Bernie
Green, was born in Brooklyn, NY, and graduated from New
York University before entering the aviation Cadet program
in 1943. He graduated first in his class, 44 -11, from
Bombardier/Navigation School at Carlsbad, NM. 12 August
1944.
He
received B-29 training at Pyote, TX and was then assigned
to a replacement crew with the 61st Squadron of the 39th
Bomb Group. The crew later designated the plane, named the
"City of Cleveland." "Little Bully," in memory of Clarence
"Bully" Beevers, their flight engineer. Beevers was flying
with another crew when their plane was shot down. By war's
end P-31 had flown 22 missions, some of which were among
the longest strikes of World War II.
On
a raid against an aircraft: plant at Kobe, his plane was
hit by heavy Anti-aircraft fire and closely pressed fighter
attacks, Many of the attacks, being frontal, were repulsed
by Bombardier Greene who succeeded in destroying one enemy
fighter. Their plane, extensively damaged, had one engine
knocked out, another severely impaired, their hydraulic
system rendered inoperable, elevator trim tab controls
shot away, and the electrical system damaged making it
impossible to release ten 500-pound bombs or close their
bomb bay doors. This necessitated Bombardier Greene at
great hazard to enter the forward bomb bay to release
manually those bombs while the aircraft commander was
compelled to take violent evasive action because of continuing
fighter attacks. The Crew survived by keeping the plane
in the air to Iwo Jima where they made an emergency landing.
Lt. Greene and six other members of his crew received
the Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission.
He
was discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1946, but remained
in the Reserves, during which time he flew at Mitchell
Field, NY and also taught Junior High School Math and
Industrial Arts.
In
1951, during the Korean War, he was recalled to active
duty and served in Germany where he negotiated contracts
as a Procurement Officer for USAFE and NATO. He went on
graduate from Wharton Graduate School in 1959, and Armed
Forces Staff College in 1963. He became Procurement Manager
for the Military Airlift Command until his retirement
1963 as a Lt. Colonel.
Following
his military career, Greene has been a stockbroker, Program
Manager in a telecommunications firm and an Assistant
Superintendent of Schools in Hempstead NY.
Retired now, for a second time, he and his wife, Bernice
live in Merrick, NY. They have 3 sons.
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![bomb.gif [Bombardier's Badge]](../../../images/badges/bomb.gif){kind=small}
After
VJ Day, Bombardier Greene, by verbal order of his Airplane
Commander, assumed the position of Pilot. This act occurred
after Lt. Sam Le Neve, P-31's regular pilot, had been
assigned elsewhere.
