It Seems Like Another Life

Bobby Black graduated from Alderson HS in 1941. In 1942 he found himself in the Army Air Force training to become a Radio Operator/Gunner. In 1943 he was assigned to Lt. Clarke Johnson's crew on a B-17 in the 349th Bomb Squadron in the 100th Bomb Group of the US 8th Army Air Force. Their first mission from Thorpe Abbotts airfield was to Berlin. After a savage attack from Luftwaffe fighters, their bomber went down before reaching the target. Sgt. Black and 2 other crew members made it out and parachuted to safety. Bobby spent the next 360 days as a kriegie in Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft IV, Stalag XIIId and Stalag VIIb before being liberated by elements of General Patton's 3rd Army. He was transported to the coast of France to Camp Lucky Strike, where he met General Eisenhower before being returned to the States. This is the true story of real American heroes - Sgt. Robert Black and the Crew of B-17 42-102624.