Byron B. Calomiris, Engineering Officer 491st Bomb Group 2nd Air Division 8th USAAF

Byron Calomiris didn't have to volunteer to join the Army Air Corps. He was considered "safe" because he worked at a job in aviation. But he wanted to serve, to be a pilot. Calomiris was rejected because of poor vision. He then wanted to be a gunner. But he was dismayed when the military assigned him a noncombat role. Here is his story of how he helped the war effort as an engineering officer with the 491st Bomb Group at North Pickenham in East Anglia, England. This video is one of hundreds our family has produced about the 2nd Air Division 8th USAAF. Our father, Joseph G. Dzenowagis, was a navigator in the 467th Bomb Group of the 2AD; our mother, Helen R. Dzenowagis, was a Lansing State Journal writer; daughter, Joan, is a writer; and son, Joe, is a producer and videographer; Anastasia a computer expert; Victor and Tekla. A huge, can't miss event by the American Library Memorial to the 2nd Air Division 8th USAAF will be its 10-day 80th VE celebration, “Silver Wings,” at the Forum in Norwich in September. There will be nothing ever quite like it. Please stay tuned to the Library's web site as the details come in. You can search for “Silver Wings.” You can find more about the Library and our 2nd Air Division 8th Air Force videos on our YouTube channel: https://www.americanlibrary.uk https://theforumnorwich.co.uk/festiva... playlist:    / @2nd.air.division.8thusaaf