My name is Michael Hernandez. I submit this website in honor of my late grandfather, Frederic N. "Bambino" Hernandez. He served his country in the China - Burma - India theatre of war from February 1944 until February 1945. As a 2^nd Lieutenant, AAF, he flew with the 10^th Air Force /7^th Bomb Group/492^nd Bomb Squadron and with the 14^th Air Force/308^th Bomb Group/375^th Bomb Squadron and flew 48 combat missions. He and thousands like him served heroically, selflessly, and humbly to secure the freedom that we are able to live under today. They did not ask "why?" as they fulfilled their duties in service to our great country, but forged ahead in the face of tremendous adversity and sacrificed their lives for those left at home. A mission sadly, that goes almost unnoticed by the generations that have followed.

My grandfather, and others like him, never considered himself a hero, and thus, hesitated to speak about his wartime exploits. I was able to glean a few stories from him before he passed away, and they instilled, in me, a great pride. After he passed, I was left a scrapbook from his days in the service. I am now attempting to piece together a history of his service from this data. It is difficult, and I now wish that I had more interest when I was younger and my grandfather more able to recollect his past. Many veterans that served our country in World War II are still with us, and I have contacted a few that flew or trained with my grandfather. Since I began working on this website, I have contacted Mr. John (Jack) Conrad, Mr. Hugh Courtney and Mr. Norman Long. They have furnished me with priceless insight into their pasts. Their recollection of missions, battles and "down time" have been both educational and amusing. Fifty years have passed and these memories still bring on emotions that survive to this day. I hear them laugh and hear them cry and I am grateful and honored to be able to get to know these humble, yet very proud men. They are full of fascinating information, and I have found that they seem to enjoy the chance to speak with someone that is interested in the history.

I recommend to anyone that has a relative or friend that served in WWII, to take the time to sit and listen to the stories. Write them down, or videotape an interview with them. Like my friend, Lt. Walter Kaestner tells me: "I'm 81, and we (WWII Veterans) are not getting any younger". Time is no longer an ally, and it would be a pity if the pictures and stories that these men can tell fade into the past without a chance to be heard by future generations.

Frederic N. "Bambino" Hernandez was born on Oct. 29, 1918 in Whittier, CA. My grandfather lived in what was the "country" back then. He had four sisters and was one of five boys - four of who went on to serve our country during WWII. He often spoke with fondness of the times spent hunting, exploring and hiking in the hills that surrounded his home. He attended Old Mill School which was nearby, but would like to relate how he had to later hike several miles a day "over the hills" to get to Whittier High School! He grew to become quite an athlete. He lettered in football, track and wrestling. He attended Fullerton College and was the Far Western & Pacific Coast AAU wrestling champion in 1939-40.

He enlisted in 1941. He received pre-flight and advanced training at Ellington Field and went to Bombardier School at San Angelo Army Air Field. His Aviation Cadet Class 43-11 graduated on August 5, 1943 and he was classified as an "Aircraft Observer" (Bombardier). He was then assigned to the 29th Bomb Group at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. He later was assigned to the 7th Bomb Group and completed "phase training" at airfields in Casper, WY and Topeka, KS. On February 20, 1944 his crew recieved their orders to report for combat duty and they left for India on the 22nd. After stops in Miami and Brazil (among other places), they arrived in Pandaveswar, India on March 1, 1944. His original crew consisted of: 2^nd Lt. Donald H. Tennent - Pilot; F/O John M. Conrad - Co-pilot; 2^nd Lt. Harold A. West - Navigator; Staff Sgt. Tony R. Johns - Flight Engineer; Staff Sgt. Roy C. Schroeder - Gunner; Sgt. Norman P. Long - Gunner; Sgt. Charles F. Motley, Jr. - Gunner; Sgt. Edward L. Moss - Gunner; Sgt. Hugh Courtney - Radioman.

My father, Frederic J. Hernandez was born on July 4, 1944, while my grandfather was "flying the Hump" into China. My grandfather had the waist gun on this mission and the crew had to bail out on the way back! That must have been one exciting day in his life! On July 11, 1944 he was "loaned" to the 14^th AF, during the monsoon season. He flew with Walter Kaestner on the Tough Titti. This plane would later be the subject of a "ABC 20/20" news program when it was found on the side of a mountain in China some fifty years after its crash. Fortunately, for my grandfather, he was no longer a member of that crew.

After his return, my grandfather aspired to achieve pilot training and volunteered for assignment to bases in San Antonio, TX and Lancaster. He served in the Air Force Reserves until his Honorable Discharge in 1955.

Along with my grandmother, he settled back into civilian life in Whittier and raised a family of two sons and a daughter. I am among five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren left to carry on his memory. This website is how I choose to do my part, and I hope that this will inspire others to do the same for someone who made an impact on their life.

I am proud of my grandfather. He was an honorable and decent man. I miss him.