History

Howard Wilkinson: Politics and More

0000017a-3b40-d913-abfe-bf44a4f90000Howard Wilkinson joined the WVXU news team as the politics reporter and columnist in April 2012 , after 30 years of covering local, state and national politics for The Cincinnati Enquirer. On this page, you will find his weekly column, Politically Speaking; the Monday morning political chats with News Director Maryanne Zeleznik and other news coverage by Wilkinson. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Wilkinson has covered every Ohio gubernatorial race since 1974, as well as 16 presidential nominating conventions. Along with politics, Wilkinson also covered the 2001 Cincinnati race riots, the Lucasville prison riot in 1993, the Air Canada plane crash at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in 1983, and the 1997 Ohio River flooding. And, given his passion for baseball, you might even find some stories about the Cincinnati Reds here from time to time.

Local Veteran & Former POW Robert Doolan Turns 100 This Month And Shares His WWII Stories

91.7 WVXU

Published March 8, 2017 at 4:00 AM EST

Robert Doolan, who served as navigator on a B-17 bomber in WWII, was shot down, captured and spent 16 months as a POW. Mr. Doolan turns 100 this month.

Robert Doolan was born in Cincinnati on the eve of the Unites States' entry into World War I, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January 1941 and served as navigator on a B-17 bomber. His plane was shot down over Holland, he was captured and served 16 months as a German prisoner of war.

Mr. Doolan, who turns 100 this month, lives in Western Hills, and continues to speak about his experiences to groups around Cincinnati.

WVXU reporter Howard Wilkinson recently talked with Robert Doolan about his love of flying and his time in the Army Air Corps and as a POW.

To read the real story of Stalag Luft III, featured in the movie The Great Escape, where Robert Doolan was held as a POW, click here.