BALL TURRET Gunner on COMBAT and BAILING OUT of a B-17 Bomber | Masters of the Air | Lester Schrenk
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.พ. 2024
- Lester Schrenk joined the U.S. Army Air Forces on his 19th birthday in November 1942. Even though he still sees perfectly today, he was told he could not become a pilot due to poor eyesight. So this Minnesota farm kid was assigned as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 bomber crew, a real-life 'Master of the Air' flying with the 92nd Bomb Group of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. At 5'11", he was much bigger than most men tasked with squeezing into that very tiny space. Roughly a year later, he was deployed to Europe.
Schrenk tells us what the missions were like for a ball turret gunner and he describes a harrowing mission in which his damaged bomber barely made it back to England but not all the way back to base.
On his 10th mission - aboard the B-17 'Pot o' Gold', his bomber was badly damaged by a German JU-88 over Denmark. Bailing out, he was immediately captured and held prisoner at the Stalag Luft IV camp, surviving harsh conditions and interrogations.
Near war’s end, as the Russian Red Army approached from the east, Lester was forced on a death march west, until reaching the British Army and liberation. For decades, Les wondered why the German fighter who wounded his bomber did not finish them off. In 2012, he finally located the German pilot - Hans-Hermann Muller - who had spared the American bomber knowing that if it went down over water, the entire crew would drown. The former enemies would become friends.
Interview recorded on November 3, 2023
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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Greg Corombos
Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
Editor - Daniel Taksas
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There was no Air Force in WWII. It was the Army Air Corp. Military History Fact.
The Air Force was created during WWII
November 1944- August 1945
From the Mariana island Saipan.
The change of command from Hansell to LeMay created the Air Force through the destruction of Japan.
Black Snow written by author James Scott is a very good read explaining how the Air Force was created.
Thank you. My mom is 97 years old and told me she was doing homework when she heard of Pearl Harbor.
It’s sad, our once great country needs help. The people commenting below can’t even come together to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice this generation gave to ensure every American in the future would still have their freedom. It’s a damn shame. Thank you for your service Les.
@@TheRealJonnyBoBonny I'm retired U.S. Army Field Artillery. Bravo Battery 2/2 F.A. USAFACFS Salute Battery my oldest son an 8 year Marine Veteran as well. Don't assume what you don't know. What have you done selflessly for you our country? We who missed our childrens Birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgiving, first steps of our children, etc. don't need a thanks. It was a privilege and honor to serve. Our heros are everyday Americans who love our Constitution amd Bill of Rights, and do something to help save it. All the men in my family served all the way back to the Revolutionary War and all conflicts till now. This includes My grandfather, father and
Uncles, grandfather. My Parents met at the Pentagon. My father was with the Atomic Missile Defense Program U.S. Army, my Mother a civilian Secretary for Generals. My oldest son and I try to talk anyone thinking of joining today's woke military out of it. We're an exclusive brotherhood and I reiterate, our heroes are everyday Americans who do something selflessly to help our country, not thank us. We did it for our childrens, children. All to see our once great nation become almost totally Communist.
I worked in an establishment where Les lived, I would spend hours talking to him about his service. What he didn't mention in this story is that after over 50 years he was able to track down the German pilot who shot him down. They became good friends and Les was invited to Germany where he was Treated with the most respect. He also went to the field in Denmark where his plane had crashed. He found the planes serial number as well as the some parts from the ball turret. Les is almost 100 and is doing well. 4/3/2024 He truly is an amazing man and I'm proud to call him a friend!!! Update, as of 4/19/2024 Les has turned 100 and is doing great!! He will be going to Normandy for the landing event soon. He appreciates all the interest everyone has in his story!!
This is awesome! I am so glad to hear he is still alive!
Tell your friend how much we appreciate his stories. From every corner of the world, his powerful experience and testimony resonates!
@@Astara_ofc I will do so!! Les is an amazing man his stories are unimaginable, the things he went through should not be forgotten!!!
These veterans are gold and we owe them so much
It's a debt we can never repay!! Unfortunately their are so few left we can only keep them in our memories and try to remember their stories and contributions!!
The wing of his burning B-17 just blew off and he describes his bailout as "routine." Badass.
I mean it sounds pretty "routine" for the time.
Still a bad ass
Living through what this man did makes badass an understatement.
I freak out when the range rover’s step doesn’t deploy.
Just imazing how tough this guy was. I salute him.
"Pretty routine... only thing was that when I pulled the rip, my chute didn't deploy. No big deal though..." Badass indeed.
My great uncle was in the Normandy landings, Market Garden, and in Bastone, with the 101st, and he had two purple hearts. Didn't talk about the war much.
His brother, my great grandad, was in the Sea Bees and helped build Tinian airfield and was there when the Enola Gay took off.
My grandfather was a ball turret gunner. He got shot down on his 23rd mission over germany. Luckily, my grandfather was a very small man, so he was able to wear his parachute inside the turret and was able to ball out from inside the turret. The standard procedure was to go from the turret back into the plane, get your parachute, and then bail out from the main doors. This is basically impossible when the plane goes into a spin. The pilot and copilot never got out. The navigator was killed when he landed in some power lines. The rest of the crew was shot when they hit the ground. My grandfather was the only survivor. He passed away in January of 2022.
