William B. Sheets
Bio
William B. Sheets served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Although he served entirely stateside, he is still considered a Korean War Era Veteran. He enlisted in the Air Force shortly after receiving notice of his impending draft assignment in the Army. While in the Air Force, he trained on the B47 and B52 turret systems. He was so proficient, the Air Force made him an instructor for the turret system on the B47 and B52. One of his former students was Wally Schirra, one of the first astronauts. At the conclusion of his 4-year enlistment, he began community college on the GI Bill, ultimately receiving his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and later pursuing a master’s degree and Ph.D., teaching throughout both his military enlistment and beyond.
Video Clips
Learning to Educate Future Turret Mechanics
William B. Sheets joined the U.S. Air Force shortly after receiving his initial draft notification at the end of 1952. He details the training he received that ultimately led to him becoming an instructor at Lowery Air Force Base where he taught turret system mechanics.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_De-HEbIuA&start=227&end=414
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/william-b-sheets#clip-1
Embed:
Teaching Turret Mechanics at Lowery
William B. Sheets spent his military career preparing servicemen to repair and maintain the B47, B52, and B36 turret systems on planes. He offers details of the classes he taught as well as the learning that was required on his part to keep up-to-date on turret mechanics.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_De-HEbIuA&start=424&end=590
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/william-b-sheets#clip-2
Embed:
B36 Turret Training
William B. Sheets notes that he another instructor helped develop the training manual for B36 Turret Mechanics and then taught the course at Lowery Air Force Base. He recalls that one of his first classes was completely made up of officers who were preparing to become maintenance officers of different wings of B52 aircrafts. Among his students was Wally Schirra who would later go on to become one of the early U.S. astronauts. He shares that his favorite aircraft has always been the B52 which is still in service today. He shares he was discharged from the U.S. Air Force on April 17, 1957.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_De-HEbIuA&start=590&end=868
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/william-b-sheets#clip-3
Embed: