Harold Mansfield was born Massachusetts. He joined the Army Air Corps when he was 17 and was called up to service when he had turned 18. His training for the Air Corps included basic training in Miami and gunnery school in Las Vegas. In Lincoln, Nebraska Mansfield was assigned to crew #79, 571st squadron, 390th Bomb Group. He and his crew then reported to Oklahoma to begin their phase training. After completing their training in 1944, the crew flew over to Europe to begin their deployment at the air base located at Framlingham, England. Mansfield flew 35 combat missions. During his interview, Mansfield tells stories of flak coming thru the top turret and he was once interviewed on the BBC.