One of the branches of all three services during WWII, often seen on newsreels but seldom talked about in the war histories, is the Chaplains branch. Covering all the denominations and often very close to the action.
Chaplain James Good Brown served with the 381st Bombardment Group (H) of the Eighth US Airforce at Ridgewell Aerodrome in England, Station 167. 1943-1945.
Chaplains were forbidden to go into combat or carry a gun by International Rules of War, but after much persuasion and some local flying for familiarisation he achieved his aim "to fly with his boys" on a combat mission. On March 2nd 1944 he flew in a B17 Flying Fortress on a mission to Frankfurt, Germany, take off 08:30am. Returned 4:30 pm. Maybe the only Chaplain to fly a combat mission? A true "Sky Pilot"!
One other indication of his commitment is as follows. He was invited to preach in a London church one Sunday. There being no trains from Great Yeldham (the nearest town to Ridgewell) to London on a Sunday during the war, he cycled the 60 miles to London leaving at 12:00noon after his Ridgewell service and arriving at the London church at 6:00pm for the 6:30pm service. He then cycled back to a now very foggy Ridgewell after the service, arriving soaked from the condensation of the fog and to the suprise of the MPs on the base gate!
NOTE:
The above is taken from - THE MIGHTY MEN OF THE 381st: HEROS ALL. Written by James Good Brown. Second edition published in 1986 and quoted with permission. (a great read!)