The Coolidge examiner., 1942-11-13
Bombardier Cadets S
Attitude Reflects
That of Thousands

.ment and adventure; now in the
United States Air Force | wan,
revenge" Such was the state
ment of Bombadier Cadet Leland
r. Brennan, now stationed al
Williams Field.
Brennan. a q year old native Of
Huntington, Massachusetts,, is an
ordinary American. No brilliant
scholastic records mark his past
simply an ordinary certificate OF
graduation from the Huntington
High School in Massachusetts.
handed him some four years ago.
Following that, he spent two un-
eyentful years at college in
Springfield studying literary arts
and commercial subjects. Then.
as the case OF many families. he
was forced to forego his collegi.
ate education, due TO financial
difficulties. and find employment
Finally. late in November 1910,
Brennan entrained for Canada to
inject touch of excitement in
his commonplace life. On the
last day OF that month. he enlist
ed in the Il. c. A. +. for, as he
puts il, Il saw this present war
coming and I wanted to get a
head start on it,
From Montreal. Brennan was
sent TO the No. 1 Manning Pool
at Toronto for classification and
basic drin. Then the American
shipped to St Hubert, Canada
where he underwent further pro
cessing. Completing a cycle. he
returned TO the Manning Pool on
February 3. was classified as a
Wireless Aerial Gunner. and
transferred TO Fingle. a gunneery
station. For two and one-nali
months. Brennan practiced aerial
and ground gunnery. along with
radio operation, until he became
proficient at the art. At the end
of that period, the Canadian Gov
ernment presented him his w. A
G.. wings and sent him back 70
the Manning Pool for the thrd
time. Where he had once walk
cd with self-consciousness, he no"
took sure. confident steps. How
ever as fate Is often wont to DO
brennan had the misfortune o.
being laid up in the hospital FOL
six weeks with CELESTIAL influenza
There were some compensations
however. for on June /. when nt
was discharged from the SlcH
Raw Brennan received a 3O-daS
furlough and Immediately return
cd IN his home in Massachusetts,
AZ days later. he appeared at his
station in Canada and got MS
first and only taste OF Canadian
guardhouse for being l3 days A
w. O. l.. II seems as Il the X
c. A. f. holds forth the same
regulations adhered 10 Dy lh'
United States Air Force.
After his release. Brennan wa'
mt on coastal patrol when
suspicion OF lurking enemy suo
marines was reported. These de
tails consisted OF morning. after
noon and evening missions Wher
on the morning mission, Brennan
arose at 600 A. NJ, ate breakfast
and was on the flight line by 7;lS
To receive instructions. At 500
squadron took off and patrollec
about two hours until relieved by
another flight. The Afternoon
and evening missions consisted oi
the same routine, following IN
rapid succession.
Then. radios all over America
blared headlines. Japan attacked
Pearl Harbor early this morning.
That was Sunday. December I
1871. Brennan was immediately
shipped 10 a Canadian port ol
embarkation to await transporta
ton overseas. At about the same
time rumors came through tha'
an American Board of Transfer
was on its way TO Canada. II
April Brennan, who had remained
in Canada on his application fol
removal TO the United States
finally met the Board, and was
accepted for transfer into th'
American Air Force Cadet Train
ing. In May he shipped to Max
well Field. Alabama, where NJ
was classified as a Bombadler
Three months later he went te
Santa Ana, and then, on October
1912. arrived at Williams Flelc
TO take his last phase of Bomoa
dier training.
Cadet Leland Brennan is 0u
one ordinary young man in mill
ions whose main idea is TO stamI
out the treacherY of aggressoi
nations.