Kathleen Riley
Spokane, WA

I had the opportunity to fly on the Aluminum Overcast last Thursday in Spokane, WA.

I want to thank all the people who made that possible. My dad was a Top Turret Gunner and Flight Engineer who flew 34 missions over Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Medal. This was, for me a way to make some kind of touch with what for him was a pivotal period of his life. He died in 1972, and although he talked some about his experiences, I wanted to know more of what it was like. He was always so proud that he had been on a B17 crew. As I stood at one of the waist guns I was struck by how vulnerable these guys were. Only the thin skin of the plane to “protect” them. What a job they did!

Thank you again for making it possible for me to have that experience.