During World War II there were 12,000 heavy bombers shot down. Two-thirds of Allied bomber crews were lost for each plane destroyed. Over 100,000 Allied bomber crewmen were killed over Europe. Six bomber crewmen were killed for each one wounded.

More U.S. servicemen died in the Air Corps than the Marine Corps. While completing the required 30 missions, your chance of being killed was 71 percent. From June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945 in Europe the Allies had 200,000 dead and 550,000 wounded.

The second World War officially ended 75 years ago on Sept 2, 1945 — V Day. The documents were signed abord the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
More than 16 million men and women served our nation during World War II. Forty-five thousand gave their lives and 55,000 were wounded.
My uncle Jim Heiskell was one of those who served. Uncle Jim is now passed on but when reviewing some of his belongings I found his military papers along with an article from his unit of the history of the unit.

The other day I was reminded that perhaps I’d better write my memories of Pearl Harbor while I still can. My daddy, Dempsey Heiskell, had bought a Philco battery radio so we could hear the War news. Our house had by now been wired for electricity, and there was great excitement in anticipating the lights coming on with the flip of a switch instead of a match. This had not happened yet, so the battery that looked like a ten-pound mold of butter enabled my family to keep up with what was happening in Europe.