The Thrill Of Being a WW2 Fighter Pilot | Memoirs Of WWII #48
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 เม.ย. 2023
- All Jack Hallett ever wanted to do was fly. And when the Second World War broke out, he got his chance. Listen as Jack shares stories of bombing, strafing, D-Day, seeing friends shot down, and his many missions over German-occupied Europe.
Memoirs of WWII Website: bit.ly/2w60kGM
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Written and Directed by Joshua Scott
Filmed by Heather Scott
Edited by Joshua Scott
Post Audio by Lane Tarr
Photo Enhancement and Colorization by Hudson Louie
Archive Footage Sources:
www.archives.gov/
Norris Aeroworks
Archive Photo Sources:U.S. Air Force
Imperial War Museums
SDASM Archives
NHBLI
General Aviation News
The U.S. National Archives
U.S. Library of Congress
Primary Musical Score Source:
artlist.io/
Artlist Songs and Composers:
“Revelations” by Tristan Barton
“Idyllwild” by Rew
“Cold” by Borrtex
“I Miss You” by Tom Goldstein
“Memoirs Of WWII Theme” composed by Joshua Scott, performed by Jonathan Hadinger, Joshua Scott, and Chris Baldwin
#history #veteran #ww2 #military #wwii #mastersoftheair
A fighter pilot who saw a friend come back from the dead and lived to 102, that is a life well spent and rest well earned. Seeing his face light up as he recalled his stories truly has made my day. Thank you for keeping these men's stories alive for future generations.
One interviewed WWII P-51 fighter pilot who was 89 at the time recalled: "Here I was 21 years old and they gave me this brand new beautiful aircraft and ordered me to shoot at whatever enemy in the air or on the ground. It was fun. I haven't had as much fun in my life since." 🪖
I became friends with Jack in the last few years of his life. I can attest to what an amazing American he is. Humble, kind, funny and full of energy to the last moment. He was embraced by the local flying community and spent a lot of time flying in all types of aircraft with one of his final flights doing aerobatics in a PT-17 just a year or so before his passing. My wife and I would take home dinner and sit with him when he was in hospice and his stories and memory were incredibly sharp until his last breath. I am honored to have known such a wonderful person and I miss Jack.
I’m envious of you… 👍🏻 😢
great you could be there at the last
Glad you was with him for his final mission before he left this earth. Thank. You for sharing.
What a great thing that you were there for him. I would’ve loved to have met him.
@avmechllc That Jack had YOU to support him, listen to him and - among many other things - hold his hand ‘till his end here with us mortals was an Honor few of us have ~ Thank YOU, Brother..!!! “Always Out Front!” ~ My M.I. Corps Motto🇺🇸 #2A 🇺🇸 #AmericanRepublicFirst 🇺🇸
His face lit up when he talked about P-38. He truly loved that airplane. God bless and RIP Lt. Thank you for your story and your service.
Me too
Them P38 drivers were kinda rare to meet. Even rarer to meet one that flew P38s till the end of the war. One thing I noted about them. Most Army fighter pilots bragged on the Mustangs or desired to fly the Mustang. The P38 guys are the only pilots I ever met that had no desire to fly any other airframe in combat but the P38.
Since then and working in military aviation. I’ve only seen that pilot characteristic in one other airframe type. A-7 drivers.
My grandfather was born the same year as this hero was. My grandfather tried to enlist the day after Pearl Harbor as well but they had him on a delay for about a month and a half. He was eager to go. They determined that he should be sent to flight school in Uvalde, Texas and that was part of the delay. He trained on the same planes as this man. He then learned to fly the P-40 and practiced taking off on short runways in Virginia. Their mission in his squadron was to deliver P-40s to the North African campaign. He flew off the deck of the Naval aircraft carrier USS Ranger CV-4 in 1943. From there he started flying the P-38 for the duration of his time there. He was in the 82nd fighter group in the 12th Air Force. He really loved that P-38 more than any other plane that he ever flew. He credited the dual engines for bringing him home on more than one occasion. My grandfather passed away in 1999 and I would have loved to have had him for more years. He spent 28 years in the Air Force and I loved listening to his stories. When I listened to this gentleman I sort of saw my grandfather in him because of them flying the same planes. They definitely would have enjoyed talking to each other. I'm sorry to hear about this hero's passing but it sounds like he lived a long and full life. Thank you for sharing his story with us. It's great to seem him being remembered for future generations.
