Oral history interview with William L. Paul, 2002.

ArchivalResource

Paul, William L., 1924-. Oral history interview with William L. Paul, 2002.

Oral history interview with William L. Paul, 2002.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/780621401

William "Bill" L. Paul, a Kiel, Wisconsin native, discusses his Air Force service as a B-24 copilot in the European theater of World War II. After graduating high school, Paul talks about enlisting with a friend as aviation cadets, testing and preflight school at San Antonio (Texas), preflight pilot training in a Fairchild PT-19, and overcoming airsickness. He touches on passing periodic proficiency tests, flying BT-14s in Independence (Kansas), and advanced training on twin-engine aircraft at Lubbock (Texas). Paul comments on the difference between flying single- and twin-engine airplanes. He explains everyone wanted to fly a P-38 or B-25, but he was assigned to a B-24 crew as a copilot. He discusses flying to Northern Ireland, and assignment to the 67th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group based in Shipdham (England). Paul addresses not being assigned a specific plane, getting put on alert the night before potential missions, and in the case of hangovers using the airplane's oxygen mask to clear his head. He recounts a close call when a shell came through the floor by his feet and tells of seeing the destruction of two planes over Saint-Lô. Paul states he was attacked seven times by fighter planes but flak was his main concern. He details the difficulties of flying in formation, having to keep a close eye on the lead plane under radio silence, and dodging flak. Paul speaks of the types of bombs they dropped and typical mission length. He tells of dumping bombs on the submarine pens in Kiel (Germany) after springing an oil leak, flying troop support missions in France and Holland, and practicing low-altitude flights in England. He mentions one of his crewmen got frozen feet and, due to having a cold, Paul once busted an eardrum upon descent. Paul addresses going into town on leave, buying fresh eggs from the locals, and having whiskey at mission debriefs. Behind his crew on number of missions after being grounded with strep throat, he talks about slow-timing engines and flying combat missions as an instructor pilot with newly-arrived crews. Paul mentions getting married a few weeks after returning to the States, censoring V-mail, and being a pilot instructor in AT-6s until V-E Day. After his discharge, he talks about working in banking, insurance, and real estate in New Holstein (Wisconsin) and doing land acquisition work for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Paul touches on attending reunions and being active in the New Holstein American Legion.

Sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 63 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Video recording : 1 video cassette (ca. 63 min.) ; sd., col.; 1/2 in.Transcript : 38 p.Military papers : 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center