Evening star., 1943-01-05
Kennedy
Continued Prom First Page

United States and then became chief
pilot for K. L. NJ, the Dutch air
line He kept that job after the in
vasion Of Holland as K L. NJ con-
tinued to operate-and to be one of
the best airlines in the world-de-
spite the collapse of its home coun-
try.
He went to America at his own
expense TO JOIN the United States Air
Force and. speaking of condolences,
arrived the day the Japanese at
tackled Peorl Harbor He led the
first raid of American planes from
the Middle East against the Ruma-
nian oil fields.
He also led the second raid, which
was against the Italian fleet and
highly successful.
Col George F. Mcclure OF Coffey-
vile, KanS, is leading this raid and
Col. Kalberer is in command of the
final formation Of our planes We
take off. We get III position and
then We strike out over the sea
straight for Crete.
We ascend We are so high now
that no creature can live without
oxygen at this height. No eagle or
any other bird has ever flown so
high as We are We are going to
fool them this time by coming in
higher than they expect us to.
Runway Plainly Visible.
1t is hard to see much at this
height but We can see mountains
and valleys of Crete, and above all
We can see one thing We want to see
which is that runway. and it stands
out like sore thumb.
We 60 across it and let the bombs
drop. Do we get that runway? We
not only get it, but we get fighter
plane taking off on it. That plane
will never take of on any runway
again
Our own plane. Babe the Big
Blue Ok hangs a little behind. In
case there is any part OF that run
way the others have missed we are
going to get it. We find one gap
on a little stretch they missed. We
go for that and smash it up.
We have done our job and all
we have to do now is to run home
as fast as We can. which is very
fast. Some ack-ack bursts, but not
very near to our plane One plane,
Poison Ivy" gets a burst under
the right wing and the blast lifts it's
wings almost vertical but it gets
no holes. 1t straightens out and
comes along home with us.
Just as we leave we see the me-
dium bombers coming in much be-
low us. That is their affair. We
don't know it at the time, but those
five Messerschmitts which lowered
above us and did not attack us
went after the mediums. The me-
diums had rough time and shot
down one fighter.
Most Of Planes Smashed.
On that field were 20 fighters,
several bombers and night fighters.
Most of them are smashed up now
and no fighters can get off that
runway to resist other bombings by
the RAF which also took off for
Crete today and is over Tunisia. too.
Soon we see land again. We are
over the Nile Delta, looking down at
farmers blowing those marvelously
fertile fields. 1t is very green and
looks good.
Our top gunner is staff sergeant
with the fascinating name of Joe
Domino. The name is no less fasci-
mating than Joe himself. On the
trip to Crete he starts his story of
his family-about his father. who
has a barber shop near Carnegie
Tech in Pittsburgh. and about his
cousin who is an air-conditioning
engineer.
Excuse me-" says Joe as we come
into the danger zone and he climbs
into his turret. All he has to do is
shoot down those five Messerschmitts
should they attack. Outside of that
his time is his own.
I hope it is big day at that
barber shop when this dispatch ar
rives. Joe's father should feel yery
proud of him, as he is doing a swell
job here. Joe would like to send
word that he is well.