Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
2:35 | Mitch Touart describes his relationship with the ground crew and assistance personnel for his plane. He was famous for always wanting to completely top off his fuel, and after a long mission with heavy headwinds blowing on the way back, Touart's precautions proved to be essential.
Keywords : crew chief ground crew assistance personnel low fuel long mission heavy headwinds
After a mission, Mitch Touart and his crew notice that one of the planes has gone missing, only to find out that it has crashed into an embankment. COL Dunning ends up having to make a tragic decision about SGT Edelman, who is trapped in the aircraft.
Mitch Touart describes the simple but accurate Chinese alarm system used for warning fields of enemy air raids. General Chennault claimed to be a master of surprise, but with the noise of a B-25 and the Chinese alarm system, it was difficult to sneak up on a Chinese airfield.
Mitch Touart details the arrival of a new replacement crew led by the Carey brothers. He discusses his anxiety upon meeting them, and a tragic crash they were involved in.
Mitch Touart describes a mission passed down from the Pentagon to Captain Volen that involved the combination of 3 squadrons to take out a Japanese aircraft carrier.
Mitch Touart describes the deep, emotional bond between him and his crew, a bond that only men who have served can truly understand.
Mitch Touart compares Claire Chennault's concern for his men to Doolittle who, when he took over the 8th Air Force, recalled an 800 plane mission to the disdain of Ira Eaker.
Mitch Touart recalls a night in which a group of Japanese bombers attacked the base and blew up 20,000 gallons of gasoline. The explosion was enough to have Touart giving thanks that the night was over.
While traveling from the U.S. to China, Touart made many stops in different countries. At one point, they stopped in British West Africa. He describes the area as being full of people with leprosy, and he shares the lessons he learned from them.
Mitch Touart recounts LT Manning's encounter with a lighthouse after sinking a Japanese tanker in the S. China Sea. Manning made a 360 degree turn and was caught in the crossfire of the lighthouse gun pits.
Mitch Touart recounts his abnormal training process, and how he ended up with a crew because one man got sick.
