One of the other (few) stories I heard of my grandfather usually came in conjunction with the rescue of Airmen Mangone (previous entry), alt...

I'm jumping quite a bit ahead here, all the way to the end of Austin's military career.  But I had the opportunity yesterday to spea...

Austin and his new family began life in the post war era and began the traditional military hopping around the country from base to base.  B...

On May 20, 1945 the newly married Cpt. Austin Simmons was again assigned as a B-17 pilot in Memphis, TN.  There is a bit of speculation abou...

The photo of himself and Mary Jane Smith carried in his wallet throughout the war. February 25, 1945 marked Captain Simmons last combat mis...

After his pilot's training finished in the US, it was off to Ridgewell, England where he joined up with the Mighty Men of the 381st Heav...

The July 26, 1943 issue of Life Magazine featured a cover article on the 8th Air Force.  Standing in the right spot at the right time, a you...