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John Opeka

. . ohn Opeka enlisted in the Army Air Corps in February 1942, two weeks before turning 24 years old.  If he’d have waited two weeks, he would have been rejected for exceeding the age limit.  “I did not want to be a foot soldier,” he says.  “I made up my

Ernest Nigrelli

. . Ernest Nigrelli served in the Army Air Corps during WW II.  When his aircraft was badly destroyed on a mission, his captain ordered him to bail out.  It was the first time he had ever jumped from an airplane, and he was the only survivor. The VBC does

Victor Miesel

. . Victor Miesel spent the war years in the South Pacific serving with the Army Air Corps. His support role kept planes flying and helped move forward the massive Allied build up towards Japan. Although he served in the rear of the front lines, his squadron repeatedly came under attack

Frank McCormick

. . During WWII, Frank McCormick served with the US Army Air Corps as part of the China-India-Burma (CBI) war front.  Despite having a degree from Penn State, Frank first served as an enlisted man.  Shortly, Frank became motivated to apply to the officer corps to make more money.  He wanted

Gene Laus

. . Gene Laus entered the US Army Air Corps in July 1942 and flew aboard a C-46 as a radio operator and navigator. He flew in the China, Burma, India theater and flew a trip over the Himalayas before leaving in 1945. Pittsburgh WWII veteran Gene Laus entered the

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