Foil: 7 Panel: 1 Column: 2 Line: 99

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Debra Kapler

This is for my Dad - Francis "Kap" Kapler.

Volunteering for the Army in March of '42, Dad was accepted into the Army Air Corp in January of '43. Since a lot of time and money was expended in training, all volunteers had to sign an agreement to fly what-ever platform the government chose. With that agreement in place, Dad started with a BT-19 Low Wing, two-seater, open-cockpit with a wooden prop and followed by Twin Engine School. Graduating in "pinks" Dad was commissioned a 2nd Lt by Roosevelt and requested B-17's. Contrary to his plans, he was assigned to B-26's. While considered the hottest thing in the air at the time, they were difficult to fly, which earned them a series of interesting nick-names. After logging 360 hrs in the B-26, Dad was finally reassigned to B-17's in June of '44. Picking up a brand new plane in Kearny, NB, Dad flew it to England using his bombardier's drift meter in conjunction with the ocean's white caps to chart his course after they were out of range of the east coast radio beam. From England Dad proceeded to fly 27 missions against Germany as part of the 8lh Air Force. After completing his European tour by flying recon missions in a stripped down B-17, Dad transferred back to the states. Expecting to pick up a new assignment in the Pacific— the war suddenly ended. Continuing to fly even after the war, Dad was barnstorming in Waterloo, IA when he met and married my Mom, Shirley Friedl.