I had a similar but ...( 6 months ago by m9078jk3)
I had a similar but not anywhere quite as amazing a coincidence.
My neighbors friends step father was a Tuskegee Airman named Hugh Warner.He shot down a BF 109 on the same day on escort that my father was on a mission to Memmingen on July 18th,1944.My Dad was a pilot in the 463rd BG (5th Bomb Wing -B-17's).My Dad also went to Brux and Blechhammer too though his combat service was from July to November 1944.Dheilbrun13 what bomb group was you dad in?
Continued from that ...( 6 months ago by m9078jk3)
Continued from that painting in the video I recognize the 5th Bomb Group Y on the vertical stabilizer of the B-17 and the Box around the Y. Was your dad in the 301st Bombardment Group? I know a Kenneth Wheeler (navigator) from the 301st BG near where I live and he went to Blechhammer as well.His B-17 was hit by FLAK and he had to evade capture in Yugoslavia after bailing..
The 5th Bomb Wing was comprised of the 2,97,99,301,463 and 483 bomb groups.
Wheat a great ...( 6 months ago by gageedna)
Wheat a great story.My dad was also in ww11.although he has passed,he would have loved this story.
Unbelievable! ...( 5 months ago by kingair157)
Unbelievable! Coincidence? Fate? Great story. Thanks for sharing!!
An incredible story ...( 5 months ago by 1bigskeeter1)
An incredible story!! Both of these fine gentlemen are true American heroes.
My Dad, as well, was in WWII along with Korea and Vietnam. He flew B-17's & B-25's in WWII and just recently relayed a few of his memories during his 32 years of service.
This story was ...( 5 months ago by herhauntingeyes)
This story was wonderful. I lost a great Uncle in WWII- and often think of his sacrifice. Your Father's courage humbles me. He makes me proud to be an American.
Hi, Doug Heilbrun ...( 5 months ago by Dheilbrun13)
Hi, Doug Heilbrun here again (Son of B17 pilot featured in this video.) Well how cool is THIS? The George Lucas movie Redtails is coming out next month. We are in the planning stages of having a full-blown (well, kinda) premier that will revolve around the 2 men in this video you have all enjoyed so much. We will be reserving a theater and honoring both who will be in attendence as we watch Hollywood pay homage. Limos, red carpet, and press are all planned here in Cincy. Who wants to come?
To My Leahr and Mr. ...( 5 months ago by jimeisenmann1)
To My Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun,as well as all the men who flew with you, all I can say is thank you for your service.
Array( 5 months ago by YisraelOrBust)
Wow, what an awesome, and heartwarming story.
Racism can have ...( 5 months ago by TheDNLJR)
Racism can have strange outcomes. A reason why the Tuskegee Airmen were so good was because while the War Department was trying to decide whether to let them into the fight in Europe, they stayed at Tuskegee and flew continous training missions. By the time they finally got to Itally they often had 2-3 times actual flight time/experience as white pilots that had just completed flight training. Got this info from a Great Uncle of mine who was a ground crew member.
Hi again, Herb ...( 4 months ago by Dheilbrun13)
Hi again, Herb Heilbrun's son Doug here. I'm sure many of you know George Lucas' movie Red Tails is coming out next week. I have a special invitation for some of you: We are having an event around the premier next week here in Cincinnati with Herb and John as the guests of honor. To any of you who were so taken by their story that you bought their book, I'd like to to join us in the theater for the movie premiere! LET ME KNOW BY 1/13 if you'd like to attend as I only have a select # of tix avail
i swear the world ...( 4 months ago by JL0vely)
i swear the world is small! lol
funny how things work out
but my goodness your father was sooooo handsome!!!!
Array( 4 months ago by Michael71186)
Fantastic story.
So who has gone and ...( 3 months ago by Dheilbrun13)
So who has gone and seen Red Tails? What did you think? I put together a screening with 100 guests including my dad (Herb Heilbrun) and Mr. Leahr. Although there were certainly some discrepencies (the formations of the bombers were not nearly tight enough), they both enjoyed it and the night was a tremendous success. I got to say a few words and introduce Mr. Leahr who also addressed the audience who gave him a standing ovation. Well-deserved, I might add.
