The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-03

4Vbh tVOA OOO 1CCI. <ADONG that altitude, these unarmed cubs practically unaltered from the stan- dard civilian model - lose their single safety factor, which is being able to loose themselves in a dive to a few feet above the ground. The books also say that these air observation posts will stay at least a mile behind our own lines. MUST GO HIGH
 That's what the books say. But on this mountainous front you need altitude to see over the peaks, and the higher you go the closer you have to get to observe accurately
 went along one day just before the present Fifth Army offensive began. Preparatory to the ohen- sive, an artillery battalion was checking fire.
 The "air O.P." consisted of Lieutenant Floyd Leming of Abi- lene, Tex, pilot, and Lieutenant Robert E. Savage, New York, ob- server. There's only room for two in such small planes, so I went along in another piloted by Lieutenant Carl Kaufman, of Pittsburgh.
 The first job was to get the tiny monoplanes out of the mud and onto the short narrow strip of bur- lap that had been laid as runway in peanut field couple of miles behind the front. The mud was too thick for the planes to taxi thI rough 1t under their own power, so we had to lift the tail and literally carry the ship onto the runway.
 We took of and started to gain altitude. We left the 600-foot max iinum altitude of the rule books some 4000 feet below us. The ob- jective for the big guns was a road bridge few miles behind the enemy lines lying in a valley be- hind high peak.
 To avoid attracting the unneces- sary attention two planes would cause, we stayed behind, lowering a few hundred yards benind the enemy lines, while the other plane went in couple of miles.
 It was just as well VIC did. The other plane was getting plenty of attention from enemy ack-ack without our presence to attract even more hostile curiosity. Once teh ack-ack opened up on us. You could feel the light ship bounce with the blasts which were easily audible even over our motor.
 AS soon as tho Air OF. was within spotting distance. Lieuten- ant Savage called his battery, This is one zero," replied the bat tery commander. Battery is ready"
 This is one four" replied Sav- age. Fire"
 BRACKET TARGET
 A seconds pause. Then at the instant of fire: This is one zero. On the way" Then Savage: Roger (meaning okay). Wait"
 It took nearly a minute for the shell to arrive. The deep mud where 1t landed hid its flash, but tAiC 6CJSCA Oh biIlOhC dAAQ CdA JkL-d hollow, conical tulip of destruc- tion the size of house, marked the spot.
 "This is one four. Five zero right. Repeat range" The first shot had landed only 50 yards to teh right of the target at the proper range.
 Roger, wait" replied the bat tery commander. Corrections were computed at the battery. Then the firing continued. The procedure was repeated for six shells All of them landed close but none hit the target smack on the nose.
 I was disappointed. "Oh. they didn't want to hti the bridge to- day." explained Pilot Kaufman.
 Our Air Observation Posts have given the Germans plenty of sur- prises. Major John T. Walker. of Springfield, Ill, boss of the Fifth Arny's Air observation posts, told me afterward that these small planes have proven such head ache to the Germans that their best fighter pilots are being briefed these days to go after the Grass hoppers which they once scori- cd as small fish. unworthy of their attAntinu.