Paul ‘Bud’ Haedike

In 2022 at the American Veteran’s Center conference and gala, I spent a little time with this wonderful man.

Paul ‘Bud’ Haedike flew 26 missions in a B-17 as a bombardier with the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.

From the St Charles County Veteran’s Museum: Bud and his crew on their B-17 got a baptism by fire on their first bombing mission to Hamm, Germany on 16-FEB 1945. They were new and on their first mission. Their position in the formation was called “Tail End Charlie.” As the new guys, it was the worst and most dangerous position because they were flying low and were the last of the formation over the target. Bud recalled, “It’s kind of like in life, you've kind of got to earn your way. Not that any position was good, but when the Germans fired their 88-millimeter flak cannons, they could fire up to 25,000 feet. The primary target was the marshalling yards in Hamm. The flak from the cannons was intense. Flak was a bomber pilot's biggest enemy in WWII. The huge shells would explode into hundreds of pieces and were accurate.” A direct hit meant almost certain death to the plane's crew. “My position was up in the plexiglass nose and I saw the first engine smoking and on fire and then another one got hit,” Bud said. “And a B-17 isn't made stay up on one or two engines.” Air crew wore flak jackets and helmets but much of their body was unprotected. “We received 15- 20 flak holes in the ship, had two engines out, and crash landed in Belgium.”

Bud and his crew were fortunate not to crash land behind enemy lines. They made their way back to their base in England, and continued to serve their country with just over two dozen more missions.

If you’ve watched Masters of the Air, the new series about the 8th Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group, you know very well how harrowing these missions were, and the toll they took on the men.

After watching, more than ever, I feel a deep reverence for the airmen who fight from the air.

So thank you Paul ‘Bud’ Haedike for the minutes of your life given to fighting and flying. And thank you for this memorable serenade.