A Gathering of Eagles   “THE GREATEST GENERATION”   Who are they? where are they from? what did they do? how did they do it?Why did they do it? What happened to them? Here are some of the men that “made it happen.” The stories and accounts told here are the true record of the men that offered up and gave themselves and their lives and freedom to go off into the “Wild Blue Yonder” , the unknown, in the war years 1941-1945 ,flying, fighting and maintaining the great air armada that encompassed the entire free world and crushed the enemies of democracy and freedom in all parts of the world, during these years. There were no paths to follow, no one at any time had ever traveled these sky in such a world threatening situation that was now being faced. They were the “pathfinders” the “pioneers” the “ sacrificial lambs” in a deadly and life-threatening environment. They were young men, in their prime of life, 17, 18, 19 years old and the “old Men” in their 20’s. “Gathering of Eagles” Began in Pompano Beach, Fl The unassuming atmosphere surrounding these “Eagles” were impressive to say the least. The stories they told were straight from the source. no bragging, no nonsense, just plain simple facts of brave, scared kids turned men in situations that was never thought possible just months before. There were 55 million people killed in WWII. Russia 20 million, China, 15 million, Poland 3 million. There were 6 million Jews killed. There were 300,000 Americans killed, half were AF and 28.000 POWs of which two thirds were AF. These were men that survived those odds There are Men like Harold Jones, S/Sgt from Princeton NJ tail gunner , B-17, 8th AF , Oscar Johnson, T/Sgt. Pompano Beach, Fl Ball turret gunner, B-17. 8th AF. Wounded, shot down, and POW. Leo Gray Lt. Col, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Pilot, P-51 15th AF (Tuskeegee Airmen.) Walter Marnes, Plantation, Fl. 1St Lt. Bombardier 8th AF B-17. Ken Leemine S/Sgt., RAF Flight Eng. B-24. Ken is in the process of returning to England with his wife who is suffering with cancer. Good luck to them. Edward Kaminski Boca Raton, Fl. Pilot B-17 8th AF Wounded after 31 missions, participated in first shuttle mission from England to Russia. Sidney Rotz T/Sgt. Coconut Creek, Fl Radm/Gunner B-24 15th AF. Bob Larrky T/Sgt. Pompano Beach, Fl Eng/gunner B-17. Robert Boyd 1St, Lt. Deerfield Bch, Fl .Pilot, B-24. Anthony Quesada Col. Ft. Lauderdale, Fl Nav/Radar 20th AF, B-29. Robert Gries 1St. Lt. Boynton Bch, Fl . Nav 8th AF B-24. 28 combat missions DFC. Frank Freeman S/Sgt. Ball Turret Gunner. Boynton Bch, Fl B-17, 15th AF. Louis Barwick S/Sgt. Sunrise, Fl R/Waist Gunner 15th AF B-17 Wounded, shot down, POW. J. Maziroff Boca Raton. Fl Pilot. Lt. JG Navy TBM. Stanley Zybert, Pompano Bch, Fl FE/Gunner B-24 8th AF Wounded, shot down over Hamburg Germany , 1944. POW. Dennis George Capt, Pocasset, Ma Eng/Off B-17, 2nd AF. Charles Dickon S/Sgt. Pompano Bch, Fl Bomb sight tech, William Elios, S/Sgt. Waist Gunner B-17 7th AF Belmont. Ma . Herb Ewald. Pompano Bch, Fl Pilot 3rd AF B-17 B-24. Jorgen Nielson Pompano Bch, Fl Tail Gunner 8th AF B-17. John Steele, Col .Hollywood, Fl.. Pilot , Sqd Commander,15th AF B-24 Rod Edmonds Lauderhill, Fl Pilot B-29. R.W. Bierber Col. Pilot B-24 8th AF Wounded Shot Down, POW. Robert Hittel S/Sgt. Ft. Lauderdale, Fl Tail gunner B-17 8th AF Shot down, wounded, POW. Marvin Kravet Cooper City, Fl. 1st.Lt 1st Pilot 8th-15th AF B-17 51 missions Allen Caurse S/Sgt. Lakewood Oh, Lighthouse Pt, Fl Tail Gunner B-17 8th AF Shot down Wounded. Samual Martiello S/Sgt. Tamarac, Fl Waist Gunner B-17 8th AF Wounded. Isador Brown, Delray Bch, Fl Bombardier B-17 8th AF. R.V. Greco Beaver Falls, Pa. F/E Gunner B-24 15th AF 34 Missions Milt Markowitz Boca, Raton, Fl Co-Pilot B-24 5th AF. Bill Magoteaux M Sgt. Pompano Beach, Fl Cryptographic tech AACS. Don Brzczinsk M/Sgt Massapegua, NY F/E. B-29 8th AF. H.L. Lykins Pilot Pompano Bch, Fl B-17 15th AF. John Rosati, Hollywood, Fl AF Civilian Mechanic. (Crash Mang) Jack Coalidge Pompano Bch, Fl Capt. US Marine Corp 1st Marine Div. Wounded. Bud Garner Pompano Bch, Fl Rear Gunner VSB Sqd (Dive Bomber) US Navy. Ed Aymes 1St Lt. Boca Raton, Fl 1St Pilot B-24 15th AF. Mr. Aymes was kind enough to send a short story, Ed was a B-17 pilot in the 15th AF 98th Bomb Group. 344th Sqd. in Italy.  This group was commanded by Col, “Killer” Kane of the Ploesti, Romania oil field low level raids fame. Ed Completed 22 missions and when he returned home after the war he was an “old man” of 22 years. and a commander of a B-24 heavy bomber. Ed graduated from the Air Cadet Training Schools, was sent to Tenn for B-24 training then sent to California to pick-up his plane and crew. After arriving in Italy, on his 3rd mission to Austria, one engine, hit by enemy fire caused his plane to lose power and leave formation. He directed his plane to Yugoslavia where there were emergency fields for crippled planes, On landing, they did not know if they were in friendly or enemy territory. They were surrounded by civilians aiming guns at them and held until a contingent of British soldiers arrived and “rescued” them. They were in friendly territory but neither side appeared to know that until the “Brits” came on the scene. They were flown back to their base by the British in one of their transports and upon landing, “Killer” Kane Met them and said, “didn’t you men leave here in a B-24?.” Just a playful dig about an incident that could have had a tragic ending. He did get his plane back and flew it back over the South Atlantic, to Brazil, British Guyana, Puerto Rico and on to Atlanta, Ga. for rehab. When the war ended, he was quickly discharged and today Ed Aymes, as with thousands of other veterans consider those war years the most fulfilling, exciting and happiest years of his life, and will never be forgotten, and will continue to see that the rest of the country never forgets.what these Boys/Men endured. I am proud to be even remotely associated with these “EAGLES” In the waning days of the lives of these men , as Tom Brokow, Network TV anchor and author calls “The Greatest Generation”.where our numbers are declining at the rate of 50,000 a year will some day cease to exist but tales of deeds , heroics and sacrifices will remain as a lasting tribute to a truly “Greatest Generation” of the Greatest Country in the World.