WORLD WAR II VETERAN REMEMBERS LIFE ON BOARD THE `SCREAMING EAGLE'

This picture was taken of a B-17 Flying Fortress in the skies near Spokane, Wash., during the time Meyer was training there.

Meyer kept this picture in his wallet for sometime. His son made an enlarged copy of it later. (Left to right bottom) Lt. Werner, co-pilot, Lt. Roth, pilot, Lt. Rogers, bombardier and Lt. Brodeur, navigator. (Left to right top) Sgt. Age, Sgt. Carlton Meyer, Sgt. McClain and Sgt. Lecompt.

Carlton "Cotton" Meyer has led a very interesting life in politics and business, but from October 1942 to June 1943 he took an active part in this century's greatest struggle, World War II.

He got his records from the war out to confirm his suspicions that a correspondence he had received from the 301st Bomb Group World War II reunion organization had some wrong dates of his units' participation in the war.

The records he kept from the war show the medals he received for the 50 bombing missions he flew in over France, Northern Africa and Italy.

Meyer completed basic training in Texas and was sent to Spokane, Wash., for training as a radio operator for a B-17 bomber crew.

From Washington, Meyer, went to Las Vegas for training as a gunner in 1942.

Fewer than six months passed and Sgt. Meyer was in England.

His first mission came on Oct. 2, 1942. A bombing mission over Meaulte, France. The Nazis were planning an invasion of the British Isles then, so numerous bombing missions were flown over military sites in France.

Meyer flew in five sorties over France in October and early November of 1942.

On Nov. 24, he moved with the 353rd Bombardment Squadron to the Northern Africa Theater of Operations.

Four days later, Meyer, on a bombing mission over Bizerte, Tunisia he was credited with shooting down a German ME 109.

Meyer said he doesn't remember the event, but added that to get credit for shooting down an enemy plane was difficult. Three other people had to verify that the plane was shot down by Meyer.

Meyer and the rest of the crew of the "Screaming Eagle" continued to bomb targets in Northern Africa until April 12, 1943.

The targets were varied. The "Screaming Eagle" bombed submarine factories in France, supply depots in Northern Africa and enemy troops were also the target.

Meyer recalled Feb. 23, 1943. That day he flew two missions one over Kairouan, Tunisia and the other was a bombing mission over Kasserina Pass, Tunisia.

The latter mission on that day was to bomb German troops making a push through that pass. That was an important mission that the B-17s helped stop the Germans.

In early 1943, the "Screaming Eagle" was also a part of bombing missions over Sicily and by May 20 they were a part of the allied bombardment of Italy.

Meyer said that during a mission he operated the radio and manned a gun towards the rear of the plane.

During the flight the B-17s had maintain radio silence. Meyer would listen in for a change of orders from the headquarters.

The planes flew at altitudes of 20-30,000 feet and since the planes were open to the air the crew had to wear oxygen masks.

Meyer remembered that the plane got shot up quite a bit, but it kept flying. He saw other B-17s get blown out of the sky by Axis planes and anti-aircraft guns.

When the B-17s were on their bombing approach, Meyer said that they had to stay the course for three minutes. They couldn't take evasive action because of the bomb alignment, but because of the heavy anti-aircraft fire most enemy planes weren't pursuing them during this time period.

Once the ordinance was dropped on the target, Meyer's pilot, Lieunt. Roth, always said "Let's get out of here before someone gets hurt."

Meyer said he would never forget that.

Meyer's last combat mission was on June 7, 1943 over the Island of Pantelleria. He was the first of his crew to complete 50 combat missions.

After 50 missions the Army Air Corps would send you back to the states.

Meyer flew in 48 missions with the "Screaming Eagle" and he volunteered for two other missions.

He said you always feel more comfortable with your regular pilot.

When Meyer got word he could go back to the states he left to take a flight back to the states but he and others that had gotten orders to go back were being bumped off the flights by officers.

So finally, Meyer and other enlisted men took a boat back to the states.

"We slept on the deck in sleeping bags. We were at sea for 10 days," Meyer remembered.

"But it didn't matter to us, we were going home."

The ship landed in Boston and he and the others were taken to an army post to be processed.

After that they were given two weeks leave to go home.

Then Meyer was sent to Las Vegas to train others. Since flight was voluntary Meyer decided he was through chancing his life in a twin engine plane.

He was transferred to Scott Air Force Base and was a trainer in radio transmitters.

Meyer received an honorable discharge Aug. 28, 1945 and he returned to Jackson.

Of the 10-member crew, three died in separate plane crashes during the war. Meyer lost track of some of the others because he was the first back in the states and the rest of the crew was still overseas.

Meyer has kept in contact with three crew members over the years, though.

"I visited Sgt. McClain in Texarkana."

Of the 12 planes in Meyer's squadron, nine of the original planes were shot down.