B 17 Pilot Dwight Olson

B-17 Pilot Dwight Olson recounts his WWII air combat experiences operating from a U.S. airbase in Foggia, Italy. Being stationed in Foggia had its issues, as some of the Italians were still sympathetic to the Germans. You will be shocked to hear what happened to airmen downed over Foggia, and even more astounded to learn how the U.S. airmen responded. Sabotage was also a common and constant threat at the airbase. and retribution was swift. Dwight also had Hispanic tail gunner "Smilin' Sammy Sanchez" fly a couple of missions with him. Sammy was well-loved for his perpetual smile and enthusiasm for flying missions against the Germans. Sammy was the only enlisted man in the entire Army Air Corps to have a B-17 named after him as a PR promotion. Dwight can tell you the rest of Sammy's story. Watch for more WWII airman oral histories each week on this channel. This interview comes to you courtesy of Combat Aircrews' Preservation Society (CAPS). CAPS has over 200 first-person oral histories of WWII airmen and WASPs and is currently in production to get these stories to this channel.