WW2 Era Letter Written by B-17 Ball Turret Gunner To His Sister, He Would Later Be Killed In Action in Germany.

[Heartfeltzero]

This letter was written by a Robert Spisak. He was born on June 14th 1924 in Endicott, New York. He had been in high school during the war and was a senior when he enlisted into the military at 18 years old. He would go on to join the Army Air Force and would serve as a Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, with the 379th Bomb Group, 527th Bomb Squadron.

At the time of writing this letter, he was still in training at Ephrata Air Base in Washington State and assigned to the 395th Bomb Group, 588th Bomb Squadron. He was writing to his sister. The letter reads:

“ 6/26/43

Dear Sis,

I’m starting this letter now but don’t know how soon I’ll mail it. I expect to be assigned to my outfit this afternoon so then I’ll know my real address.

Well Sis, it looks like I’ll never get close to home does it? I can tell you now, not to expect me home for some time. I doubt very much if I’ll be able to get home for at least another four months. I know you’re going to feel bad but that’s the army for you. I guess we can stick it out for that four months. I know mom’s going to feel bad but there’s nothing I can do about it.

I’ll get you something from this place just as soon as I get paid O.K? What would you like?

I’ll only be here for about two months and then move to some other field. You see, we are now in our final training as gunners. We have four phases to go through. This is our first phase. Then we will be assigned to a crew and get assigned with each other. This crew will be the crew I’ll be with from now till this trouble is all over.

I got your letter the day I left so I couldn’t very well answer it. I don’t need anything so don’t worry.

I’ll tell you about the 12 hr. pass when I have more time O.K.? There is a lot I can tell you so don’t worry. I guess there’ll lot to tell you when I get home.

I got a swell pipe from Evelyn for my birthday. Boy was it ever slick. I got that and a pound pouch of Rum Maple Tobacco. Lau wrote and told me she has a present for me but won’t send it for a week or so. I think it’s a big picture of herself. I sure hope it is. It’d be the best gift I could have got.

Don’t worry about her not being up to see you all. Don’t forget, she’s taking her finals just now and she sure wants to pass them. So please be patient, she’ll be up.

Well Sis, I’ll close for now. I’ll write more this afternoon if I’m assigned. So until later, “Hold on”.

Well Sis, I’m finally assigned and now I know my address for the next six weeks or more.

I got a little good news. I may be able to get home after my second phase of this training. I’m not sure and I’m not promising but I’ll try my best to get home then.

Well Sis, say hello to all and take care of yourself.

O! Before I forget. I’m assigned to a B17 (Flying Fortress).

Write soon.

Your brother
Bob. “

Soon after writing this letter, Robert would complete his training and his unit would be sent overseas. Robert would participate in various missions on different B17 aircraft.

Operation Argument, aka “Big Week” would take place between February 20th-25th 1944. The operation was part of the Combined bomber offensive against Nazi Germany. The objective of the operation was to destroy aircraft factories in central and southern Germany in order to defeat the Luftwaffe before the Normandy Landings during Operation Overlord were to take place later in 1944.

Roberts unit would take part in Big Week.

On February 22nd 1944, 789 bombers would be dispatched from 1st 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. Robert and his crew would be a part of the 1st Air Division on this mission. They would climb into their B-17 “Sons O’ Satan” 42-29829, and would take off from RAF base Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire and be on their way. Their specific mission was to bomb targets in Halberstadt, Germany.

The crew consisted of :
Robert W. Haston -Pilot,
Foy R. Clingman - Copilot,
Harold N. Sheaffer- Navigator
Stanislaw Burblis- Nose Gunner
Gordon D. Fisher-Radio Operator
Kenneth E. Raack- Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner.
Robert Spisak- Ball Turret Gunner
Conrad J. Gemmecke- Right waist Gunner
William G. Nixon Jr.- Left waist Gunner
Lester B. Adriansen- Tail Gunner.

Severe weather and cloud cover on this day made bombing attempts difficult, but Robert and his crew would be successful in dropping most of their payload onto their targets and began to head back to base. Directly after leaving their target, they began to take fire from enemy fighters.

Overall, out of the 10 crewmen onboard, 5 would be killed in the attack, and 5 would manage to get out but would be taken prisoner. Included in the post are some written testimonies by the survivors describing what happened to the other crewmen. Feel free to read them, but I will give a brief description here.

Robert Haston (Pilot) managed to bail from the aircraft and was taken Prisoner.

Foy Clingman (Copilot) managed to jump out but his parachute did not open and he fell to his death.

Harold Sheaffer (Navigator) was killed in the initial attack, likely by falling out of the bomb bay while trying to release the hung bomb.

Stanislaw Burblis (Nose Gunner) - called out the fighters when first hit. He was killed in the attack.

Gordon Fisher (Radio Operator) was able to bail out and taken prisoner.

Kenneth Raack (Flight Engineer/top gunner) was hit in the head and neck while manning the top turret by 20mm cannon rounds and was killed instantly.

Robert Spisak (Ball Turret Gunner and Author of the letter) - He refused to bail out. Lester(Tail gunner) tried to throw him out but Robert had a death grip on the wheel strut. They were at about 2,000 feet so Lester was forced to jump without him and Robert went down with the aircraft and was killed in the crash.

Conrad Gemmecke (Right waist Gunner) - Bailed out and was taken prisoner.

William Nixon (Left waist Gunner) Bailed out and was taken prisoner.

Lester Adriansen (Tail Gunner) - bailed out and was taken prisoner. - last to leave the aircraft.

Their aircraft would crash in a field about 2 miles south of Gottingen, Germany.

Overall, 39 Aircraft from the 1st Air Division would not return that day. 170 airmen would be killed and 186 would be taken prisoner.

Robert was 19.

[BlackCat1982]

Another golden historical nugget of history, taking us from the USA to deadly aerial combat. Heroes they all were. Remembered they all deserve to be.

[Willmore]

Hi JB.

I totally agree with BC.

The letter and information is so poignant and I would guess that shock and pure terror caused Robert to freeze.

Thank you for sharing his story with us.

Kind regards,

Will.

[Heartfeltzero]

Hey Will,

I was thinking the same think. And my pleasure!.

Good day,

JB