In Hertfordshire, England, there was a USAAF Airfield called Bovingdon which had P38's.
One poor guy crashed just outside Hemel Hempstead soon after take-off.
There is a small memorial there and every year on the anniversary, locals gather and lay flowers on the site of the crash.
We never forget.
It's amazing to me,an American how the rest of the Allie countries celebrate and remember the fallen WW2 US soldiers even today.. While back here in the States, so little is done or celebrated for those who have done the greatest service to all mankind... 😢
Thank You! 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
@@paulzammataro7185I love the English. Never been there but I sure love you guys.
The "Greatest Generation" indeed. I have so much admiration for each and every one.
Rest In Peace, Sir.
I agree
I take so much pride in these stories and the lives of these greatest men
I badly want to live in their generation as an American Pilot.
Greatest generation my ass. The Tuskegee Airmen were treated like dirt during and after the war. After the war they had to go right back to the back of the bus. What did this "greatest" generation do about it? NOTHING. My dad served in the Pacific theater. On the way home from deployment, back to Arkansas, he and other black GIs had to sit in the back of the bus once crossing Mason-Dixon line. This "greatest generation" went on enjoying their white privilege and did nothing in the interest of equality for all.
🎉🎉😢😮😊
My grandpa was a P38 pilot and passed last year as well. These videos are a must, because their unique experiences are lost when they leave us.
No, their memories are lost when we pass. As time marches on everything becomes less significant. For example, in a thousand years most people will go through life never to even read about WWII and to even contemplate its drama.
Let’s say you are born on your dad’s 19th birthday. One year later you are 1 and he is 20. He is 20 times older than you. So when you turn 10 your father will turn 29. He is now only 2.9 times older than you. Ten more years later you are 20 years old and your father is 39. He is now just 1.95 times older than you! Do you see what is happening? For intensive purposes of cosmic time you are the same age infinitely - it is like there really is no time. It is all an illusion. A man made construct to organize change in our daily lives. But in the big picture these changes that we measure are insignificant! Hmmm like in the big picture maybe we are insignificant. I feel it, as I get older I am less relevant.
So on your dads 1000 year birthday you will be 981 He is now 1.019 times older than you. Given enough time your father would be 1.000000000001234 some numbers to follow many zeros on the right of the decimal times older than you. At some point in cosmic time you will have to agree that your father is 1 times older than you. “You are the same age!”
This is a man who knew what he wanted, did it, loved it, had an adventure, lost friends, unlost one, and lived his best life. What a treasure, hero, and inspiration. Rest well sir.
What a incredible story. Can you imagine thinking your friend is dead. Come home and he's living at your house. WOW
I’ve watched a lot of these interviews, but that has to be one of the most fascinating stories!
@@jetpilot3714 Agree!
It's truly amazing. I hoped they remained friends for life
The smile on this gentlemans face in the beginning as he said "I'm a fighter pilot" was priceless. Thanks to all and the families of those who have served and are serving this Great Nation 👍
Its always a great day when MOW2 uploads a video. Thanks team.
You are doing a great service to honor the stories of a soon vanished generation. I am german and my grnadma was 13 when the war started. She told me many stories from her point of view beiing a young girl growing up in a fascist Terror state.
I think you found the one true purpose of your life. I enjoy every video so much. The camera work, the editing, the blended in footage, the respect you have for these soldiers really emanates thorugh your and your teams work.
Thank you for preserving this history in a medium that has the potential to be around as long as the human race will make it.I like to imagine that 200 years from now, there will be a classroom filled with students watching one of your interviews and can really be enveloped by the Zeitgeist of this era.
I wish you only the best, and will watch everything you will put out as long as you are willing to do this important work.
