B-24 Liberator Pilot George McGovern | World War 2 History | Veterans Share Their Stories
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- George McGovern served as a pilot in World War II. He received several air medals for his service, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was assigned to Liberal Army Airfield in Kansas and its transition school to learn to fly the B‑24 Liberator, an assignment he was pleased with. He recalled later: "Learning how to fly the B‑24 was the toughest part of the training. It was a difficult airplane to fly, physically, because in the early part of the war, they didn't have hydraulic controls. If you can imagine driving a Mack truck without any power steering or power brakes, that's about what it was like at the controls. It was the biggest bomber we had at the time."
In September 1944 McGovern joined the 741st Squadron of the 455th Bombardment Group of the Fifteenth Air Force, stationed at San Giovanni Airfield near Cerignola in the Apulia region of Italy. Starting on November 11, 1944, McGovern flew 35 missions over enemy territory from San Giovanni, the first five as co-pilot for an experienced crew and the rest as a pilot for his own plane, known as the Dakota Queen after his wife Eleanor.
On McGovern's 15 December 1944 mission over Linz, his second as a pilot, a piece of shrapnel from flak came through the windshield and missed fatally wounding him by only a few inches. The following day on a mission to Brüx, he nearly collided with another bomber during close-formation flying in complete cloud cover. The following day, he was recommended for a medal after surviving a blown wheel on the always-dangerous B-24 take-off, completing a mission over Germany, and then landing without further damage to the plane. On a December 20 mission against the Škoda Works at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, McGovern's plane had one engine out and another in flames after being hit by flak. Unable to return to Italy, McGovern flew to a British airfield on Vis, a small island in the Adriatic Sea off the Yugoslav coast that was controlled by Josip Broz Tito's Partisans. The short field, normally used by small fighter planes, was so unforgiving to four-engined aircraft that many of the bomber crews who tried to make emergency landings there perished. But McGovern successfully landed, saving his crew, a feat for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
McGovern was discharged from the Army Air Forces in July 1945, with the rank of first lieutenant. He was also awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, one instance of which was for the safe landing on his final mission.
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Specifications:
B-24 photographed from above, showing the Davis wing design.
Data from Quest for Performance, Jane's Fighting aircraft of World War II, General Dynamics aircraft and their predecessors
General characteristics
Crew: 11 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator, nose turret, top turret, 2 waist gunners, ball turret, tail gunner)
Length: 67 ft 2 in (20.47 m)
Wingspan: 110 ft (34 m)
Height: 17 ft 7.5 in (5.372 m)
Wing area: 1,048 sq ft (97.4 m2)
Aspect ratio: 11.55
Zero-lift drag coefficient: CD0.0406
Frontal area: 42.54 sq ft (3.952 m2)
Airfoil: root: Davis (22%); tip: Davis (9.3%)
Empty weight: 36,500 lb (16,556 kg)
Gross weight: 55,000 lb (24,948 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 65,000 lb (29,484 kg) plus
Fuel capacity: 2,344 US gal (1,952 imp gal; 8,870 l) normal capacity; 3,614 US gal (3,009 imp gal; 13,680 l) with long-range tanks in the bomb bay; Oil capacity 131.6 US gal (109.6 imp gal; 498 l) in four self-sealing nacelle hopper tanks
Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-35 Twin Wasp, R-1830-41 or R-1830-65 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled turbosupercharged radial piston engines, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard, 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) diameter constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 297 mph (478 km/h, 258 kn) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Cruise speed: 215 mph (346 km/h, 187 kn)
Stall speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
Range: 1,540 mi (2,480 km, 1,340 nmi) at 237 mph (206 kn; 381 km/h) and 25,000 ft (7,600 m) with normal fuel and maximum internal bomb load
Ferry range: 3,700 mi (6,000 km, 3,200 nmi)
Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
Rate of climb: 1,025 ft/min (5.21 m/s)
Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,100 m) in 25 minutes
Lift-to-drag: 12.9
Wing loading: 52.5 lb/sq ft (256 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.0873 hp/lb (0.1435 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns: 10 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in 4 turrets and two waist positions
Bombs:
Short range (400 mi [640 km]): 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg)
Long range (800 mi [1,300 km]): 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg)
Very long range (1,200 mi [1,900 km]): 2,700 pounds (1,200 kg)
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McGovern was a great example of the greatest generation. He was a man who cared about others. He took care of his crew. He didn't brag or show off. His military record was both brilliant and pretty normal for men of his generation.
@@anthonycassata5152this was a time in our history when we weren’t torn apart by our political opinions. These brave men did not fight for this crap freak show we are witnessing every day now.
Brillant? In what way? I'm intrested here!
A great guy. I've never seen this interview before. In 1972 I was 16 but I , being a Republican, would have voted for Nixon. But I never thought Senator George McGovern was anything but a Great American. I personally liked him a lot better than Nixon.
My Uncle was a Bombardier on a B-24. He crashed in , I believe, Yugoslavia and had many adventures getting out of there without getting captured. He Almost lost a couple teeth in the crash.
Any Airman who fought in that war deserves respect. Those like George McGovern the utmost Respect.
I salute George McGovern’s service
Thank you, Mr. McGovern for your service. Both in the AAF and in DC.
You're a principled man. We the People would have been better off had you won in 1968. I believe our participation in the '68 election helped LBJ decide not to run. That was - and is - an accomplishment. You are a true American.
His book was great! It describes how tough the B24 was to fly, but also how it was pretty much the deadliest bomber in the US arsenal. My uncle (I'm 73), a 19 year-old B24 co-pilot, was shot down in 1943 during the Ploiesti oil field raids and listed as KIA.
Many things he said ring true to my memory of a tail gunner's stories of the 450th Bomb Group "Cotton Tails" based in Italy, Foggia as I recall. His group trained in Idaho from an airfield in Pocatello. One training mission was a flight to Hamilton Field at Novato, California. During the turn South from the Portland area they had been instructed to maintain radio silence. Three B-24Ds flying off the coast and doing submarine searching while they headed to California. Slowly entering a foggy stretch the pilot told Stuart to single by signal lamp for the other aircraft to climb out of the fog. Once they broke into sunlight, Stu saw no other aircraft in sight. Later after landing at Hamilton, the crew was left at the plane and the three officers were driven away in a staff car. Stripping off their flight clothing they waited for the return. The officers were dropped off and the plane was refueled with the story that the other two aircraft and their crews had flown into a ridge by Elk, California. Stuart went on to fly many missions into Romania, Yugoslavia and over the Austrian Alps where he was credited with one possible fighter kill. He told the crew to not use the relief tube because the urine would freeze to his turret glass plate from the slipstream and he could not see any fighters sneaking up the contrails to attack. "Use the large tin can in the waist area" he told them. Later during a crash landing on the Island of Vis in the Adriatic, the force of running off the runway launched the piss can straight into him sitting in front of the waist gunners and ball turret gunner in their crash positions. He waited three days for recovery, smelling like a urinal even after throwing his cloths into the sea. Many crews and aircraft were lost in the States without ever getting out of the country to do their part. Sgt, Stuart Gansel of Painted Rock, PA is gone now, but his story lives on.
The story about the Italian farm is really hitting close. It is interesting to see into the heart of a bomber pilot, how aware he was of the (very much necessary) destruction his bombs cause below. And to drop them on a civilian asset during an emergency, only to then dread the decision for years had to be difficult. The Greatest Generation shall not ever be forgotten so we don't have to repeat their deeds.
That was a truly moving snippet that wrong me out, I’m so glad the family lived and he had the peace of mind, now that is being unburdened from the past.
God bless this man. Thank you for your service sir.
In 1972, in my very first vote, I voted for this man, no regrets on my part.
Joseph Heller once told McGovern, "You know, I never had a bad officer!" So says the guy that wrote "Catch 22"
The armies with meat and oil will always win. Thank you for your sacrifice to preserve our freedom 🇺🇲
Took a lot of BALLS to fly 35 missions.
Thank you 🙏
I have just read in James Holland's excellent book "Big Week" that a terrible accident happened during a bombing raid on a German town in February 1944. A Luftwaffe Me109 shot down a B-24 from close range, blowing off the nose. The upper gunner of the stricken bomber however managed to shoot down the German fighter as he went down. Then this falling bomber cut another B-24 in half as it fell through the formation, and the front half of this second bomber then flew upwards into a third B-24 flying above ! So within seconds, one German foghter caused the downing of three B-24 Liberators and the deaths of up to 30 US airmen - while being shot down himself. Whether he or how many crewmen from the three bombers survived is not known to me, but this tragic incident shows clearly how dangerous flying in close formation was for the bombers and men of the USAAF, despite the obvious advantage that had for mutual protection while under attack from enemy fighters.
My grandfather Donald Eugene Coatney was a tail gunner on a b-24. Wish there was more stories about these guys. Imagine defending the blind spot thousands of feet in the air of a flying box .
From what ive read the B24 wasn't a very good plane. Extra kudos for flying that plane and surviving.
Not exactly true, the loss rate was near identical to the 17. It was both faster and carried a bigger load but flew about 5K feet lower. It was a 24 that first completed 50 missions, not the Memphis Belle contrary to popular belief.
Hot Stuff name of B-24
HUGE SALUTE TO ALL WWII VETERANS
God Speed Love Home Amen brother.
McGovern was in the 455th BG same as my father who was a bombardier. No idea if they knew each other, never knew McGovern was with him. No doubt ate chow together and maybe briefings. Sister squadrons, same base with 3 B-24 squadrons, they both made their 35 missions before going home. I have his official mission record, no doubt they shared same target at the same time.
Side note.......... little doubt they were escorted by the Redtails I did ask my father about them, he had no idea about the black squadron existed. A Mustang was a welcome Mustang I'm sure. Oh yeah, he thought the 24 was a great bird,
I think Stephen Ambrose wrote a chronicle about McGovern. The same incredible, gripping content. But the point should be that despite being absolutely vilified and humiliated in the 1968 (?) presidential campaign, this guy was a true American hero who served with distinction and heroism. A US Senator. Unlike the so-called current popularity contest winner in the Republican party, a coward and draft dodger.
Trump doesn’t have a micro millimeter of McGovern’s humanity.
So true.
During the 72 campaign, his advisers (including Mark Shields) strongly pushed for him to run on his heroic WWII record. George, like every other WWII vet I’ve ever known refused to speak of it. Why? There are millions of others (including my Paw) who shared in that silence. Again why? It’s our duty to respect such heroes…just remember that so many of them said the real heroes didn’t get to come home. 😢
The quiet ones are the ones who tended to do the most. The braggarts, like Walz, have no shame.
My second flight of many was on an executive DC3 of California Standard in Alberta. Many smooth flights and oneof the last was to Parkin Base camp, central Yukon,before Eagle Plains became a ,,stopping point on the Dempster Hiway.
This is a Great Man
This bio prompted me to research McGovern’s life. I now have an expanded perspective on the man and his policies. I’m glad to be 70 yrs old and hopefully a wiser man. Sometimes I guess history can make you feel like a fool, and sometimes a genius. Is it possible to both at the same time?
American Patriot.
What a great story...God is great🙏
RESPECT✡️🔱⭐
ALBERT SPEER , ARMAMENTS MINISTRY SAID IT IN HIS MEMOIRS HE WROTE IN LATE 1950's.....
Isn’t it awfully ironic ? Both McGovern and Australia’s greatest prime minister, Gough Whitlam ( overthrown, essentially, due to a CIA engineered coup in 1975,..see ‘The Falcon and the Snowman ‘ to see precisely how it was done ) served in the air arms of their respective countries armed forces ( the RAAF in Whitlam’s case ),..men of the left, both losing to a right headed by chaps whose military record was skeletal at best…
I believe McGovern was a good man but would have been a jimmy carter president... no, he'd been better than carter😮
Neither one was a drag dodger like comrade bonespurs:
USS Jimmy Carter is the third and final Seawolf-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine in the United States Navy. Commissioned in 2005, she is named for the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, the only president to have qualified on submarines. Wikipedia
I voted for him
I campaigned for him in the primaries in New Hampshire and Vermont. Not being an American citizen I couldn’t vote for him.
I was enjoying this until after 20 minutes he started eulogizing about the Norden Bombsight , and castigating RAF bomber Command , whom incidentally used a better instrument the MK4 .
Regardless of how good the aiming device if the Navigators are so poor that the target cannot be found to be hit it becomes junk.
August 1942 twelve B-17's bombed the Railway yards at Rouen France , no opposition perfect weather , half the bombs missed the target . Three weeks later another mission , this time 32 bombers same target , same result.
On eight occasions Switzerland was bombed by mistake , the worse instance was when the actual mission was Ludwigshafen 100 miles to the north .
These episodes must be revealed because casual viewers of this pod will get a wrong perspective of what actually happened.
On the 5th April 1943 mission target an aircraft factory on the edge of Mortsel Belgium , the raid comprised of 79 B-17's and 25 B-24's . Of the 600 bombs dropped only 4 or 5 hit the target , the rest falling on the residential areas killing 963 .
22nd February 1944 American bombers not sure of their position bombed Nijmegen Holland killing 760 Dutch .
