May 18, 2006

‘Flying Fortress’ lands at Moffett Field

Almaden resident among several World
War II veterans who pay tribute to the B-17

By Jeff Frazee
Special to the Times

It’s not uncommon for people to have emotional ties to their first car, which usually conjures up fond memories. Malcolm Higgins, 85 of Almaden Valley, has a similar emotional tie to his first vehicle—only that vehicle had wings.

This B-17, which has flown more than 1,000,000 miles, never saw wartime action. In it's restoration it was made to commemorate B-17G #42-102515 which was shot down during its 34th combat mission over France, on August 13, 1944. Photo by Jeff Frazee

At the young age of 20, Higgins decided to enlist in the Army Air Corps. In six short months he was a pilot, at about the same time America entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Within the year, following that infamous day, Higgins was piloting B-17s in bombing missions over German-held territory.

Higgins’ B-17 carried him and his nine-man crew into five missions. The forth mission was so bad that Higgins taxied home with only one engine running. None of his crew was hurt. Higgins only flew five missions because his fifth found him shot down over Germany, and he spent the next year and a half in a POW camp.

Chances are, many young men’s dreams of a first car were interrupted by the draft for World War II. If a man was between the age of 18 and 45 in 1941, he was eligible for the draft. Following the attack of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, volunteer military service swelled. From 1940 to 1947, 10 million men were inducted into military service.

Malcolm Higgins of Almaden pictured during the World War II era, and a current photo.

Instead of working on big-block engines, the teens of 1941 were tightening bolts on the 12,732 B-17s commissioned by the U.S. Army. Their hearts didn’t beat to the rumble of a Chevy DeLuxe Coupe. They raced to the roar of the B-17’s four, 1,200-horsepower Wright cyclone engines.

History returns to Moffett Field
A landmark of history and nostalgia came to San Jose this month in the form of 18 tons of flying steel. The Experimental Aircraft Association’s B-17, Aluminum Overcast, spent three days at Moffett Field during its annual national tour.

Almost 100 people, many of them World War II veterans, flew half-hour loops around Moffett Field. The B-17 was donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in 1983, and after 10 years of restoration, it made its’ first tour around America.

Through these tours, EAA seeks to carry education beyond history books and into first-hand experience, drawing on all the sights, sound, smells, and feelings one would have experienced on airstrips 60 years ago.

Eighty-seven year old Richard Windmueller's son presents him with a flag flown over the nations capitol in commemoration of his 31st mission in a B-17, the one he had just flown. Photo by Jeff Frazee

“EAA is dedicated to preserving aviation’s magnificent heritage and our B-17 is a major part of that,” EAA President Tom Poberezny said. “ … We also take great pride in saluting all our nation’s veterans through this tour.”

Just like old times
Eighty-seven-year-old Richard Windmuel-ler, a navigator with the 601st squad, met his pilot of 35 missions, Bruce Binger, at Moffett Field to ride in the plane that carried them through so many missions. After riding in the B-17, Windmueller’s sons presented him with a framed display of his medals and a letter from the government thanking him for his service. A little overwhelmed by the gesture, Windmueller said, “What a fuss to make over an old fart.”

Still, Higgins said his generation, given the circumstances of the times, was the right one to tackle World War II.

“We had gone through the good times before (1929), the big crash of ’29, the Depression, and all the dust storms,” said Higgins. “We had been conditioned for this war before we got there. We just accepted whatever came.”

Higgins does not believe that his generation is the greatest generation. He said, “I think your going to see the next generation stepping up, and you’re going to see some great character in them.”

Speaking of the struggles that shaped him as a young man, Higgins said, “I sure wouldn’t want to go through all that again, but on the other hand, I’m glad I did.”

For more information regarding the “Flying Fortress” B-17 or the Aluminum Overcast’s 2006 tour, visit www.aviation-central.com/1940-1945/aeb00.htm or www.b17.org.