Voice from the Past
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93-year-old Bob Allenby of Newman, CA appears on episode #469 of Hometown Heroes, airing April 28-30, 2017. A native of Ukiah, CA, Allenby worked in a secret Navy squadron testing drone technology before deploying as a PBM flight engineer and gunner with VPB-20. You’ll hear Bob’s Navy memories in his nonagenarian voice, but also from the mouth of a 20-year-old Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Robert Allenby, thanks to a 1944 Navy recording.
Bob still has the 78-rpm record of his 1944 interview, sent to his family by the Navy during World War II.
Bob entered the Navy as an 18-year-old in 1942.
Wow Bob I have a few questions about pbms as my grandfather Joe Earl Cook ensigns flew with PBV 208 under Gaylord Lyons as navigator in 1944 he was stationed at some of the same places and dates as you. His journal has some pages missing from July 28 1945 onward that your interview has helped me understand it better.please feel free to contact me anytime I would love to chat sincerely PeterBogyMike Dawson Colvert