The Late Andy Rooney in a B-17

We all probably know that Rooney flew two missions on a B-17 during World War II. He was based in England and flew over over the English Channel into the first mission into Germany.
     It was in a wing of 500 B-17s that struck Wilemshaven, a location that manufactured ball bearings. As most men know, those components are vital to making engines.
     A B-17 has two decks in the nose: the top deck is the cockpit where the pilot sits in an almost cocoon like left-seat. On his right is a rather wide panel of buttons, lights, dials and switches wedged between he and the co-pilot on the right side of the compartment, also wedged in to the other side of the small space. In between them stands the flight engineer who doubles as the top turret gunner.
    In the lower deck, right under the three men are the navigator, sitting on his office chair, at his desk,and in front of him, in the nose is the bombardier/machine gunner.
    Andy Rooney was only 24 when he was assigned as a reporter for Stars and Stripes newspaper to doa story about Ameicas first strike into Germany's heart land. As he described it, he was not very nervous - right up until the navigator keeled over blue in the face from lack of oxygen.
    Rooney was in modern parlance, just short of a peace activist, admitting in his book that he had flirted with Socialism back in his day. And, when you read his book, "My War," one can easily discern his political leaning. He was photographed for the cover standing in front of a load of 1000 pound bombs in Class A uniform, holding a rose. We got the message, Andy.
    He hated most of the Generals, particularly General Patton, claiming credit for being one of the "nagging " reporters who always chased him for negative comments.
    In the cramped lower deck of the navigator/bombarder's quarters, Rooney was strapped into a tight spot on the right bulkhead between one of the yellow oxygen tanks and an aft  bulkhead at the end of the small compartment.
    About 45 minutes before the IP, they were jumped by all the enemy fighters in the world and the shooting started. The navigator collapsed. Rooney called up to the 20 year old pilot asking instructions. The pilot told him what to do and he did it, his oxygen mask iced up. Andy cleared it, got him back on his feet, breathing, and shooting both .50 caliber machine guns in minutes.
    The mission was successful, the pilot said that Andy probably saved the airplane and Rooney got a medal for it. He was geniunely embarassed about it.
     Rooney flew another mission out of another English base which he described as uneventful. To get a true picture of Andy Rooney, I recommend picking up a copy of his book, My War. It will turn around your mental picture of the man.
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