Love
Max
Beautiful😊
Respect.
The present is built upon the bones of the past, wrong choices & right choices. ALL history must include the perspectives of all that have gone before. ANY/ALL censcorship of info is a disservice to ALL following generations. Provide ALL info to ALL people & have trust in the human qualities of empathy & justice.
Holy propaganda! Fascist terror state? Hahaha! The vast majority of Germans felt the opposite of your grandma, and with good reason. Their leader has become the most lied about human in modern history, since WWII. Only 'feel good myth' propaganda is allowed on TH-cam, unfortunately. For truth re. the war in Europe, one must go to other vid platforms.
Too bad your grandma’s stories couldn’t be recorded on TH-cam. People should know those things too.
Cheers.
RIP Jack, you were a true American patriot 🇺🇸
The greatest generation America ever birthed.
I have tears in my eyes every time I watch these interviews
8:30 Wow, I can really see the kid in him and truly relate to the type of humour these young men had. At the end of the day they were the same as us, kids forced to grow up fast, undertaking in an incredible event, making them legends and heroes. Although this man will probably never see this, a huge thank you to you and all those who fell fighting for our future, the greatest generation who ever lived. ❤🕊
So true. He really sounds like my friends and I growing up, except he was in the midst of a war. Seems like a great guy to share a beer with. Appreciate all he, and the other soldiers, have done for the country.
I can only be silent, and awed when I consider your service, Mr. Hallett. Thank you, Sir!
That story was like the end of The Human Comedy only better because the son of the house actually made it home. So good!
The detail with which he remembered all of those incidents was extraordinary. I felt like I was in the cockpit with him at times. What a guy! What a life!
My grandmother gave me a copy of that book when I was a teenager and loved it. Time to dig it out of the closet and read again!
I will admit to crying...
Another incredible story, I couldn't imagine being in their shoes back then. RIP Jack Hallett.
I was very curious on what happened to John Rufas Lund and found out he passed away on February 14th 2005 at age 88. RIP John Lund.
Thanks for sharing about John Lund, I was also interested about what happened to him, I am very happy to know that he also lived a long life!!
He lived a long life! Thank you for letting him share his story with us.
Don't ever forget these men. The powers that be couldn't do what they are till these men were gone.
💯%
You may have only got one air to air battle victory, but you did it with great bravery and courage all while being completely upside down. That is badass! I absolutely love what this channel is doing!
In my teen, i read a lot of ww2 airplane fighters books and loved it! This was a beautiful thing, thank you! The joy in this man face is priceless!
A humble man, filled with his own memories, but still so respectful and in awe of the courage of others. He faced death alone on every mission and has the right to be proud. Inspiring !
The light in his eyes when he said "that's my favorite story" was beautiful.. you can tell how happy that memory made him.. God bless soldier
What a great story about his buddy surviving and being at his house when he got home. ❤
The part of the story where he pursues a fighter into the ground is one of the best war stories I've ever heard.
Wow! I don’t have the words for incredible service these men did. Truly the greatest generation. Thank you for all that you do to keep these stories alive
Rest in Peace Jack. Thanks for sharing your story.
What a great story. I'm glad he got to live such a long life he definitely deserved it.
Magnificent josh! Thank you for what you and your family do! My maternal grandfather was an Ace P-38 pilot... And a very rare case of having served in both S. Pacific, as well as Europe, and later to remain among the occupying population of Germany. My paternal grandfather was a Commander in the C.B.'s USN, Midway, Palau, and surrounds.... From both just a multitude of the deepest and most moving true accounts of what they, the greatest generation did! So very rich and with such pure, honest humanness and humanity, I am ever moved and I never tire of learning from such recounts! Blessings, Thank you! -Cpt. Loyal Tarbet
What a beautiful heart warming story. Thanks for preserving those precious memories. God bless Jack and thanks for his service to our country.
To the world actually! Fighting down the Nazis and Fasists in Germany, Italy and Japan was nessesary for our fredom of speach and thought!
