Evening star., 1943-04-19

visited an air
drome to watch
Henry McLemore. some of our
figher pilots In action.
When I walked down the line, all
IL of the boys who crossed the At
lantic with me were just coming
out Of the operation room& They
were heading for their ships, which
were scattered all over the field.
They were just few minutes away
from their first operational fight
over enemy territory.
I scarcely recognized them. They
were burdened with all the pound
age that Allied fighter pilots wear
for protection-boots, furs, masks
and chutes. Each had a rubber
dinghy on his back in case he came
down in the big drink. They had
little time to talk. Their motors
were warming up and with fighter
ships you can't afford to waste gaso-
line. It's get up quick and get down
quick. They only nodded and said
See you when we get back"
1t had been weeks since I had
seen them.
Dream Being Fulfilled.
The last time we were together
was out on the Atlantic bouncing
and tossing on ship that couldn't
do one-fiftieth the speed Of the
ships they were about to ride
through the heavens. They were
dreaming then of the day when they
would be sent out against the ferries.
They talked about it hour after
hour. How they ached to peel off
from formation and dive after
Hun with Messer, Junkers or
Focke-Wulf in their sights.
Now for the first time they were
going to have the chance and OF
all the days, that was the day
should happen on the station where
they were. In a few minutes they
were gone. Voom! Voom! Voom!
One by one they roared across the
field to circle, get in formation and
head toward what to them was the
Promised Land.
I stood with some Raj boys as the
American youngsters took of1-RAF
boys who had fought through the
Battle of Britain, Crete, Africa and
all other points.
Veteran Pilot Knows.
II know just how they feel" a
Britisher said. II remember my
first sweep. I was so tight and tense
could hardly hold the stick and
I was almost afraid to see an enemy
plane but more afraid I wouldn't.
They'll fly with their fingers on the
trigger, never mind about that"
AS the formation of fighters dis
appeared from sight, we started
sweating the boys out" This was
the toughest sweating out" I had
done because these were boys who
had left the States with me, had
taken a last look at the lights Of
home with me, had shot craps with
me and ruined me at poker.
None Of us left the line, from the
colonel who commanded them to
the mechanics who had given the
ships the final touch, and as the
haze came down we were all sweat
ing.
Planes Heard Overhead.
Now the time for the boys to land
was close at hand. Then came the
sweetest of sounds. the roar of un-
seen motors overhead, friendly mo-
tors. The boys began coming in
over the tree tops grinning like
monkeys. They jumped out of the
ships. They babbled with happiness.
All talked at once. "The ferries
wouldn't fool with u.s." I've had
rougher trips over Alabama" THAT
France looks right pretty. Not
much different from Florida" That
England looks good when you're
leaving it but, man, does it look
good when you're coming home!"
A captain pulled me aside. RE
member that little green elephant
you gave me for good luck charm
on the boat? Well, he has been
higher than any elephant in the
world" He led me to this ship and
there, pinned on the Instrument
panel, his porcelain ears Tapping,
was my little elephant. I'll swear
he was smiling.
Dangerous Tradition.
only had to give him a Whit Of
oxygen once" the captain said.
And he never did get arsick."
The boys cleaned up their reports
to the commanding officer and made
for the officers lounge. At this base
the first thing you do when YOU
complete your first operational flight
Is write your name on the ceiling.
The ceiling is 80 feet high. It was
lots OF fun but, as the captain said
as he teetered on a pyramid of fellow
Americans and Raj flyers and tried
to write his name, This is more
dangerous than the mission. At
least had a chute then"
BY 4 In the morning most of us
were in bed. Well, some Of us any,
way. IT,