What an amazing ...( 3 months ago by kgb66604a)
What an amazing story! As a high school student, I had the privilege of interviewing several Tuskegee Airmen as I researched my History Day performance about their role as civil rights pioneers. I'm now grown, working as a corporate account executive at CDW in Chicago. Today, as a decade ago, I am inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen's extraordinary courage as they faced racism at home and enemy fire overseas. Check out "The Red-Tailed Angels" by John Freeman.
Fascinating story! ...( 3 months ago by Seattlecarnut)
Fascinating story! Thanks for posting.
I hope you are ...( 3 months ago by robinthereader1)
I hope you are working on making this remarkable story a picture book for children. This story would help our young people know what they can do to make a difference and also show them that racist ideas have no place in our great country.
Actually ...( 3 months ago by Dheilbrun13)
Actually robinthereader, if you haven't seen it in the comments below, there IS a book written about their story called "Blackand White Airmen - Their True Story". It is loaded with lots of photos of both John and my dad (Herb) and is written in a way school kids can understand, but in a way adults can still enjoy. Dad goes to events and signs and sells them, recently selling nearly 70 books at an event honoring the Tuskegee Airmen here in Cincinnati. It is his "mission" to get out the word.
Bothers in arms ...( 3 months ago by RideAmerica1)
Bothers in arms knows not of color. Now if this is not one of the Almighty's mysteries two men standing next to each other in the second grade. Find each other in the hell of combat standing together again....S.F.
RideAmerica1
Array( 3 months ago by elisa412)
Thank you !
My husband and I ...( 2 months ago by fvbucks)
My husband and I took our son and grandson to see Red Tails. We loved it. We know Herb because we are volunteers at the Champaign Aviation Museum in Urbana. We had the pleasure of spending some time with Herb last Saturday when he stopped in to update us on what he has been up to. Red Tails is an excellent movie and made all the more special knowing Herb and his special relationship with John.
Nice story, but ...( 1 week ago by jimmygreaves12)
Nice story, but lets forget the 'Hollywoodesque' rewriting of historical fact.Firstly, i often stop off at old US Army Air Force stations across eastern England and pay my respects. but conversely, respect works both ways. The P51 was a British fighter, period.Design commisioned by and paid for by the British Air Ministry and finally,to get it to perform anywhere near what was intended, Packard were told to scrap their engine and Rolls Royce versions of the Merlin engines were exclusively used.
and Blechhammer too though his combat service was from July to November 1944.Dheilbrun13 what bomb group was you dad in?
and he went to Blechhammer as well.His B-17 was hit by FLAK and he had to evade capture in Yugoslavia after bailing.. The 5th Bomb Wing was comprised of the 2,97,99,301,463 and 483 bomb groups.
would have loved this story.
sharing!!
Dad, as well, was in WWII along with Korea and Vietnam. He flew B-17's & B-25's in WWII and just recently relayed a few of his memories during his 32 years of service.
Uncle in WWII- and often think of his sacrifice. Your Father's courage humbles me. He makes me proud to be an American.
planned here in Cincy. Who wants to come?
well as all the men who flew with you, all I can say is thank you for your service.
awesome, and heartwarming story.
pilots that had just completed flight training. Got this info from a Great Uncle of mine who was a ground crew member.
a special invitation for some of you: We are having an event around the premier next week here in Cincinnati with Herb and John as the guests of honor. To any of you who were so taken by their story that you bought their book, I'd like to to join us in the theater for the movie premiere! LET ME
KNOW BY 1/13 if you'd like to attend as I only have a select # of tix avail
the bombers were not nearly tight enough), they both enjoyed it and the night was a tremendous success. I got to say a few words and introduce Mr. Leahr who also addressed the audience who gave him a standing ovation. Well-deserved, I might add.
as they faced racism at home and enemy fire overseas. Check out "The Red-Tailed Angels" by John Freeman.
place in our great country.
goes to events and signs and sells them, recently selling nearly 70 books at an event honoring the Tuskegee Airmen here in Cincinnati. It is his "mission" to get out the word.
next to each other in the second grade. Find each other in the hell of combat standing together again....S.F. RideAmerica1
rewriting of historical fact.Firstly, i often stop off at old US Army Air Force stations across eastern England and pay my respects. but conversely, respect works both ways. The P51 was a British fighter, period.Design commisioned by and paid for by the British Air Ministry and finally,to get it
to perform anywhere near what was intended, Packard were told to scrap their engine and Rolls Royce versions of the Merlin engines were exclusively used.