Sorry for your loss
Wow, you came so close to never even existing.
Sounds like a true badass
You had to be a small man to even fit in a ball turret
🧢
Full head of hair, sharp as a tack, and as tough as a human being gets. Long live this American hero.
He fought for the bankers
He fought for the bankers
He fought for the bankers
Yeah, he probably had the bankers card in his pocket, in combat, and when he got home....I'm sure he got a BIG payday....lol. Stupid@@johnfoster2584
@@Mike-ke4yp all you understand is following the militsry industrial complex and fighting for bankers and corporations
Imagine if kids in high school heard this interview. No shower for a year. Walking in snow with no shoes or socks, no heat, no food for days. He is definitely the Greatest Generation.
This is the history our younger generations should be taught. For if we forget past events we are destined to repeat them.
@@leddielivetheir own kids (Boomers) dont even know their history. They squandered the gifts they were given by their parents generation and they blame anyone else but themselves. Its going to be hard to get kids today to listen at all.
@JimmyRussle Their "own kids don't know," mainly because _these guys never talked about it!_ So ease up a little.
My pastor from Grade School flew Antisub patrols off a carrier in WWII !! He was a low key guy, caring & calm...
Never once mentioned the war in decades of being our pastor (Possibly in private to my Dad, (combat Vet) who he respected greatly). I only learned about this _from his Obituary!_ 4 years ago.
@@JimmyRussle I am a boomer, and you are not speaking for me.
@@craigaust3306Regarless of whether or not you accept his statement, he’s not wrong.
Defying physics by fitting himself into a 3ft diameter ball when clearly he had two bigger balls to fit in there with him, dudes a badass 🫡
Yes yes he is and they are few of them left today!
5'-11" in a ball turret? Thats insane over 5'6" your legs must be so cramped. Im 5'5" skinny id fit bo prob
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
BY RANDALL JARRELL
From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
The camera cuts off the wheelbarrow with his nuts in them
How did he get his balls 🏈🙀 in as well 😮 🙏🏽
I’m a 55 year old man and this guy had me crying like a baby. The sacrifices you’ve made will never be forgotten, sir.
lol gow up act like man~
Guarantee you that this man has shed a tear or two over his lifetime!
We owe this man and his generation who faught for this country a debt of gratitude that we can never ever pay back!
@@LWRC not to be rude but I've got to correct your mistake you meant to say owe* but it seems you said own...
But anyways, yes I agree we owe them so much.
U sound real soft and sensitive
This gentleman was 19 or so when he experienced this.
Unbelievable.
My 19 year old son is in the Marine Corps.
I pray every day that he never experiences anything close to what this fine gentleman and his brothers lived through.
Incredible interview.💪👍🥃
I am nearly 73 yrs. old and had the great fortune of growing up beside these amazing men and being exposed to their integrity. God Bless them all.
I'm not far behind you. My dad, & all 5 of my uncles served, during WW2. Most vets who survived came home, married, & started a family. They didn't talk much about their experiences, which I now regret since they are all gone now. To those who served, they were only doing their duty to the country. It was considered the right thing to do. You can not compare that generation with the "me" generations of today. God bless them indeed!
I also lived next to a gun shop/range where the vets would hangout. this was 1957-1960 and I would listen to their stories and good natured horse play. What i learned from them and my father was, that a man's reputation was the most valuable thing he owned, and if you shook hands on something you BETTER stand by it.
So did I. My Dad was in WWII and fought in Germany, in the 3rd Army, under General Patton. He was in the group of men that liberated the guys at The Battle of the Bulge. He shared a lot of real time stories of his battle experiences with me over the years, including the time he FROZE from his waist to his Feet, while pinned down in the Snow, by enemy fire. All You Guys were Truly “The Greatest Generation!” Thank All of You! 🤗👏🌹❤️🙏🙏🇺🇸🫡
I was born in '71 and feel lucky to have walked in the shadow of that generation. I had an uncle who served in Korea. I'll never forget the look in the eyes of those men. He was a kind , gentle man but I saw deeper that he had a granite core. I didn't understand until decades later
I’m 73 and grew up surrounded by these great warriors. In Florida, my neighbor was a retired Scottish gentleman who had fought in WWI. He had a picture of himself in uniform hanging on his wall. My uncle fought in the battle of the bulge. I worked with a fellow in the early 70’s who had been a tail gunner in a B17 that was shot down over Germany. My dad fought with the Canadians during WWI in France.
“So many people don’t realize what freedom is like until they actually lose it.” Well said sir. Very well said.
If you'd care to wake up.... we have. And the more wars we fight to "protect our freedom"... the more freedoms we lose.
Yet during those very same years , people of color back in the U.S. were still suffering lynchings .
None of us reading your stupid comment ever experienced freedom.
@@gregoryl.levitre9759 I understand that most of the people on this planet are not nearly as fortunate as I have been. I hope you find peace one day.
