The Key West citizen., 1954-11-23
Hal
Boyle
Say Us

NET LAWN AIM Onl, lceiGn0
B = All that goes up has to come
down.
But sometimes the international
air tourist of today doesn't always
come down where he planned to.
The vagaries of wind and weather
still influence the big, winged COW
cred wagons he flies in, and on
occasion they combine to land him
for a free look at q country that
wasn't part of the scheduled trip.
Your timetable tourist may get
peeved at this and regard it IS
a conspiracy against his vacation
program. Those who regard travel
as form of adventure in itself,
however, viii accept the situation
as an unexpected bonus.
So l felt fortunate that strong
headwinds-and a wheel broken in
landing-gave me q chance 10
land at this northern U. S. airbase
and see my first sunrise on Ice
land.
Our big Sabena dec plane, after
taking off from Brussels, was sup
posed to pause at Shannon in Ire
land before proceeding to New
York. But to avoid powerful Allan
tic headwinds it curved northward
to refuel here.
We skinned to a perfect land
ing, but as We rolled across the
frigid field there was a sudden
loud crack. 1t sounded as if we had
merely crumbled patch of ice.
But when we alighted the cap
tain Immediately went to one of
the wheels and discovered it had
snapped. AS two big wheels are
paired on each side against such
an emergency, the danger, if any,
had been slight.
A broken wheel on a covered
wagon in the days when the West
was being settled was often a real
calamity. But this mishap to our
plane was only mild vexation -
another chore in the days work -
to our captain.
1--WE will have to locate another
wheel and put 1t on before we can
take off," he said matter -of-factly.
''It will take few hours.''
1t always amazes me how mod
ern people, born in the days of
horse-and-buggy travel, now take
the miracle of air passage for
granted.
Two businessmen were still
grumbling a bit about the delay,
even after breakfasting well in the
terminal on bacon, eggs and
steaming coffee. It was no con-
ISOLATION to them that Christopher
Columbus had had a considerably
rougher time on his voyages.
On the other hand, a group Of
elderly tourists, returning from a
threemonth tour of Africa, were
quite gay and cheerful. An S7-year-
old retired California banker and
his wife wanted to organize Quick
tour to see the sights of Reykiavik.
Iceland's capital.
An American Air Force corpo-
raj, stationed at the base here,
waved his hand at the polar dark
ness outside, and advised:
Don't bother. There's nothing
to see."
The ctoge genarian banker
promptly sat down by a young
mother nursing her infant and fell
sound asleep.
Because of the monotony Of the
post, American Air Force men are
stationed here only year, usually
spend a month of leave during that
period touring England or the
continent.
I'VE stick pretty much to our.
selves" a sergeant said. "We have
to wear uniforms If we 20 into
town, and the uniform kinda
cramps a mans style here-at
least in peacetime."
Civilian sentiment is divided
about having a us. airbase here.
The country maintains no army,
navy or forts of its own.
Soon the Arctic sun--there are
only s to 8 hours of daylight this
time of year-poked wanly above
the horizon, then cleaned like a
white bonfire across the fields of
snow.
"It doesn't stay up long--look
quick or you'll miss it." laughed
the corporal.
''The plane is ready" announced
steward.
As we climbed aboard, the aged
banker yawned, then peered inter-
estedly around at Iceland, a coun.
try he has never seen in his 81
years, and probably would never
see again. But in his pockets were
some postcards to prove he'd been
there.
Adventure over. Next stop Idle
wild New York Cifv