Why was the Greatest B-17 Gunner Erased From History?

This is the story of Hewitt Dunn, the greatest B-17 Flying Fortress gunner and crewmember in World War II. He was a member of the 390th bomb group and flew 104 total combat missions over Europe for the 8th Air Force. Here, we investigate his combat, missions, and mysterious death. This was made using the World War II flight simulator War Thunder. Hope you enjoy! Please like, comment, and subscribe. #WW2 #WWIIHistory #WarThunder

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[overkll]

My dad started WWII by walking through Africa and then up through Italy. He then went into a new outfit called the Airborne (Yeah, those guys, B of B). He finished WWII by jumping into Germany. Never stopped fighting. He was a serious alcoholic which did affect our family but he finally got it under conrol via AA. I never knew or asked as a kid "what did you do during the war daddy? Something said, Don't Ask. I found out after mom passed and I got his DD214 that he had 7 major campingn to his credit. He never talked about it. I have the name of one of his comrades. The one story he told me was when he said "I never knew there were that many guns in Germany" as we watched the movie The Longest Day. He was in one of the boats that went after the trapped brits in Market Garden and said the guy next to me, his head just disappeared. As an adult I find his drinking understandable as he had lived through the sheer horror that is war. The ARMY rewarded him by marching him with a bunch of soldiers into the desert and setting of an A-Bomb to see what would happen to troops. He was told to never ever speak of this. F^^^ that, he told me this on his death bed. Died of cancer. Like many, he had a hard time after the war but he did not quit, he couldn't. The Greatest Generation is true!!! He is still my hero.

[Warmaster_]

I remember how this channel just started out by doing some simple history stories played out on IL 2. Now it has progressed to interviewing veterens. Glad to see how far it has comed.

[douglasiles]

My great uncle flew in a B-17 as a bombardier/togglier. He started out as a flight mechanic but was moved up to the nose of the aircraft after a few missions. He was KIA over Pottschach, Austria on May 10, 1944, after a mission to bomb Weiner Neustedt, Austria. Half of the crew of his aircraft was able to bail out and were taken POW until the end of the war. The navigator bailed out and survived, but his parachute was snagged in the trees, leaving him hanging there and unable to get down. The ship went down with half of its bomb load still on board, and shortly after it crashed, the remaining bombs detonated, killing him. The tail gunner had also bailed out, but his chute caught fire and he plummeted to the earth, being killed on impact. My great uncle bailed out as well, but he was too low for his chute to deploy effectively, and he too died when he hit the ground. The pilot and flight engineer; no trace of them was ever found. It's presumed that their bodies were destroyed when the bombs cooked off. My great uncle, the tail gunner, and the navigator were all buried in the town cemetery, then disinterred after the war by the Army. He now lies in eternal glory at the American Military Cemetery, Ardennes, Beligium in Plot A, Row 38, Grave 26. God bless the crew of Pete's Playhouse (42-31804), and all of those who never returned. In loving memory of T-Sgt Prescott C. Piper, 775th Bomber Squadron, 463rd Bomb Group (H), 15th Air Force.

[rwentowski]

My father in law was a Navy pilot in the Chinese theater during WW2, he never spoke about his experience until my daughter had to do a report for high school. He was awarded numerous medals. Had his plane shot and made emergency landings. He was a good man

[billyray]

Dunn had to be one of the bravest men I`ve ever heard about or he had a death wish. 104 Combat missions in a B-17 is insanity. Sucks how it turned out.

[Chris-uteq]

His ending does nothing to diminish his war record. We should know more about a man like this and his post traumatic stress from the war.

I hope as part of this, we can learn more about his service and post war PTSD. Many veterans share the same issue, but the military does not want this discussed. I'm speaking as a veteran.

[RodRoz]

I've been a serious history nut for over 40 years... Especially concerning WW2 air forces and I've never heard this story of Master Sgt. Dunn. Flying 104 combat missions... and in a heavy bomber no less, is mind boggling. It's very sad to hear that he struggled so much after the war. He's an American hero. He shouldn't be judged by how he died, but by how he lived to fight for his country. Such a tragedy for it to end like this for all who loved him

[evr-mrcp]

Thanks so much for sharing this story about Sgt. Dunn. My father was a top turret gunner on the “Glittering Gal”; 99th BG that flew out of Foggia Italy. He flew 52 missions, came back to the states where he helped ferry B-17’s to Europe until the war ended. My mother was a WAC in the air transport command where she met and married dad when he got back from Europe. I knew dad had been wounded by flak and had a purple heart which I saw as a child. However, after he passed we found that he had been awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. I never knew about these medals nor the story behind them until reading his journal several years after he passed, wherein he briefly described several terrifying events that caused him to take action. I am grateful that both my parents served during WWII, they were great examples to myself and my sister and for that I consider myself very lucky.