@@gregoryl.levitre9759 seriously? Gun demon and alpha male champion!? No wonder you have no peace. Geez dude
Just think about how crazy it would be that as a GI they knew your personal information, family members names, locations, etc. during your interrogation. It’s not like you’re a high profile officer and they certainly couldn’t jump on the internet or a computer and look it up in a database. That’s down right creepy to think how they actually got that info and could get that info. I could just be naive but that is mind blowing to me. Those were real men. God bless each and every one of our vets, thank you for all you’ve done for us.
Obviously other Americans turned snitch on him. The Germans didnt have a crystal ball but as you said still creepy but what a man i salute him for his service and i'm Irish
Perhaps they went through his belongings
@@juanmanuelc6644 they may have but from what he said it sounds a bit too specific. Like they knew he grew up on a dairy farm, etc. I would think he also had limited belongs on him when bailing out of the ball truuet of a bomber. I also doubt it would be his fellow soldiers or anyone “snitched” on him as someone else said above. As detestable as they were the fact remains that groups like the SS were good at their job and if I was to guess they somehow had access to personal files that were acquired through some sort of spy network. I may watch too many movies but just thinking about what they were capable of pre internet is super creepy and mind blowing.
All they had to do was google it.
@@MastaT_150they definitely had information networks, but others speaking about him is the most likely thing that happened here. Don't take it as "snitching", you heard how brutal the interrogation were, its more than likely a few of them cracked. This guy had both nerves of steel and got lucky he didn't get a harsher interrogation.
It was expensive to send information back then, and they were in pretty much an improvised prison camp that probably didn't have the infrastructure to send and recevice a whole lot of files of relative minor details. The interrogation happended just a couple of days after he was captured. They could only really have details about him ready by ether obtaining it from people close to him, or knowing before hand he was one of the crewmembers of that specific plane they fook down and had all the papers ready to go, which is unlikely.
I've never wanted to thank someone for their service more in my entire life.... This is a living Hero....
“I pulled the ripcord but the chute didn’t open up. It wasn’t a big deal.”
😳
@AdmRose Minnesota Badass
They don't make them like that anymore 😳
Compared to how he was treated as a POW...it really wasn't
Sounds like a badass to me. "It wasn't a big deal."
So Badass he didn’t need a parachute.
He will never call himself a hero because the ones that didn't come.back were the heroes. But he is a hero in my eyes.
He is a hero in all our eyes, how can a man like this possibly be anything other?
God Bless Him.
'He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured.' - Donald J. Trump July 2015. And yet there are military people who will vote him ...again.
@@dellhell8842 This guy didn't try to wear his war hero status on his sleeves like trigger happy McCain.
@@hermanwooster8944 This guy like McCain also didn't bonespur out unlike the five time draft dodger who want's to make political comments against POW's who have every damn right to speak to that badge on their sleeve if they run for political office....and deal with policy regarding vets.
Stop being a traitor for Trump. He doesn't gaf about anyone including the country and especially your unimportant ass. He just needs you to believe that he cares for you so he can take care of his own personal problems..... and continue the grift.
The terms hero and patriot can only be applied by ones peers, _never oneself._ Anyone who tells me they are a patriot (because they have a flag, or whatever dumb reason) are considered fools from that moment on.
It should be mandatory for high school students to watch documentaries like this. Wow, thank you for your service, sir.
"I pulled the cord and the chute didnt deploy, but it was no big deal. I just reached back in the covers and pulled the chute out and it opened up successfully."
Outstanding.
Being from England we are forever grateful for all the Americans who came to fight with us, bravest of the brave.
You folks are on the shortlist of those we will always stand shoulder to shoulder with.
Isn’t that crazy? 170 years prior to this we hated each other fiercely and now we’re close allies
Russia helped too
@@Kosmopoli well this isnt about a russian vet, is it?
@@BillyBigRiggin359 Very obviously this is not about a Russian veteran👍
As a former Marine, we tend to focus on the bravery and suffering of the ground troops, which was immense. Thank you for showing me the bravery, suffering, dignity, and resilience of our brothers in the air, without which the war could have never been won.
Thank this channel for memorializing these stories.
Semper Fi
Absolutely!
Thank you so much for your kind comments, and for your support! And Semper Fidelis!!
Semper Fi, Devil Dog.
Once a Marine always a Marine. Thank you for your service
I cant get over how he speaks..... people these days get upset over something they read online....... He just went thru Hell and kept going.... I Salute you Sir. Thankyou for your service.
Mr Schrenck, I watched your video last night. I thought about it all day today. Thank you for your service. You most certainly made a difference in the freedoms I enjoy today. You made a difference in my families freedoms. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am a USMC combat veteran (1987 -1991) and give you full honors for your service. You are amazing and I pray that Yahweh shines his face upon you. Be blessed because you are a blessing. Semper Fi. ~Frank Thompson
My dad was a ball turret gunner and also survived the war. God bless you and thank you for your service
I came out my dad's balls!
Amen!
Every kid in America should be required to watch this.
❤
I agree 100 percent!
How about every kid in Germany as well.
Every kid on the planet.
In the 1990s I had te okeasure if drinking severla beers with a Lancaster tail gunner.
RIP Tom. Rotovegas.
I never knew he voluntered for the job.
He invented a fitness harness that fitted to a door. Swore by it.
It would make them so anxious that they would run to a 'safe' space.
