The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-15
A YAkK In
THE r. A. F.
By HARLAN THOMAS

q"
bit Of fighting. he remarked
The pilots were being briefed.
They had gathered around the
huge chart table. studying maps
taking down codes from the black
boards. and making notes upon the
Intelligence Officers advice as TO
landmarks, dangerous flax po-
sitions. and what he called ''un-
healthy places" The atmosphere
was brisk. business-hke. informal
Questions were fired at the chiefs
and carefully answered. Roger
Pinhy. pipe in mouth. was poring
over a detail map Tim Baker and
Morley. now in uniform. stood at
one end of the table. each absorb
ed in the instructions.
The Group Captain was speak
ing-as calmly as If he were send
ing his men out upon nothing more
than another leaflet raid. Your
initial objective tonight is the
marshaling yard at Dortmund.
There are heavy concentrations of
mechanical units and materials at
that point Undoubtedly you will
encounter heavy anti-aircraft op-
position. For most of you, this Will
be your first time under fire" He
glanced about wryly. From your
faces gather the impression that
lou are not exactly averse to the
idea
He turned and started out.
That's all, gentlemen. III leave
yyou with the Intelligence Officer,
who may have a few last points to
make" The pilots all stiffened up
at attention. Good luck
All that the Intelligence officer
could add-on the basis of latest
reports that had come in while the
Getting was in progress-was that
the German advance was turning
out to be far more rapid than had
been expected 1T appears" he
said gravely, that the flank of
the Peel line in Holland has al
ready been turned You will I'M
derstand, then, that your mission
is of extreme Importance.
The bomb train" long lines
of four-wheeled cradles hauled by
a tractor-had already rolled out
to the planes on their dispersal
fields. Ground crews had run their
small portable cranes alongside
the ships and hoisted the heavy
stuff" out of its cradles up into
/ the bomb racks. The bomb-doors
/ had been swung shut. Now the
/ individual plane crews each spent
while going over the nayigator's
peneiled track on their sets of
maps, so as to familarize them
selves even more closely with the
route. 1t was dusk. Starting
time approached. All watches had
been synchronized Each bomber
captain knew precisely at what
time he was expected to arrive
over the target; the planes were
/ to fly not in close formation, but
at short intervals apart. Finally
/ the rear gunners climbed into their
/ lonely power-driven turrets, far
aft from their mates. The naviga-
/ tors got aboard and checked their
/ instruments for the last time.
Bomber captains piled in. The
ground crews stood ready to blow
compressed air into the starters.
Then the take-off signal flashed
green. Five huge Hampdens, with
measured intervals between them,
Numbered down the fiell and off
into the eastern night 81.
Morley led off. On the seat be-
side him, his face bruised and still
dark with anger, sat Tim Baker.
Aft. in the turret, sat Tins name
sake Harry. passing the time over
the Channel completely absorbed
in a magazine called Air Thrills.
Roger Pillby's ship came fifth.
They were soaring over Belgium.
Roger was carrying on an absorb
/ ing conversation with his naviga-
/ tor. g. II was a bad moment.
ne related. 1T looked as if we
didn't have a chance. All the boys
were worried silly. So much de-
peneded on it. you know Then it
was my turn" His navigator
listened with intense interest. Il
came up to bat" Roger went on.
Yes. if I do say SO, cricket's my
game"
What happened ," the naviga-
I tor asked.
We lost" Roger said simply.
But if l had come through, Id
have been made a tradition"
Ito be continued)