Louis Tackes, a Montana native, discusses his World War II service as a B-24 bomber pilot in the 15th Air Force. While working in Port Washington (Wisconsin), Tackes talks about failing a Naval Air Force eye exam due to exophoria, correcting the problem through eye exercises, enlisting in the Army Air Force, and being told to report to Chicago on short notice. Tackes touches on six weeks in a college training detachment at Marietta College (Ohio), pre-flight through advanced flight training in the southeastern U.S., training in B-24s at Symra (Tennessee), and overseas training with his crew at Savannah (Georgia). Assigned a B-24, he states he signed paperwork acknowledging his ownership of the plane in case of capture. He relates his difficult, sleepless flight from Maine to Wales and assignment to Torretto Airfield (Italy). Tackes describes a mission to Vienna (Austria), where his plane was damaged and two fighter planes crewed by Black airmen escorted his plane to safety at the island of Vis. On Vis, he talks about seeing young Yugoslavian soldiers and interacting with some civilians. Tackes touches upon his promotion to squadron leader, seeing his number two plane take a direct hit, and flying missions to Austria, Italy, and Yugoslavia. He talks about flying troop support to the Po Valley and blocking a retreat into Switzerland. Tackes reveals witnessing airmen, who were parachuting from damaged planes, get strafed by German fighters. While grounded for a month, he talks about being a supply officer and officer of the day and having the chance to visit his brother, who was stationed at a nearby airfield. While test-flying an airplane, Tackes tells of navigating and landing in a sudden, foggy storm. Returned to the States after the war ended, he discusses being released from service and finding a wife in Wisconsin. He comments on having crew reunions and having an occasional chance to pilot as a civilian.
