VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

OLSEN-McGRAW-THOMPSON-GOINS

VFW POST 6401    BONNER SPRINGS, KANSAS

An All-American / All-State Post 2008-2009

Tech/Sgt Eugene “Gene” Ward served a crew member of the 449th Bomb Group.  He was flight engineer(mechanic)/top turret gunner with Crew 8-11-D of the 718th Squadron known as the “Flying Horsemen”.     Wife Norma of 63+ years, met while Gene was  on leave after returning from Italy and 1st date was to attend Kansas – Missouri football game in Kansas City, MO.

Gene took Basic training in Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Completed Mechanics Training at Shepherd’s Field in Wichita Falls, TX.   Gene trained as mechanic for the B-24 in San Diego, CA.  While waiting to go to turret gunner training, he helped with new planes to be outfitted for their destination.   He flew with  new planes from San Diego to Tucson  to Topeka Depending on destination would determine what all plane would be equipped with.

Went to Winover, Utah to be trained as turret gunner on B-24 Bomber   The 449th Bomb Group completed training in the United States, departed from Topeka, KS  and flew sixty new B-24H heavy bombers to wartime operating base in southern Italy.   On the way over one stop was in Brazil, then in Africa and then had to fly across the desert, navigating the mountains above 12,000 feet  without oxygen).  On their normal missions, they had oxygen available.  They wore a mask and had a place to connect it to the main supply at each station.  When going from station to station, they had a small container they would plug into and carry it with them.  Oxygen was needed when flying above 10,000 feet.  Therefore they have to take turns keeping watch to see that all were okay over the mountains in Africa.   They finally arrived in Southern Italy December 30th 1943.  

Tec/Sgt Eugene Ward WWII

Gene went on his first mission on the 8th of January 1944.  Three of their missions were to bomb the Ploesti Oil Fields in Rumania.  On April 4th, 1944 (4/4/44) his plane was part of bombing mission of Railroad yards in Bucharest, Rumania.   On the way home after a successful bombing mission, his plane was attached by German fighter plane and was hit over hundred times.  Gene suffered shrapnel  wounds to his face and arm from round that hit the gun turret.   At first the pilot thought he had been shot in the head because his sun glasses was damaged and he was had blood just above his nose.   He was asked if he wanted a shot of morphine for the pain and he said no, he wanted to be conscious of his surroundings if he had to parachute out.  US fighter planes escorted them back most of the way as they had lost operation of one engine and unable to keep up with rest of formation.   By the time they got back to base, Gene was in shock.   

 The runway for their airfield in southern Italy  was dirt with lot of mud and water.  The runway was 6000 feet long and three planes would line up at a time to take off and each would leave 30 seconds after the other.   They slept in tents.  Americans were on one side and the British were on the other side.  The air base had no shower facilities.  Maybe once a week they would get to Toronto 20 miles away to take a shower.   They would fly missions for two or three days in row and be off a day.  While there he got to take R&R (rest and relaxation) trip to the Island of Capri.   Going out to the Island, they were in small boat and thought they would never make it.  On way back was in large ship (much more pleasant trip).  

 One of his earlier planes was named “Everybody’s Baby”    Each bomber had a ten man crew.  Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, Bombardier (who actually took control of plane when ready to drop bombs and then Pilot take back over as soon as bombs dropped) and six enlisted men who served as the gunners (of which one was flight engineer and one was his assistant).   When flying a mission there would be 30 B-24’s in formation and they would be escorted by either the P-38’s or P-51’s (Mustangs}.    

.  The 449th flew 254 combat missions scattered across central and Eastern Europe.  They lost 101 B-24’s over course of 16 months of combat.   Gene flew 50 missions after which he was allowed to go home.   

Picture to right - Gene on the left on way back from Isle of Capri.

Picture below:  Gene 3rd from right on front row.