Oral history interview of Rolland Eckels. Rolland M. Eckels was drafted into WWII (1943-1945) in the Army Air Corps, 816th Squadron Bomber Group and served as a Staff Sergeant. He saw action as a waist gunner on a B-17 in the European Theater in England and received recognition for his duty in Europe and Africa. NOTE: the information about in the 816th Squadron is from the Litov interview. Eckels was also interviewed by WNIN and that record says 486th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force (see the www.loc.gov link on this record).