The Writing 69th
The Writing 69th was a group of eight American journalists who trained to fly bomber missions over Germany with the U.S. Eighth Air Force during World War II. The beginnings The Writing 69th was so christened by one of the 8th Air Force's public relations officers, perhaps Hal Leyshon or Joe Maher. The group also considered the names "The Flying Typewriters" or the "Legion of the Doomed." The Writing 69th included Walter Cronkite, Andy Rooney, Homer Bigart, and Robert Post, among others. Members The Writing 69th included: Paul Manning: correspondent for CBS Radio (did not fly on the first mission) Robert Post: correspondent for The New York Times (the only member of the group killed on the first mission) Walter Cronkite: correspondent for United Press Andy Rooney: correspondent for Stars and Stripes Denton Scott: correspondent for Yank, the Army Weekly (did not fly on the first mission) Homer Bigart: correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune William Wade: correspondent for the International News Service Gladwin Hill: correspondent for the Associated Press In addition to the writers of the 69th, five newsreel cameramen took part in the training with the Flying Typewriters. They and their affiliations were: George B. Oswald: Universal