Parma, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, was the birthplace in 1921 of John F. “Jack” Wagner. Following high school graduation, he became a clerk in Cleveland for the W. Bingham Co., a wholesale hardware firm, where his father was a salesman. With millions of young men viewing the world situation and the German offensive leading to World War II, many wondered what their fate would be should the United States become involved in the conflict. Many volunteered for military duty prior to the US declaration of war. Official records indicate that Jack Wagner enlisted in February 1942, although several Cleveland newspaper articles indicated that he began service in January 1941. One can surmise that following the December 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jack was among the many who elected to serve as a result of that dastardly deed.
Wagner’s Honorable Discharge record indicates his civilian occupation as Order Clerk and his military specialty as an Army Air Force Gunnery Instructor. It is well known that the military can place personnel in any category as is deemed necessary at that time. When Jack Wagner was queried if he knew anything about mechanics, he answered with a firm, “No”, and was therefore sent to train as a mechanic in the Army Air Forces. However, when he reported for duty he discovered he was being sent to aerial gunnery training. With the increased utilization of the B-17 “Flying Fortress”, this heavily fortified aircraft would need such crew members.
Following some hurried stateside training, Jack Wagner, along with fellow Clevelander John “Pop” Solinsky, were placed in a B-17 aircrew that would remain intact during their European wartime experiences. Solinsky, known as “Pop” due to his age of 31, as opposed to Wagner at age 22, had previously served as a Marine for three years. The aircrew of eleven personnel became an integral unit, led by pilot Captain Walter Flagg of California. It was common for such aircrews to have their own moniker, or identification, for their aircraft. This Flying Fortress became known as “Wabbit Twacks”, for reasons that remain unclear. But this aircraft and its aircrew would become very well known.
John Wagner and Pop Solinsky knew they were going to war and that it was serious and dangerous business. They would soon have that affirmed.
Wings Over Cumberland 