By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

Standish resident W. Laird “Bud” Harris looks through the window of his home to gaze at the scenic view of Sebago Lake, thinking of his experience in World War II.

“It was an experience I would never give up, but would never want to do again,” he says.

Harris, 86, was a pilot for the Army Air Force (now the U.S. Air Force) in Europe near the end of World War II. He recently wrote a paper on his experiences based on letters he wrote home to his mother and a diary he kept about his missions. The paper was created for friends and family to read.

“In the diary I kept brief notes on the missions,” he says. “We weren’t supposed to make any notes, but I did it anyway. People have always asked me questions about it and someone told me I should just write about it, so I did.”

Harris says he piloted 23 missions during the war as part of the Army Air Force 572^nd Squadron, 391^st Bomb Group, 9^th Air Force. He was based in France, with missions targeting various towns in Germany. He flew about 400 hours in a B-26 twin-engine medium bomber referred to as “The Widow Maker.” 

“Six people would be in the bomber,” he says. “I would be flying with a co-pilot and we would also have flight engineers, a radioman, bombardier and a gunner.”

Harris’ time in Europe began when he arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 28, 1944. After taking a train to England and a plane to France, Harris’ group settled in the town of Roy Amy, 70 miles north of Paris.

Harris’ missions in Germany began in January 1945 and ended in April of that year. Harris says his time in Germany would have ended sooner if it were not for famed Army General George Patton.

“We had a points system for us to go home,” he says. “It was based on the time you spent over there and how many missions you were a part of. The guy must’ve taken at least five of my missions away from me, because the targets we were going after were already taken by Patton. I would’ve been home sooner if it wasn’t for that guy.”

Near the end of his missions in Germany, Harris moved from the 391^st to the 394^th Bomb Group. When Germany surrendered in May, Harris flew ground troops on sightseeing trips along the Rhine River. Harris was also promoted in rank from 2^nd Lieutenant to 1^st Lieutenant during that time. Harris would spend the rest of his time picking up supplies and ferrying troops. He returned to the United States and was discharged in January 1946.

Harris signed up with the Air Force Reserves in February 1946 and served in various capacities until his retirement in April 1972, leaving with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. For his service during World War II, Harris received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the European Theater Ribbon with three battle stars, the American Service Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.

Harris says he was never scared during his World War II missions.

“We were so young we didn’t give a [darn],” he says. “We really just couldn’t wait to get flying.”

Harris was born and raised in Portland and attended Deering High School, graduating in 1940. He was a sophomore at the University of Maine at Orono during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Harris said less than a year later he was sworn into the enlisted reserves.

“I really wanted to join up with the Army Air Force, because I wanted to fly,” he says. “But I was under 21 and I needed my parent’s signatures on a release form. They did it, but weren’t exactly thrilled.”

After Harris returned home, he says he hesitated on whether or not he wanted to finish his education.

“I finally made up my mind that I was going to go back, because my wife said she wouldn’t marry me if I didn’t,” he says. “I married my wife in 1948 and graduated in 1949 with a degree in civil engineering.”

Harris says he met his wife, Marjorie, through a mutual friend in Portland after the war. The two were married for 58 years until she died in 2006. The couple have four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“She was quite a gal,” he says.

 After graduating from college, Harris says he worked briefly for the city of Portland engineering department before becoming a superintendent of the Maine Central Railroad for 33 years.

Harris says he has mixed feelings on the current war in Iraq.

“I feel right about what we’ve done and what we’re doing,” he says. “I just don’t like the fact that it’s taking so long. One of my grandsons is in the Maine National Guard and I’m hoping he doesn’t get sent over there.”

Harris has lived in Standish since 1976. He bought his home from his father-in-law, who originally built the house in1956. Harris says today he keeps himself busy.

“I have a small woodshop downstairs,” he says. “I also have a computer and have learned how to type stuff on it and use email. I used the computer to type my accounts of the war, so I’ve done all right.”

Harris says he misses flying, which he gave up after the war.

“I do miss it,” he says. “My one regret is that I didn’t continue flying.”