The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-09-18

done IN the way o. preparation. He
sent Us on a preliminary recon-
Nuisance Of our new station. To-
Gated about $50 miles inland. This
station was located IN French
Morocco. Nearby was a service
command station and the command
~ officer Of THIS station, Colonel
Phil ps. now in Sicily. was most
cordia, in his offers 20 case any
supply problems that might arise.
There was also at this station
fighter bomber group commanded
by Colonel Stevenson. whom l had
the pleasure 10 know at the acad-
envy. We moved 10 this station by
a French train and covered $50
miles in about II hours. and when
we complained about the slowness
ot the train we were informed that
We we're lucky 10 move at such
fast rate Of speed.
In Impromptu Dogfights
"Our stay there was probably
our most pleasant stay overseas We
were there abou. a month Mos.
cord.a, relations existed between
The ,rcmbc-s o. the SQUADRON and
the members OF TIC fighter bomber
group nearby The pots az the
tNo organizations engaged in i'm
prompiu dost sh,S 70 determine the
relative superiority ~ nc P-40 and
nc Also. and We we're very happy
% verify our belief tha: the P-40
VAS Vastly superior in this phase
~ aerial combat. Enlisted men OF
TIC two sroapS so; together very
wei in a.. ,yncS o. athletic contests
ana other means OF recreation.
The town Of Fer was found 10
be one OF the mos, &c. eh;9ul spots
mat any o. Us had ever visited.
One unusua, feature OF our stay
,Ecrc was that members OF my or
ean.zaton and members OF these
other examinations visited The town
OF Fee every n.sht for a period of
over month and not one single
unpleasant; incident arose,
The oH.ccgS Of the squadron
were MADE socially secure in the
town bv tho visit OF Josephine
Baker Miss Baker INSISTED on pre-
Sertng scvcra, different groups Of
our of ,ccrS lo the promnen; French
and Arab families IN the town.
All N al. M.>S Baker was very
argciv rcsp1nS bic for our most
pleasant social relations IN the
town " Fez.
Volunteered Ferry Service
at was during our stay here tha.
four P-39 pilots whom Ne had met
on the boat on the way over. came
20 v,S.; Us. They were ferry ne some
p-39S from Ogan 10 CaSab.anca and
en- route they. OF their own voliton.
SIMPLY stopped over 10 pay lis a
visit I mention this simply 10 midi
cate that a considerable bond exists
amops those who fly regardless OF
color or race.
2 Our equipment was Of the best
We fcrr,Cd IN - brand new P-40s
and all OF Us experienced FOR the
FIRST time The thrill OF flying brand
new airplane. IL. Col Philip Coch-
ran--,hc Flip Corkin OF Terry and
the Pirates was our most capable
instructor. He imbued al OF us with
some OF his own very remarkable
fighting spirit. and in addition TO
that he taught US Wha, TO do and
what not 10 Go IN aerial combat.
We all remember with a smile his
open commentary on the SlowncSS
/ OF The P-40. The P-i0 pilot never
yet ran away from a fight-bccause
ne couldn't Yet VIC al know that
the P-40 has more remarkable
combat record in this war than any
other fighter airp.ane except pos
s.b.y the British Sp.,flrc The P-40.
We joknGly say, has three impor-
+ iant characteristics. The first one is
turn. which enables YOU 10 present
a very difficult target % an enemy
fighter; the second one is turn. and
the third orc Is also turn In aerial
fighting this characteristic is
naturally OF great Importance.
we had two other instructors
who were with us until VIC left for
TuniSia \ Major KcycS and a Cap
tain Fachlcr Both or these officers
had had extensive combat tgain4ng