The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-09-23

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most impatient men In England.
For weeks they had done nothing
while other groups went on many
sweeps Q day or accompanied Fly.
ing FortresseS into Germany. They
had been considered . crack squad.
ron when they left the United
States and their impotence became
almost unbearable.
Gard games Jagged and the dis
cussions always turned to those
magic words FIRST mission" Even
when they had gone on two sweeps
over Gerrnan-held coast they were
impatient. They still had had no
contact with Jerry-the Germans
refused to come up and fight them.
Then 1t came. 1t. Col. Joseph
Morris Of Spearfsh, 8. D., their
group commander, told them their
orders in o calm, Midwestern voice.
It was to be the real thing. The
Forts were going to attack airhelds
In France and action was likely
the ferries will come up to attack
bornbers.
Suent ana 1enSe
The men fled into the brieflng
room wearing their Mae VESTS"
carrying their parachutes and he'll
NETS. This time they were silent
and their faces were tense. Today
they would see action and plenty
Of 1t and a mistake would cost them
their lives.
The course was charted on the
big wall by intelligence officers
every detail Of the trip; their speed,
their altitude, the place where they
would pick up the big bombers.
They listened quietly and asked few
questions and filed out of the rooms
into waiting jeeps for transport to
the cline"
The first OF the fat little Thun-
derbolts roared down the long run
way. Then came another and an
other and another until the sky was
full Of the powerful fighters circling
for the altitude at which they per-
form best, and they were of across
the Channel for their first combat.
Later their battle reports began
coming in on the radio and you
knew they were mixing 1t up. The
reports were fragmentary and most
ly unprintable. Someone would say
get that of my tail" and
someone would reply, "why, GER
tainly." There were references to
the Luftwaffe which would have
made Goerring writhe with indig-
nation.
Colonel Not Seen Again
The PATS weren't carrying belly
tanks this first time and they were
to return after a short penetration
of France-the bombers were going
TO lie Bourget Field on the OUT
skirts of Paris. The call came to
Colonel Morris to return, but after
he had shot down one Jerry he was
seen diving on another and was not
seen again. The others did not hear
this message.
The flyers went all the way
farther than fighters had ever gone
before without belly tanks. Some Of
them came back singing. THE Last
Time I Saw Paris" All OF them
were nearly out of gas when they
landed. But they were happy. Their
assignment had been to break UP
fighter attacks-set them up for q
higher group which would scream
down from on high and massacre
the ferries. They did so well they
were commended by the command
ing airforce general. They weren't
jealous Of the killer group"
They had great tales to tell when
they returned. Flight Officer Earl
w. Perry lsS2s Seven ST. Cleve-
land Heights. CO.. who nicknamed
his ship "Daddy's Baby because q
ground crew chief by that name
used to take spare parts from L.,
had q propable FWie0. He didn't
see q crash. but II wouldn't want
10 trade places with that Jerry"
Second Lt. Donald J. CoFTiean Of
ottumWay. Ia. dived on an MEi00
and missed him. climbed again. say
slreamers coming from bis wings.
"'Afg uod.' I said % myself. those
arr Jerry tFacoFs'.H Ne dlVed and
caaahG hla amt &AE aaain and