Video není dostupné.
Omlouváme se.

D-Day Bomber Pilot Lt. Denny Thompson (Full Interview)

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 7. 09. 2020
  • Denny Thompson was a B-17 and B-24 bomber pilot during the height of World War II. During his stint in WWII, he would be wounded twice and earn two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals, four Bronze Stars, the French Freedom Medal, and two Purple Hearts. Watch him tell his remarkable story of service and sacrifice.
    SUBSCRIBE to our CZcams channel to watch more stories of service and sacrifice from our nation's heroes!
    Learn more about the American Veterans Center: www.americanvet...
    Help us tell more heroes stories and preserve the legacy of our Veterans. Support our mission: bit.ly/2UmsEj7
    Like us on Facebook: / americanveteranscenter
    Follow us on Twitter: / avcupdate
    Follow us on Instagram: / americanveteranscenter
    Subscribe to our podcast: www.spreaker.c...

Komentáře • 84

  • @brettnelson7518
    @brettnelson7518 Před 3 lety +25

    I cant stop watching these veteran videos. They are so full of emotion. These are more powerful and moving then any movie I have ever seen. At times they make me feel sad, happy, proud, fearfully, and angry. The stories are very surreal.

  • @dr.barrycohn5461
    @dr.barrycohn5461 Před 3 lety +7

    This is a most distinguished gentleman. Thank you for your service.

  • @timj2038
    @timj2038 Před 3 lety +37

    This channel deserves so much more credit and publicity.

  • @philippetty8990
    @philippetty8990 Před 3 lety +5

    Thankyou Sir, Your family's service is not forgotten.

  • @skimmer8774
    @skimmer8774 Před 3 lety +12

    A very modest man indeed. His accomplishments deserved every medal he got. It takes an enormous amount of courage to fly each mission and he did. Thank you

  • @crystalheart9
    @crystalheart9 Před 3 lety +2

    Thank you Mr. Thompson for your service and stories.

  • @frankcasey7423
    @frankcasey7423 Před 3 lety +5

    Awesome! Thank you for your service and sacrifice for us and this country sir!🇺🇸

  • @billd.iniowa2263
    @billd.iniowa2263 Před 3 lety +13

    Thank you Denny. You did great.

  • @RubyBandUSA
    @RubyBandUSA Před 3 lety +7

    The Mighty Eighth!!! Utmost respect for all the air crews, planners, and ground crews of the 8th Air Force, and Gen. Doolittle.

  • @shawnaron7585
    @shawnaron7585 Před 3 lety +4

    Thanks for your ssrvice sir.Truly the greatest generation!

  • @rubycollins3492
    @rubycollins3492 Před 3 lety +5

    What it great story
    Thank you for your service

  • @robinraphael
    @robinraphael Před 3 lety +13

    It always amazes me how humble these men of this generation are. I loved how he threw his blood on the guys hunkered down. I respect this man alot by this history that he lived. Hip hip hurray HIP hip hurray HIP HIP HURRAY

  • @janedyble753
    @janedyble753 Před 2 lety +2

    We met this gentleman in Wendover as a guest of honour at Aces art gallery. Lovely man

  • @stevemizar4143
    @stevemizar4143 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for your service! God bless you!

  • @lingmingching1
    @lingmingching1 Před 3 lety +8

    Man, I watch these interviews and admire that they were noble, stoic, and humble. I watch the other stuff online and feel inundated with so much mindless garbage and nonense. Then it hits me how far we've fallen.

  • @brandonthomas303
    @brandonthomas303 Před 3 lety +4

    What an honor to be a B17 pilot and live to tell the tale!