St Valintines day 1945 , mission target Dresden , they actually bombed Prague 75 miles to the south . This I find inexcusable , the RAF had bombed during the previous night , creating a near fire storm . The smoke bring visible from 50 miles away , and yet they still couldn't find the right city.
The senator is a brave and no doubt honest man , and when he said that 50% of the crews never made it , information the high command withheld . Its understandable that he believes the bullshit regarding the USAAF bombing accuracy.
We had a lot to learn, some people feel the "bomber generals" in ww2 did not always make the best choices because of their own prejudices. When the p47s and later a large number of p51s came into service the bombers essentially became bait for the German fighters to get shot down by Americans. Strategic bombing was never proved to be the deciding factor. Brave men though.
The intent of the bomb sights was to maximize effectiveness while minimizing collateral damages. War is hell by any measure. At least we bombed in daylight.
I wish he said his Group number my father was the 4/54 farm group flying out of Naples early I just wish I knew if he was at the same airbase at the same time
Bless him
That General in the Film (NOT McGovern) sounds like he's got as much Personality as the Chair im sitting in.
Щикарно
Nixon flew a desk, McGovern flew a B24 in all kinds of action. I've often wondered what kind of President he would have made instead of tricky dickey.
I have no doubt whatsoever,that he would’ve been a good president,every president .Who participate in war and combat turned out to be beneficial for American people.
1:14:36 you can clearly see the aircraft in a head on is a Spit, not a german fighter. It seemed a little too much of a full on shot to be real
That's Czech Republic & Slovakia. Two nations different from each other.
actually no--you're wrong. It was Czechoslovakia at the time up to "Velvet Revolution" and not two separate countries. Get your history a bit more right than that and it was the Protectorate of ...
And American voters chose Richard Nixon over this man.
George McGovern Was Far More Deserving Than Nixon… As We Know, Nixon Sure Was No Saint…
I would have been one of them if I was old enough to vote. I was 16. The funny thing is, I really liked George McGovern way better than Nixon. George McGovern's platform was not the best.
I always thought he was a really Great Guy and a Great American.
Same types are trump acolytes now. In 1972 i was 18. I voted for george
Even worse George got his DFC flying combat missions in Europe. Nixon got rich in the Pacific, selling military supplies on the black market!
What a wonderful man, eloquent, caring and empathetic. Enjoyed his commentary immensely 👍👍
This honorable and courageous B24 bomber pilot and plane commander was maligned by right wingers as a coward and traitor because he was against the Vietnam War. I was a repug and supported the war back then and I disagreed with him.
But this recipient of the distinguished flying cross who completed 35 combat missions was treated with contempt for decades and the term a “mcGovernick liberal” became a perjorativd staple with political opponents -many of whom never served.
It was shameful and it was wrong and Nixon, Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, etc-a whole generation of cranks, pussies and weirdos unfairly attacked this dedicated American warrior and servant who fought for liberty and American values as a wimp. Was shameful and wrong.
Rest in peace Mr Senator and god bless you.🇺🇸
LOL where does lying corrupt LBJ align with you?
I was just a wee tike but my parents voted for him.
It is really too bad that George went Socialist....after such an illustrious war career, in defense of our Constitutional Republic. Thanks.
Agreed😂
You can't get much more socialist the collaborating with a hardcore Republican & feeding the hungry!
@@user-sj3ct8dk9k Thanks. My point is the fact that our Constitutional Republic was not founded, nurtured, and fought over to become a "Democracy". That battle of semantics has been faced in the past, with our current crisis being an infamous "one world order" 'state. McGovern did his patriotic duty with distinction, but ultimately for the wrong reasons. He won only MASS. back in '72, which the Le.ft would like to forget about. LOL.
They cant keep from doing all the stupid things the audience want to see. Like saying Bombs away, before you drop the bombs. And being ignorant about the speed of sound, so when the bomb explodes on the ground you hear the bang at once in the airplane.
Great pilot crazier than a loon he was the first of the Democrat crazies to run for president, and he wanted to scrap a quarter of our navy in the middle of the Cold War during the Vietnam War. Sorry guys, I am not impressed. I remember this because I am older than dirt.
He's talking lot of shite about US bombing accuracy .
McGovern se alistó como piloto de guerra en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y por sus hazañas fue condecorado. Obtuvo un Ph.D. en historia en la Universidad Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, y luego enseñó en la Universidad Dakota Wesleyan, Mitchell, Dakota del Sur.