Interview-WWII Veteran Paul Bud Haedike (Bombardier on B-17s)

Interview-WWII Veteran Paul Bud Haedike (Bombardier on B-17s) After extensive training, which included basic training at Jefferson Barracks, he found himself in the nose of a B-17 as part of the 730th Bomb Squadron in the 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force out of Deopham Green, Norfolk, England. Haedike and his crew on their B-17 got a baptism by fire on their first bombing mission to Hamm, Germany. Their position in the formation was called 'Tail End Charlie.' As the newbie, it was the worst and most dangerous position because they were flying low and were the last of the formation over the target. "It was kind of like in life, you've kind of got to earn your way," Haedike said. "Not that any position was good, but when the Germans fired their 88 millimeter cannons, they could fire up to 25,000 feet." The flak from the cannons was intense. Flak was a bomber pilot's biggest enemy in WWII. The huge shells would explode into hundreds of pieces and were accurate.