A hero is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “one greatly regarded for his achievements or qualities…an illustrious warrior.” Without question those that were thusly labeled as heroes would not regard themselves as such. Rather they were thrust in conditions and situations that required reactions that were dictated by necessity. The airmen of the United States Army Air Force knew they were a small but integral part of a grand mission and had a war to win. In completing their flying missions they all hoped and prayed they were successful in dropping their ordnance, accomplishing maximum damage, all the while defending their aircraft. All were fully aware of the dangers and prayed to be able to come out of the war alive. They were simply abiding by General George Patton’s war time philosophy of “killing those sons-of-bitches before they kill you!”
Wagner and his crew mates were in concert with that philosophy. Jack is quoted by the Lorain Journal as saying, “After we had taken off and formation is formed, we gain altitude, and head for the Fatherland to pay our respect to der fuehrer.”
With 25 successful missions completed, the Wabbit Twacks aircrew headed back to the good old United States. However, Jack Wagner first spent a short period in England instructing new gunners in the tactics that his crew had employed. Arriving home he found that he had been selected for a new and totally different mission. The war was costly and war bond drives were used as a method of helping to finance the huge government expenditures. Jack Wagner, along with Pop Solinsky, as acknowledged heroes, became spokesmen to encourage the home folks to purchase war bonds as they travelled the country. During these drives, they contended that the air conflict was conducted in a “gentlemen’s war” manner. Both sides, according to the unwritten rules, would not fire on any individual that had to use a parachute when an aircraft became totally disabled and the only recourse was to bail out. Further, prisoners were to be treated, and behave, according to the rules of conduct.
Wagner, when queried about the possibility of returning to air combat, commented he would do so only if he could take along some union officials of his choosing, so that they could witness the “hell on earth that flyers are going through while being deprived of necessary materials.” He was referring to the union leaders who threatened strikes at various factories, in spite of the spirit of the country being in full support of the troops and the war time mission.
Captain Flagg is known to have later returned to the European war theatre as a P-47 fighter pilot and further distinguished himself by becoming an “ace”, by downing eight German fighters. One can surmise that he felt, okay, you bastards came at me in a heavy bomber where I could do little maneuvering, but now let us have a fairer fight. Obviously, he excelled as a fighter pilot as well as a proven bomber aircraft commander.
Wings Over Cumberland 