Thank You, Lester Schrenk, for your sacrifice and your service. (USN '82-'94 HONORABLY DISCHARGED [E-5 rank, jet engine mechanic], MA History UT Texas). Thank you for sharing this historiography of your military service, Kind Sir. A dear friend of mine and private pilot instructor had once been a B-17 pilot who had also been shot down over Europe and captured by German soldiers. He only briefly mentioned that he had been a POW in Germany, foregoing any details of his experiences, and always having a smile on his face when doing so. He was like an adopted Grandfather to me. God Bless.
"My parachute didn't open but no big deal" ....WOW what a stud !!!!! AND YES Mr. Schrenk you preserved our freedom ...in a BIG way ! thank you !!!
He preserved our freedom so now we have people changing sex, men in womens sports and a criminal in the whitehouse!
My father was a B-17 pilot in the 381st. He started flying missions right after D-Day in a plane named 'My Son Bob'. The previous pilot had been shot down and killed after volunteering to fly another plane and he never got to see his newborn son (son born in May, he was killed in June). My dad told me one funny story involving the belly turret so I'll relay that.
Just before a mission they got some bad food in the mess and guys were getting diarrhea so they gave them medicine but one crew member didn't take it. When they were near the target the crew member came over the intercom, he needed to poop and couldn't hold it. They had already dropped their chaff so my father told him to use an empty chaff box and drop it out the bomb bay doors. The crew member did as he was told except he didn't close the box and the poop came out, hit the belly turret canopy and instantly froze. Suddenly the belly gunner was on the intercom in a panicky voice saying, "I can't see anything, tell me which way they're coming from and I'll shoot in that direction". When they got back to base my father made the pooper clean off the canopy.
Side note: I recently corresponded with a family member of 'Bob', the son that never met his father. He turns 80 in May and they're planning a trip to Normandy where his father is buried.
All the best wishes for those of us who are with us and who are no with longer us, And there children. Thank you all❤️
Great story and the people we knew of are frozen in time at that age. Bob's son is amazing to be 80. I hope the son and the family have a safe trip to Normandy. It WILL be emotional for them. Take care.
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
BY RANDALL JARRELL
From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
Watching from England. I'm 70 now and I am ex RAF. Thank you for the freedom I have enjoyed my whole life. It seems to me the time is fast approaching again when we may need men like you once more.
I fear not many exist.
I hope that's not true but... I know the us will have your back, the amount of technology we have... the us pays more into military than the next 10 biggest countries. The only way to take down the western world is nuclear warfare and I can assure you the second one goes out the us will send 50.. putin knows not to do it so does china.. mutually assured destruction is a real thing, 2 bombs is all it took to end the great war.. everyone knows its not an option.
I understand Russia, if they asked to join the us and got shot down then it makes sense why they're mortal enemies with nato and doing what they're doing.. I'm 36 and I'm pretty sure I'll never have to see it in my life time so if you're 70 sir you'll be fine it's the future generations that's scary
My Dad was in the Highland light infantry in WWII. Hero. I'm 71 and live in Oregon on the West coast now. The rise of fascism here is alarming to say the least.I'm an ex rocker, never did any service, but I won't go down without a fight!
@@christopherwilson3242 I think it just depends. Stay out of Portland and sadly salem has gone to trash as well. I think most of it is the children in the cities that have no world experiences and mom and dad spoon fed them everything. I know the further you get away from the coast the more normal people are, sadly I love Oregon but I have no real ambition to ever go back
Nowadays we got males that want to be females...🙄🙄
None of us will ever reach the level of badass that these men reached. And I hope we never have to.
Thank you for you service sir.
HERO!! Thank you for your time served in the Greatest Generation to have ever lived! Kids this is what a real man looks like!!
Mr. Schrenk I can't say how much I appreciate your service and sacrifice on our behalf! My father served in WWII and is still living.
You gotta get your father’s story out there! Would love to hear about it
Thank him for his service for me! I have the greatest respect and admiration for these guys all of them!❤God bless all those who served!
He must be 95-98 yrs old
My own father enlisted (in Scotland) at age 15 in 1939. He unfortunately passed away in his sleep last January aged 99. He died 16 days before what would have been his 100th birthday.
There aren't many WWII veterans left, all of their individual stories should be recorded for future generations.
Crazy that this man is considered a veteran just as much as some asshole that gets deployed and saw no real action and joined just for the money.
My Dad was a fighter pilot in WW2. God bless Lester- he is a national treasure. No generation will ever come close to matching the acheivements of these MEN.
No doubt about it. They fought for the common good of the country, & considered it their duty to do so.
@@Urbicide They fought for the common good for a better world.
Look at the state it has descended into now. Truth is a lie. Right is wrong. Evil is good. Repression is freedom. Men are women. Women are men. Work makes you free. Foreigners have more rights than the natural population. You will own nothing and be happy.
@@Urbicide Even more so. It was quite a global phenomenon that people were tough back then.
Sorry to say Today's generation has very little knowledge what the young men and women did , today's generation pissing on the graves of ignorance of entitlement
and woman, in the factories, in the WASP , WAVES and WACs
This man at roughly 100 years old has an incredibly vivid memory and speaks very well and coherently. What a life to lead!
