The Coolidge examiner., 1942-07-31

at times took on the appearance
of a mammoth studio. AS a matter
of fact hardened soldiers, pilots
and gunners were beginning TO re-
fer to the PIX as the Brown Derby.
Consolidated Mess as ElTrocadero
and the Movie house as Graumans
Chinese Theatre. One wit pointed
to the haunting mountains in the
distance and with a whimsical
smile asked his companion to take
a walk with him to Beverly Hills.
His companion must have seen a
mirage on the desert for he re-
spectfully declined the invite and
said that he had a date TO go
swimming at Malibu Beach.
Not with standing the chimera
created by the playful imagry OF
the fun loving soldiers this War
Department film is dedicated TO
branch OF the Air Corps whose
deeds OF valor have already been
inscribed in the records of our
struggle the Rear Gunner. His role
in the bomber Is TO blast from
the sky any enemy aircraft which
may hinder aerial operations He Is
n specialist with nerves OF steel
who functions so expertly that
there is created an almost lyrical
aspect to his role. The time and
energy that the government is ex
pending TO memorialize his work
is richly deserved.
ssss
Through the vigilance of their
work the air men can fly their
craft with a secure feeling that
the elements OF nature are with
them. Through their charting and
plotting the modern knighs of the
sky can anticipate the atmospheric
conditions that will prevail on
their mission. The prognostications
OF the Weather Bureau of the Base
are not merely utterances OF
medieval seer but are the results
OF painstaking scientific inyestiga-
tion.
All through the day and night
officers and trained enlisted men
pore over reports coming to them
from nearby stations. From such
instruments as the thexanemometer
they determine the velocity OF the
prevailing winds. the barograph rec
ords pressure changes and the
psychrometer reveals the moisture
content OF the air. Coupling their
own observations with the teletyp-
ed accounts of nearby and distant
weather conditions the final dispo-
sition OF the adviseabliity of the
air men going up is determined.
Though their work is involved
and intricate with the patience OF
a Copernicus star gazing the wealth
or office watches the sky and the
instruments, and issues a terse
statement-a statement upon which
the safety OF the fight hinges. They
are indeed modern Cassandras
cloaked in the science OF maths-
matics.
The silence of the night remain
ed unbroken. From the faint blu
ish sky he could make out the
many faced silouhette OF the dis
tant hills. A cooling wind EN-
braced him for a moment and he
clutched his gun firmer.
The hanger. half covered by the
enveloping darkness began to take
on the appearance OF bowl. The
guard shifted the weight of the
gun to his other shoulder and con
tinued pacing his post. In the re-
Election of the shimmering moon
he could see part of a wing of a
now dormant bomber as II rested
almost against the side OF the
structure.
Itwas only yesterday that he saw
the plane as it lifted its imposing
frame ino space. IL was alive, vi
brant. roaring as it took off. Now
il was like a tired child sleeping
soundly before his day begins. The
similie that crossed his mind made
the guard smile. II was indeed a
child a magnificent child that
needed guarding, guiding and care.
That ship there was his charge
this evening. He was guarding II
through the long, lonely night so
that at the break of day its par
ents, the pilots and gunners and
bombardiers could take ii aloft for
its dedicated purpose. AS he swung
about again he saw planes by the
thousands that crossed the sky like
swarms of hornets. And he saw
guards by the thousands watching
their precious aerial fortresses as
they gracefully landed.
Yes, he had TO be vigilant this
clear evening. Throughout the
length and breadth of America, or
wherever American aircraft may
be his fellow guards had TO be
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