Sam S Rainer
Sam Rainer served with Winfred as a gunner on the first crew of the B-24 Hoo Jive. They served together in the 8th Army Air Force in the 734th Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group.
They came together as a crew in the fall of 1943 at Gowen Field Idaho, finished their training at March Field, California and transferred overseas December, 1944. They were stationed at Old Buckenham, Norfolk, UK. , Station 144. While at Old Buc they flew their first nine missions together in February and March, 1944.
At the beginning of April, the crew was transferred to the 564th Bomb Squadron of the 389th Bomb Group to become a PFF (Pathfinder) crew. PFF crews flew the lead bomber in a formation. Using H2X they could do ‘Blind Bombing’ through cloud cover to mark where the following planes should drop their bombs. Starting in April 1944, they flew an additional twenty missions with the 389th finishing their last mission on June 25th, 1944. They flew two missions on D-Day.
The crew was split up on July 10th. Sam returned to the United States where he finished up the war. He was discharged on September 8, 1945.
Below is an email from Thom Rainer, Sam's youngest son, regarding his father's life after the war.
I wish I had more information about Dad and his World War II legacy. Like your father-in-law, Dad never brought up the war. In those few times (too few) I did ask him something directly, he would, for the most part, ignore me by moving to another topic. On one occasion, he responded briefly to a question I had about D-Day. After a few moments, he became emotional and did not continue. If I had been more prescient about his brief life, I probably would have pressed him a bit more. I guess we all think we have more time.
After the war, Dad came home to marry my Mom, a promise he made before going to war. He refused to marry her earlier lest he make her a widow. He returned to his small town of Union Springs, Alabama, where he held only one job, a banker, his entire life. He eventually became president, CEO, and chairman of the bank. He also served 16 years as a city councilman and 4 years as mayor. He did not run for re-election. He would have died in his second term.
Those who came to his funeral were so great in number that no church could hold all the people. In anticipation of the crowd, we held his funeral on a hillside in the cemetery. I was a seminary student; it was the first funeral I ever preached. I was told it was the largest funeral ever in Union Springs.
Dad was quiet, an introvert like me. He loved his family and his country. He had a strong faith and rarely missed a Sunday at his men’s Sunday school class and worship service.
Over the years, I realize how powerful his influence was on my life. He was truly my hero. When my brother, Sam, Jr., decided not to continue the name, I got permission from him and his wife to continue it. My first of three sons is named Sam III.
Thom
Thom S. Rainer
Founder and CEO Church Answers
STATISTICS: SAM SOLOMON RAINER
BIRTH | Date | Place | Father | Mother | Siblings |
March 8, 1922 | Union Springs, Bullock, AL | James W Rainer | Mamie Solomon | 2 bros / 1 sis | |
EDUCATION | School | Graduation | School | Graduation | |
Union Springs High School | 4 years – 1940 | L S U – School of Banking | |||
WORK (PreWar) | Banking Clerk | The American National Bank | Union Springs, AL | ||
MILITARY | Registration | Age – 20 | |||
Enlistment | Oct. 19, 1942 | Fort McClellan, AL | 5’9” / 158 lbs | Hair – Brown Eyes – Hazel | |
Service # 34393634 | Branch Army Air Forces | 8th AAF | 2nd Air Wing | 2nd Air Division | |
Units | 453rd BG / 764th BS 389th BG / 564th BS | Old Buckenham, Hethel AB, UK | Station 144 Station 114 | 11/43 – 03/44 04/44 – 07/44 | |
Training | Gunner | Gowen Field, ID | March Field, CA | ||
Other | Harlington, TX | ||||
Rank | Staff Sergeant | ||||
Discharge | Sept. 8, 1945 | ||||
AFTER WAR | Residence | Union Springs, Bullock, AL | |||
Work | Banking | The American National Bank | President and Chairman of the Board | ||
Activities | Union Springs City Council/Mayor | Presbyterian Church Deacon Board | Union Springs Lions Club & Country Club, president | ||
MARRIAGE | Engagement | ||||
Marriage | Place | Spouse | Children | ||
July 4, 1945 | Abbeville, AL (Keller Home) | Nan Keller | Sam S Rainer, Jr Thom S Rainer | ||
DEATH | Date | Place | Cause | Cemetery | |
Apr. 13, 1984 | Union Springs, AL | Oak Hill | |||
Obituary | https://www.newspapers.com/article/union-springs-herald-obituary-for-fr-may/115413500/ | ||||
Union Springs Herald
Union Springs, Alabama • Page 1