My dad was on the invasion of Omaha beach on D-day. God Bless you and all the veterans that fought for world freedom.
USN- RETIRED VIETNAM
Airplane on fire, secondary explosions, parachute doesn't open at first, but the bailout was "pretty much routine." What a tough old warrior.
I literally thought the same thing. I’m like this is a bad motherfucker!
Thank you, Mr. Schrenk, for your service to our country. Your bravery in the face of mortal danger is inspiring. You ARE a true hero, as are those who never made it back. You have my respect, sir.
Woah isn’t sch German? Old German? My last names a sch (btw)
Woah just looked it up, that’s crazy. Our families we’re both former Germans before the war! (I’m not a historian😂)
damn right !
Incredible gentleman from that era!!!!!
Wow!!
Thank you, Mr. Schrenk, for your service to our country. You are a true hero! When someone asks "can you define a man" ... show them this video.
When he says nobody knows freedom till they have lost it hit me hard! Especially with the way this country is right now!
This man is more cognitive than our current leader. F.J.B.
It hits me very hard to hear this story. I am German, born in the 70‘s, and I am very ashamed of what was done to you and your comrades. No human being should be treated like this and suffer such pain. I can only speak for myself, but I am very sure that many other if not the most Germans will agree with me when I say: I sincerely apologise from the bottom of my heart and ask for your forgiveness. God bless you, Sir!
That guilt feeling is leading to self destruction, naturally nothing like that should ever happen, but you taking on the guilt of the nazis are the reason germany and europe are flodded by immigrants, that are allowed to break down our society and culture.
Every country has a dark side. Some with more recent history than others. The best we can do is learn from history, stand by our allies in need and fight fascism wherever it raises it's ugly head. Merken. Die Sünden des Vaters sind nicht die Sünden des Sohnes. Danke, mein Freund. Aus Australien.
As mentioned above, each country has dark stories. How the allies treated German POWs after the war was deplorable. War brings out the worst of humanity.
I've never been all that great with history but I've always wondered -- how did Hitler get such a hold on you guys? He must have been *very* convincing. I hate to bring up politics but I almost see the same type of hold on trump supporters here in the USA.
Says the Obama/Biden supporter.@@evildeebee
These freaking guys had souls of solid steel. Damn do we need them today.
Never underestimate the spirt of the younger generations. But always be suspicious of the older ones telling you to do nothing to try fix the world.
When we go to war we are fighting Satan and all the evil spirits. Get it ?
Don't capitalize "Satan." And don't you dare censure me. You did it again. It is little "s." And do not capitalize "hell."
My grandfather was the flight engineer/top gunner on b-17 “qualified quail” they were shot down and taken POW at stalag luft 3
That's amazing
This man is a true legend and this is who kids should learn about and look up to. Lester, thank you for your service and all that you did for your country.
My grandfather joined the air corp at the beginning of the war as a mechanic, a couple years in, after losing many men, they approached him and asked him to be a bubble gunner because of losses, he was small enough, and grew up bird hunting.
He told them, only if I get my wings too. He got his wings. I have them proudly on display with the flag we were presented at his funeral.
This wonderful man has such a great memory at 100 yrs old! Thank you for your bravery in defending freedom!!!
All wars are bankers wars. What freedom are you even talking about debt slave
To be real, no one was free once the industrial revolution kicked in. Let's not forget, the US, the UK and other NATO nations rescued and housed many of the SS and kept it a secret. Many of them were very bad people, and all so they can reap the reward of their knowledge. See wars have always been for the benefit of someone. Winner takes whatever they want and loser well they give up all.
@@johnfoster2584
I get what you're saying. We have the advantage of looking back with 20/20 vision from our arm chairs. He was living in the moment in real time and acting on what he was told and fighting for what he felt was necessary. Please don't take that away from him. He's a hero even if what we know now shows us we were fighting the wrong enemy. He loves his country and is a patriot.
He served Babylon and not the creator. All wars are wrong and people are easily deceived.
@@jefferyepstein9210 they keep deleting my comment trying to respond to your naive comment.
Absolutely astonishing interview. To have survived the harsh conditions, maltreatment, cruelty and deprivations is extraordinary; such courage and resilience!
What a hero.Still remembers it all after nearly 80 years.Very sweet and soft spoken, BUT WHAT A TOUGH SOB!
Because of my age I missed Vietnam by 6 years. I make it a point that when I see a person wearing a war veteran's hat (no matter which war) I approach them and thank them for their service. For the most part they smile and enjoy the recognition, but I've also seen a couple they got tears in their eyes. In those cases you can see in their eyes that they just relived a past moment. War is Hell.
An Ozzie here. 2.5M civillians were killed in the Vietnam war, with at least 350000 civillians killed from direct US involvement.
As a Vienamese today what they think of the US involvement in Vietnam. No one likes invaders.
These were pre-internet, Google & Facebook days when these airmen were getting interrogated, so when the gestapo knows everything about you before the questioning ever gets going must be quite a shock. Some of the information about soldiers is shared between opposing sides purely on the grounds of identification via services such as the Red Cross in order to allow families to know if their loved ones are alive or dead, the Salvation Army played a huge role in this area, the relief relatives felt on finding out your missing family member was in captivity & not dead must've been huge. We are extremely lucky to have had men like this to fight for the freedom we all enjoy today.
