Calvin P. Rudd, East Mill Creeky, Utah: an interview by Becky B. Lloyd, June 7, 2001: Saving the Legacy tape nos. 253 & 254

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ALVIN P. R DD J 7 2001 [Editor's note: The Boeing AT-6 Advanced trainer wa a sing! engine, low winged monoplane with retractable landing gear and a single enclosed cockpit which hou ed two tandem seats for a cadet and his instructor. There was provision for one .30 cal machine gun. One version of the AT-6 saw action as forward air control planes during Korea. Since the war, because of a superficial resemblance, AT-6s have often been modified to portray Japanese Zeros in Hollywood productions. The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service at the start of World War II It was a streamlined single seat, single engine, low-winged monoplane, and featured a retractable tricycle landing gear, which was unique for the time. It had an unusual mid-engine design, which accommodated a 3 7 mm co-axial cannon, which fired through the propeller hub. The propeller shaft ran between the pilots legs. It also carried four .50 caliber machine guns in the nose and wings. Although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the P-39 design was handicapped by the lack of an efficient turbo­supercharger, which limited its performance at high altitude. As a consequence the plane performed best at lower altitudes. The plane, with it potent armament, was used with great success by the Soviet Air Force against German Luftwaffe and ground forces on the eastern front. Most of the air combat on the eastern front was at lower altitudes since neither side engaged in much high-altitude strategic bombing.] That was not a happy experience all around but at the end of that time, I did get to come home on leave. I came home and got engaged. BEC: Oh. Let me interrupt you here. Where are we in time now? Are we at the end of '43? CAL: This was in the spring of '44. 19