Harry was a B-17 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force 457th Bomb Group during World War II from November 1942 to December 1945, and on reserve duty until 1963. On Sept 12, 1944, eight hundred and fifty bombers flew in formation to hit at targets deep in Germany, including the 457th Bomb Group with Harry piloting his 7th bombing mission in a B-17 named “American Eagle.” Northeast of Berlin the bombers turned south towards the aluminum works at Lauta and encountered heavy anti-aircraft flak. The congested skies caused Harry’s Group Commander to take evasive action, which shuffled the deck with another bomb group, causing the 457th to break formation and scatter. The Luftwaffe used that opportunity to strike with 50 to 60 planes at the out-of-formation bombers. “American Eagle” was attacked by FW-190 fighters, whose cannon shells hit the B-17’s bomb bay, riddled the cockpit causing it to catch fire, and shot its tail off causing it to spiral down, shake violently and then explode in mid-air. Harry was knocked unconscious by the blast. When he regained consciousness, Harry found himself in the v of the windshield. He tried to climb through a window, but realized he was floating to the ground in the wreckage of the cockpit. He climbed out at about 800 feet and opened his parachute as pieces of wreckage fell around him. On the ground, he never saw any of his crew. Harry was captured 3 hours later and spent nine months as a prisoner of war in Stalag #1 at Barth on the Baltic. He was the only survivor of the 9-man crew. Harry’s decorations include the Air Medal, Purple Heart, ETO Theater medal. American Defense medal, American Theater medal, and a World War II Victory Medal. Harry is 97 years old, resides in Corona del Mar, and is a docent at the Lyon Air Museum.