Indeed. It would be expected for them to know some things I’m sure they knew and were briefed but it still must have been hard to hold it together.
Interrogation really fucks with the mind and it’s usually the hurdle for most special forces applicants other than fitness. You have to have a strong mind to remind yourself that they don’t really know anything and to keep your head
They had that information because we had and still have German spy’s all throughout the US we might even have had one as president
You sir are amazing. Thank you for for reminding me why you are from the greatest generation that ever lived.
Thank you sir, for liberate us here in the Netherlands and the rest of the world ofcourse much respect and salute !!!
I'm 5' 9" and have been in & around B-17's ball turrets many times. I'd always come away thinking no way I could fit in that. Thank you Mr Schrenk for your service & the American Veterans Center for these stories!
My Grandpa fought with a US Army infantry unit in France in 1944. He was severely wounded by a sniper, but did survive the war. He shared many stories with me about those times. Having heard his stories, and this story in this video- I can understand why my Grandpa had nothing but pure hate for the Germans his whole life.
My dad fought in the Battle of the Bulge till the end of the war. Years later we went to an airshow in Texas and in the stands near us was a group of NATO German pilots. My dad was looking at them in their uniforms and he said. We have come a long way, when I was their age we were trying like hell to kill each other, now we are allies.
My grandfather was at the Battle of the Bulge as well. He rarely ever spoke of his time during the war, and when it was, it only a few funny stories, never about the war itself.
He always held a grudge against anything and everything German (and Japanese).
He worked in a few jobs post war, and finally a lace mill, until his retirement. He put in 35 years there, I beleive. A German company bought the mill, and a German man came to run it. My grandfather came home every day railing against Germans in general, that man in particular, and what the world had come to, lol.
At my grandfather's funeral, the man was there. He greeted us kindly, spoke so very warmly of my grandfather, it embarrassed my mother and me. I remeber he very distinctly said that if he had just half a workforce like him, there would be no need for management to do more than come in once a week, and write checks to the employees.
When we got in the car, all I could say was "If that poor fella actually knew how Papa felt about him..."
The man was a generation younger than my grandfather, and while he may have known there may be issues with some here in the US, my grandfather never let on how her personally felt.
I have so much respect for all Veterans, but especially the airmen. I’m so glad with the interest in “Masters of the Air” in general. My grandfather was a Tail Gunner with mainly the Halifax bomber RCAF. I believe he flew 12 missions and was shot down during Bomber Command’s beginning of direct strikes into Germany. He was shot down after a raid on Hamburg in July 1942. He ended up a prisoner at the infamous Stalag Luft III After short stints at Dulag Luft and Stalag Luft VIII-B and was lucky more than once all things considered. He was sick 2 times I guess and both times he remained behind his crew was lost….I owe my life to him as I feel due to those times where “luck” was upon him, I am here on this earth. He survived an ocean crash landing, floating on a wing for almost a full 24 hours, being picked up (at gunpoint) by a seaplane, 3 years in Stalag Luft III, the death march and all. He was among some fellas who found a car I believe and is documented in the book “In Brave Company” as having driven that car to the allied lines to be liberated. He hardly talked about his experiences, mainly haunted by letting his unconscious friend go after hanging onto the wing after the crash. The German that shot them down had strafed them In the water on THREE separate occasions. I want to find out if I can who it was that shot them down, I’ve narrowed it down somewhat for what records are available. Anyways, They were weak and dazed and had to keep his friend on the wing but he was likely already gone, and finally I think they had to let him go because he seemed to be passed away, all while trying to survive themselves. Truly he never got over that and I think you’re not human if you ever would. Unfortunately I can only relive the memories through what my father was able to get out of him and the various “Kriegie” journals he’d filled during his time and the aforementioned book above to piece it all together. Thankfully that part of his survival and time at the POW camps seems to have been kept alive even though he’s been gone since 2005.
Thank you for sharing this story about your Grandfather. My deepest respect and condolences
Gosh! Mr. Shrenk was and still is as tough as nails!
So much hardship back then and now, with rather painful memories and he doesn't even bat an eyelid!
That's a real hero through and through for you. I feel compelled to salute you from Brazil, sir!
Found out last year my great uncle Samuel kozemchok was a ball turret gunner in the 390th. He didn't talk much. I have Nothing but respect for these men.
Thank you airman Shrenk, the world moves on because of the sacrifices men like you made for all free men. Thank you for your story
Technically soldier not airman. This was still Army. The Air Force was not a separate branch yet.
@@kurtwicklund8901thank you for the correction Kurt but your comment totally misses the spirit of the conversation. This isn’t about what someone is addressed as. Most people here know that the US Air Force was created in 47. This man has my respect and I doubt very seriously if he gives a toss whether anyone refers to him as soldier or airman.
Appreciate the correction, sometimes forget that it was army air and not usaf.
