My hats off to him (and all photo recon pilots). Not only unarmed as photo scouts, but later overflying a kicked hornet's nest AFTER a bomb mission to check on damage. Can you imagine the recons over Penemunde where they had everything imaginable to throw up in your face. Whew!

And the ball turret gunners. Prime target, plus a hit to the hydraulics and you can't leave, and are road pizza on landing. Heck, ANYONE on a daylight raid in a 240 mph bomber facing 380 mph fighters w/ 20mm cannon and flak. Dry feet for six or eight hours, most of that without fighter escort in the early war. Over, and over, and over again . . .

They truly were a great generation, no question about it.