Hobo to Hero: A World War 2 Bomber Pilot's Saga

Fighter Pilot Podcast

E. Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, Retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot

Technology, Personal Journals, Society & Culture, Aviation, Leisure, Government, History

4.9 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2024

⏱️ 86 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Art Palmer is a child of the dust bowl and self-admitted "hobo" who joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and piloted B-24 Liberators during World War 2. Art's plane was shot down on his 50th mission and he spent the remainder of the war as a German prisoner.

Now, at 104-year-young, Art shares his recollections with guest host Matt "Flounder" Arny, proving why his truly was the Greatest Generation.

To read the book of stories and prisoner poems compiled by Art's late wife, visit our Patreon page.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Transcript

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0:00.0	They lined up for the target and let their bombs out and then we got a hit on the nose.
0:06.7	I don't know how much time I had, but the crew was jumping out of the pilot's exit and I'm going to go out the window as soon as I see the crew leaving. Last one, last one, another one.
0:23.0	Another standby, single station.
0:25.0	Roger Hatton.
0:26.0	It's still on.
0:27.0	Wait, somebody got hit on the road.
0:29.0	What's going to get on here?
0:30.0	Get out of here.
0:31.0	There's nothing in the terminal!
0:32.0	Don't find it me boys.
0:34.0	Hello and welcome to the fighter pilot podcast.
0:38.0	I'm your host Vincent Ayello and this week you are in for a treat.
0:42.0	You're going to hear from one of the few remaining members of the greatest generation.
0:46.0	Art Palmer is a man who flew 50 bombing missions and a B24 liberator over Europe
0:51.0	before being shot down and spending the rest of World War II as a guest of the Germans.
0:56.0	And Art lives up in the Pacific Northwest where my occasional guest host, Matt Arney, also lives, and he
1:01.6	conducted the interview and joins me now.
1:04.1	How's it going, Flounder?
1:05.3	That's going great, Jello.
1:06.6	I'm enjoying life up here and I was really happy to spend some time with Art Palmer.
1:11.2	So it's been good.
1:12.6	Well, I want to dig in all that, but first,
	...

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