[Glen.Danielsen]

I thought this video might be about Eddie Sanchez, who stayed at his top turret gun position while his disabled B-17 was falling. Sanchez blazed away at enemy fighters, trying to cover his crew mates as they descended in their parachutes. He deliberately sacrificed himself for them. Later, a B-17 was named for him: “Galloping Eddie Sanchez.”

[almartin]

That sounds very similar to our family history:

My father enlisted in the Army Air Corps (1942), age 18, and served as a gunner and radio operator on B-17s. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force in England and flew 35 combat missions over Europe. Including one shown as "SECRET" on his papers. The records for many crew members were lost during a fire at Fort Benjamin Harrison.

His brother, age 20, was a Navy aviator flying in the Pacific area: his plane was shot down . The bad news was wired to the family, who were surprised three months later when he walked in the front door in his Navy uniform.

My father had left the service at the end of the war and worked as a TV/Radio engineer. He was called back to duty for the Korean conflict but didn’t have to deploy; and stayed with the new US Air Force. He retired in 1968 after 26 years of active duty and died in 1976.

Both brothers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Regards

[TheMcInator]

Being a veteran in the Vietnam era this greatly saddens me to see such a tragic ending for a true patriotic hero. He suffered from PTSD and if from more modern times would have been given the medical treatment he deserved. My uncle was a ginner in a B24 and suffered nightmares his entire life waking up screaming on many nights. My heart and loyalty goes out to my brothers in arms.

[craigclarke]

Growing up in So Cal my neighbor was a navigator in a B-17. The Royal Flush, he also was in the 390th . Did his 25th mission and came home to be an instructor.🇺🇸

[erictaylor]

War does terrible things to people.
My dad's uncle was a B-17 pilot in Europe. He survived his 25 missions including one in which he was the only uninjured crew member left.
My dad was extremely found of his uncle but admits that after the war he spent the rest of his life drunk, though he was a functional drunk.
When my dad earned his pilot's license he took his uncle flying. He'd not been in any airplane since the war, yet when allowed to take the controls he was still able to keep the plane exactly where he intended.

[bobd]

That generation had a hard time dealing with their emotions. My Dad flew Hellcats off the Hornet in the South Pacific during WWII. He had vicious nightmares connected with his combat experiences for 30 years. They faded only when he started sharing his missions with high school students. There was no counseling back then that would have aided his integration into civilian life. That didn't happen until late in the Vietnam war. In my dad's last 20 years he was greatly honored by his country and his compatriots. He was featured in an episode of "Dogfights", and met President Obama to receive the American Fighter Aces award. The missing man formation in the flyover at Arlington where he is interred is forever etched in my mind. Thanks for a great video about a selfless hero whose combat didn't end with the armistice..

[bigredgreg]

Born a boomer in the late 40’s and growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, I’ve seen many WWII veterans take to the bottle to assuage their traumatic experiences. Some died from the alcohol and some took their own lives. It was not until years later that I realized how many families were affected by the residue of war.

[stephenkastory]

My father was a bombardier with the 390th on aircraft named the jonnie walker, I was a crew chief on FB-111A with the 380th at Plattsburgh AFB NY in the early seventies.

[chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

Any spousal abuse is wrong, but this highlights the issue with PTSD going unreported and without the mental health support so desperately needed. A sad end to a brilliant career. Thank you so much for highlighting this brave man and solving the riddle of his sad demise. I wonder if his widow and son received the support they desperately needed after this incident. It will undoubtedly scar them too. It is very sad that enemies are not the only victims of War. Families are too. Thanks again for sharing. I really enjoyed this deep dive. A very sad and tragic end.

[longrider]

His insubordination and spousal abuse after the war may have been due to an hypoxic brain injury when he went so long without oxygen on his 100th mission.

[blue_beephang-glider]

PTSD I’m told has no cure, just copping methods and back then it had a stigma almost nobody would admit to. It is a sad fact that civilians can easily be trained to be soldiers but no training is done for soldiers to become civilians.

[danielwarnes]

This is a really important story. You are correct about it not mattering that he died a shameful death. What matters is his service. Sorry for his son and even his wife and himself. He obviously had PTSD and it is likely that the fact he was a hero contributed to others covering for him and not making him get the help and care he needed. But does not diminish the service he gave to his country.