Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Joseph Winters Shuster Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 456th Bomb Group, 304th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force
- Location of Service: Italy; European Theater
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/8199
In his colorfully written memoir, Joseph Shuster details his World War II experience as a co-pilot aboard B-24s over Europe. Shuster was determined to be in the air during the war, applying for Air Force Reserve pilot training at the age of 18. After some setbacks, he was commissioned on January 1, 1944. Three months later, he and his crew picked up their B-24 in Topeka, Kansas, and a month later they were in Italy, set to begin flying. By October, they had achieved their quota of 50 missions (34 flights, but some counted double). Shuster was in Naples, on his way back to the United States on November 11, 1944, Armistice Day, and made it home on leave in time for Thanksgiving Day. He spent the rest of the war as an instructor pilot.
About this Item
Title
- Joseph Winters Shuster Collection
Names
- Shuster, Joseph W.
- Shuster, Joseph Winters
Home State
- Virginia
Headings
- - Shuster, Joseph Winters
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 456th Bomb Group, 304th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force
- Location of Service: Italy; European Theater
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Photograph: Digital print [1 item] -- Photograph (collected 2000)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1997-11-04)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/8199
Cite as
- Joseph Winters Shuster Collection (AFC/2001/001/8199), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress