Quentin Aanenson

Quentin Aanenson’s website preserves the personal history of the World War II fighter pilot and shares firsthand accounts of the conflict for future generations. Created around Aanenson’s experiences, the site complements his film and television program, A Fighter Pilot’s Story, with stories and photographs not included in the production, alongside accounts from other wartime fighter pilots.

The site traces Aanenson’s journey from leaving college and enlisting in the Air Corps in 1942 to flying combat missions in Europe with the 391st Fighter Squadron of the 366th Fighter Group. Its featured stories explore the transition from civilian life to military service, intense periods of combat in Normandy, and the hardships of missions late in 1944. Visitors can also learn about the making and later impact of Aanenson’s documentary, including its broadcast on PBS beginning in 1994, and his involvement in Ken Burns’s The War.

This is a historical and educational resource rather than a commercial brand: it offers biographical information, personal testimony, archival photographs, documentary highlights, and links to related historical sources. Its central purpose is to preserve the memories and voices of those who served in World War II.