Motivation
As I grew up I learned that my father served as a gunner on a B-29 in the U. S. Army Air Force in World War II. I asked many questions, but since my father was deceased I wouldn't get many of these answers until I became an adult.
Two things lead me to a break through to find many of the answers I had long sought. First, Mr. Bill Lind, the pilot of my father's crew, had kept in contact with my mother, and we began to communicate. Second, I got the chance to meet Mr. James Krantz, another B-29 veteran. He was the first B-29 veteran I ever met face to face. Mr. Krantz encouraged me to get involved with the 73rd Bomb Wing Association where I began to attend reunions and meet many veterans, including Bill Lind, Robert Stangland, and Achilles Stathas from my father's crew. Now the picture of what my father did in the war has come into sharp focus for me.
Since meeting and talking to these men I can now share what my dad cannot share for himself, and I have been invited to speak on this several times in my hometown, including our local Men's Club where many of the members knew my father before he died. After speaking to the group several of them said to me, "I never knew Joe Caner went through all that." Right then I knew the story of the Star Duster's crew should be told.
The bulk of this material has been assembled in preparation for speaking to my daughter's fifth grade class. (She is the oldest of my three children and I hope to speak to my sons' classes when they reach the fifth grade.) Being passionate about this story I know I have more than I can possibly share to a group of 10 year olds in a reasonable amount of time. This site is built around that presentation, and it gives me the space to expand the details for those who are interested.
Accuracy and Point of View
My goal is to tell what my father and his crew mates experienced in World War II. The events of the war will be presented from the perspective of what affected this crew and how they, in turn, contributed to the larger picture. Because of this approach the fight against Germany and Italy in Europe and Africa as well as fighting in the South Pacific around the Philippines will largely be ignored.
Every effort has been taken to present this information tactfully, but the fact remains that war is violent and people do suffer greatly — it would be an error to gloss this over.
I realize I am not qualified to tell this story. That qualification belongs to those who lived through the war. But I feel the story must be told so it won't die. Those of us who follow need to know what sacrifices have been made for our freedom and our way of life.
I have heard many veterans speak their opinion of accuracy in accounts about World War II saying, "If it's not 100% right then it's 100% wrong!" This is a high standard I feel I will never meet. In telling this story I will do the best I can to be as accurate as possible. If you find an error don't hesitate to correct me.