  • @_birdie
    @_birdie Před 3 lety +20

    in a few years, this incredible generation of WW2 veterans will all be gone. it’s crazy to think about. there are already so few even alive anymore. the last of them must not be forgotten. it’s our last chance to document their lives, to hear the history of the war from the perspective of people who were there, hear about their individual backgrounds+experiences, learn from them, and give them ALL of the respect+gratitude these INCREDIBLE patriots deserve!!
    we just can’t take these inspiring, selfless veterans for granted. in a generation they’ll all be gone...
    God bless America & God bless the men who kept us safe, protected our liberties+freedoms, saved so many countries+people from utter hell, and whose actions kept america America!
    i pray we make them PROUD and honor the country they fought for+sacrificed their lives for.
    ✌️❤️🇺🇸

    • @trayvonjackson4830
      @trayvonjackson4830 Před 3 lety

      My grandfather was a sniper during the war, and fought the Americans in Aachen. He did not use the rifle that was issued to him because it had issues with the firing pin. He treated a another soldier a pack of cigarettes, for captured American rifle which was a 1903A4 Springfield. He liked the rifle because it used a much more powerful cartridge ( 30-06) over what he previously used ( 7.92x57 Mauser). It allowed him to take longer shots, as the 30-06 had better performance overall. He ended up getting 11 confirmed kills with the American 1903A4, ironically on Americans themselves. He said he shot an American soldier in the shoulder with it, which lead to the bullet expanding on his bone which left his arm only being held by a slight bit of skin. He waited for other Americans to come to his aid, and then he shot 2 of them and the 3rd managed to escape. He waited 2 hours, then looted the body’s for cigarettes, Souvenirs etc. He would also cut a their pinkies off, place them on their chest and leave. His logic behind such a grim act, was that it would make the Americans lose their Morale and fear Germans.

    • @trayvonjackson4830
      @trayvonjackson4830 Před 3 lety

      He would also sometimes cut their ears off, and put them on some leather to dry as a way to keep track of his kills and have a trophy. When the Americans captured him later on, they took what he called his “ ear trophies”and disposed of them and he even recalls an American soldier puking when he saw the dried ears.

    • @sawdawg1151
      @sawdawg1151 Před 2 lety

      I was able to meet Denny when he came and talked at my school a couple weeks ago, and he is absolutely amazing! His life experience goes far beyond his military career. He spent time as a bush pilot in Alaska taking people on hunting trips, including Carroll Shelby(who was a partner of Denny’s for years, and he also flew Wernher von Braun (the Nazi rocket scientist).
      Denny will be 100 come July 2022, and he still goes out shooting, squirrel hunting, and he even weed eats his yard and cuts his own wood at 99 years old.
      He’s currently in Normandy for the D-Day memorial, and he’s absolutely a hero. I feel very blessed to have had the privilege of speaking with him and shaking his hand because there aren’t many like Denny out there anymore.

  • @andreguillette6293
    @andreguillette6293 Před 3 lety +3

    Thank You Thank You Sir for your service. God Bless

  • @Colonel__Ingus69
    @Colonel__Ingus69 Před 2 lety +1

    I started watching these video's on memorial day and haven' t been able to stop!
    My thanks to all who served!

  • @AS-zk6hz
    @AS-zk6hz Před 3 lety +8

    What creeps gave this a thumbs down. What is wrong with them????

  • @caveman726
    @caveman726 Před 3 lety +2

    Thankyou Sir 🇺🇸

  • @sheldo6
    @sheldo6 Před 2 lety +2

    I met him in Normandie! Great man

  • @scottsprings9404
    @scottsprings9404 Před 3 lety +7

    And I complain about having to wake up to spend a easy 8 hrs at work. Best generation ever!!!

  • @Kdpainted
    @Kdpainted Před 5 měsíci +1

    Great video, thank you for you service sir

  • @ericzapata8162
    @ericzapata8162 Před 3 lety +2

    I know its scarey to say i wish I had this mans bravery....but i would give my life to live in an era like these men any day ..i love history. Thank you for this great lesson on our past . Great job sir 👏

  • @edmundsveikutis1698
    @edmundsveikutis1698 Před 3 lety +5

    I’m English,I love my countrymen.I love you Americans just the same.Thank you America for your sacrifice.Funny thing is,my dad was taken prisoner by the US army .He had nothing but praise for his captors.