My dad was a P-51 pilot with the 15th Air Force in Italy. He didn't talk much about the war until he was in his 70s, but I felt that, looking back, he considered it the most exciting thing in his life. This video captures what my dad felt for me.
This makes me sad but yet happy that they had some real life experiences no one will ever have.
My dad and both my uncles fought in WWII, I miss them dearly..
What an amazing story, definitely one of my favorites. Just a kid with a love of flying. Even in the midst of war, all he wanted to do was fly.
Such a great guy. Great story teller too. God Bless him, and all of the Greatest Generation. Rest in Peace.
This amazing man remembers everything like it was yesterday …
Wow, I love this guy so much. What an amazing story!
Although I think your whole channel is incredible, this was my favourite video of them all 👍🏻 What an amazing story!
Mine too.
I have a feeling hes not too proud of his dog fight victory. Seems like sich a gentle man. Thank you for your service. So much respect!!
This has to be one of my favorites. He lit up sharing his story, and it brought me to tears. Beautiful!
"I looked down at the soldiers and thought 'where do they get the courage to do that?"
"There was so much lead in the air, but everyone else went in and so you go in..."
Love that humility.
I wish i could be happy about ANYTHING like he does when he talks about being in a P38. What an amzing man.
There's an 8th AAF vet in the Lutheran home in Telford Pennsylvania that just turned 106yrs old. I believe he was crew cheif for B17's. You should try to interview him.
What an outstanding family project! I got an associate degree in history somewhere around 50 years old after a career in the Marines. I conducted a couple of historical interviews, one of a veteran and neighbor who served right through the war in Europe in the infantry. Another lady who worked with my wife, who lived in an occupied town in Belgium, her brother was in the resistance. The stories literally blew my mind. This project you're doing is priceless, and I commend you and your family! The Jack Hallet interview is one of the best I've seen! I recruited in that town, Newton, MA.... really great people there.
What a story had tears in my eyes one very humble man RIP
Rest in peace brave pilot, it was a joy to hear telling your story!
Great story. The fact that he survived and got to see his buddy again is an uplifting end to it.
You go through the flame and whoa! What a great story, had me laughing and holding back tears. Thanks for sharing his story
The greatest generation will forever live on. I wish they lived forever I absolutely love their stories more than words can say. The courage of these people were uncanny.
The way he spoke about the men on the ground, that’s proper admiration. God bless their souls, all of them.
I couldn't help but smile along with Jack as he recollected his time of service in WWII Thank you Jack for your selflessness!
holy mackerel, this gave me goosebumps.. I'm a young German guy, fascinated by the stories of our grandparents, on both sides of the pond. I love hearing stories like this when enemy soldiers, or pilots in this case, behave so humanely and treat those that came to fight them with dignity and respect. Unfortunately such a behavior was less common in the east when it came to the war between the Germans and the Russians.. But I, and I suppose many other Germans, still feel grateful towards the Americans and other western allies for joining the war to fight Hitlers aggression and even more for not treating all Germans like Hitler's after the war, despite the many acts of war crimes and atrocities, and for allowing and enabling us and the rest of Europe to recover and nurture a free, prosperous and democratic Europe.
Your work is truly indispensable and a great way to let the memories of those men and those that did not come back live on.
Please relay my gratitude to the next brave veteran you interview!
What a well written and heartfelt comment.
@@jetpilot3714 thank you :) greatly appreciated!
My grandfather was a Combat Medic in WWII. My dad wasn't in the picture, so I was raised by my single mother and her parents. My grandfather took the fatherly roll and I couldn't be more grateful or proud to be raised by him. He's gone now and buried in Arlington Cemetery but his stories are held in my heart. And will be till I'm no longer here myself. Here's to the Greatest Generation.
Thank you, Sir, for your service and your memory. You were part of the Greatest Generation. Your generation was in charge when I was growing up. They were our leaders, our teachers, our carpenters, our mechanics, our doctors, our neighbors. I wish I had known better that I was growing up with the toughest and most resilient people on Earth, but I was just a kid.
I am privileged to have grown up in your generations shadow. Rest in peace Sir.
