Lyndol Palin of Derby to Share his Life as a Bomber Pilot

By Scott Wheeler

Lyndol Palin of Derby was a pilot in the Eighth Air Force during World War II. He is seen in this photo with his bomber crew. Mr. Palin is seen in the front row, second from the left.

As a boy growing up in Derby, Vermont, Lyndol "Lyndy" Palin dreamed of one day becoming a pilot. His boyhood hero was the great aviator Charles Lindbergh who, in 1927, flew his plane, the Spirit of St. Lois, across the Atlantic Ocean. Dreamer though he was, Palin realized the chance of a country boy from rural Vermont becoming pilot was slim to none.

But the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 not only gave Palin a chance to fly, but it gave him a chance to serve his county. As a member of the Eighth Air Force he piloted B-17 bombers on long, dangerous missions deep into German-occupied Europe.

"You could see other planes in front of you and off to the side being shot down, but as the pilot you couldn't pay all that much attention," Palin said, explaining a typical bombing mission. "You knew it was happening, you saw it happening, but you had to keep your eye on the guy right in front of you or you were going to have a midair collision."

Mr. Palin in the cockpit of his bomber.

The Derby man, who recently appeared on Vermont Public Television's salute to WW II Veterans, will serve as the guest speaker at the Goodrich Library in Newport on October 9, at 7 p.m. This event is hosted by Scott Wheeler, the publisher of Vermont's Northland Journal. The event is free and open to the public. Other WW II veterans are encouraged to attend. People with questions about this event, or who have an idea for future speakers, can contact Scott at (802) 334-5920 or email him at northlandjournal@gmail.com.