‘Creative’ changes to my height, by Bill Dobson
November 10th, 2009 at Tue, 10th, 2009 at 1:42 pm by andyhobbs
I grew up in Seattle and attended Queen Anne High School, where I graduated in 1943. I then attended UCLA as a part of the Army Specialized Training Program from 1943 until early in 1944. At that time, I enlisted with the Air Force Cadets in Los Angeles.
I attended basic training in Buckley Field, CO, as a bombardier. After some “creative” changes to my height, as I was listed as 6’ 2” and the maximum height allowed was 5’ 11”, I began my training. I started with B-24 training and had to strip down to my underwear, as otherwise I didn’t fit in the small enclosed spaces. I eventually trained on a B-29 as a gunnery class through the remainder of 1944.
I never got to use my training, as the war ended before I was cleared into service. After my discharge, I returned to Seattle where I went to the University of Washington on the GI Bill.
After the UW, I worked at Weyerhaeuser for 12 years as a chief accountant, at Alaska Airline as a budget director, and for 18 years as treasurer of an industrial supply company.
I am 83 years old and currently reside at Foundation House in Federal Way with my wife of 16 years, Evie.
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