Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-24
Daily Short Story

B fantastic suspicion IL true. This
morning, gentlemen. you will
proceed rs usual toward the
proving grounds.
But when YOU are exactly 10
miles from there YOU will turn
sharply west and head for the
coast"
He was illustrating their course
on a large map and the three
bombing officers were writing
down their instructions on their
chart boards.
"Out at sea you will pick up
San Clemente Island on your
right. The COURSE then will be
SSW, and so miles out you will
find your target. IL Is an Obso-
lete cruiser. anchored and
abandoned.
LOADED THIS TIME
Attitude $4,000. as usual.
Same code. Only this time.
gentlemen. your torpedoes are
loaded. Any questions
There were no questions. and
the officers filed out of the room.
During his training IN the AR
corps, Lieut.. Christopher Wade
had dropped live bombs before, al
though not from a TC-7. This had
been at Langley Field before he
had been transferred TO Lufberry
Field. Cal.
Once the release mechanism had
damned and mr. was forced 10 re-
turn To ms base, after com
municating with the ground per
sonnet and warning them TO give
him a wide berth.
His luck held. He made 4 safe
landing with 800 pounds OF high
explosive under the seat OF his
pants.
Now nc was 10 fly a 1000 pound
active torpedo with its new and
celebrating explosive energy,
Chris walked across the field,
tingles OF excitement running up
and down his spine. The three
tets we're drawn up in line,
propellers idling, the morning S
flight Is minutes behind schedule.
In each bomber the turret was
manned by a machine-gunne
A signal was given. Discipline
gathered every man into military
RECESSION. The three officers
Iclimbed aboard. Wheel blocks
were yanked away. brakes slowly
released
The tets began TO move. After
la short run they left the ground
as a unit and headed south.
When he attained 25.000 feet
Chris reported 10 his base and
lleveled off. Far in the distance he
could make out the proving
grounds and, beyond. the hilly
Mexican terrain.
He watched his speed and mile
age and suddenly led the flight
due west 10 the coast. This, he
saw TO his vast surprise, would
take them right over San Diego
For some reason Chris didn't
like il.
In a curiously uneasy mood he
shot an incisive stare at his instru-
ment board in a swift check-up Of
the hundred and one gadgetS
there.
Everything seemed 10 be as il
should he, yet Chris couldn't get
rid of his uneasiness. He had the
feeling that something was wrong
under him.
did you feel a sort OF move
ment under us" he asked his
gunner, speaking to him by the
connecting tube. "A sort of
lurching movement
mo, sir"
"Peek over and see II we've
got two wheels"
This required considerable aero
batic maneuvering on the part OF
the gunner
Everything looks 10 be all
right, sir" he reported.
TRIES TO RELAX
Chris tried TO relax. A hell of q
responsibility, carrying live
1900 pound bomb over an un-
suspecting city. Well. they'd be
out at sea in few moments, 38e
MI phi. Record speed for a bomber
The three tets were now over
San Diego with it's population OF
some 10000. 1t was here that
Chris felt another nerve-rackine
movement under him, and once
more his eyes searched the instru-
ment board.
This time il told a God-awfuI
story! The needle on the release
~