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:39:11 -0800
To Brandon, Farmhill School: I was never in combat, so I cannot
answer your first qustion. 2. On D-Day I was a staff officer in the
headquarters squadron of an airfield at Bishop's Stortford in England.
The operation
al squadrons flew A-26 planes. 3. Elated. 4. no. 5. Yes. Deep
regret. 6 No. 7. No. 8. When the war started in Europe, I was a
radio announcer at a small station in Watsonville, CA. On Pearl Harbor
Day I was o
n week-end leave from my Army post at Sacramento CA Air Depot. I was
at my parents' home at Palo Alto CA. An old friend and Stanford
classmate was the first to tell America the news on the NBC radio
network (very little
TV in those days). 9. Relief and eagerness to get back to my wife
and my career. 10. In Germany, in charge of a troop broadcasting
station maintained to entertain and aid the morale of troops.
-P-
I seem to have lost the "Memories" question about D-Day, but it was the
most awesome sight of my life. Imagine, if you can, looking up into
the sky and seeing it carpeted with airplanes from horizon to horizon
in any dir
ection you looked, as far as the eye could see, all flying south toward
France or Belgium. In those days there were no jets -- all prop
planes, flying at what today would be slow speeds. There were bombers,
attack plane
s, photo planes, fighter planes, and troop carriers for the parachute
troops. I promise you, there has never been a sight like it nor ever
again will be.
Phil Bernheim, retired Army and later Air Force officer, South San
Francisco CA (a separate city from the City by the Golden Gate).
------------------------------