We
talked of the time we left Kansas with snow on the ground
and flew to Cuba for more in-flight training. When we
landed in Florida we had to pass a physical before we
could go to Cuba. It seems that when we took the physical
in Florida, several of us had a high temperature so they
made us stay in the hospital overnight for observation.
If I remember correctly, the nurses were unhappy because
we were only going to mess up their beds, probably for
one night only, and we were not even sick. There were
probably a lot of people around who needed the hospital
beds more than we.
The
best thing I remember of Cuba were the banana splits!
Smitty says that they were only quarter, which sounds
correct to me. I seems there was one or two slices of
pineapple, the biggest banana split down the middle, three
large scoops of different flavored ice cream (vanilla,
chocolate and strawberry), whipped cream, nuts and a maraschino
cherry on top - and always a girl in a low-cut dress who
would bend down to dip the ice cream. So you see I am
not sure what we all liked the best!
It
was in Cuba that they tried to teach me to swim. Even
with a Mae West on, I would turn upside down. I was thrown
into the pool-they thought I would swim, but I only went
to the bottom like a rock and they had to jump in and
pull me out.
I
enjoyed our tour of Cuba. Smitty said we had two taxis,
probably one for officers and one for enlisted men. He
was probably right; I don't remember, I enjoyed the Prado,
Morro Castle, and Sloppy Joe's. I don't know if anyone
went to Casa Marinas or not, If so no one will probably
say.
Back
to Smitty, if there is anything to the Prodigal Son story
in the Bible, it came true for me on Tuesday. I was probably
happier to see him than I would have been if my own son
would have walked in. I don't know how long Smitty had
planned this visit. He told me he was traveling to through
Indianapolis and decided on coming to Washington. He said
he thought that if anyone would stay in one place, after
42 years, it would be old John Essig at Washington, Indianapolis.
Maybe sometime someone will be able to find out more about
Johnson, Jones said before Johnson died he was an architect
in Florida and designed buildings. I did not remember
until Smitty reminded me that Johnson was often sketching
or doodling with paper and pencil.
When
I began this, I just started putting my thoughts on paper.
It has crossed my mind that I would be most happy if any
of the other crew members would put his thoughts on paper
and return to me. I'm sure other members could think of
items I have forgotten. It would refresh my memory.
One
of my memories of T. Bell was what he said about our promotion
ratings; that while in the states we would probably not
get many, but as soon as we arrived overseas he would
see that we got our promotions as soon as he could get
them for us. NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN. We always
got our promotions as soon as possible. This was only
a small item but we enlisted men looked forward to them
like food from home. I think it took me my entire service
time, 2 years and 9 months, to get the Good Conduct Medal.
Smitty
showed me a roll of RCM which he brought back and had
with him in his camper. I had never seen that for 42 years.
In fact, I do not even remember seeing it in the plane
when Schulman threw it out. I do remember the night over-
Tokyo when it probably saved our lives. T. Bell told Schulman
to dump the whole box and the lights and guns followed
it. There was no atheist on our plane that night if there
was any. in my top position, never saw much. But that
night I sure saw the guns and flak shooting the dickens
out of those tin-foil rolls.
I
had forgotten but Smitty was telling that part of his
pre-flight job was taking of the putt putt before starting
the engine? We think about four times for each prop (?).
Smitty
also mentioned the fact that on one of our day missions
it was supposed to be a milk run because one of the high-ranking
brass was with us on the mission. But as I recall it,
it was one of the roughest missions we had. Plenty of
flak and also enemy fighters.
Does
anyone remember when we all sent home for wax and waxed
the plane? I asked Beaver if it did indeed help and he
told me yes. I don't remember if any of the other crews
did it or not.
Remember
the time my blister blew out from pressure? Beaver or
T. Bell asked what was going on back there. Beaver said
the pressure gauges went crazy. Naturally we all put on
our oxygen masks and returned home okay.
Smitty
and I talked about all of our crew members and we did
not come up with anyone being more important than the
others. We did talk about how T. Bell, Beaver and Callaghan
maneuvered the plane as to fuel, altitude, location and
wind velocity. They were constantly working while the
rest of us would get some relax time up and back. I remember
how Callaghan would say to look out to the right or left
blister and you should see land soon. He was always right!
A
big thanks to the whole crew. We made it back safely!
|