Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
2:02 | "Punchy" Powell explains his biggest fear as a fighter pilot during World War II.
Bob Powell's P-51 Mustang takes anti-aircraft fire during a strafing run on a German airfield, damaging his tail.
Bob Powell remembers his unit's action leading up to and during D-Day, maintaining allied air superiority over the beaches.
Bob Powell catches a little bit of luck when he takes out a plane that both of his commanders miss.
Bob Powell tells of the airfield battle known as The Death of the Luftwaffe, where American aces fought off a German attack while being outnumbered 5 to 1.
After taking fire, Bob Powell makes a desperate attempt to land his damaged plane but the results of his landing give the people on the ground a real scare.
Bob Powell blindly follows his colonel on a hard maneuver and comes away with his first victory.
"Punchy" Powell remembers his first combat mission flying a P-47 over Europe during World War II.
"Punchy" Powell recalls one of his most memorable wartime experiences as one of his best friends and fellow pilots had to bail out over the North Sea after a dive-bombing mission.
"Punchy" Powell explains his biggest fear as a fighter pilot during World War II.
As a fighter pilot during World War II, "Punchy" Powell describes the process of shooting down enemy aircraft and getting credit for confirmed kills.
"Punchy" Powell recalls a post-war conversation he had with a seasoned German fighter pilot whom he had flown against during World War II, and points out the difference in experience between the two sides.
"Punchy" Powell describes shooting down an enemy bomber, and shares a gruesome story involving a fellow pilot.
"Punchy" Powell explains the most dangerous type of mission pilots faced during World War II, and shares one close call he experienced while on one of these missions.
"Punchy" Powell recalls how his unit prepared for D-Day at Normandy, the orders they were given, and how it became the most exciting day of his military career.
"Punchy" Powell remembers his "closest call" during the war, when he had to crash-land his P-51 after a sudden engine failure.