Rest easy, Jack. Thank you for serving our great nation. Thank you to the Memoirs of WWII team for keeping Jacks' story alive.
The story about his comrade John Lund is a really great one. Happy to support, Thank you for doing this work guys
I have watched this particular interview many times, and Jack makes me smile every time. What a humble man.
From Ireland: RIP Jack Halett.
These hero's were so young they didn't realize the amount of bravery they were showing. Amazing Men and Women!
This episode is emotional. What a terrific bloke and a credit to the American Air Force. Thanks for your contribution towards defeating Nazi Germany Sir. Love from Great Britain
The stories you get to hear on this channel is better than watching a movie, these veterans telling there tale of the time they defended there country in WW2 it’s them that you honor.I was raised by a vet from WW2/Korea and it was the greatest generation this country will ever know and I can say that with conviction….back when men were men.
The story of Jacks friend John easily is the best I’ve ever heard. The emotions, the back and forth of why he had that dang jacket…I mean nobody could write a better ending. May they both rest in peace.
Could u freaking imagine coming home to your family housing your best friend that you thought was dead?!?!? What an amazing story!!
Amazing... my grandfather told me many stories. Unfortunately I was a little to young to fully understand them. Miss you grandad Jim.
One of the most humble and beautiful World War Two true stories ever told. Direct from the man who lived it, Jack Hallet, himself. Rest in Peace Great American.
Rest easy and in Peace, Jack.
Hands down best channel on TH-cam. I always feel so emotional watching any of these videos. God bless you all, and happy Easter.
Great story, another wonderful character gone but atleast we have this for his memory. What a legend Rip Jack what a life you lived
What a kind, gentle man. I was lucky enough to grow up around men like this. My dad's boss at DSA was a 2-star Air Force General who had survived the Bataan Death March. He explained to me how a reflector gunsight works. My Italian in-laws are from the very north-east of Italy. My wife's mom has described watching aerial combat over her village, with empty cartridges falling from the sky, and one day they discovered all the fields and hedges covered in strips of aluminum foil. This was called "window," and it was tossed out of bombers to dazzle enemy radar. We call it chaff. So many stories. --Old Guy
That's brilliant Josh. What a fantastic story of Jack's. Many thanks to your family for keeping these memories alive. Best wishes from Australia.
And NZ !!
The greatest generation especially in the U.S.A. was these guys in the 40's I don't just say that because my pop was in WWII but because of all the military and soldiers I've seen in videos like this plus the fact I remember my father working 3 jobs when I was growing up to feed and cloth 12 kids ,he not only worked the 3 jobs but also stained and painted people's wood plank fences on the weekends, I don't know of anyone that doesn't have a college degree making so much they don't have to work that many jobs doing it so I hold extremely high honors for these guys I also had many of my brother's in other wars ,I had 2 brother's in Vietnam before they told them only one brother in a family had to be there, the youngest of the two got to come home after his tour and the older stayed and did 2 terms, they got their pride from my father, God bless all these guys.
I wish I found these videos 3 years ago to have my grandpas stories told… lost him when I was 29 and he was 99 back in January of 2020. He always told us stories of his time in both Europe and the Pacific… greatest generation full of selflessness
I find all your videos well done. 55 years ago I was blessed to be able to have local wwll veterans as uncles and others to have a positive influence on me. Excellent role models for all people. All the old veterans are gone in my area
Wow u must have heard amazing stories, wish I talked to veterans😢❤🙃🥲🫤
These Men and Women, fought bleed and died for this Country. The Greatest generation ever.
These Hero’s that are gone on are turning over in their graves at what is happening to our Country today.
We need to stand in there stead and fight for our Country. Who is willing to stand ?
Wow...brought tears listening to his story about his buddy.