  • @brandonthomas303
    @brandonthomas303 Před 3 lety +3

    Salute sir!! Thank you!!!

  • @jonathan.t.dalton
    @jonathan.t.dalton Před 3 lety +2

    Incredible story. I like how this interview was done in his home with his dogs wandering around. To me it gives a glimpse of how these are ordinary individuals who served and became heroes.

  • @juliefeasal8878
    @juliefeasal8878 Před rokem +1

    What an awesome man!

  • @camseymour8680
    @camseymour8680 Před 3 lety +4

    Wow! Incredible man! Did his job and does not even care to know about most of his decorations, these kind of men dont exist anymore!

  • @lerch122
    @lerch122 Před 3 lety +3

    he has certainly been on the firing line,well done

  • @jerredwayne8401
    @jerredwayne8401 Před 3 lety +10

    Hero 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

  • @s.benson2488
    @s.benson2488 Před 3 lety +5

    True Badass.

  • @joeruger5858
    @joeruger5858 Před 3 lety +4

    May God almighty bless Denny

  • @giuseppe9145
    @giuseppe9145 Před 2 lety

    Thank you sir for your service.

  • @cryptokidtv
    @cryptokidtv Před 3 lety +3

    Who ever dislikes this interview is disrespectful as hell!!! I really learned a lot from this man!!! Thank you 🙏

  • @jhonezcronic
    @jhonezcronic Před 3 lety +3

    Earth needs MORE Denny’s not less

  • @johnjacobs1625
    @johnjacobs1625 Před 3 lety +3

    Salute to a fella airdale! Thank you, Denny!! Dad was 82nd & 101st PIR in WW2 , 508th Co,H. JJ USN VF-142 75-79

    • @marosenmd294
      @marosenmd294 Před 3 lety

      Hi John, I'm a fellow airdale, CVA/CV 66 America, nothing exciting re: me
      navy doc MC USNR. But your story perhaps......flyin' F 14's (my fav plane, John),
      so you were a Ghostrider VF 142 . Ghostriders flew F 14's out of NAS Miramar, NAS Oceana (I was posted there -@ Clinic) , then Gjhostriders deployed to Mediterranean on CVA/CV 66 where they were 1st to intercept & photo Tu 95 Bear 23April1976 (very cool), then VF 142 deployed as VF 7 onto Dwight D. Eisenhower sometime in 1978. Then back to NAS Oceana where you finished up.
      Right John? Very cool indeed.

    • @johnjacobs1625
      @johnjacobs1625 Před 3 lety

      @@marosenmd294 I was an Aviation Electricians Mate (AE-3). I got to VF-142 In July of 1976 in the middle of the Med. Sea. On Board the USS America CV-66. May june july 77 Cruised down and did exercises with Brazilian Navy. Visited San Paulo and Rio. We did one more Med on the America, that would have been 77-78. After that we Transferred to the Ike.. CVN-69. Med cruise from Jan or Feb to July 18, 79. I was TAD once to the Ready room. Scheduled all flights, took care of paper work between pilots and maintenance. Clean up after pilots, made Coffee. Showed Movies. Got to know some of the pilots pretty good. Most were great people. One or two arrogant twits. bal bla .... I also worked on the Flight Deck and Hangar Bay. TAD to AIMD once and worked the Generator Shop. Dale Snort Snodgrass Ended up being one of the Navies best Pilots, ever! David Red Walker Went on to pilot and command the Space Shuttle. It was still VF-142 When I left the service in july 79. 3 Meds in 4 years..... Plus we did Top Gun Once were almost the whole squadron went down to Yuma, and went to Puerto Rico once for 2 weeks. And Yes Oceana was our home base. Spent many an hour on that flight line. Cool Thing was My Dad worked Guarding Ike in Germany and England. And I never told any of my shipmates. And ended up on CVN-69! Regards JJ ............... Take care Mike and thx 4 Your service!