My father joined in the late 1948 stay until early 1972 that's when he was working 💪 in home based until he got killed on his brith day he was in 42 when he died 😢 he rest heart break 😢 💔 LOVE YOU DAd ALWAYS GOD BLESS YOU ALL ANGELS LIFE'S MATTER 💙 🙏
@@kurtwicklund8901 Actually yes it was "Airman" because even though it was was a dependent service, it was its own seperate chain and culture all the way up to the Army Chief of Staff, much like the USMC
you wouldn't call a USMC a "sailor" would you?
I love hearing these great men’s stories. Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII, but they didn’t like to talk much about it. One fought the Nazis in North Africa and Italy, and the other fought the Japanese in Iwo Jima. Both were awarded Purple Hearts. They are every bit the greatest generation. RIP to all these heroes. May their stories live on forever. 🙏
Those were the golden years, MEN behaved as GENTLEMAN. Thank you for your service SIR! Bless your heart.
My grandfather was a POW for 6 years in the polish stalag XX-A cmps 3 and 177 then Stalag XX-B camps 399 and 895. He didnt talk much about how they treated him throughout or what he saw there but you could see it in him.
Thank you for sharing your experience, thank you for your service. And thank you AVC for hosting these videos and saving an integral part of our world history for future generations.
Stalags were not polish, they were german camps, run by germans in occupied Poland. Poland did not exist as a country at that time.
Facts are important!
@@turnmyshiparound8838nor was Poland at war with the allies. Wording truly matters in history
My grandpa and two of his brothers were there as well he picked and chose what he would say but my mom and dad and grandma were the ones who told me about certain things and always reminded me as a kid that it wasn’t nice to bring up.
My father flew a P-47 over France and Germany during the time Lester Schrenk was being mistreated by his captors. My father passed away in 2001. I would put Mr. Schrenk's birth year somewhere around 1923, same year as my father. Thank you for doing your part to save America and the world.
A True American Patriot !! You are amazing, thank you for your service and sacrifice !! 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
He will always be a soldier, he carries himself like one and that part of a man doesn’t leave! We honor him and all US military! 🇺🇸🪖
The way he answered that question at 28:00 was very powerful. Great interview and thank you for your service from a USAF vet
Yeah amazing answer.
Very humble answer.
I have been fortunate enough too meet some of my old timer ancestors like this but they never really talked about it. I like these videos when they are willing to talk about it. God bless our troops and veterans!
My great uncle was a ball gunner on one of these planes too. He was also shot down and parachuted somewhere over the Alps I believe. This family in the rural town took him in for a few days and kept him hidden from the Germans who were looking for him. I don't remember how he got out or much else from the story. He died when I was maybe 15 years old. I was a dumb teenager and didn't fully appreciate the ability to talk to him about all that stuff, one big regret I have to this day.
Growing up in Philadelphia I remember the WW2 vets who lived in my neighborhood. I was always in awe of them. They all looked like men who had met death and survived. They served our nation and answered the call. They served our community as well. I remember them fondly. RIP
My grandfather was a marine and fought in the pacific. He was one of the toughest most fearless men I ever met. He’s the reason I’m a Militaria collector today.
Thank you for your service, Lester. Huge bravery from guys like Lester. What a generation!
Respect to these great people, thank you for your service, this country couldn’t exist without these brave men
Thank you from bottom of my heart .
As a former B52G gunner, I love hearing these stories from 'The Old Guard.' It is inspiring and warms my heart. I'm proud of these guys!
My uncle, a Canadian, enlisted at 19 as well, was stationed in England in 1942 and was a wireless operator in a Halifax bomber. He rarely talked about his memories. In later life I asked him about his time overseas and it was a revelation as to what these mostly just "kids" experienced. He was also one of the most mild-mannered, classy people I've ever known.
Thank you for your service!! You truly were the greatest generation!
I became friends with a former ball turret gunner. We used to spend spare moments at our local airport. He owned a coupld of MacDonald's stores and I had a nearby small printing business. He had stories but didn't volunteer them until I showed a genuine interest. He said the B-17 captain required him to be out of the ball turret during the bombing runs. He knew Ray Kroc when Kroc began franchising the fast food places. I liked him and his soft speaking personality. We'd meet and talk at the airport and then, one day, he wasn't there. Then I saw his obituary on the internet.
Is Ray Kroc the guy the refer to in the movie "Memphis belle?" There's a guy in that movie that keeps talking about burgers and how he wants to open chain restaurants 😆. Amazing when you get to run into people who are walking history books. ❤
@@aqua6613 Good question. I read Kroc's biography but don't remember all the details. Some combat veterans talk about their war experiences and some veterans find it too emotional to talk about.
The ending where he was so humble about what he was proud of . He said he did a small small part of sacrifice for our country. I lost it. Started crying.
God bless these men. ⚘️
Sir, I cannot express the respect I have for you and all your other fellow GI's. Without you many of us would not be here now. You saved our freedom, you are a hero. All of you are heroes.
Thanks you for your service, your bravery, and your ingenuity. 🇺🇸
My Great Uncle was a ball gunner against the Germans. In his memoir he wrote about how he was able to shoot down 3 total German aircraft, following his last encounter he recalled about how his plane had taken some hits after engaging with the last enemy aircraft he struck down, once they had landed he was confused at why his boots felt so wet until emptied out his boots and saw the pool of blood that had accumulated in them. Apparently because of the cold and at such altitudes and the shock he couldnt feel his legs until they landed, thats how he got his purple heart. Never got to meet the man, but God bless him Schrenk and the millions of other men like them.
