Evening star., 1943-07-12
Axis Fire on Sicily Was Heavy,
But GIider-7ower Got Through

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and medium fax trying to clip the
darting ships. Coast detenses cnlmeu
in as far as the eye could see. l
watched flax coming at us: My face
was wet with sweat.
Maj Barrow pushed 1t to the fire
wall, to use the pilots term. We
were doing 1877 miles an hour and
diving out to sea when a big shell
exploded beyond the tail. l saw a
stream of tracer diverting like a
garden hose toward our trailer COM
panions.
Missed 'em. too," the sergeant
breathed, dropping his earphones
on the floor. Then the Helen B.
banked into the darkness as Maj.
Barrow poured on the coal, ana one
nights ride I'll never forget had
passed the Crisis.
Our ship had led of the field.
Maj. Barrow, native OF New Iberia,
La, is not only splendid pilot but
! a soldier. Wearying of staff work
in England when he wanted to pilot
combat plane, he asked for a
transfer, and flew a Pas pursuit
from Great Britain to Africa after
a single days instruction. He was a
Bit bomber pilot but has flown
nearly all types, and is now con-
tented transport man getting in his
share of action.
Colonel Was Passenger.
Beside me, Maj. Barrow had as a
passenger-observer Col. Glynne M.
Jones, his former instructor in avia-
tion, from Lafayette, La, and New
Orleans, now troop carriers opera
tions chief who helped the COM
manoing general make this first big
assignment such a success. He kidded
his old teacher as we got in, re-
calling their early days in the Evan
geline country.
Colonel, l should charge you the
same $150 for this ride that you al
ways taxed for that 10-minute hop
back home" he said.
Then Its. Bill Pearson OF Albany,
Ga. and Bob Galloway of Lawton,
Okla, climbed in and the radioman,
Frank Keel, locked the door. I
stared at the spread of life RATS,
the Mae West jackets and para
chutes, and thought hard on the
generals last-minute fight talk.
II want to congratulate you on
being leaders in the greatest show
yet begun against the Axis by Amer
lean forces" he said. Mot thing
we can do has been overlooked. Go
out there now-lt's a cinch."
First Combat Trip.
This was the first combat trip the
ship had ever taken. The same was
true for the crew, 1t. Pearson told
me when he came aft, relinquish-
ing his co-pilot's seat to the colonel
They say there are easier ways
to earn a living" he murmured,
"only we haven't any say in this.
But I'm glad for the chance to 60
It's sort of historic, isn't it He
smiled family as we circled the
field, waiting for the others to get
up. Then he added, But I'll settle
right now for tomorrow morning. u
Strung over the sea with the SUM-
set behind, the flight made a re-
markabie picture. There was some
thing of the witch-and- -broomstick
about those gliders' silhouettes. A
hex for Benito, perhaps. We would
be over the target in few minutes
Malta was far behind.
Then came the port city. There
was heavy ground fire from the en-
virons with that fiery necklace OF
low tracers. Big stuff cracked
higher up and we were climbing
sharply now.
Our ship bore around, having
missed the exact spot by little
This time the pilot completed a big
horseshoe and then cut straight
into land. Later he admitted his
neck felt prickly.
Choose Right Spot.
II thought sure it was a trap
that dark space between the guns
and that it would cut loose any Sec
ond. But that was our spot and ir
we went"
Motors wide, we raced down tn
prescribed alley for home. Ever.
one relaxed now the job was done.
But our trip wasn't yet over. No
with so many ships crowding tn
air. 1t was stay in your lane
brother, or the navies would shoot.
Once it seemed they had. Chal
lenged of Malta, the copilot fired I
, flare and it fell short on the wing
, There was an awful crash of meta
} and red fire spread all over the wing
/ had my chute on. The colone
grabbed to recover his. We tried t,
find the door. Then the fire wen
out, the plane remained steady. M,
hair felt damp again, as it had owe
the target. That air force expires
, sion stems from truth. You d,
sweat it out.
Coming to the mainland the mool
, was down. Haze hung low over tn
plateau and the transports, greer
and red wing lights against tn
, starlit background, made animate,
, Christmas trees all over the skies