    • @marosenmd294
      @marosenmd294 Před 3 lety +1

      @@johnjacobs1625 JJ, Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your detailed history of your service aboard the good old CV-66 America, and subsequent ships and stations. Best regards. Mike

    • @johnjacobs1625
      @johnjacobs1625 Před 3 lety

      @@marosenmd294 Thanks MIke. Take Care Brother! JJ

  • @rikijett310
    @rikijett310 Před 2 lety +1

    Sir, thank you endlessly for your service and may God bless you always!!!!! ✝️🇺🇸✝️

  • @danielcarras7103
    @danielcarras7103 Před rokem +1

    Dear Mr Thompson, I had the chance to meet you a few times in Normandy, I keep those moments very closed to my heart, perhaps you remember one time at Carentan, for the paratroopers show, you went in my FOLLOW ME jeep, for the ceremony at " Carré de choux" in Carentan.
    I read you book, with so much interest, at first for your great participation as pilot during WWII, but also for your extraordinary adventures as hunting guide. I am hunter myself, and your experiences are very impressive, and i can understand the feeling you had, and danger too.
    I know you were in Normandy last june, but unfortunately i was not able to come, believe me it was a great sacrifice not to come this year.
    Well Mr Thompson, thank you again for all you did, and thank you too for the pleasure you gave me reading your book, it is on prime shelve in my library furniture, with all 8th AIR FORCE books, and my 8th AIR FORCE collectibles.
    How is it possible to send you photos of that day in Carentan
    Best regards
    Daniel CARRAS

  • @thetruth3768
    @thetruth3768 Před 3 lety +2

    good you got his interview when you did, his memory is going fast. thanks to both.

  • @chevyon37s
    @chevyon37s Před 3 lety +6

    I herd your airplane was called problem child... “yea it was one of four”

  • @michaelpettengill4789
    @michaelpettengill4789 Před 3 lety

    Thank you for defending our freedom and now our freedom is in Jeopardy again

  • @benh9164
    @benh9164 Před 3 lety +1

    This guy is awesome. "What do you think about the younger generation?" "Fuck'm"

  • @jonsutherland1
    @jonsutherland1 Před rokem

    A Hero...that whole generation were.

  • @RubyBandUSA
    @RubyBandUSA Před rokem +3

    Interviewer, when he say at 5:16 "I hit [the targets] on a lot of missions. I can tell you what they were." Um, that was your queue Dude to take him up on his offer.

  • @auntkaz422
    @auntkaz422 Před 3 lety +3

    Denny: "f you Bernie!" LOL!

  • @scottsprings9404
    @scottsprings9404 Před 3 lety +1

    Boy he nailed it when he said 1 in 50

  • @YouT00ber
    @YouT00ber Před 3 lety +2

    I lol’d when he mentioned his CO(?) who asked him if he wanted to sign up for more missions &!$3 said”f. O. bill” 😂.
    30 seems like plenty

  • @YouT00ber
    @YouT00ber Před 3 lety

    On a side note. A great book to read about a. 8th Air Force pilot is: The Wrong Stuff: The Adventures & Misadventures of an 8th Air Force Aviator.
    In the book, the pilot talks about “feathering the engine”(shifting a throttle knob up and down) for hours to bring the plane home. I think that matches up with the comments about the plane being tough to fly(forgot what kind it was in the book).

  • @Damidas
    @Damidas Před 3 lety

    This guy sounds exactly like the guy that was talking during the intro of the Members Only episode of the Sopranos

  • @joeonarres
    @joeonarres Před 3 lety

    Who dislikes this man is a hero

  • @jimmyhorner122
    @jimmyhorner122 Před 3 lety +3

    They don't make them like Denny anymore...

