Lynn Forshee was interested in radio starting in grade school. In early 1941
at age 19, he enlisted in the Navy. During the war, he was a radioman and a
gunner, and towards the end of the war, was trained an a Naval pilot. He got his
Ham license at the end of the war, and kept his call, W0ILY, for the rest of his
life.
Lynn built up quite a station back in his home town of Britt, Iowa. He told
me he had quite an antenna farm and enjoyed DXing from time to time. Even in his
last years in a rest home, he was able to set up his own HF/VHF station.
I got to know Lynn late in his lifetime. He was fascinating to talk to about
both radio and World War II. In a way, both were intertwined, as I learned when
he told me about an autobiographical book he'd written and self-published about
his experiences during the war. Radio, of course, was a lifeline for pilots who
got into trouble or were running low on fuel trying to find their way back to
the Carrier.
I asked Lynn if he'd like to share his book with a wider audience, on the
internet, and he was pleased to allow that.
His book, called "Standby, Mark" (something the bombardier would call out
during a dive) is now on the web at
http://sky.prohosting.com/forshee/.
Lynn loved sharing his knowledge and experiences, and was happy to help you
if he could. I had been re-building my vintage station from my Novice days in
1960 and needed a Dowkey transmit-receive relay. Lynn had one he wasn't using
and just gave it to me.
Lynn was a real radioman and Ham. They don't make them like that anymore.
Thank you for the link to his book. I found it be be a very fascinating glimpse into the life of a sailor/airman in those dangerous days. He had an amazing recall of names.
I also want to thank you for the linc to Lynn's book. It is a subject of great interest to me. I printed it this evening and put it in a binder.
I salute Lynn and all veterans, living and deceased, of what is often called the last "good" war. God bless him and all his mates. I visited U.S. military cemetaries in France recently. You will be pleased to know that they are well maintained and respected. I said a quiet prayer in many a chapel.
I would like to thank those who had a hand in posting Lynn's book for all to read and ponder. It's certainly an engrossing account of Navy life during and after World War 2. I wish I could get my father to recount his memories of the Army Air Corps, but like many veterans, he prefers to keep those memories tucked away. Here's to the "Greatest Generation" and all they did for us!