From the bottom of me heart, Thank you, from across the pond, Denmark.
God bless this man. This is why they were truly the greatest generation.
Your grandchildren will be brown.
Tougher than nails! Nothing but Awe and Respect Sir! 👍
What an amazing story or honor, courage, and perseverance. Sgt. Schrenk is a true hero; they don’t make many men like him nowadays.
When you hear stories like this from people that really experienced such horrendous times, it puts life into perspective, and it makes your heart go out to all those that are in similar situations now. It’s just absolutely amazing that he and others survived with their sanity intact.
Thank you for telling your story sir.
My father also given credit for over 50 B-17 missions from 43' till 45' . He hated the tail gunner job the worst. You were alone after you crawled to the back of the tail. Fighters often tried to killthe tail gunner first. He ended as a mst sg. covering all gunners, radio, and camera man spots in the plane. Rarely ever spoke to us kids about the war. If your plane did not complete the mission, no credit given. I think I remember him saying one mission the gas tanks were leaking fuel everywhere and 1 bullet or 1 spark to ignite the fuel , and they were going to a fireball
Mr. Schrenk. First off Thank you for everything you sacrificed. Second you are more than 100% correct that most Americans truly do not know what it is like to be free. Even though they live it everyday. From one solider to another. Thank you Brother.
Greatest generation hands down! They had balls!
I can’t imagine spending one day in their shoes.
THESE MEN WERE VERY SPECIAL BRAVE MEN WHO FOUGHT WITH HEART AND SOUL. I THINK NO ONE COULD EVER TAKE THIER PLACE. GOD BLESS THEM ALL AND THIER FAMILY. BECAUSE OF THIS BRAVE DEDICATE MEN, WE LIVE IN A GREAT FREE COUNTRY. THANK YOU ALL.
Absolute hero! Thanks for your service, sacrifice, and courage - You exemplify the word valor.
Hat off to this fella. What unbelievable fortitude. We are so privileged to have human beings like this chap! 🙏🏼
Imho one of the best interviews of this series. His description of the Stalag Luft camp and the conditions the prisoners had to bear on their march West was riveting. His final description of the meaning of freedom should be carved in stone and read by everyone in those countries who now simply take it for granted.
What does “Imho” mean ?
In my honest opinion
Or “in my humble opinion”
This man is a genuine hero
Mr. Lester Schrenk, Thank you for serving our country and sharing your story...
Thank you Sir for your Service, A Generation that gave, served & sacrificed for our FREEDOM. Notice his Humility at the end of the interview, people like him makes me proud to be an American.
I am amazed at this man's constitution, flying the ball turret was bad enough, but endured unbelievable trauma, you don't appreciate freedom until you have it taken away, I know this first hand.
Meee toooooo but mine was prison for 5 years because of my stupid choices 😂😂
The Greatest Generation where Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue. My Dad was in the 116th, Assaulted Omaha Beach. My Mom was from London. She was in the Civil Defense, stood on the Beaches of England and Roof Tops of London spotting for Luftwaffe and V1, V2 Missiles. We will never again see such Men & Woman on this Planet as we did in WWII. I was blessed enough to have their blood coursing thru my veins when I had my baptism in fire. My strength to prevail came not from me , but from them and all of The Greatest Generation. God Bless & Thank You Lester Schrenk, I Love You Brother.
Bravo. I've been to the Invasion beaches, twice. Through your veins course the best of American and British history. You are a fortunate soul, and we all are fortunate to have benefitted from the sacrifice and calm, understated heroism of great men like Lester Schrenk.
These interviews are priceless ! Soon all these simple, brave people will be gone and the world will be less without them but at least we’ll have these moments recorded for future generations. I hope those future generations will be able to appreciate their sacrifices as I do.
How old is this guy -- 95? I can't imagine living that long while maintaining his level of lucidity. I could talk to him all day long. Thanks, that was an impressive interview.
He's 100 or 101!
hes 100 !
Based on the infos in the description, he probably turned 100 y.o the same month of the interview.
Figure that if the youngest WW2 vet entered at the tail end in 1945 at the age of 18, he would be 97 today. Soon they will all be gone.
Salute! My Grandfather was a B-17 Pilot and would never talk about it. Mad respect.
Amazing interview by this amazing guy. I've always been impressed and thankful for the many brave young Americans that came to our aide here in the UK during the war, and gave us the freedom we have today. Thank you, and God Bless America.
Thank you Mr. Schrenk, you are an amazing man and this nation can't thank you and men like you enough for your service!
You contributed to our freedom then and you’re contributing to it now. Thank you, sir.
All the best Mr Schrenk . You Sir are a Credit to your Generation. Thank You.
heart racing the whole time he is telling story and on the edge of my seat.
so awesome. thank you. We need these stories more than ever…
There is no more humble appreciation I can express for our greatest generation. This cannot be lost . Thank you .
It was an honour to listen to your war experiences. Thank you for your service from the UK.