http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2006.htm
Date:
11/12/2006
Time:
1:14 PM
I'm Raymond K. Rowland.
I got my flying training in the Western Flying Training Command.
I graduated with class 44E at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico.
I joined the 323rd bomb group (B-26) 453 bomb squadron in Earles Cone England, in July 1944.
I and a number of comrades direct out of twin engine advanced,
learned we were a problem for the squadron as none of us had ever even been in a B-26.
We were made copilots and assigned to a crew and learned the B-26 in a hurry.
A couple of orientation rides, then off on missions!
The group moved to a base in southern England in August near the Isle of Wight
(our flying pattern took us over the White Cliffs of Dover).
I flew on 50 missions, mostly with first pilot Charles A. Haught.
(A few years ago our radio man, Bertram Abrahams (Allen) and I both attended a squadron reunion in Colorado Springs.
Bert and I together had made a number of "excursions" in the French countryside.
He also went with me to visit my brother Fran up near Metz.
Fran was an ambulance driver attached to Patton's 3rd army. All that is another story!
Bert had located Haught and told him I had wanted to correspond with him but he said to Bert "oh,
you mean that kid" (was 20, Haught was 24 or 25) and I never realized how, on 40 or so missions we flew together,
that he felt that way about me, he never contacted me.
The ship that we flew most of the time was "949", I think it was "Miss Twister".
We also used "QQQQ" (pronounced fork you) some times.
I finally was given some first pilot time, after VE day, and got my first pilot rating.
I did not pursue a career in flying after the war.
I attended the University of Denver to get a BS/BA degree.
I worked 25 years for a wholesale paper merchant both in office jobs and in outside sales. I retired in 1990.
Happy Holidays
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