It is not often that you get to meet a living legend. I consider any man who fought in World War II and is still walking this earth to be a living legend. There are not many of them left, but there are a few. My Dad, sons and I got the privilege of meeting one and I would like you to meet him too.
The event was the 13th Annual Gala at the Tri-State Warbird Museum located at Clermont County Airport, east and north of downtown Cincinnati. Founded by David O’Maley and friends such as Neil Armstrong, the Museum is dedicated to preserving the aircraft of World War II, educating visitors on America’s role in WWII, and honoring the veterans who fought and those who made the ultimate sacrifice http://www.tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org/history.html
It was June 9, 2017. During the introductions to dinner he was called out, “Frank Buschmeier”. He was sitting just a few feet from us. He was in a wheelchair. After the announcement, I said to my boys, “Let’s go over there and meet a legend”.
We introduced ourselves. We ask him for his story. Frank told us that he had been stationed in England flying on B-17s. His son, sitting nearby, piped up. “His first mission was the first bombing run over Berlin…in fact his first four missions were over Berlin”. Apparently, one of the missions proved to be the deadliest of all for the B-17 formation. I believe they told me that over 60 B-17s were shot down on the mission. The pilot later reported that you did not need a navigator to get back to England, you only needed to follow the smoking trail of downed B-17s all the way back.
Eventually Frank’s plane was shot down as well. He spent 9 ½ months as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Eastern Europe. He, eventually, was liberated by the Russians. He came back to the United States, he married, he worked, and he raised a family as part of the Greatest Generation (as Tom Brokaw calls them).
I marvel at the fact that for years I walked by these men, and just figured, that this is some older gentlemen. Yet they are so much more. These are living legends that fought so hard, when they were so young, to preserve our freedom. Try to meet them before it is too late.
Before departing, Frank’s son told us that Tom Hanks and others are working on a documentary, similar to Band of Brothers, which will chronicle Frank’s Bomb Group. Frank has been interviewed for the work. Let’s hope that Frank’s story, and others like it, get recorded before all of these brave men slip into eternity.
