Sy Ellenhorn Oral History Interview

IdentifierNHF_WC_2014_Ellenhorn_Sy

DateJuly 15 2014

Description Sy Ellenhorn was drafted into the military at the age of 19 in 1943. Initially he was sent to armory school before transferring to a pilot training program. The Army Air Corps had too many pilots, however, and Ellenhorn ended up as a waist gunner on a B-24. Ellenhorn flew a total of 42 missions as a waist gunner and was forced to bailout over the Adriatic Sea when his plane was shot and the fuel tank was damaged. He was rescued by an Irishman in a rowboat and as a result of this incident, Ellenhorn was awarded the Purple Heart and was admitted to the Caterpillar Club.

Material TypeDigital

Duration1h 15m 19s

Preferred CitationSy Ellenhorn, Interview, National Home Front Project, Washington College, Chestertown Maryland.

ProvenanceInterview was recorded by JR Bauer, Nicolle Gamez, and Nancy Louck through Washington College for the Starr Center of the American Experience National Homefront Project.

GeonamesChestertown, Kent, Maryland, United States, NA [39.209,-76.06661] [id:4351264]Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, NA [40.6501,-73.94958] [id:5110302]Greenville, Pitt, North Carolina, United States, NA [35.61266,-77.36635] [id:4469160]Florida, Florida, United States, NA [28.75054,-82.5001] [id:4155751]Italy, Italy, EU [42.83333,12.83333] [id:3175395]Germany, Germany, EU [51.5,10.5] [id:2921044]Czechoslovakia, EU [50.08292,14.46672] [id:8505031]Austria, Austria, EU [47.33333,13.33333] [id:2782113]Hungary, Hungary, EU [47,20] [id:719819]