  • @chocolatefrenzieya
    @chocolatefrenzieya Před 3 lety +1

    Did somebody snap at the dog when he barked? lol! (somewheres around 15 minute mark)

  • @johngibson2884
    @johngibson2884 Před 3 lety +2

    18:20 "...big Ford motor plant..."
    Ford had a motor company operating in Germany during ww2....something to think about as Ford was friendly with Hitler

    • @olliefoxx7165
      @olliefoxx7165 Před 3 lety

      The plant was built prior to the war. Lots of American companies were international back then.

    • @johngibson2884
      @johngibson2884 Před 3 lety

      @@olliefoxx7165 same with Coca Cola but they shut it down by 1938....Ford kept it open .
      Texaco and Ford Motor Company didn't paint any of their escort ships and the department of Navy had warned them but they must have known something because none of the Texaco or Ford tankers wherever torpedoed during the murmansk Convoy and all of these Arctic runs where we lost many ships oh and Hitler always said good things about 4 and a lot of the speeches and Bayer Aspirin kept their contract up with the United States government and Americans were getting Bayer aspirin during the war from Germany this is called collusion

  • @dr.barrycohn5461
    @dr.barrycohn5461 Před 3 lety

    Interviewer: Ask him about his missions. He said he'd tell you about them. And stop putting words in the guy's mouth!

  • @bill2066
    @bill2066 Před 3 lety

    I was having trouble following parts of this gentleman's story..

    • @marosenmd294
      @marosenmd294 Před 3 lety

      It would appear that this gentleman was having a great deal of trouble
      telling the story, with all due respect to the gentleman.

  • @xman8385
    @xman8385 Před 3 lety +2

    Really bad interviewer, old guy brought up lots of interest topic and he just interrupted with his own question

  • @gregorychaffer3923
    @gregorychaffer3923 Před 3 lety

    I have one question I would love to know the answer to that is why did you go perpendicular to the beach at Normandy or Utah or whatever Beach were bombing and not horizontal a bomb it right down the entire line I just put the bombs right on top of them without worrying about dropping the bombs on our troops

    • @olliefoxx7165
      @olliefoxx7165 Před 3 lety

      Because you expose the plane and crew to exponential more anti aircraft. You spend as little time as possible over the target

  • @salsamike647
    @salsamike647 Před 3 lety

    Anyone else think of cotton hill

  • @woopteedeewoopteedye
    @woopteedeewoopteedye Před 3 lety

    I kept thinking he looks like someone I know. ANGUS YOUNG from ACDC

  • @dr.barrycohn5461
    @dr.barrycohn5461 Před 3 lety

    This interviewer doesn't know how to ask an open ended question.

  • @willoutlaw4971
    @willoutlaw4971 Před 3 lety

    Trump said American servicemen and servicewomen are "suckers and losers".

  • @casaloca31
    @casaloca31 Před 3 lety

    I respect what he did but at 29 minutes in the video when he was asked about future generations joining the military he said a few things I don't agree with. First, that criminals can join and that it was better than being in jail and how it was mainly to get out of trouble as an easy out.
    I didn't see a lack of patriotism while serving my country as an infantry paratrooper from 94' to 2005, I found that the army didn't want "bullet catchers". I think the Army required at least a GED when I joined but while I was in required a High School Diploma.
    I'm thinking the criminals joining the military lasted until the middle 80's but I'm unsure because I personally never met anyone who was.
    All in all I don't think patriotism ever dies for whatever generation you serve in, I think it's based on how you were raised and for a 17 year old kid many want to leave their parents home and prove/test themselves.
    Happy these records are being recorded and he did a wonderful job in the military, my only issue was at 29 minutes in the video it doesn't reflect myself or any of my former comrades in the 82nd Airborne Division B.co 2/325 AIR 60 mm mortars. Airborne All The Way!

  • @apumasterp
    @apumasterp Před 3 lety

    No disrespect meant but it’s like an interview with Joe Biden. If he can grasp the concept of the question, he will not or cannot answer it.
    Thank you for your service sir! God bless you!