/8th Air Force
Far too often, co-pilots don't get the credit they deserve. When something heroic happens up in the cockpit the pilot becomes the hero while the co-pilot is rarely mentioned. I guess its like with any workplace, the boss always gets the credit. However, the pilots themselves will always credit their co-pilot for doing his part. And they know, because they were in the cockpit too. My own father said if it wasn't for his co-pilot they wouldn't have survived.
The reason there are two pilots in a B-24 is because there are times when it does take two to fly the plane, especially when it's in trouble. Both pilots have the same training, but usually the pilot has more experience than his co-pilot, although sometimes not much more. Every bomber pilot I've known has told me it how important it was to have a good co-pilot.
I wrote this blog because recently I got an e-mail from a friend of Jim Walton, co-pilot on the Bowland Crew R-11, who was shot down while flying with the Val Preda Crew 601 on the Politz mission. When Jim saw our website he wasn't too happy that I had credited Val Preda for getting the plane under control so the men could bail out because he was the one who quickly powered down one side while increasing the power on the other side which allowed both pilots to regain control of the ship. As soon as I read the e-mail, I thought, "What was I thinking when I wrote that?" I know co-pilots are always involved. So why did I say that?
Well, I had gotten the story from Nello Centore, the crew's engineer. He and Pete Val Preda had been together for over three years before they got shot down. By this time they had established a strong friendship. On the other hand, he didn't know Jim Walton at all. He was a guy from another crew who was just filling in for the day. Since Nello wasn't in the cockpit when the plane was brought under control, he assumed his pilot did all that.
So whenever we read about heroics in the cockpit, we should remind ourselves that the co-pilots weren't just sitting there knitting. These guys did their jobs. They were heroes too.
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“Co-Pilots - the unsung heroes”
Gary Lambertsen wrote...
Paul,
Thank you so much for your kind blog comments and recognition that you provided Jim Walton. I am certain that your blog's comments will mean a lot to Jim and his family. Capt Val Preda must have had his hands full after the plane was hit and most of his crew lay dying or wounded in the aft portion of the plane. At that moment, I'm confident that he was glad to have Jim Walton at the controls, and I'm sure that Jim felt the same way about the Pilot, Capt Val Preda, sitting next to him.
You're a Great American!
Lambo
Paul Arnett wrote...
I'm sure you are right saying both pilots had their hands full when they got hit. I've heard this with every crew that got hit or had mechanical problems. The pilots sure appreciated each other.
One co-pilot story I always liked is about Herschel Smith (pilot) and Bill Strehorn (co-pilot). One day Col Mahoney called them both into his office and offered Bill a promotion and his own crew. Bill turned it down out of loyalty to the crew. Herschel once told me, "No one was more surprised and happy to hear that than me." He knew he had a great co-pilot. And sure enough, they got shot down and it took both of them to save the crew.
Rick Centore wrote...
Paul,
I could not agree more with your comments. Both Pete Val Preda and Jim Walton must have had their hands full as the plane was going down. I'm sure my Dad didn't mean to imply that Jim Walton was sitting there while Val Preda was doing all the flying. But by omitting Jim's name in the narrative, the incorrect impression can be made. There is a silver lining in this, besides giving the co-pilots their due, I spoke to Jim Walton (and to Gary Lambertson) the other day. I wish I had done so during the writing of my book. He is a real gentleman and I look forward to more conversations with him.
Rick Centore
Alex Mena wrote...
It is interesting to note that the co-pilots are almost always forgotten. On my dad's 7th mission, they were all shot to hell, 2 engines on fire, all sorts of hell going on, you just know BOTH pilots were doing everything they could to save the ship. They did, made it back to England and of course; only O'Sullivan got the DFC for 'saving his ship and his crew'. I always felt Peter Leri should have gotten one that day as well.
Angela Strehorn Gaston wrote...
Paul, thank you for the note about my grandfather, Bill Strehorn. I'm glad to know his good character still resonates with other people, too.
Paul Arnett wrote...
At the reunion in Savannah Ernie Haar (pilot) conducted a group discussion on the importance of having a good co-pilot. He bragged about his co-pilot and others he knew. But he also told us stories of a couple co-pilots who proved unreliable and were transferred out. Although he admitted he didn't know every co-pilot, he said, "Perhaps the best co-pilot in the entire 492nd was Bill Strehorn!"
That's the reputation your grandfather had.
kandace knudson wrote...
Hi gentlemen
I'm cleaning out my grandfather's basement and have been finding lots of odd stuff, including an airman's brown canvas bag that has "Elmer W. Clarey" stenciled on it (with a bunch of numbers). Who knows where he got it.
It's in great shape, and I am happy to return it to family or colleagues of Mr. Clarey's.
Advice?
Thanks a bunch
--k