Thank you for your stories and service. What a great story about meeting his friend John Lund at his parents house of all things and he had saved his A2 jacket for him. What a happy story that was. John looked like such a sweet guy in his photo. RIP Mr. Hallett.💖
I've watched, I dunno, 100 of these videos ? THIS is without a doubt my FAVORITE ! It made me laugh, it brought tears to my eyes. To the makers of this video, God bless you. And to think you had the opportunity to sit down with these men &listen to them tell you about the the best & worst times of their lives ! Im jealous ! Neither my dad or my uncle would ever talk about their time in the army. They both had PTSD really bad. Back before they called it that. And way back before they offered help & support for vets suffering from it. What a generation they were. Go through the depression (with no support) then straight into WW2, come out of that & right into a brave new world. Wow.
I'm incredibly intrigued when it comes to World War 2 and these stories these hero's tell. I used to sit with my grandmother and get her to tell me the stories she had already told me so many times before. She still had her ration books and I never liked touching them to much because they were so sentimental to me and they were so old and delicate. I've watched and listened to so many stories since I was a child and came across this one today..this is definitely one of the best ones and got emotional when he talked about his friend and him living at his house..incredible..these guys are REAL hero's and I have so much administration for them. To think in 10 yeah there might not be any of these great men/women alive anymore..they are a huge part of history and will never be forgotten. At ease Jack..u were a great man! RIP
Outstanding! These videos are such treasures.
Thank you Sir for your courage, sacrifice and service for freedom. 🇺🇸 your my hero ❤RIP❤
Just loving these stories 👍
Thanks for preserving this history
This guy had the coolest war stories I've ever heard. Kudos for preserving this kind of priceless history.
I am 65 now all My of My Uncles Who had served in WW2 have Passed on . This story moved Me to tears. Rarely have I left California. If I ever go to Kansas I will have to go to Ensign Kansas. When I watch these stories or read about these people like the Men shot down over the Pacific and never seen again . I read that maybe they were born and raised in a remote and little known town in Nevada or a suburb now so changed that if they could see it today they would not know it as their old home. Perhaps there remains a old walk or step where their proud parents posed holding them as babies for a photo. Or where they strode in the immortality of their Youth. 19:47
Well said!
What an amazing man. Beautifully told stories. So proud of a great generation the world over
The heartbreaking story's that come to be amazing and heartwarming at the end are the best story's.
This is why I love our Country
What a cool guy and what a cool story about John Lund! RIP Jack, thank you for your service and thank you for the stories! 🕊️
Bless the souls of all these Heroes.
With deepest respect.
This one hear is the one that got me. Greatest generation to ever live.
Another incredible story. Thanks to you and your team for all that you do. My grandpa (my fathers dad) served in WW2 and it has always been a point of fascination for me. Unfortunately, he passed when I was little and I was never able to hear any of his stories from him himself. The stories you share, blended clips correlating to the stories, and background information provided to more deeply understand the situations are something that I endlessly look forward to. Whenever I see a new video it is instantly sent to my father, who seems to pull just as much enjoyment and be equally as fascinated as I am. You guys are truly providing us in the present, and those in the future with infinitely valuable information and experiential knowledge through your videos. Thank you so much for working to share the experiences of others that otherwise may soon have been lost🫶
Best part of these videos are hearing them talk about their friends
Another great man with a fantastic story. I hope he rests in peace with his friends and John especially!
Much love and many hugs, Mr. Hallett.
A kill's a kill...CONGRATS! Thanks for your service. RIP Sir!
Honour Humility Respect. What an amazing man and generation.
I have seen a lot of WWII veteran interviews, and am proud to say that my father was a WWII veteran, but this is the best interview I have ever seen. Great job and I'm now a Patreon subscriber to your channel. Thanks so much for all you do and please keep up the great work!
The A2 jacket story is now going to be told every now and then by me to. I'll remember your name. I flew for the USAF and retired in 1997 as Lt 02. I miss it. To pilot the P 38 is just a dream for me. But you , wow! Proud to know your story and thank you.
I loved this one. He seemed like such a humble guy with a great attitude. Im glad he lived such a long life.
loved that storie brought the first glow smile to my face of the day
Wonderful. I’m so happy to have seen Jack’s story. Great Project, Josh.
Thank you, Jack. Rest In Peace.